East Greenwich

SHOP

Main Street, the center of town, is dotted with clothing, home, and gift stores, like Zuzu’s (165 Main St.) and Therapy Boutique (235 Main St.) for women’s fashion; White Elephant (351 Main St.) for upcycled home decor; and Organical Botanical (110 Main St.) for herbal, aromatherapeutic bath and body products. Sweet Twist (5707 Post Rd.) has an ever-changing collection of seasonal accessories for you and your home, as well as small batch chocolate confections. Le’s Isle Rose (1000 Division St.) is an enormous store packed with souvenirs, gifts, clothing, home decor, and fresh flowers. Blueprint 5 (631 Main St.), an upscale men’s store, features imported Italian clothing and an on-site tailor.

DINE

When people from Providence are heading to East Greenwich for dinner, you know big things are happening in the culinary scene. Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar (240 Main St.) offers fresh-from-the-boat seafood in a classic New England setting. Breakfast and lunch are next level at Dante’s Kitchen (315 Main St.), where American favorites are served with a creative Southern twist. T’s Restaurant (5600 Post Rd.) has been a Rhode Island favorite for decades. With three locations in the state, the homestyle restaurant is known for their all-day

For worldly cuisine, no passport is needed when you’re on Main Street. La Masseria (223 Main St.) serves upscale Italian cuisine in an authentic countryside setting. Raku Sakura (148 Main St.) can cure any sushi fix. Rasa (149 Main St.) is an upscale Indian restaurant, and Kon Asian Bistro & Hibachi Grill (553 Main St.) offers a fun dining experience with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Even coffee gets the epicurean treatment in East Greenwich. Felicia’s Coffee (5757 Post Rd.) couples an inviting coffeehouse atmosphere with a huge selection of flavored and specialty coffee. The Nook Coffee House (307 Main St.), one of the area’s newest spots, is committed to locally sourced coffee, teas, baked treats and the community, displaying and selling local art and donating 20 percent of proceeds to local COVID-19 relief efforts.

Also new to town is LineSider Brewing Company (1485 South County Tr.), a small-batch beer facility and taproom co-owned by a retired New England Patriots player.

To taste some of Rhode Island’s food heritage, stop by Jigger’s  Diner (145 Main St.), which has been around since 1917 and is a go-to destination for johnnycakes, the iconic food made from cornmeal ground at Kenyon’s Grist Mill in Kingston.

EXPLORE

Until 1854, East Greenwich was one of five state capitals in Rhode Island, one for each county. The seat of the legislature rotated among them. It also claims to be the birthplace of the US Navy, as established by a 1772 General Assembly resolution. Several other towns also stake this claim, but East Greenwich is the earliest and the only one to involve specific governmental authorization. See East Greenwich’s history for yourself at its two museums. The Varnum House Museum (57 Pierce St.) is a Georgian mansion that is a time capsule of early American life. It houses 17th-century furniture and household items. The Varnum Memorial Armory (6 Main St.) houses a military history museum, including artifacts from the Revolutionary War and weapons from World Wars I and II. While not currently open for tours, admire the exterior architecture.

PLAY

The towns location on Greenwich Cove makes it easy for day-tripping boaters to make a stop. The East Greenwich Marina (28 Water St.) usually offers transient dockage by the hour or overnight and has two on-site restaurants. Finn’s Harborside (38 Water St.) has been serving fresh seafood and New England fare for over 40 years, and has live music on the weekends. Blu on the Water (20 Water St.) is the place to see and be seen in the summer.

Goddard Memorial State Park (1095 Ives St.) is an expansive green space shared by Warwick and East Greenwich. Not only is its small beach the northernmost way to enjoy Narragansett Bay, but the park has picnic and grill areas perfect for gatherings of 15 or less (check Health.RI.gov/COVID for updates).