A small town with a city feel, East Greenwich is a must-stop destination. A new wave of trendsetting restaurants and chic shops are drawing crowds to stroll Main Street and beyond.
Main Street, the center of town, is dotted with clothing, home, and gift stores, like Zuzu’s of East Greenwich (165 Main St.) for women’s fashion and Organical Botanical (110 Main St.), which sells its own herbal, aromatherapeutic bath and body products. Le’s Isle Rose (1000 Division St. #20) 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. Find shelves upon shelves of specialty wine, craft beer, and spirits at The Savory Grape (1000 Division St. Unit 130), and even grab a custom engraved bottle.
When people from Providence are heading to East Greenwich for dinner, you know big things are happening in the culinary scene. The Revival Craft Kitchen & Bar (219 Main St.) focuses on farm-to-table contemporary cuisine using local ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are next level at Dante’s Kitchen (315 Main St.) (our Rhody Gem for Jan ‘19), 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 creative breakfast and displays of art by the owner.
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. Main Street Coffee (137 Main St.) doubles as both a coffee shop and espresso martini bar. Not a coffee fan? Spill the Tea (4372 Post Rd.) is a sustainable tea house serving healthful and fun iced and hot varieties.
For craft brews, 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.
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 Peirce 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.
East Greenwich’s 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 in East Greenwich.
Goddard Memorial State Park (1095 Ives Rd.) 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 and hosts Good Eats at Goddard Food Truck Nights July 14 and August 11.
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