With shopping opportunities for all tastes, Newport is a mecca of retail. Enter via Broadway to begin your shop-till-you-drop adventure at can’t-miss stores like Closet Revival (30 Broadway), a consignment and vintage boutique; then turn onto Thames for a mix of national retailers, souvenirs, and small shops, including longstanding Ben’s Furniture (166 Thames St.), The Love Shack by LOLA (400 Thames St.) for unique pendants and bracelets along with apparel and housewares, The Salty Babe (391 Thames St.) for active wear and beachy styles, Matriarch (468 Thames St.) for feminist and foodie gifts, and Virgin & Aged (395 Thames St.) for and artisan olive oils and vinegar. Off of Thames, stroll Franklin Street and find more gems, like Athalia of Newport (26 Franklin St.), with handcrafted jewelry, and Zürner Oceanic (40 Franklin St.), a studio/shop selling handmade bags and nautical accessories. Driftwood Surf Market (12 Long Wharf Mall) is an art-forward destination for water sport enthusiasts, with apparel, boards, wetsuits, and accessories. Head to Bowen’s Wharf for jewelry, apparel, and more, and nearby Brick Marketplace (223 1/2 Goddard Row). On America’s Cup Avenue, enjoy meandering small boutiques or make your way up to Bellevue for upscale and artisanal businesses, plus designer clothing retailers like Michael Hayes Co. (204 Bellevue Ave.), a full-service shop with styles for men and women and on-site tailoring, and Sara Campbell (115 Bellevue Ave.) specializes in timeless looks. And don’t skip streets like Spring either, which is bustling with a host of shops.
The dining scene in Newport is – in a word – legendary. From culinary classics to new must-try spots, there is no shortage of amazing food experiences to be had in the City by the Sea.
Longtime favorite Newport restaurants like The Mooring (1 Sayers Wharf), The Black Pearl (30 Bannister’s Wharf), and Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant (140 Thames St.) will always draw crowds for their fresh, locally inspired dining. Seafood is the starring attraction at several downtown restaurants, including the sleek and modern Midtown Oyster Bar (345 Thames St.).
Though Stoneacre Brasserie (28 Washington Sq.) changes its menu on a regular basis, you can count on Instagram-worthy, seasonally focused dishes, and their second restaurant Stoneacre Garden (151 Swinburne Row) is infused with whimsy and elegance, from their menu to the courtyard – and did we mention there’s a rooftop bar?
For Italian comfort food, cocktails, and live music on the deck, The Quencher (95 Long Wharf Mall) is a fun late-night spot. Wharf Fishhouse & Tiki Bar (41 Bowen’s Wharf) dishes Polynesian-inspired small plates, seafood, and colorful edible flower-adorned bevvies. The Fifth Element (111 Broadway) serves creative mains and more in casual-hip digs. Jo’s American Bistro (24 Memorial Blvd. W) offers several gluten-free options and a prix fixe menu Sunday through Thursday. Find traditional, hearty Italian and matching ambience at Sardella’s (30 Memorial Blvd. W). For a truly unique foodie experience, join Rhode Island Red Food Tours (270 Bellevue Ave.) for a culinary adventure through Newport or Providence.
It’s a scientific fact: a cocktail is best enjoyed outside, by the water, in the summer, and Newport has many options for oceanside imbibing. The newly renovated Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling (293 JT Connell Hwy.) features an outdoor tasting pavilion and bar to savor award-winning spirits distilled, aged, and bottled on site, along with their craft brews – from New England IPAs to Belgian-style wheat beers. There’s the rooftop bar at the Hotel Viking (1 Bellevue Ave.) and the Lawn at Castle Hill (590 Ocean Ave.); both have prime spots for sitting in the sunshine, sipping a delicious cocktail, and taking in the view. Speaking of summer drinks, Diego’s (11 Bowen’s Wharf) has a massive cocktail menu, including mezcal and tequila libations, to complement West Coast-inspired Mexican-fusion fare, with additional locations in Middletown and Providence. Taste the difference between silver, reposado, and anejo at Perro Salado (19 Charles St.), where tequila flights offer tastings of the imported and hard-to-find spirit. Pour Judgement (32 Broadway) is known for their fun drinks and food all week long.
The city’s best-known attractions are the Newport Mansions, the opulent “summer cottages” of the Vanderbilts and other illustrious turn-of-the-century families, many of which have served as filming locations for HBO Max’s The Gilded Age series. The Breakers (44 Ochre Point Ave.) is the grandest of all of them; Rosecliff (548 Bellevue Ave.) has also been the site of films like The Great Gatsby and True Lies; Marble House (596 Bellevue Ave.) has a Chinese teahouse on the grounds; and The Elms (367 Bellevue Ave.) features a classical sculpture garden.
Known as the City by the Sea, Newport’s prominent boating scene includes marine trade institution IYRS School of Technology and Trades (449 Thames St.), and don’t miss the Sailing Museum (365 Thames St.) with interactive exhibits for all levels of enthusiasts and two iconic halls of fame. If you can’t get enough maritime fun, head to Sail Newport (72 Fort Adams Dr.), a public center for rentals and classes, inside Fort Adams State Park (80 Fort Adams Dr.), hosting group and self-guided tours of the historic site.
There are also many cultural attractions, like the Newport Art Museum (76 Bellevue Ave.), the Audrain Automobile Museum (222 Bellevue Ave.), the International Tennis Hall of Fame (194 Bellevue Ave.), and Newport Historical Society (82 Touro St.). Also check out Spring Bull Gallery (55 Bellevue Ave.), a co-operative art gallery showcasing work in different styles by an array of local artists. The Blue Garden is an exquisite display of landscape artistry inviting guests to learn about horticultural history (reservations required at
TheBlueGarden.org).
Brenton Point State Park is a green space on Ocean Avenue – its proximity to the windy shore makes it a perfect location for kites, which dot the sky on warm days. Find Easton’s Beach Snack Bar, beloved for its twin lobster rolls, at Second Beach. Recently relocated, Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium (23 America’s Cup Ave.) lets you get up close and personal with Narragansett Bay’s aquatic life.
The Cliff Walk, a three-and-a-half-mile mostly paved trek, offers breathtaking views of the coast. About a third of it is rough or rocky, so proper footwear is advised. Another adventurous way to see Narragansett Bay is on the Rail Explorers (1 Alexander Rd., Portsmouth), a pedal-powered vehicle that rides along the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad.
With a mission of empowering through documentary films, newportFILM offers year-round programming and screenings sparking conversation at venues around the city. Looking to surf? Catch a wave with a board rental and lessons from Rhody Surf (175 Memorial Ave.); also enjoy journeys at sea with Gansett Cruises (2 Bowen’s Landing) and Island Style Parasail (9 Bowen’s Landing). Sea Newport (31 Bowen’s Wharf) lets you admire Newport’s coastline aboard a charter boat, docking from The Lobster Restaurant.
If you’re seeking a slow-paced afternoon of pampering, a visit to the spa at Newport Harbor Island Resort (1 Goat Island Rd.) for an Island Retreat package or a wide range of facials, massages, mani-pedis, and body treatments – and round out the day with resort dining at The Restaurant or The Pineapple Club.
Multi-day annual music events Newport Jazz (August 2-4) and Newport Folk (July 26-28) festivals at Fort Adams State Park (80 Fort Adams Dr.) usually sell out fast, so get your tickets early. Newport Classical Music Festival concerts take place over the course of July 4-21 all over the city, and Newport Contemporary Ballet (3 Charles St.) puts on the Newport Dance Festival on the lawn of the Great Friends Meeting House (21 Farewell St.) July 17-21.
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