The southernmost town in Rhode Island is a popular landing spot for visitors, and it’s not hard to see why. Easy access to the ferries and proximity to the highway – plus a lot of city sophistication with a small-town feel – make Westerly a destination.
Bibliophiles, be sure to head to newly opened Martin Books and Cafe 1888 (10 Canal St.), where Savoy Bookshop used to be. Along with its selection of titillating titles in all genres, this independent bookstore fosters community with readings and literary events, plus a storytelling corner for young readers with adorable toadstool seats. Across the street, find Christina’s Ltd. (1 Canal St.), a boho-style clothing boutique. Shop home decor and gifts at HŌMbädi Boutique (91 Franklin Street, with a second location in Watch Hill). Don’t miss OMO Jewels & Gifts (95 Watch Hill Rd.) for fine jewelry, accessories, and trinkets. Nearby William Wright & Co. (95 Watch Hill Rd.) is a farm stand/store stocked with produce, baked goods, and locally grown blooms from Echo Rock Flowers (find more ways to shop their fresh florals at EchoRockFlowers.com).
With interior design on the mind, KMR Blinds Drapes Carpet (224 Post Rd.) offers stylish choices for all kinds of spaces.
For the essentials, there’s Seaside Pharmacy (224 Post Rd.), and grab high-quality kitchen gear and gourmet goods at Gray Goose Cookery (93 Watch Hill Rd.), which also offers private classes.
Pick out the perfect vacay outfit for the youngest members of your family with a visit to Wildflower Kids (40 High St.), a children’s clothing store with gifts, accessories, and monogramming, too. The name says it all when it comes to FUN Company (39 High St.), where you can pick out something for mom to wear, and browse cool finds for adults and kids alike (don’t pass by the toy room) at prices that will make you equally giddy. Let the shopping spree continue with The Vault (25 High St.), a clothing boutique with unique styles, home decor, and more, and next door, Nigrelli’s Jewelry (27 High St.) with fashion and fine jewelry.
Rivaling Providence and Newport, Westerly is a foodie’s dream town – so it’s no wonder James Beard award-winning chef Jeanie Roland (who also beat Bobby Flay in the Food Network series) chose this coastal town to open her premier eatery, Ella’s Food & Drink (2 Tower St.). A large Italian population has given the town its own iconic food, too; soupy is a dry-cured Italian pork sausage descended from the soppressata of the area’s Calabrian heritage. Every family has its own recipe, but the sausage is available for sale at places like Dipper’s Packing Co. (55 Ledward Ave.) and Dunns Corners Market (5 Langworthy Rd.).
Additionally, Westerly is home to most any restaurant that fits your taste, from farm-to-bun offerings at Graze Burgers (127 Granite St.) to chef-driven, adventurous small plates at The Shallows (54R High St.) and Irish-American fare at Kelley’s Deli (116 Granite St. #8). Noodle Revolution (87 Oak St.) serves some of the best Asian street food around, and Koi (65 High St.) offers creative sushi. New to the neighborhood is Bird in Hand (12 Canal St.), which combines New England ingredients with French-inspired, Southern-Creole dishes. If you’re craving Italian food, Vetrano’s (130 Granite St.) offers homestyle pasta and pizza while Casa Della Luce (105 Franklin St.) puts a fresh spin on the classics. Catch the game at CC O’Brien’s Sports Cafe (8 Mechanic St.) or for a light treat, don’t miss Pompelmo Gelato (31 High St.) and fresh-squeezed sips from High Tide Juice Co. (55 Beach St.). Amigos Taqueria Y Tequila (2 Canal St.) is a lively spot with an impressive selection of authentic Mexican drinks and dishes. Nana’s Bakery & Pizza (82 High St.), whose first location is in Stonington, CT, specializes in cold fermentation to make their nutritious organic breads. Dine on the water at B&B Dockside (19 Margin St.), a snug eatery with approachable fare. Pooch’s Pour House (42 High St.) is perfect for families and sports lovers.
Sip fancy drinks at High Hope Tavern (18 High St.), a cocktail bar and restaurant highlighting local harvests, including fresh catches served at Sonny’s Clam Bar. Owl & Dove (1 W Broad St.) is another great choice for refined sips, including natural wines, and features creative morning and night menus reflecting the region’s bounty.
Westerly has also become a beer lover’s haven. The town’s first brewery, Grey Sail Brewing (63 Canal St.), offers beers like their signature Captain’s Daughter imperial IPA and Flagship cream ale at their tasting and taproom, and at restaurants all over Rhode Island – watch for live music and events on their patio, too. On the same campus, and co-owned by a Grey Sail founder, South County Distillers produces top-quality spirits in house.
Take a wine tour of Westerly beginning with an afternoon at Langworthy Farm Inn and Winery (308 Shore Rd.) – with tours and a historic bed and breakfast offering picturesque views for a longer visit. Locally inspired bottles include Charlestown Cabernet Franc, Weekapaug White Chardonnay, and Watch Hill Merlot. Tapped Apple Winery & Cidery (37 High St.) offers tastings of their hard ciders and wines, along with activities like shuffleboard. Hop over the border to Connecticut to continue your coastal wine trail at Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard (113 Pendleton Hill Rd.) and Saltwater Farm Vineyard (349 Elm St.).
For visual arts, explore The Artists Cooperative Gallery of Westerly (14 Railroad Ave.), which maintains a fine arts gallery in the town’s train station and typically offers a new exhibit each month, with What If? — Artists Exploring on view through July 28, and in the community gallery, see Art It Forward! Winners and Early Art Heist Works. Gaze at the recently installed 19th-century bronze sculpture, La Tuffolina, crafted by Italian artist Odoardo Tabacchi, at the Westerly Train Station (14 Railroad Ave.). See contemporary work and watch for workshops at AIR Studio Gallery (19 B Railroad Ave.). To really get the lay of the land, catch River Glow on August 3 to see the Pawcatuck River ablaze, downtown businesses vending their wares, local eats, and performers.
Westerly’s exciting arts and entertainment scene is brimming during the summer. The Granite Theatre (1 Granite St.) is a small theater with a community focus and stages The Drowsy Chaperone July 12-August 4. Catch a movie at The United Theatre (5 Canal St.), and watch for upcoming special events, from author talks to live music, online (UnitedTheatre.org). Its sister restaurant, The Cafe (3 Canal St.), delivers the star treatment with elevated snacks and mains (pro-tip: ask about the Dipper’s Sipper, with Westerly’s own soupy-washed bourbon). Along with being a pristine place to walk, Wilcox Park (44 Broad St.) is where The Colonial Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park series takes place July 20 through August 10, presenting John Buchan’s The 39 Steps, a zany whodunit comedy.
The famed Knickerbocker Music Center (35 Railroad Ave.) is a great evening spot for live music and dancing, while Tunes on the Dunes runs Monday nights through August 12 and Blues on the Beach happens Wednesdays through August 14 at Westerly Town Beach (365 Atlantic Ave.). Vintage Cigar Lounge & Club (47 High St.) serves a full bar and over 375 varieties of cigars, and Illyrian Cigars (105 Franklin St., #42) is a premium brand with blends for all preferences. In need of a little R&R? Indulge in a facial at Pure Eco Spa (18 Franklin St.), plus other skin and body treatments, and Breathe Massage & Wellness (116 Granite St.) offers massages, facials, and more. You’ll be in good hands when pain strikes with an appointment at Dunn’s Corners Chiropractic Center (259 Post Road).
This vibrant sandy strip of Westerly has some of the most popular beaches in Rhode Island, and it’s easy to see why.
Traditionally, Misquamicut has been one of the only places in South County where servers bring you lunch, complete with cocktails, while you’re actually on the beach. Paddy’s Beach Club (159 Atlantic Ave.) has lounge chairs available on their private beach area, as well as several outdoor bars. You can walk straight off the sand, have lunch, and hear some live music in the afternoon at The Andrea (89 Atlantic Ave.). The Windjammer Surf Bar (321 Atlantic Ave.) offers live music and sweeping ocean views. The Pleasant View Inn (65 Atlantic Ave.) is a beachfront resort with a private beach and on-site restaurant. The Hotel Maria (132 Atlantic Ave.) is just steps off the beach and serves Mediterranean-inspired seafood at Maria’s Seaside Cafe.
From Misquamicut State Beach, head east on Atlantic Avenue to discover the scenic beauty of the Winnapaug and Quonochontaug
salt ponds, each opening to the Atlantic Ocean via a breachway lined with rock jetties. A couple of turns later, find the rustic grandeur of the Weekapaug Inn (25 Spray Rock Rd.), a coastal boutique hotel with
onsite restaurant, a naturalist, and a Hunter boots lending library. Find yourself falling in love with Westerly and never wanting to leave? Beachcomber Real Estate Agency (10 Winnapaug Rd.) just might be able to help.
Atlantic Beach Park (321 Atlantic Ave.) is an oceanfront family center offering carnival-style rides and a century-old carousel. Weekend nights bring the Misquamicut Drive-In (316 Atlantic Ave.) to the beach, featuring classic movies under the stars.
Taylor Swift’s squad famously descends on this part of Westerly for the Fourth of July, but any day is perfect for a visit.
Stores along Bay Street and Fort Road offer beautifully curated summer shopping, from the colorful – and covetable – summer prints at Lilly Pulitzer (31 Bay St.) to nautical-inspired bags made from recycled sails at Sea Bags (101 Bay St.). Reinvent your summer style with curated resort wear from Coppola’s Boutique (97 Bay St.), swim and beachwear from Golden Collective (124 Bay St.), men’s and women’s apparel in batik prints and cheerful colors from Three Islands (99 Bay St.), the latest trends and classic fashion at Rochelle’s Boutique (117 Bay St.), and fun size-inclusive styles at RI Boutique (108 Bay St.). JC’s of Watch Hill (62 Bay St.) offers an unmatched selection of women’s swimsuits. In addition to their Franklin Street store, HŌMbädi Boutique (104 Bay St.) has a second location in Watch Hill, with a hand-selected collection of fun and functional goods for “home-bodies.”
Family-owned and open since 1887, St. Clair Annex (141 Bay St.) is Watch Hill’s iconic ice cream parlor and clam shack, with small-batch ice cream made on the premises, as it has been for generations. Another nostalgic destination, Olympia Tea Room (74 Bay St.), even at over 100 years old, continues to put a fresh spin on classic New England fare. For sweets, head to The Candy Box (14 Fort Rd.), a quintessential coastal candy shop. For the best ingredients you’ll find between two pieces of bread, Ten Sandwiches (98 Bay St.) crafts specialty sammies sourcing from local purveyors, with a raw bar and cocktails, all inside an eatery too adorable not to take pictures for the ‘gram.
Feeling luxurious? While staying at Ocean House (1 Bluff Ave.) can be pricey, the hotel is visitor friendly, especially the expansive Verandah Raw Bar that’s perfect for people-watching over cocktails. Restaurants range from more casual gastropub fare at The Bistro to seasonal prix fixe fine dining experiences at COAST. Or opt for contemporary Mexican cuisine at Dalia by Dantón Valle, and bring the family to Below Deck, a candy and ice cream shop. Watch for a host of culinary experiences at Ocean House, too, including wine and cooking classes, Sunday Jazz Brunch, lobster boils, and more.
For the art enthusiasts, be awed by the large-scale, colorful paintings on display at Jeanette Vertentes Studio (147 Bay St.), and see more fine art, from realism and naturalism to impressionism and abstract works, at Lily Pad Gallery (1 Bay St.).
East Beach is the little strip of white sand between Ocean House (1 Bluff Ave.) and Taylor Swift’s mansion. Parking can be a challenge, but it’s worth it. Watch Hill’s Napatree Point (Ford Rd.) is a popular spot for beachgoers, and it’s an important ecological preserve and wildlife refuge site for piping plovers – bring binoculars to spot birds from a respectful distance (plan your visit at TheWatchHillConservancy.org). Sandy Point was once attached to Napatree, but hurricane erosion separated the two. The 35-acre island also has a public beach and is a nature preserve.
The small downtown area of Watch Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places. Start at the Watch Hill Memorial Library (2 Everett Ave.) to learn about the area’s history. Then visit The Flying Horse Carousel (151 Bay St.), the oldest continuously operating carousel in the country, and The Watch Hill Lighthouse (14 Lighthouse Rd.), which is a 15-minute walk from downtown Westerly and dates back to 1856; its museum is open to the public in July and August. Village Park (Bay St.) is the site of the Chief Ninigret statue.
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