So many of you guys have been reaching out and asking about our favorite spots during this year’s annual trip to Newport, Rhode Island. As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve been here at least a dozen times together (and probably another 20 times separately with our friends), so we definitely have a bunch of favorites to share with you! The last few times we have stayed in Newport, we have actually rented our friend’s house — I don’t believe they rent it out to the public, it’s more just a friends and family situation… but there are SO many great rentals either on Airbnb or VRBO! There’s also so many hotels, timeshares, and bed & breakfast spots — plenty of options depending on what you’re looking for!
I’m going to just be rounding up the best restaurant and drink spots for this particular post, but I’ll be sharing a full GLAM Travel Diary to share a little more about what we’ve been doing over the last two weeks + sharing a bunch of photos on the blog next week!
BEST SEAFOOD
Midtown Oyster. Probably my favorite restaurant on this list entirely. This opened within the last 5 years and it’s been one of our favorite spots ever since. We usually will go here once or twice a trip — it’s that good. They have some of the best raw bar, an amazing selection of oysters (YUM!), and a really fun, kind of trendy menu. We always love their raw tuna (the tuna tacos right now are out of this world). We’re big on sharing small plates (so we get to try as much as possible), and this place is amazing for that!
The Mooring. It’s a classic spot with a stunning view. We love coming more for special occasions (as it’s on the pricey side), but they have an amazing raw bar tower and some of the best martinis on the island!
The Lobster Bar. For that quintessential seafood menu, I love this spot. It’s a little tucked away off the main street and right on the docks. Not only do you get a beautiful view of the marina, but you’ll be nestled away in between some of the biggest yachts! It’s so fun for people watching and great to see some of the boats come in! We love going here when we want a boiled lobster and a more casual vibe!
Fluke. Only open for dinner, this is a cozy little spot tucked away off of the main road Thames Street. It’s located on Bowen’s Warf, and you can usually make a reservation right from Open Table. I love this spot for a romantic date night — you can see the sunset from the top level of the restaurant (by the bar). We love going here and actually sitting at the bar for dinner.
The Chanler. We have celebrated our anniversary here a few times and not only is a beautiful spot — it literally looks and feels like somewhere in Europe, the food is out of this world! You can also sit on the lawn with a view of the beach while waiting for your table, so get to dinner early and enjoy!
BEST NON SEAFOOD
Perro Salado. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants of all time. My best friend also planned a big dinner here for my bachelorette party and it was THE BEST meal ever. It’s a converted old house owned by a husband/wife team. They make some of the best food around — and it’s a blend of traditional Mexican dishes and also have some fun dishes with a seafood spin.
Diegos. Another Mexican restaurant but much more casual (and with a killer breakfast menu). I love getting the breakfast burrito for breakfast and then trying a bunch of the tacos for lunch!
Smoke House. With prime real estate right on the water, it seems like it’s an odd choice next to 20 other seafood spots, but it’s SO GOOD if you love traditional BBQ. I also love the indoor/outdoor vibe — plus, it’s open late for midnight snacks!
BEST BREAKFAST/CAFÉS
Franklin Spa. No, it’s not a spa! It’s a breakfast spot with a line usually around the corner. It’s a complete throwback diner/dive and the pancakes are out of this world. Also one of my favorites? The lobster benedict! OMG.
CRU Café. A great little spot for breakfast or lunch — it’s also one of my favorite spots for a cold brew coffee!
Rosemary & Thyme. We love picking up sandwiches from here when we’re heading on a boat or to the beach! But it’s an adorable little spot that offers breakfast and lunch options — plus a huge pastry selection!
BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE SUNSET
Gurney’s Newport. This just opened last year, but it’s my favorite spot on the whole island to watch the sunset — and technically it’s on Goat Island, a small island off of Newport that’s accessible via a small bridge. The way the sun sets behind the Newport Bridge legit gives me goosebumps every single time. They have a really fun outdoor restaurant and bar called Pineapple Club (which has been around for years — Gurney’s kept the name when they took over the property). They also put out some Adirondack chairs next to the water — so you can grab a glass of rosé and watch the sunset from there! They also added a few very lucky goats on the property which just makes this place even more fun!
Vanderbilt Grace. One of the few rooftops in Newport, this one makes my list for a couple of reasons! It’s fun getting a few vantage points for sunset drinks, and this one takes you back away from the water so you get a view of the entire “downtown” Newport as well as the sunset. It’s also a cool little spot for light bites (they don’t serve entrees upstairs on the roof), so it’s mainly used a place to catch the sunset and have a drink before dinner.
The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn. We’ve been told to go here for YEARS, but unless you go on a weekday, you need to get there VERY early to grab a chair on the lawn. We were able to go on a Monday this year and avoid the big weekend crowds, and it was a really cool spot. Tons of Adirondack chairs fill the lawn overlooking the water, and you can break them up into as few or many as you need. I like this spot because it’s great for a couple or a big group.
There’s a few other spots that are on our list to tackle this week — a few recommendations from YOU! So I’ll be adding them to this list once we try (only if I recommend). Let me know if there’s anything else we should try while we’re here!
1 Comment
Charlene
July 25, 2018 at 11:40 amGreat info! Nothing else in New England compares to Newport in the summer.