I recently returned from a lovely weekend trip to Newport, RI and enjoyed the most yummy food! Newport is definitely a foodie town, on top of being home to numerous attractions and coastal sights. You can find plenty of fresh seafood and a multitude of cuisines across the island. Newport has a little bit of everything from hip Italian restaurants, pubs/taverns, seafood, brunch, sweet treats, and lots more! If you are looking for where to eat in Newport, Rhode Island 2022, then keep on reading to find out some of my favorite spots*!
*note: the restaurants/eateries mentioned in this article are places I have personal experience with, and there are still many other restaurants in Newport that are worth trying. These are only some of the great eateries Newport is home to.
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH EATERIES
1. Root
Address: 6 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840
Root is a casual vegan eatery specializing in breakfast & lunch bowls ($9-$13.50+), juices ($9.25-$10.25), coffee ($3.15-$6.25), matcha & tea ($3-$5.50), and smoothies ($9.25). I enjoyed a delicious açaí bowl here as well as my friends! My friend also loved their lavender infused iced coffee. This is a small but cute spot with limited indoor seating, and they do take-out as well. If you are looking for a quick and healthy breakfast, I recommend checking out Root on Broadway!
RATING
- Food: 4.8
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Service/Staff: 5/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.9/5
2. Annie’s
Address: 176 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840
Annie’s has that classic diner feel serving up American comfort food and an all-day breakfast. They offer classic breakfast dishes such as benedict’s, omelettes & other egg dishes, pancakes, french toast and more! If you are looking for a basic sit-down breakfast, then I’d recommend checking out Annie’s on Bellevue Ave. The staff give a warm welcome, and the prices are reasonable. I enjoyed the crab cake egg’s benny ($16.25) and a fresh baked croissant. They also offer sandwiches, soups, salads and more classic lunch fare.
RATING
- Food: 4.7/5
- Atmosphere: 4.6/5
- Service: 5/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
3. Drift Cafe
Address: 190 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
Drift Cafe is a simple joint serving up nutritious bowls & breakfast fare, in addition to coffee & smoothies. I dined here last year during my stay in Newport, and enjoyed a refreshing smoothie bowl! They offer limited indoor and outdoor seating, plus takeout! You can have a quick and simple meal here!
RATING
- Food: 4.7/5
- Atmosphere: 4.8/5
- Service: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.6/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
4. Corner Cafe
Address: 110 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840
The Corner Cafe offers breakfast and lunch fare in a cozy setting. This BYOB joint is great for a classic brunch, and tends to get busy! I dined here last year for breakfast and enjoyed an eggs benedict. They serve up numerous breakfast specials, omelettes, breakfast burritos, pancakes and more! The benedict and burrito dishes my boyfriend and I ordered were delicious, although we didn’t feel the pancakes were anything special. The staff are friendly and the prices are fair. The menu has a lot of choices for breakfast and lunch, and they even have an entire grilled pizza menu!
RATING
- Food: 4.5/5
- Atmosphere: 4.6/5
- Service: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.6/5
LUNCH & DINNER EATERIES
5. Diego’s
Address: 11 Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840
Diego’s is a popular restaurant in the heart of downtown Newport serving up west coast-style Mexican food & a variety of drinks. This hip eatery is one of my favorites to dine at while in Newport as the vibe is laid-back, the food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable! Diego’s turns out tasty burritos ($15+), tacos ($14-$17), quesadillas ($15), dinner plates ($23-$34), appetizers to share ($11.50-$17+), guac, and more! This feel good spot tends to get crowded on weekend nights, so I recommend making a reservation in advance!
RATING
- Food: 4.8/5
- Atmosphere: 4.8/5
- Service: 5/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.9/5
6. Pasta Beach
Address: 138 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840
I discovered Pasta Beach last year during my trip to Newport, and had to return this year! Everything about this restaurant is amazing from the cute and cozy ambience, accommodating staff, amazing pasta & pizza dishes, and fair pricing. If you are looking for delicious Italian food in Newport, then I highly recommend you check out Pasta Beach! My friends and I shared a cacio e pepe tartufo pizza as an appetizer which was unique and tasty ($23). We also ordered an assortment of different pasta dishes ($17-$25+). All of their food is mouth-watering and the portions are sizable. Pasta Beach also has a nice selection of cocktails, beers and wine. I recommend making a reservation in advance as this is another very popular spot in town!
RATING
- Food: 4.9/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Service: 5/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.9/5
7. The Clarke Cooke House Candy Store/Bistro
The Clarke Cooke House has two different dining options: 1) their upscale dining room in a picturesque 18th-century building with fancy and more expensive New England fare, and 2) their Candy Store/Bistro, which is more of a casual indoor and outdoor patio setting with simple New England fare and no formal dress code. We dined at the casual bistro for lunch and enjoyed a plethora of seafood dishes and New England favorites such as oysters, clam chowder, and fish-based entrees. This comes off as more of a touristy-spot, but the food is still enjoyable and considering the location, the prices were not too crazy high! I enjoyed a simple smoked salmon sandwich ($15.75), while my boyfriend ate the tuna tartine ($16.50). The clam chowder is tasty and thinner in consistency, making it a little lighter feeling. My friend said the oysters he ordered were delicious. They also serve sushi in the bistro dining area starting at 5pm for dinner. I wouldn’t personally go out of my way to dine here, but overall, we enjoyed everything we ate and found the experience to be pleasant!
RATING
- Food: 4.4/5
- Atmosphere: 4.7/5
- Service: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.6/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.6/5
8. Newport Lobster Shack
Address: Trailer, 150 Long Wharf Mall, Newport, RI 02840
The Newport Lobster Shack is a casual dockside joint that offers fresh lobster, rolls and bisques/chowders. They offer take-out and limited outdoor picnic table seating. I did not personally dine here, but my friends grabbed a lobster roll with 6 oz of meat ($29) and a clam chowder ($7), and said everything was delicious! Lobster rolls are pretty pricy, but these are a little more reasonable compared to other spots in Newport. They said it is a good amount of lobster meat on the roll, and the chowder has that nice thick/creamy consistency. If you are looking for a quick and casual lobster dish, I would check out the Newport Lobster Shack.
RATING
- Food: 4.7/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
DESSERT & SWEET TREATS
9. Newport Fudgery
Address: 359 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
The Newport Fudgery is a local candy store on the popular Thames Street. They offer in-store shopping for many sweet treats including a variety of fudge flavors, elephant ears, and chocolates. We purchased three different fudge flavors (3 for $12), and especially loved the oreo crunch!
RATING
- Fudge: 4.7/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
10. Newport Sticks & Cones
Address: 8 Fair St #4, Newport, RI 02840
Newport Sticks & Cones is an old-fashioned looking ice cream parlor slinging scoops, sundaes, waffles, and more!
RATING
- Ice Cream: 4.6/5
- Service/Staff: 5/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
11. Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is always a classic, and they have two locations in downtown Newport. We went to the one on Thames Street and enjoyed some scoops of familiar flavors! While this is a chain, it’s always a reliable option for ice cream. Half baked is my favorite flavor (and dirt cake is tasty too)!
RATING
- Ice Cream: 4.7/5
- Service/Staff: 5/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
12. Del’s Frozen Lemonade
Address: 337 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840
Del’s frozen lemonade is worth the hype! They have a little food stand inside one of the shopping areas on Thames Street, and offer their fresh, all-natural frozen lemonade in three different sizes ($4-$6). So refreshing on a hot summer day!
RATING
- Frozen Lemonade: 4.9/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
Eateries I Would Also Look Into
Below is a list of Newport eateries that I have heard good things about and seen positive reviews for, but did not have a chance to dine at and would personally like to try:
- The Red Parrot Restaurant (google rating: 4.4/5)
- Address: 348 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
- American – $$
- Wide menu with tavern & pub options, New England grub & more
- Menu
- no reservations – first come first serve
- Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant (google rating: 4.6/5)
- Address: 140 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
- American – $$
- Cozy watering hole with eats including nachos, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, steak, salads, seafood & more, plus over 250 wine vintages
- Menu
- Mamma Luisa Ristorante Italiano (google rating: 4.5/5)
- Address: 673 Thames St, Newport, RI 02840
- Italian – $$$
- Intimate restaurant with classic Italian fare & wines
- Menu
- Bar ‘Cino (google rating: 4.6/5)
- Address: 22 Washington Square, Newport, RI 02840
- Italian – $$
- Laid-back, trendy restaurant & bar serving up Italian specialties such as grilled pizza, salads, bruschetta, pasta, entrees etc…
- Menu
- I dined at Bar ‘Cino in Brookline, MA last year and enjoyed the food and ambience
- The Dining Room at Castle Hill Inn (google rating: 4.6/5)
- Address: 590 Ocean Drive, Newport, RI 02840
- Fine-dining ($$$)
- Upscale dining at a fancy inn
- Tasting Menu (multiple courses) style (over $100/pp)
- Menu
- The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar (google rating: 4.5/5)
- Address: 1 Sayers Wharf, Newport, RI 02840
- Seafood – $$$
- Upscale seafood destination with outdoor dining and views of the Narragansett Bay
- Surf & Turf, sandwiches, salads, soups, appetizers, raw bar etc…
- Menu
