Eating Out In Newport Rhode Island: Top 10 Local Restaurants

One of New England’s finest summer destinations, Newport is a historical gem, world-famed for its preserved colonial architecture and scenic location. A top Rhode Island destination, Newport is also a city that excels in delivering unforgettable culinary experiences, with a preference for local seafood delicacies. We’ve updated our existing article on Newport’s top cultural restaurants to highlight the very best this seaside city has to offer.

1. Bowen's Wine Bar & Grille

Bar, Seafood

An upscale presence in the port of the city, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille is ‘a place to be seen and heard’. With open-air dining during summers, this harbour restaurant is the perfect place to spend long afternoons. The menu matches the scenic location with its acclaimed steaks, fresh-catch seafood and local-based fresh ingredients, and tempts with crispy calamari, lobster cocktail, local oysters, Atlantic salmon fillet, grilled swordfish, pan-seared cod or roasted garlic risotto.

Bouchard

Bouchard has been a reference point for over 20 years on the culinary scene of Newport when it comes to offering top French foodie experiences. A winner of TripAdvisor’s ‘Certificate of Excellence’ in 2014, this central city restaurant is also representative of Rhode Island’s fishing culture. The menu includes treats such as duck breast sautéed with a coffee crust and sprinkled with a brandy balsamic sauce, or the re-stuffed roasted lobster with a pinch of truffle and gruyere cheese, and is overall a tempting invitation for those with an appetite for delicacies.
Bouchard, 505 Thames Street, Newport, RI, USA, +1 401 846 0123

The Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant has been one of Newport’s culinary landmarks for over three decades, offering everything from ‘pub-style comfort food to modern multicultural cuisine, all served with genuine down-home hospitality’. Aiming to provide a casual, fun and contemporary experience, the restaurant is very popular for both locals and tourists, mainly thanks to its unpretentious atmosphere and fine cooking. The menu includes seasonal dishes, succulent steaks, fresh fish, a variety of pasta dishes and over 250 different wines, its extensive wine list having received the Wine Spectator ‘Award for Excellence’.
Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant, 140 Thames Street, Newport, RI, USA, +1 401 849 6334

Castle Hill Inn

With a history that goes back to 1875, the Castle Hill Inn offers one of the most refined experiences in Newport, being the first Rhode Island property invited to be a member of the world famous Chateaux & Relais family. With over 40 acres of land overlooking the Newport Harbour and the Narragansett Bay, the Castle Hill Inn was originally the summer house of a Harvard University marine biologist. This means you can indulge in some classic New England dining, cocktail in one hand and canape in the other, as you lounge on the al fresco patio overlooking the Bay and select from Castle Hill’s extensive selection of locally caught seafood. That can’t be a bad option for an evening’s dining.
Castle Hill Inn, 590 Ocean Avenue, Newport, RI, USA, +1 401 849 3800

2. Corner Café

Cafe, American, Vegetarian

With a multicultural mix of Portuguese, Irish and American influences, Corner Café is one of Newport’s most beloved venues. Aiming to offer ‘unique dining experiences’, this central café cranks out gourmet wood-grilled pizzas with state of the art recipes, like the blueberry thrill – combining ham, gouda cheese and blueberries – complemented by a great array of lunch options including a healthy zone with vegetarian and fish dishes.

3. Mamma Luisa Restaurant

Restaurant, Italian

An Italian gem on Newport’s culinary scene, Mamma Luisa Restaurant is a good find for anyone looking to indulge with delicious home-cooked recipes from this Southern European country. The menu includes the very best of the Italian cuisine, from caprese salad, seafood soup, homemade pasta with ricotta and spinach, ravioli with roasted peppers, pine nuts and cream, or tagliatelle with shrimp and sea scallops.

One Bellevue

One of the best dining places during Newport’s summers, One Bellevue is a refined and elegant restaurant, famous for its award-winning wine list, afternoon tea tradition and seafood specialties. Located in The Viking Hotel, also known as the ‘people’s hotel’ and built almost one century ago, One Bellevue distinguishes itself through its history and high popularity. The menu is based on fresh local ingredients, and tempts diners with seafood specialities like brie and lump crab encrusted salmon, sea scallops, French onion soup, Australian rack of lamb or cider-glazed half-roasted chicken.
One Bellevue, One Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI, USA, +1 401 848 4824

4. Stoneacre Pantry

Brasserie, Cafe, Restaurant, American

A recent addition to Newport’s list of great restaurants, Stoneacre Pantry has a clear standpoint when it comes to its relation with the community and the environment. With a seasonal menu based on fresh ingredients from local farms and fishermen and an overall commitment to sustainability, the restaurant is a real Newport classic. Stoneacre Pantry serves mouth-watering dishes such as smoked bluefish pate, chicken liver mousse, smoked trout deviled eggs, wild striped bass with quinoa, carrots, zucchini and lemongrass or the decadent rhubarb crumble with mint ice cream for dessert.

5. Tallulah on Thames

Restaurant, American

Dedicated to supporting local farmers and artisans, Tallulah on Thames aims to be ‘modern, fresh, local’, while delivering delicious cuisine and memorable experiences. A winner of TripAdvisor’s ‘Certificate of Excellence’ in 2014, the restaurant successfully integrates a variety of tastes from contemporary American, Italian and classical French flavours in unique and sophisticated culinary creations that keep people coming back for more. Its four- and six-course set menus are designed by chef Jake Rojas, selected as one of the ’rising star chefs’ of coastal New England.

6. The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar

Restaurant, Seafood

The perfect choice for seafood specialties, The Mooring enjoys a scenic location on Newport’s historic waterfront, with iconic views over the Narragansett Bay. With over 25 years of tradition, this kitchen and bar is unquestionably a local landmark when it comes to serving the very best seafood in town. Dishes such as swordfish tacos, crab cakes, lobster croissants, Maine lobster or Portuguese roasted cod are complemented by an award-winning wine list, gluten-free recipes and a consistently tempting dessert menu featuring crème brulee, dark chocolate brownies and sorbets.

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