Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island

With air travel on pause, we’ve been turning to road trips this summer to satisfy our wanderlust.  If you live in the Northeast, Newport, Rhode Island is just a few hour drive away and it is pure magic. Here is why this city by the sea should be your next weekend getaway!

Where we stayed:

Located just 5 minutes from downtown Newport, The Wayfinder Hotel was the perfect place to spend the weekend. This boutique hotel is dog friendly, so bring your furry best friend! They just opened in May 2020, so the decor is modern and everything is in pristine condition. The hotel took every precaution to make us feel safe and welcomed. All guests are required to wear face masks in public areas and daily housekeeping is only provided if requested in advance.

Access to the pool is currently by reservation only, but we never had a problem getting our pool time in. The best part is that there is poolside bar service! Try the Rum Punch or the Lit Juice (yes, that’s really it’s name) which is a yummy spin on a margarita.

A few other highlights are the on-site coffee shop, all-day eatery Nomi Park, and daily happy hours with cocktails, wine, & local craft brews.

 

Where we ate:

Nomi Park - Upon arriving at The Wayfinder, we stopped at their on-site restaurant Nomi Park for lunch. We enjoyed the spicy calamari as an appetizer and the tuna melt, grilled gem salad, and Nomi Park burger as our mains. It was delicious and the perfect meal after a road trip! The restaurant also offers a raw bar by the pool and in-room dining service.

Scarpetta - Located at Gurney’s Resort on Goat Island, Scarpetta is an iconic Italian restaurant that not only offers an amazing menu, but picturesque views. You can enjoy your meal outside on their waterside deck near the marina. We highly recommend the burrata or octopus as starters and their signature Short Rib and Bone Marrow Agnolotti as your main- think ravioli, but 10x better.

You can’t leave Gurney’s without experiencing some of the best views in Newport. After dinner, we headed to the hotel’s lawn just in time to watch the sunset over the Pell Bridge and capture some amazing pics.

 

 Diegos - Mexican food may not scream “Newport,” but we’re always down for tacos! This casual west coast style Mexican restaurant is right on Bowen’s Wharf, has indoor and outdoor seating, and makes amazing margaritas. We had the fried chicken tacos and the loaded nachos- yum!

Corner Cafe - This is the most popular breakfast spot in Newport and always has a line, but it is so worth the wait! The extensive menu is loaded with options, from pancakes to breakfast burritos and everything in between. You’ll be so stuffed, you may even skip lunch as we did.

Belle’s Cafe - Located at the Newport Shipyard, Belle’s Cafe is a hidden gem. As soon as you enter, you’ll be fascinated by the mega-yachts that surround their outdoor seating area. It’s very casual- you go inside to place your order and then they give you a pager so you know when your food is ready. We recommend the “Slammin’ Shipyard Sandwich” or the buttermilk pancakes.

The Black Pearl - The Black Pearl is a Newport staple and the perfect spot for waterfront dining or to enjoy cocktails. They have Frosé- need we say more? Try their award-winning clam chowder or the lobster salad (SO good!) as an appetizer and their shrimp scampi or prime sirloin steak for dinner.

The Hungry Monkey - Previously on the Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise”, this diner-style restaurant is perfect for brunch. The vibe is really relaxed and you can eat inside or outside. They do not serve alcohol, but it’s BYOB! We recommend their stuffed monkey style french toast or any of their omelettes.

 

 

What to do:

Downtown Newport - Explore the popular downtown streets including Thames Street, Broadway, and Bellevue Avenue which are lined with retail shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Cliff Walk - A trip to Newport is not complete until you visit this world-famous walk! The 3.5-mile-long walk starts as a paved trail where you’ll pass famous mansions like the Breakers and then it turns into a rocky shoreline. Bring sneakers!

 

Newport Mansions - One of the most popular things to do in Newport is to tour the Newport mansions! We visited the Breakers which is the largest of the mansions and was once the Vanderbilt’s “summer cottage.” Other mansions include The Elms, Marble House, and Rosecliff. You can purchase tickets for a single mansion, but if you plan on visiting more than one, we recommend buying a combination ticket.

Easton Beach - Located right at the beginning of the Cliff Walk, this is the largest public beach in Newport with 3/4 mile of sand and a boardwalk. It’s walking distance from many parts of town, but there is also plenty of parking available. After hitting the beach, cool off with Del’s Lemonade, a New England staple.

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