Does the history and romance of the waterfront town of Newport call to you? Totally understandable, there are many reasons that a visit to Newport is on this Ultimate New England Bucket List! Touring the gorgeous Gilded Age mansions, strolling the romantic Cliff Walk, and exploring the city will definitely build up your appetite. You’ll find all of the best restaurants in Newport RI in this post.
You’re in luck because Newport has a phenomenal selection of restaurants within its boundaries for you to check out; you’ll even find one of New England’s best vineyards just up the road at Newport Vineyards if a day at the winery spent sampling and sippin’ on some vino sounds like a good time to you!
Wherever your cravings take you, your taste buds are sure to be pleased at any one of these great places to eat in Newport, Rhode Island!
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White Horse Tavern
The oldest tavern in the United States is also one of Newport’s best places to eat, and once you visit White Horse Tavern for yourself, you’ll see why! Beautifully housed in a National Historic Landmark on Marlborough, White Horse Tavern has fused the original Colonial tavern aesthetic with a comfortably upscale, contemporary look.
The dress code isn’t formal per se, but they do ask that guests aim for smart casual, with no athletic wear, hats, sleeveless shirts, or distressed denim. White Horse Tavern is dinner only, and reservations are recommended as space is limited, but you’ll also find outdoor patio seating in the warmer months.
To complement rich and savory crowd favorites like the Beef Wellington and the Lobster Mac and Cheese, White Horse Tavern also offers a full bar and generous wine selection. For a delicious taste of the history of Newport, look no further than White Horse Tavern!
Boru Noodle Bar
Asian-fusion style Boru Noodle Bar brings big flavor to Broadway, with exciting choices like the Tokyo Tater Tots featuring soy mayo, furikake, and sriracha, and the Crispy Brussels with kimchee puree and soy caramel… yum. But that’s just for starters, because the mains at this noodle bar are… well, noodles!
No one does ramen in Newport better than Boru, so bring your appetite over to this trendy hipster-esque noodle bar and enjoy a glass of beer, wine, or sake with your bowl o’ noodles. Whether you choose to sit indoors or out on the little patio, consider ordering the Pork Buns; they’re kind of a big deal at Boru!
Castle Hill Inn
Okay, it’s obvious that Newport is Romance Goals for couples, but a dinner at The Dining Room or The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn is the pièce de resistance if you’re planning a romantic Rhode Island getaway!
The Dining Room is a Forbes Four Star restaurant that offers a formal fine-dining experience in the airy and bright wood-paneled Dining Room, but you can also experience the Castle Hill Inn’s gourmet goods in a less formal setting at The Lawn, where you can dine al fresco and enjoy the salty breeze blowing in off the water.
There are so many excellent choices for what to eat while staying at Castle Hill Inn, but guests absolutely rave about the Lobster Roll at The Lawn; what could be better than enjoying this creamy New England staple and a cocktail from Castle Hill Inn’s full bar with those fabulous Newport Harbor views in the background? Don’t forget to walk the footpath to the Castle Hill Light, one of the loveliest lighthouses in Rhode Island.
Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant
Located on bustling Thames Street, Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant is the place to go when you’re looking for a great taste of Newport in a fun, quirky setting. The walls of this pub are adorned with an eclectic mix of historical, nautical paraphernalia that will give you plenty to take in during your lunch or dinner.
Rhode Island seafood staples like oysters and clams are popular here, of course, but you can also find a wide variety of pub food like burgers, pizza, and sandwiches that can’t be beat! Bon Appetit called Brick Alley’s Lobster Roll one of the best in America, but you’ll have to judge for yourself there.
Plus, not only has Brick Alley been voted Best Restaurant, but it’s also been voted one of the Best Bars in Newport; swing by to see why!
Corner Café
One of Newport’s favorite brunch stops, Corner Café serves up a diverse assortment of entrée options with Portuguese, Irish, and West Coast influences that meld together to make delicious creations like the Blueberry Thrill wood-grilled pizza with smoked ham, caramelized onions, blueberries, Swiss and smoked gouda.
While there are many lunch and dinner options for you to choose from in this cute and cozy café, the breakfast menu is hard to beat with showstoppers like the Stuffed Portuguese French Toast, filled with berries, bananas, and sweet cream.
Corner Café has a wood-burning stove inside to cozy things up, and outdoor seating if you’d prefer to enjoy the sights and sounds of their bustling Broadway location while sipping on one of their famous lattes or your favorite BYOB during your Corner Café brunch.
Perro Salado
Located in the historic Decatur House on Charles Street, Perro Salado is the Newport go-to for inspired Mexican dishes that are upscale, inventive, and oh-so-delicious, like their ever-popular Lobster Quesadilla with buttery lobster, creamy cheese, and fresh-shucked corn.
Perro Salado has a gorgeous dining room with a warm ambiance that is complimented by the cozy corner bar and welcoming wood-burning fireplaces. In addition to the unique finds on the menu (sweet and spicy Sticky Pork Ribs are another crowd favorite), Perro Salado is also well-known for their incredible margarita menu, featuring margarita flights (both horizontal and vertical) and specialty margaritas like their Cilantro-Jalapeno margarita; how’s that sound for a kick?
Red Parrot Restaurant
Housed in a beautiful three-story historic building on bustling Thames Street, Red Parrot Restaurant is bright, airy, and has a menu that is heavy on the seafood that Newport is so well-known for.
Red Parrot has many clever lobster features like the Monsta Lobsta’ BLT on toasted basil focaccia and the ever-popular Lobster Nachos featuring sweet garlic sauteed lobster baked with a sun-dried tomato pesto cream, mozzarella, and monterey jack over crispy tortilla chips and garnished with scallions.
Aside from the fabulous food, the other big draw to Red Parrot is the drink menu! Their full bar can make you most anything you want, but check out their frozen drink menu, where you’ll find specialty drinks like the Swedish Fish featuring Lunazul tequila blended with triple sec, lime juice, sour, bananas, raspberries, and whipped cream until you have yourself a near-perfect taste replica of the candy, and a darn fine “dessert” drink!
Restaurant Bouchard
For a fine-dining experience in Newport, it’s hard to find a better spot than Restaurant Bouchard on Thames. Gourmet French cuisine is served in an atmosphere of classic elegance and sophistication, and the dress code is strictly enforced with no jeans, t-shirts, tank-tops, sneakers, or flip flops, so be sure to dress to impress at Restaurant Bouchard.
Look forward to savory starters like Asparagus and Lobster in flaky Puff Pastry, and expertly prepared entrees like the Filet Mignon, topped with crushed peppercorns in a Brandy Cream Peppercorn Sauce… oh, my!
The wine list at Restaurant Bouchard is extensive, but the crown jewel of the Restaurant Bouchard experience is the Grand Marnier Souffle, a dessert that has taken on local legend status; just a quick heads up, you have to order this sumptuous souffle in advance, so plan ahead!
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
One of Newport’s historic waterfront mainstays, Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar is the place to go to enjoy the finest fresh-caught seafood with those heavenly harbor views that Newport is known for.
Warm up by the fireplace in the dining room in the winter months, and sit on the outdoor patio to enjoy the sunset over the harbor in warmer weather, but either way, you might just find something on the menu to become your new Newport favorite, whether it’s the Lobster & Shrimp Fritters with chipotle-maple aioli, the Spicy Seafood Linguine, the classic beer-battered Fish & Chips, or one of the other Mooring Seafood crowd favorites!
Pick your favorite adult beverage from the full bar and tuck into the delicious delights of this seafood kitchen at Sayers Wharf, but try to save a little room for the Limoncello Cake with creamy limoncello-mascarpone filling; can’t go wrong with such a sweet, sweet ending, right?
Annie’s Restaurant
Looking for the best brunch in Newport? Head to Annie’s on Bellevue, where breakfast is served all day in this quaint and cozy diner! You’ll find all the usual breakfast suspects on the menu, but Annie’s is best known for its Benedicts, like their Eggs Fatulli, an English muffin with sweet lobster meat, eggs, and hollandaise sauce.
If you’re looking for more lunch fare than breakfast, Annie’s has a great selection of sandwiches, soups, and other local faves, including their oh-so-scrumptious Lobster Mac n Cheese. Annie’s is BYOB, so in addition to your appetite, bring your favorite beverage along with you, too!
There are a ton of amazing restaurants in Newport, but these are some of the top-rated places to eat in this seaside city. Have fun on your Newport getaway and enjoy the eats and the atmosphere of these great restaurants in Newport!
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Amy Hartle is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of New England With Love, a comprehensive resource for travel in the New England region. Amy has been exploring New England since 2001. She lived in Vermont for many years and is a graduate of Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Amy has been writing about travel for over a decade. On this site, Amy aims to share her love of New England and help you to have the best possible adventures!
Amy has been a full time blogger since 2012, and is also the publisher of Two Drifters, where she writes about couples travel and relationships, as well as Let’s Adventure Baby, a family travel site. When not traveling the world or creating epic blog content, Amy can be found cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.