There are many great options, but these are my favorite restaurants in Newport, Rhode Island after eating our way through the city for four days. My family is all about the food, so when I was meticulously planning this trip I only chose restaurants with 4 or more stars on Yelp. One thing to note is that some of these restaurants were closed Sundays, Mondays, and/or Tuesdays, so definitely double-check the hours before you go!
BEST COFFEE
Empire Tea & Coffee
empireteaandcoffee.com // @empireteaandcoffee // 4 stars on Yelp
My family tried Nitro Bar (very trendy and aesthetic) and Simple Merchant Coffee (less touristy) in Newport, but we ended up liking Empire Tea & Coffee best! We went to the Broadway location twice. It’s a pretty big space, so you could sit there with a laptop and get work done. There was also a printer and games in the back.
My family really liked their coffees. I ordered an iced Red Velvet latte the first time, which was terribly sweet and I couldn’t finish it. The second time, I ordered a hot chai tea latte with oat milk and it was good! They also have some breakfast sandwiches that looked good and randomly have boba drinks.
BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
Cru Café – must order: tater tots
crucafenewport.com // @crucafe // 4.5 stars on Yelp
While Corner Cafe is the most popular place, if you don’t want to wait, go to Cru Cafe! Cru Cafe doesn’t have sweet breakfast options, but it hits the spot if you like eggs and breakfast sandwiches/burritos! It’s up on Bellevue Ave, so it seems slightly less touristy than the places on Thames St. It’s super casual. You order at the counter and then bring your number to your table. We got there at 10:35am on a Thursday morning. There was a line to order, but it went quickly.
The best part about Cru Café is how affordable it is. You won’t find better value than this in Newport! I got the Loaded Avocado Toast comes with 2 eggs, tomato, and bacon for $8.95! Unheard of!! My family also got the Bellevue Burrito without the tortilla (very tasty), The Casino (biscuit was fluffy and delicious), and Not Your Average BLT (delicious). The Yelp reviews said the tater tots were the thing to get, so we got a small side of Classic Tots for the table, and they were indeed golden and crispy!! The dipping sauce was some sort of chipotle aioli and was addicting. The small was enough to share between the four of us.
Drift Café – must order: a smoothie bowl and almond butter
driftnewport.com // @driftcafenpt // 5 stars on Yelp
This is a trendy little cafe on Thames street near a lot of touristy shops! It’s known for its smoothies and smoothie bowls, but also has a few eggs dishes and bowls. It was closed on Mondays which we weren’t expecting, but we just went back on Tuesday.
There are only a couple tables inside and outside, so don’t plan on sitting down or making this your brunch spot with a big group of people. A lot of people ordered to-go. The service was a little slow, but everything was super fresh!
We got the Mother of Dragons and Sailor’s Sky smoothie bowls. The Mother of Dragons was refreshing, but the coconut flakes and chia pudding didn’t provide a whole lot of flavor, and I wouldn’t recommend it. My sister added almond butter drizzle to the Sailor’s Sky smoothie bowl, which made all the difference! The portions were pretty large, so share if you aren’t too hungry! We also got the Berry Good smoothie which was fruity and yummy. The Farmer’s Scramlet was also good, but nothing special.
BEST LUNCH
Midtown Oyster Bar – must order: octopus or tuna tacos
www.midtownoyster.com // @midtownoysterbar // 4 stars on Yelp
We made an OpenTable reservation for noon for lunch on a Monday, although I don’t think we needed one since there was plenty of room. We were seated upstairs in the flag room which was really cool and looked like there was a lot of history. Since this is a seafood restaurant, obviously the menu was mostly seafood.
We ordered the octopus, tuna (raw), and cajun fish tacos. They each came in sets of 2 tacos. The tuna came in a hard shell, while the other ones were in soft tacos. They were a little messy but very tasty! My dad tried the chicken chopper salad, which was fine.
You can order bigger seafood platters to get like 20 oysters, but we just ordered individual oysters since we only wanted to try them. They were $3 each and came with some vinegar and lemon. If you have any allergies, definitely tell your waiter when you order. If you’re allergic to crab, like my mom, there’s cross-contamination with the oysters so you can’t have any of those :/
BEST DINNER
Malt – must order: Thai shrimp nachos
Malt On Broadway Facebook page // @maltonbroadway // 4 stars on Yelp
Malt might not look as fun as The Fifth Element bar & grill across the way, but the menu is way better if you’re looking for a great dinner!
We started with the Thai Shrimp Nachos which everyone on Yelp recommended and they were so full of flavor, I wish they came in a bigger size! The Fish and Chips were also some of the best we’ve had, and we’re from Seattle. The portion of fish was huge and it had a light fried coating. It came with jojos instead of regular fries, and a small side of coleslaw.
We also had the seasonal Peach Salad, which also had arugula, watermelon, and feta. It was a nice and light summer salad. We also ordered Grilled Steak Panini and upgraded the side to truffle fries, which were nice and crispy but didn’t taste that much like truffle so would not recommend. The Pan Roasted Cod Risotto was also creamy and good. The fish was light and flaky. For dessert, we all just shared the Malt Bomb, which was a decadent way to finish off the meal. The service was truly fantastic and I would definitely recommend Malt if you’re coming to Newport!
Jo’s American Bistro – must order: dessert
josamericanbistro.com // @josbistro // 4.5 stars on Yelp
We made a reservation via Open Table for dinner on a Monday at 6:30pm. There isn’t a parking lot, so you just have to find street parking nearby. We found a spot along Bellevue Ave where the meters were free after 6, so that was nice.
They have a prix fixe menu Sunday-Thursday where you get a glass of wine, soup or salad, and an entree for $20.95 which is kind of insane considering the quality and amount of food you get! Three of us did just that and ordered the mixed greens salad and clam chowder. Then for the entrees, we tried the pork, chicken piccata, and the bbq shrimp and grits. The portions for the starters and entrees were fairly large. The sweet potato mash with bacon, shaved brussel sprouts, and onion jam that came with the pork was one of the best parts of the night. The chicken piccata was tasty. The bbq shrimp and grits were flavorful and a little spicy. I also ordered the scallop appetizer to come out as an entree which came with gnocchi, tomatoes, and peas. The scallops were big and juicy and the appetizer portion worked well for an entree for me.
For dessert, we got the peach bread pudding and the olive oil cake which came with a fruit medley. SO GOOD. Overall, it was such a nice meal! Definitely check out Jo’s if you’re visiting Newport for the first time, you won’t be disappointed!
Brick Alley Pub – must order: bacon jammy jam burger
brickalley.com // @brickalleypub // 4 stars on Yelp
While Brick Alley Pub may look cute and trendy from the outside, it’s truly a family-friendly restaurant on the inside with quirky old-timey décor inside. The menu is pretty large and everyone should be able to find something they like. Definitely call ahead and make a dinner reservation a few days in advance because they do get full, even on weekdays! We ended up waiting for about 40mins on a Tuesday night for a table for four. While we were waiting outside, a man walking past us said it was worth the wait and he was right!
To start, we got the Ahi Tuna Sliders which were absolutely delicious! The fish itself was very flavorful and the wasabi cream definitely had a kick to it. If you don’t do spicy/wasabi, don’t order it. We also got the Portuguese Littlenecks which came with 10 clams in a big bowl with sausage, onions, and green bell peppers. It was a lot of food!
For dinner, many Yelpers recommended the Bacon Jammy Jam Burger, and they were so right! Bacon, bacon jam, and brie = a standout from other burger places for sure. The Beef Short Rib Sandwich and the Classic Hot Italian Sandwich (open-faced sandwich) were also amazing. They are made with soft garlic baguettes, need I say more? Also, the sweet potato fries were thick and crispy, some of the best we’ve ever had.
Service was friendly and well-paced. The portion sizes were large and we were so incredibly full, we couldn’t even look at the dessert menu. If only we had more time in Newport, I’d definitely come back to try more things!
White Horse Tavern – must order: Crispy Heritage Pork Belly
whitehorsenewport.com // @whitehorsetavern // 4 stars on Yelp
When in Newport, eat at the oldest restaurant in America! We made a reservation via Open Table a few weeks in advance and there weren’t many options, so we ended up with a 5:45pm reservation on a Wednesday night. There is a small parking lot in the back of the restaurant that fits about 10 cars. We easily found a spot at 5:20pm and there were plenty open when we left around 7pm as well.
The service was nice and quick! While the menu isn’t that extensive, everything we had was great, starting with the complimentary bread that comes after you order. They were warm rolls with whipped butter. My dad doesn’t eat a lot of carbs, but even he had to dig in.
For appetizers, we started with the Crispy Heritage Pork Belly which was my favorite bite during our whole time in Newport, Rhode Island! 10/10 would recommend! We also got the Crab Cake which was pretty big, but nothing spectacular. The sangria had lychee in it and even I thought it was yummy!
For the entrees, we got the Beef Wellington (yum), Crispy Duck Breast (also yum if you like duck!), and the Lobster Mac and Cheese (rich and decadent, big portion). I wasn’t feeling like eating a ton of meat, so I got a couple of appetizers as my entree. The cup of Rhode Island Clam Chowder was a clear broth chowder, which I’ve never had before. It was alright, but I think I prefer creamy chowder. The Heirloom Tomatoes & Burrata were fresh and good as well. Lastly, we ordered a side of Parmesan Truffle Fries which were nice and salty and truffley! The only thing on the dessert menu that sounded good was the bread pudding, but they were out, and we were too full to want to order anything else.
BONUS RHODE ISLAND DINNER REC:
If you go to Providence, you must get Italian food at Massimo!
Massimo – must order: Pizetta Gorgonzola & Fig
massimori.com // @ilmassimorestaurants // 4 stars on Yelp
We were lucky and found a parking spot on the street right across from the restaurant, but they also have valet parking. We got to the restaurant around 5:20pm on a Thursday and thought there would be a happy hour situation. However, the bar downstairs didn’t look very lively, so we just sat in the first-floor dining room for an early dinner. A lot more people started coming in around 6pm, so I think it would be best to make a reservation on OpenTable, especially if you have a larger group for dinner.
Everything on the menu sounded incredible! There was complimentary focaccia bread and olives, so that was nice to nibble on. For appetizers, we got the Caesar Salad, which came with sardines on top and something about the dressing was just too strong, so I didn’t really care for it. The Pizetta Gorgonzola & Fig was fabulous!! We were expecting it to be a small thin flatbread, but it was a full-on 10 or 12-inch pizza! Definitely enough to share between 4-6 people. The Caprese Salad was nice and bright. My mom also enjoyed the sangria!
For dinner, we got the Burrata Ravioli, the Short Rib Gnocchi, and the Veal Tenderloin. Everything was amazing! We were absolutely stuffed, but we grabbed the Tiramisu to go to eat later back at the hotel, and it was super light and tasty!
Overall, the service was well-paced and our waitress was very friendly! Definitely a highlight of my time in Rhode Island!
RECOMMENDED:
4 Easy Breezy Beautiful Days in Newport, Rhode Island
The Best Fast-Casual Restaurants in Los Angeles
Pin it!
