Newport is having a renaissance, fueled by Gilded Age TV dramas and old-money aesthetics all over social media. But the compact coastal city in Rhode Island has been a summer playground since the early 1800s, when families like the Vanderbilts and Astors built enormous waterfront mansions as vacation homes. These days it's far less exclusive, drawing New Englanders and international visitors year-round — and it works just as well for families as for couples after a romantic coastal escape.
Food is reason enough to visit. Start the day at Cru Cafe for elevated comfort dishes, or queue at The Nitro Bar, a newer coffee-and-pastry favourite. Franklin Spa is a legendary retro diner still serving one of the town's best lunches. Bowen's Wharf makes a natural alfresco lunch hub: casual seafood at The Mooring, clam chowder dockside at The Black Pearl, drinks at 22 Bowen's, and the popular Clarke Cooke House with its ship-like interior and menu running from sushi to steak frites. Wally's Weiners is a classic cheap-and-cheerful stop on Thames Street. For something newer, Flora at the Gardiner House hotel does Mediterranean plates with harbour views, while the White Horse Tavern serves farm-to-table American food — and strong rum drinks — inside a building dating to 1673. Across the bridge in Jamestown, Beech is worth booking for dinner as the main event.
Hotels lean small-roomed but big on glamour. For Gilded Age atmosphere, try The Vanderbilt, built by a family member in 1908, or the Georgian-style Francis Malbone House from 1760. The Chanler at Cliff Walk puts you right on the famous coastal trail, Hammetts Hotel steps from the best bars, and Forty 1º North practically on the water. Even non-guests should stop at Castle Hill Inn — its Lawn Terrace, perched on rocky bluffs above a sailboat-dotted ocean, is the place for a glass of wine. Rooms get pricey, so groups and budget travellers often book Airbnbs in nearby Middletown, about five minutes from downtown.
Daytime belongs to the sea. Easton's Beach is the most convenient, Gooseberry Beach sits along Ocean Drive, and Second Beach offers a long stretch of sand with a lobster-roll concession stand. Chase it with a Del's Lemonade from the iconic truck. Time your trip for late July and you can catch the renowned Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival — buy tickets well ahead. The free, always-open Cliff Walk threads between the Atlantic and the famous Newport Mansions, which you can tour inside. On the water, Sail Newport runs try-sailing sessions and sunset sails. Rainy-day options include the International Tennis Hall of Fame, horseback riding at The Preserve, and tastings at Shephard's Run Winery inland. For evenings, there are Irish pubs like The Fastnet and O'Brien's, Pescadou at Hotel Viking with a rooftop DJ at Cap Club, and a nightcap at Midtown Oyster Bar.
Who's it for? Anyone chasing that classic East Coast summer — seafood, seersucker and sailboats — without needing a huge amount of time. The city is compact enough for a long weekend but packed enough to justify return trips.
Original source: Condé Nast Traveler