Home to grand Gilded Age mansions and a historic yachting culture, Newport is the epitome of a centuries-old New England resort town. Beyond the opulent estates and shipyards lies a city begging to be explored for its arts, history, and culinary and drinks scene. Rhode Island’s first distillery since the 19th century, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., is based here, and the city has evolved from old-world tradition to a wide range of new dining, drinking, shopping, and entertainment options.
One of the benefits of vacationing in a state this small is that so many of its attractions are within walking distance or a short drive away. And at just three hours from New York City and about an hour south of Boston, Newport is a destination that everyone who loves to eat and drink should put on their must-visit list.
Day One
Newport offers many lodging options, from quaint bed & breakfasts to luxury resorts and everything in between. If you’re looking to stay at an architectural masterpiece from the 1920s, but with completely modernized suites and a renowned spa, then you’ll want the Hotel Viking. And on one of the many wharfs in Newport Harbor, the newly opened and already award-winning Hammetts Hotel boasts one of the best locations in the city. Or if you want something off the beaten path, The Attwater with its all-day café and thoughtful privacy is the boutique hotel for you.
Start your first day in Newport bright and early, because the pastries sell out fast at Le Bec Sucré. It’s a quick drive into neighboring Middletown for one of the best boulangeries this side of the Atlantic. Then head back into Newport for a stroll along the world-famous Cliff Walk. Take in ocean views while passing some of the grandest mansions in America, whose back lawns sweep toward you in the direction of the sea. If an outdoor stroll isn’t your thing, tour the interior of one of the many luxurious Newport Mansions.
Head back into Middletown for lunch at Mission, a burger and dog spot that’s anything but fast food. If you’re in the mood for some shopping, head next door to Mission’s sister retail store Utility, where you can find a wonderfully curated selection of cooking and houseware products.
By now it’s time to visit a distillery, and this one also happens to be a brewery. Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. began in 1999 and just completed a total renovation of its facility. Sample Sea Fog American single malt (91 points) and Sea Fog rye (90 points) straight or in a variety of co*cktails. You’ll want to taste their Thomas Tew rums as well. Check out Newport Craft’s core Rhode line of beers, or try some from its sister brewery, Brooklyn’s Radiant Pig.
After your distillery visit, take a 20-minute drive three towns away—Rhode Island is a super small state! Cross the Mount Hope Bridge into Bristol for a distillery with one of the best co*cktail programs around. O’Brien & Brough is tucked away in a renovated mill building, and it specializes in whiskey. Its Cherrystone rye is a blend perfect for co*cktails, and the distillery always has some seasonal releases that are barrel aged in everything from locally produced wine barrels to Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and limousin oak cognac casks.
Before leaving Bristol, walk across the courtyard from O’Brien & Brough to Pivotal Brewing Company for one of the widest selections of beer styles in the state. Its wood-paneled tasting room is comfortable and attractive—a great place to chill for a while.
Go back over Mount Hope Bridge and into Newport for something unique at The Vanderbilt, an Auberge resort that houses a whisky tasting room entirely dedicated to The Macallan. The Reserve Room offers an extraordinary collection of Macallan single malts, including limited releases. Reserve a private Into the Cask whisky tasting or mixology class. Or play a game of billiards while decoding some of The Reserve Room’s hidden features.
Time for dinner, and what would fit this trip better than dining at a winery and brewery? Newport Vineyards and Taproot Brewing Co. in Middletown also happens to be home to James Beard-nominated Best Chef Andy Teixeira. Teixeira sources everything he can on-site in Newport Vineyard’s fields and greenhouses or from nearby farms and producers, all thoughtfully paired with Taproot’s beers. Don’t miss the quahog chowder, a famous Rhode Island-style clam chowder.
It’s time for a bit of bar hopping, and you’ll find an excellent selection of spirits and co*cktails at two hot spots on Broadway in the center of town, just yards away from each other. Caleb & Broad offers a list of about 50 whiskies from Ireland to Kentucky, along with bar snacks if you feel like nibbling. Malt isn’t specifically whisky-focused, but has an extensive co*cktail menu that is always being updated. Try a Malt Whitman, featuring bourbon, cherry brandy, maple syrup, and black walnut bitters for a very New England nightcap, or a Banshee, featuring Woodford Reserve, sour cherry gin, and pomegranate.
Day Two
Begin the day with some island hopping en route to another Rhode Island distillery. Cross the Newport Bridge to the island of Jamestown for a warm and welcoming breakfast at Village Hearth Bakery & Cafe. It’s a cozy coffee oasis with some amazing breakfast sandwiches. After you’re fortified, head to the southern end of the island to Beavertail State Park for one of New England’s most spectacular locations. You can just take in the view, or walk down onto the rocky coastline of the Narragansett Bay and look out at the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
Cross yet another bridge and head to South Kingstown, home of Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. Since releasing its first bottling, Uprising, in 2011, founder Michael Reppucci and his team have crafted a variety of American single malts. Sons of Liberty also offers flavored whiskeys produced with all-natural ingredients, and the tasting room features a wide range of co*cktails.
On the way back into Newport stop by Point Wine & Spirits to shop their impressive selections. You’ll want to ask what rare bottles they’ve procured from collectors or have gotten barreled exclusively for Point. Next, stop for lunch at Stoneacre Garden, and make sure you reserve a table on their rooftop for some views almost as good as the Asian-influenced dishes.
If you’re up for a few more bar visits, Buskers Pub on Newport’s main thoroughfare claims to have the largest whisky selection in town. A good part of that selection is Irish, and there is a good array from Scotland too. A few blocks away is Bar and Board Bistro, one of the most acclaimed co*cktail bars in Newport. As the name implies, enjoy a variety of fine cheeses and charcuterie, or perhaps something from the raw bar, as you imbibe one of Bar and Board’s custom creations.
For another good whisky selection, this one leaning a bit more American, cross the street to Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar. In addition to a huge choice of bourbons, there are also plenty of ryes, along with some special reserve whiskeys. You may be tempted to grab another bite, but you’ll want to make sure you’re hungry for dinner at TSK, a boutique steakhouse focusing on peak local ingredients. Because of its passionate attention to seasonality, the menu at TSK changes frequently. There are always plenty of seafood and vegetable choices available, but if you love beef, you’re not going to want to miss their custom-cut rib eyes.
Bring your evening to a relaxing close with a drink on the expansive deck at Giusto, overlooking the harbor. Order a crafted after-dinner co*cktail or a neat pour of a whisky digestif and raise a glass to toast farewell to this beautiful city. It’s a perfect way to end a fun-filled two days in the Ocean State gem that is Newport.
