What to do on your next weekend in Newport, Rhode Island
Please note, this post is sponsored by Gilded Hotel – we were gifted a stay.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, of course!
Oh, little Rhode Island. You may be the smallest state, but you pack one heck of a punch.
And by punch, I literally mean the kind you drink.
The Ocean State is great for its proximity to the ocean, sure. But it’s also great for it’s oceanside spots and beachy cocktails.
It’s also great for early morning yoga, midday walks, seafood (OYSTERS!), beach hangs, and so much more.
Newport, Rhode Island is one of the most beautiful cities. It’s old, historic, and just downright charming.
It’s like the Charleston of the North! At least, I think it is.
A Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island
Whether you’re simply exploring the possibility of visiting Newport or are actively planning a trip to the tiniest state’s oasis, here’s how we spent two days in Newport, Rhode Island.
Day One in Newport, Rhode Island
Day one in Newport was primarily spent getting there. We flew in to Boston early so that we could grab some breakfast and coffee at a favorite local spot before picking up our rental car and driving down to Rhode Island.
Naturally, we fueled up after our morning flight with Tatte in the Seaport first, and hopped in the car for a rainy drive. We didn’t have too much time to explore because we were heading to town for a wedding, but we did have just enough time to marvel at our hotel – more on that soon! – and walk a bit.
Midtown Oyster Bar
We wanted to stretch our legs after flying and driving, so we stretched our legs right on down to Midtown Oyster Bar for…you guessed it….OYSTERS.
I’m an oyster fan, a huge oyster fan at that, and so it was only fitting that we snag a half dozen as soon as we made our way back up to the Northeast.
Gilded Hotel
Let. Me. Tell. You. Gilded is a dream. Every Lark Hotel I’ve been in has been a dream, but Gilded Hotel was….especially special. Our room was HUGE, and so refreshing. It felt cozy and spacious all at the same time. If we weren’t in Newport, I would have opted to stay in that room all weekend!
The hotel is filled with so many fun surprises, like a bright pink and purple parlor, a dimly lit billiards room, and a sweet walkthrough with bistro tables for breakfast. I can’t say it enough – if you’re going to Newport, be sure to check out Gilded.
OH and they even host a BYOB mixer in the evenings where they display fun recipes to make featuring classic and unique mixers, and accoutrements. All you need to do is bring the booze!
Once we had some downtime, it was time to get ready for the wedding we were attending! Which, despite the cold weather, was a total blast.
Day Two in Newport, Rhode Island
We happened to be in Newport for a wedding on Mother’s Day weekend. Which, typically, could have been tough. However, that meant that we were in New England just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day with both of our moms! Perfect, right?
Early morning yoga
So, we kicked day two off with an early morning yoga class at Thames Street Yoga (my new secret for keeping the imbibing to a minimum at weddings!). Their drop-in rate is super affordable, so I highly recommend you check out a class if you’re looking to stretch after/before traveling.
22 Bowen’s
After class we made our way back to Gilded to freshen up for brunch at 22 Bowen’s. Y’all, the menu at 22 is DELICIOUS. I’ve been twice now and the restaurant has more than impressed me both times. Our A+ server even knew that one of the cheeses on the cheeseboard had animal rennent, which she promptly told my mom when she mentioned she eats a vegetarian diet (rennent is not vegetarian-friendly, if you’re a strict vegetarian).
Nitro Bar
After brunch, we needed to walk off that full feeling so we made our way to the newly opened Nitro Bar! I had been to their little Providence location, but the brand spankin’ new Newport location happened to open the weekend we were in town. Kismet.
I wanted to get 3 coffees after how tired I was post-brunch, but stuck to just one. It was delicious. You must go there if you’re in town.
From coffee, it was time for our moms to head home so we went back to the hotel for a little break from the sun in advance of our al fresco drinks later that evening.
Castle Hill Inn
Fast forward to pre-dinner and we were craving an ocean view, so we put on our weekend finest and ventured to Castle Hill Inn, where the drinks are flowing and the ocean views are plentiful.
Castle Hill Inn is…how do I put it precisely…..picturesque.
The lawn is lined with white Adirondack chairs, where you can catch the sunset with a spritz in hand. It truly doesn’t get better than that. We had a few drinks, then made our way back downtown for dinner, which was I was anxiously awaiting.
White Horse Tavern
For dinner, we walked down to White Horse Tavern, after a recommendation from a friend back in Boston. It was built before 1673 and is believed to be the oldest tavern building in the United States. How nifty is that!? The food was divine, the atmosphere was dark and cozy, and I basically never wanted to leave.
Alas, we decided to leave on our own terms instead of finding ourselves kicked out after closing, so we walked around a bit and landed on grabbing a drink at a nearby bar.
Bar and Board
Said nearby bar was beautiful! If you get the chance, swing by Bar and Board. The cocktails were unique, strong(!), and inspired by Newport’s heyday. We snagged a bar seat and enjoyed our last evening in Newport before hopping back on a plane to Atlanta.
Getting there
If you’re flying into Boston or Providence and making your way to Newport, it’s easiest to rent a car, if you can. If not, there are some bus lines that get you there, but it’s not the most ideal. There’s lots to do in downtown Newport, but if you want to see the castles (and anything outside of that main part of the city), you’ll want a car or to utilize a rideshare.
Are you heading to Newport anytime soon? I hope you have the very best time!
g.
