Topknot Travels | A Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island

I had the chance to take a trip with two of my oldest girlfriends a few weeks ago. We debated over where to go on a weekend trip with a few requirements: short flights (which narrowed us to the East coast), temperate weather where we wouldn’t be sweating our butts off, and somewhere none of us had been before. So we settled on Newport – mainly because it fit our criteria and there was an Oyster and Chowder festival going on on the weekend we were planning on visiting.

And truly, Newport won me over! What a cute town. When you think of New England coastal towns, I mean – this is it. We flew to Boston, rented a car, and drove down. It was a little over 2 hours on the drive down (midweek, late afternoon, just before rush hour), and about an hour and twenty minutes on the way back up (early Sunday morning).

I’m sure there’s a lot we didn’t get to do in Newport, but we packed in a few things while also making sure we had time to sit around and enjoy one another’s company without the kids running around!

To find a lot of places, we used The Newport Guide from Jess Kirby. She grew up in Newport and has a guide you can purchase that she updates regularly. Some of her suggestions even have discount codes, so it might be worth it to spend the money on it (it’s under $30).

Where We Stayed in Newport

We stayed at a hotel called The Wayfinder. It was a very cute hotel, in the lower price range, and about a 5-10 minute drive to the Bowen’s Wharf area. Sadly, they suffered a fire just 3 days after we left and have since had to close down for repairs. Such a bummer, because it was a great value, but keep them in mind for future trips to Newport.

Other hotels we considered: Hammett’s, Gurney’s, Newport Hotel.

What to Eat in Newport

We did a lot of “picando” or having small bites here and there. I will say, make reservations where you can, because a lot of places do get busy.

Matunuck Oyster Bar – This was literally our first stop. We drove straight here from the airport. Drinks were delicious, we had the oysters (duh) and the Lobster Pizza which was *chef’s kiss*.

Stoneacre Brasserie – This place is beautiful – it reminded me of a European restaurant. The decor was gorgeous, drinks were great, and food was good, too.

Belle’s Cafe – We went here for breakfast. Belle’s is in a shipyard, which is cool in and of itself. The breakfast was delicious, too. Get there early – it does get busy!

Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whisky Bar – We had lunch here and it was solid. Centrally located on Bowen’s Wharf, so it’s a great place to pop in if you’re hanging out in that area. Food is southern style, so hush puppies, wings, things like that.

Clarke Cooke House – One of the more iconic restaurants in Newport. We had dinner here and ended up shutting the place down. Food and service were great! Make reservations here as it does get busy.

Newport Lemonade – This lemonade stand opened the weekend we were there. They have frozen lemonade, spiked and alcohol-free. It makes the most delicious treat on Bowen’s Wharf.

The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn – Another iconic spot. The lawn is huge and open to the bay, and is dotted with white Adirondack chairs. The Inn is beautiful. You can just grab drinks at the bar and sit on the Adirondacks, or you can grab lunch (which was delicious) at the restaurant. Afterwards, take a walk to the lighthouse (just a 5 minute walk through an easy trail).

Bar and Board – This spot was cool because you get to build your own charcuterie board. They had some yummy and different options for cheese. It’s a good spot for a low key meal.

What to Do in Newport

Mansion Tour of the Breakers – I love to take tours of old houses. Especially ones where life was different from what it is now. We toured The Breakers – which was the Vanderbilt’s summer cottage. The cost is $29 for adults ($10 for kids 6-12) to go in and tour the house – there is an app you can download on your phone that will give you a guided audio tour. If you go this route, make sure you take headphones AND take a battery pack so your phone doesn’t die (like mine did).

Cliff Walk – This was a great physical, outdoor activity. The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile path along the rocky ocean shore. On the other side you have insanely gorgeous homes. Some of it is paved and very easy to walk – there are other parts that are more difficult. Take sneakers for this!

Boat Ride with Newport Charter Group – This was the one item on my list – a boat ride through the bay. We had a fun and relaxing ride aboard the Camelot. It’s a private 90 minute boat ride for up to 6 people and they offer them at different times of the day. They had wine on board for us. Our Captain, Connor, and first mate, Ben, really knew their history of Newport. It was a cool way to see the coast and I would 10/10 recommend it.

Bowen’s Wharf – A great spot to walk around, shop, grab a drink and breathe in the ocean air. We were there for the Oyster and Chowder Festival and it was a lot of fun – live music, great crowds, and a lot to see.

Castle Hill Lighthouse – We walked to the end of the parking lot at Castle Hill Inn and took a little path to the lighthouse. The views here are spectacular – highly recommend doing this!

Just visit Newport!

We really had such a great time, and I am already dreaming about when we can go back and visit again. Next time, I think I’ll take Eddie along and stay in a romantic Bed & Breakfast.

xoxo