Great restaurants in Newport in Jan
 

Hello,

We are taking advantage of a great midweek winter special at the Castle Hill Inn in late January. Can anyone recommend any great restaurants and bars open in Jan? As well as any other off season recommendations? We are fairly local, so we've done the mansions already.

Thanks for any great recommendations,
K

In Newport, I would highly recommend Puerini's for dinner. It's excellent Italian with a flare with local fish and veal. Wednesday nights are BYOB. For decent beer and solid comfort food go to Yesterday's. The atmosphere's lacking but otherwise a fave of ours for great local beer. For the Newport scene (what little there is in the winter) you could try Asterix and Obelisk. Expensive, so-called Belgian cousine but good cocktails and apps. Also, for some off-the-beaten-path, head down Broadway and check out the following: Salvation Cafe (funky, eclectic) or Tucker's (bistro). There's a neat bar just next door to Tucker's that has a very modern and nice fire place...but think SoHo, not Newport. Good place for apps. and cocktails.

For sights other than Newport, I would venture over to Beavertail on Jamestown. There's also an excellent bakery over there...I want to say the Harvest Bakery? it's just across from the old, wooden playground right near the library. Can't miss it. Pick up some right-out-of-brick-oven foccacia and head to Beavertail for some natural sights...and/or beyond Jamestown there's Wickford. Cute, seaside, colonial village. Eateries are sorta slim but the Wickford Gourmet has some decent food or for more local color the Harborside is excellent for clam cakes and chowder. Or you could head the other direction to the East Bay and hit Tiverton-Four-Corners, Sakonnet and Westport, MA. An excellent restaurtant in Westport is The Back Eddy. Sakonnet's a vineyard/ winery with daily tastings.

I think I may have given you more info. that you asked for. My husband's from RI (Wickford) and we're there every weekend in the summer and nearly every weekend off-season. Hopefully, you'll find some of this helpful. Don't forget to bundle up! Since you're fairly local, you know how cold it can get off the water.

Was so glad to read your post. I have never been to your beautiful state, but I'm considering Chanler at Cliff to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday (end of Jan.) I don't imagine that to be the best time of year to visit. What is the ultimate time of year to visit? What about early Feb?

This is just my opinion: Ultimate time for Newport (and other Newport folks, chime in!) would be mid-to late September. Still warm, summer breezes can be found off-shore. Water's still swimmable. Sailors and summer crowd is dwindling. Eateries don't have the 45 min. wait. Since it's on the water, everything's a little delayed, season-wise. But if you stay at the Chanler, you'll get a great version of Newport anytime of year, especially since the mansions are always open. The head of the cliff walk starts at the Chanler, if your mother enjoys a stroll along the ocean. Early Feb. could be a bit tricky, though. It can be quite cold, windy or rainy.

For a wonderful evening with great food in a delightful (though eclectic ambience) try Elizabeths on Lower Thames. The menu is posted outside so you can check it out to see if you are interested. Also on lower thames is the West Deck which has a great reputation or Cafe Zelda where many locals eat.

I second Tuckers (and the Salvation Cafe) down on Broadway for dinner. Tuckers is a favorite of ours. It will be warm and inviting during what might be a cold January evening. The food is delicious and the surroundings moody and romantic!

A great bar during the season is always the Clarke Cooke House on Bowens Wharf. I don't know how active it will be off season but I've sat by the fire there with drinks for a nice night.

Don't miss Flo's clam shack across the street from 1st Beach. Though I am not a seafood eater, my husband loves to go up to the deck for oysters and clams. It is a real fun place and the best for fish & chips and raw bar. You shouldn't miss it if it is open during the winter.

You could always go for a tour of the Touro Synagogue. (see www.tourosynagogue.org) It is the oldest in the country and has some very interesting history with free tours.

Enjoy! If the day is nice don't miss the Cliff Walk. It will be windy so be prepared but you can't beat the views.