Providence Guide
We love this city and want you to love it too. Here are our favorite spots to eat, drink, explore, and shop during your visit.
Modern American fine dining and our reception venue. Come back for date night.
Try the tasting menu.
Waterfront Italian spot with wine, salumi, cicchetti, grilled pizza, and a full upstairs dining room. One of our absolute favorites.
Get the bolognese.
Parisian-inspired downtown restaurant with rotisserie dishes, seafood, and a polished neighborhood feel.
A reliable dinner pick near downtown.
Stylish downtown restaurant and bar with American and Mediterranean-inspired dishes and cocktails. Dear friends of ours, Meg and Kris, just got married after meeting here.
Fun for dinner that can turn into drinks.
Providence classic known for Italian cooking, riverfront charm, and its famous grilled pizza.
Order the grilled pizza.
New American restaurant in a restored gatehouse on the Seekonk River with a warm, special-occasion feel.
Lovely for dinner by the water.
Cozy Wickenden Street bar and bistro with whiskey, cocktails, oysters, burgers, and shareable plates.
Great for drinks and snacks.
A Parisian-inspired cafe and bakery downtown with pastries, coffee, brunch, and a warm neighborhood feel.
Go for coffee, pastries, or an easy wedding-weekend brunch.
Providence's favorite local bakery. Outstanding pastries, bread, and coffee.
Grab a chocolate almond croissant.
European-style bakery in Wayland Square with pastries, coffee, and beautiful desserts.
Perfect for a morning pastry.
College Hill cafe and bakery with coffee, matcha, specialty lattes, and handmade croissants.
Try one of the specialty lattes.
Mediterranean-inspired boutique bar with creative cocktails, moody design, and small plates. This was our first-date drink spot.
A great cocktail stop downtown.
Intimate craft cocktail bar known for inventive, seasonal drinks.
Ask for the bartender's pick.
Cozy West Side cocktail bar with a neighborhood feel and a strong classic-drink menu.
Good for a relaxed nightcap.
Classic cocktail lounge on South Main Street with a warm, intimate feel.
Stop in before or after dinner nearby.
Comfortable cocktail bar in the historic John Updike House with music, low lighting, and smooth drinks.
Known for a laid-back cocktail vibe.
World-class art museum run by the Rhode Island School of Design. Genuinely impressive.
Free on Sundays.
Walk the Mile of History, one of the most beautifully preserved Colonial streets in America.
Perfect for a fall morning stroll.
Social gaming playground inside Providence Place with team challenge rooms, puzzles, and physical games.
Best with a small group.
Indoor electric go-karting and entertainment complex with karting, axe throwing, arcade games, and more.
Worth the short drive if you want go-karts.
Providence's main shopping corridor with boutiques, galleries, and local shops.
Stop in at Symposium Books.
Downtown shopping mall with national retailers, dining, and entertainment options.
Easy option if the weather is not cooperating.
Beloved indie craft boutique carrying handmade goods from local artists.
Perfect for one-of-a-kind gifts.
Independent bookstore in Wayland Square with a curated selection and neighborhood feel. Paige's favorite.
Browse here, then wander the nearby Wayland Square shops.
Historic independent library on Benefit Street that welcomes visitors to explore the building and collections.
A quiet, beautiful stop on College Hill.
Have questions about Providence?
Reach out. We're happy to give more personalized recommendations based on what you're into. We know this city well and love sharing it.