Brenda’s guidebook
My favorite restaurants
Please don't rely on my recommendations as our tastes may differ; this is just a guide - I always turn to Yelp for others input.
One of our favorite restaurants for a burger, great glass of wine, martini sitting at the bar downstairs or upstairs. Cozy.
24 locals recommend
Jo's American Bistro
24 Memorial Blvd WOne of our favorite restaurants for a burger, great glass of wine, martini sitting at the bar downstairs or upstairs. Cozy.
Definitely one of our favorites. Pub style but food you would find in higher end restaurant. Love to sit at the bar. Always crowded and a favorite with the locals.
69 locals recommend
Pour Judgement
32 BroadwayDefinitely one of our favorites. Pub style but food you would find in higher end restaurant. Love to sit at the bar. Always crowded and a favorite with the locals.
We are members of Newport Restaurant Group and this is one of our favorites in this collection of restaurants. The Boat House in Tiverton also part of this group and another restaurant where we like to sit at the bar.
117 locals recommend
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
1 Sayers WharfWe are members of Newport Restaurant Group and this is one of our favorites in this collection of restaurants. The Boat House in Tiverton also part of this group and another restaurant where we like to sit at the bar.
I just stumbled upon this establishment. Incredible pastries, cookies and coffees.
7 locals recommend
The French Confection
72 E Main RdI just stumbled upon this establishment. Incredible pastries, cookies and coffees.
They have their restaurant on Franklin St. in downtown Bristol. Creative sandwiches. Awesome breads and pastries. Nice place to sit and relax with a fresh brewed coffee and sweet. Be patient if you order a sandwich...can take some time but worth the wait!
9 locals recommend
The Beehive Pantry
87 Gooding AveThey have their restaurant on Franklin St. in downtown Bristol. Creative sandwiches. Awesome breads and pastries. Nice place to sit and relax with a fresh brewed coffee and sweet. Be patient if you order a sandwich...can take some time but worth the wait!
In the heart of downtown Newport. Fun place with great food. Love the architecture.
98 locals recommend
Midtown Oyster Bar
345 Thames StIn the heart of downtown Newport. Fun place with great food. Love the architecture.
Close to our cottage so very convenient. We hadn't been there in years but went back this year. The restaurant has been beautifully and tastefully redecorated and the food is just amazing. Many of our guests have been going there and provide very positive feedback.
30 locals recommend
15 Point Rd.
15 Point RdClose to our cottage so very convenient. We hadn't been there in years but went back this year. The restaurant has been beautifully and tastefully redecorated and the food is just amazing. Many of our guests have been going there and provide very positive feedback.
This is one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy on an early weekend morning. Fresh homemade muffins with a view over a marsh to Buzzards Bay. This is about a 30 minute drive max from the cottage and next to Horseneck Beach; my favorite beach if you walk way down to the quiet ends.
This restaurant also serves amazing food for both lunch and dinner. My favorite though is sitting outside on hot summer days.
44 locals recommend
The Bayside Restaurant
1253 Horseneck RdThis is one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy on an early weekend morning. Fresh homemade muffins with a view over a marsh to Buzzards Bay. This is about a 30 minute drive max from the cottage and next to Horseneck Beach; my favorite beach if you walk way down to the quiet ends.
This restaurant also serves amazing food for both lunch and dinner. My favorite though is sitting outside on hot summer days.
The restaurant is owned by a long time friend. She is an amazing chef and such a joy to be around. This is not far from Horseneck Beach, Westport Vineyards, and Buzzards Bay brewery. There are great launching sites nearby for kayaks.
16 locals recommend
Westporter
1031 Main RdThe restaurant is owned by a long time friend. She is an amazing chef and such a joy to be around. This is not far from Horseneck Beach, Westport Vineyards, and Buzzards Bay brewery. There are great launching sites nearby for kayaks.
They have a large outside patio and serve a great breakfast. Our guests have taken a bicycle trip there. Liquor license so can enjoy a mimosa with your breakfast.
15 locals recommend
Graziano's 501 Cafe
501 Park AveThey have a large outside patio and serve a great breakfast. Our guests have taken a bicycle trip there. Liquor license so can enjoy a mimosa with your breakfast.
A local favorite of many including me. Located in a historic structure with loads of charm.
22 locals recommend
DeWolf Tavern
259 Thames StA local favorite of many including me. Located in a historic structure with loads of charm.
I have only gotten takeout pizza from this restaurant. Unique, fabulous but tough getting through on the phone during COVID. Many of my friends also love this restaurant.
28 locals recommend
Pomodoro Pizzeria
271 Wood StI have only gotten takeout pizza from this restaurant. Unique, fabulous but tough getting through on the phone during COVID. Many of my friends also love this restaurant.
Frank and I visited this restaurant 2 times over the summer 2020 and truly enjoyed the setting and the food and cocktail selections.
25 locals recommend
Bywater
3129 54 State StFrank and I visited this restaurant 2 times over the summer 2020 and truly enjoyed the setting and the food and cocktail selections.
Recommended Places to Visit
I do tend to gravitate toward Newport these days but Little Compton, Bristol and New Bedford, MA also have so much to offer in history, natural environments, great food and more.
Blithewold gardens and mansion are located in Bristol. You can check out their website for additional information but the gardens that extend down to the bay are wonderful to tour.
Blithewold
Blithewold gardens and mansion are located in Bristol. You can check out their website for additional information but the gardens that extend down to the bay are wonderful to tour.
I love to be outdoors and on the water. You can get both here. Walk the full path and return to your car along Bellevue Ave. and you can peek in the wrought iron railings into the yards of some of the most gorgeous mansions.
301 locals recommend
Cliff Walk
117 Memorial BlvdI love to be outdoors and on the water. You can get both here. Walk the full path and return to your car along Bellevue Ave. and you can peek in the wrought iron railings into the yards of some of the most gorgeous mansions.
Tour the mansions of Newport. The Breakers would be the first one I would recommend touring.
112 locals recommend
Newport Mansions Preservation Society
424 Bellevue AveTour the mansions of Newport. The Breakers would be the first one I would recommend touring.
Will be heading there soon as I have an event there in April. I have read only highly positive remarks about this museum.
30 locals recommend
Newport Car Museum
1947 W Main RdWill be heading there soon as I have an event there in April. I have read only highly positive remarks about this museum.
This car museum is amazing. They have so many cool events planned in the coming months. I follow them on Instagram. Jay Leno is a car guy who now resides part-time in Newport and he will be engaged in some of these upcoming events. Very cool!!
47 locals recommend
Audrain Automobile Museum
222 Bellevue AveThis car museum is amazing. They have so many cool events planned in the coming months. I follow them on Instagram. Jay Leno is a car guy who now resides part-time in Newport and he will be engaged in some of these upcoming events. Very cool!!
Beautiful grounds for hiking. Farmer's market on Saturday's. Refer to website for additional details.
26 locals recommend
Mt Hope Farm
250 Metacom AveBeautiful grounds for hiking. Farmer's market on Saturday's. Refer to website for additional details.
I took visiting family here a few months ago and was so impressed. I hadn't been here since I was a little girl. Highly recommend. New Bedford's cobblestone streets are fun to wander along. Great pubs to visit. This was once the wealthiest city in the USA.
108 locals recommend
New Bedford Whaling Museum
18 Johnny Cake HillI took visiting family here a few months ago and was so impressed. I hadn't been here since I was a little girl. Highly recommend. New Bedford's cobblestone streets are fun to wander along. Great pubs to visit. This was once the wealthiest city in the USA.
Great vibe; check out summer concert series. Wine pretty good too!! They also own Buzzards Bay Brewery.
Westport Vineyards
Great vibe; check out summer concert series. Wine pretty good too!! They also own Buzzards Bay Brewery.
Fun and great beer too!!! They always have special events so check out their web site for the latest!
46 locals recommend
Buzzards Bay Brewing
98 Horseneck RdFun and great beer too!!! They always have special events so check out their web site for the latest!
Incredible gardens...well worth the visit!! Public accessway to the waterfront and end of Cory's Lane. Park there and stroll the rocky waterfront.
33 locals recommend
Green Animals Topiary Gardens
324 Corys LnIncredible gardens...well worth the visit!! Public accessway to the waterfront and end of Cory's Lane. Park there and stroll the rocky waterfront.
Jazz on the weekends. My favorite Local white wines in the region.
40 locals recommend
Greenvale Vineyards
582 Wapping RdJazz on the weekends. My favorite Local white wines in the region.
New Bedford was one of the wealthiest cities during whaling days. Great museum. Cobblestone streets to wander with many restaurants and pubs to visit.
108 locals recommend
New Bedford Whaling Museum
18 Johnny Cake HillNew Bedford was one of the wealthiest cities during whaling days. Great museum. Cobblestone streets to wander with many restaurants and pubs to visit.
A local favorite for picking seasonal fruits. They have a restaurant and a small grocery store. Visit their website for additional details.
68 locals recommend
Sweet Berry Farm
915 Mitchell's LnA local favorite for picking seasonal fruits. They have a restaurant and a small grocery store. Visit their website for additional details.
Food scene
This is a new restaurant on the Bristol foodie scene and has been highly recommended to me by some of my guests and all my friends. Still haven't made it there but is on my short list.
Rivers & Rhodes
382 Thames StThis is a new restaurant on the Bristol foodie scene and has been highly recommended to me by some of my guests and all my friends. Still haven't made it there but is on my short list.
City advice
Don't miss
Beach access
In Common Fence Point, all property owners own the 42 acres surrounding the peninsula. There are many points of access to the waterfront beyond the path across from our house. If you bicycle or drive to Sakonnet Drive there is a grassy area where you can park and enjoy the sandy beach. Put 160 Sakonnet Drive in your direction app to get there. Parking directly across from that house. Very close.
Don't miss
Sachuest or Second Beach in Middletown, RI
Long stretch of sandy beach. Free parking after certain hours - varies. Gorgeous views of the ocean and St. Georges up on a hill overlooking the beach. The Town of Middletown website can provide additional details.
Don't miss
Horseneck Beach, Westport, MA
This is a very long stretch of sandy beach about 1/2 hour drive from the cottage. Owned by the State of MA. This is my favorite beach. Free after certain hours to park - do a search on web for additional details.
Don't miss
Saturday Farmers Market at Mt. Hope Farm Bristol, RI
I think this is just in the morning hours. Mt. Hope Farm is a great place to hike also. Web search will provide additional detail.