Where to Shop and Eat in Newburyport

Ice cream, lobster rolls, street performers, nautical knickknacks—they’re all here in ample supply. But this historical North Shore city also boasts more-refined charms, including buzzed-about restaurants, two new breweries, and boutiques galore. Add in the sculpture-lined Clipper City Rail Trail—a paved pathway that runs from the commuter-rail station to the downtown area—and you have the perfect mini break from Boston.

Illustration by Liz Noftle

Where to Shop

(Located in black on the map above)

A selection of housewares from Pure and Simple Home. (Photographs by Tony Luong)

1. Riverwalk Brewing Co.

Inspired by his travels through Belgium, England, Germany, and the Czech Republic, Steve Sanderson launched RiverWalk Brewing Co. a year ago with three flagship beers: Gnomad, Uncle Bob’s Bitter, and RiverWalk IPA. Stop by on Friday or Saturday afternoon for a tour, samples of these brews and others, and a growler to go. Or make a day out of it: Newburyport Brewing Company—the word “yeat,” an old sailing term used to identify Newburyport residents out at sea, appears on all of the cans—recently opened a brewery on nearby New Pasture Road.

3 Graf Rd., 978-499-2337, riverwalkbrewing.com.

The treats case at Just Dogs!

2. Just Dogs! 

Let Fido follow his nose to the display case of all-natural treats decorated to look like hamburgers and squirrels—then quench his thirst with a Bowser Beer (made with beef or chicken and malt barley). Owner Judy Hoover also offers toys, leashes, and beds.

37 Pleasant St., 978-465-8400, justdogsnewburyport.com.

3. Pure and Simple Home

“If anyone else has it in this ZIP code, I don’t want it,” says interior decorator AJ Aubrey of the products she’s chosen for her fledgling home-décor shop, which she moved from Topsfield to Newburyport in mid-May. Extra-special pieces include an antique resin horse head, a freshly reupholstered tête-à-tête bench, and funky mirrors framed with scraps from tin ceilings.

One Merrimac St., 978-479-7724.

4. Oldies Marketplace

Get your weird antiques fix between Brimfield trips at this cavernous 22-year-old bazaar on the water. Here you’ll find everything from yellowing Playboys to a coffee table made from a bellows to geode book-ends, all set to the sound-track of hit songs of yesteryear.

27 Water St., 978-465-0643, oldies-ma.com.

5. Soufflés

Come to Gina DiGiovanni’s kitchen-gadgets boutique for the Chemex coffeemakers and All-Clad stainless steel pans. Stay for the tasty granola, Nutella scones, and other from-scratch snacks (best enjoyed with an oh-so-rich frozen hot chocolate in the café).

14 Market Sq., 978-465-1523, souffles.com.

Vibrant rain boots on display at Lively Kids.

6. Lively Kids

What child doesn’t need a Grateful Dead T-shirt? New York transplant Kim Lively originally opened this hip tots spot in 2006 to “bring a little SoHo spice to Newburyport.” Upstairs, you’ll find Tea rompers, Pink Chicken sundresses, and environmentally sustainable Native shoes for the wee ones. Downstairs, the roped-off tween lair has duds from Hudson, Ragdolls and Rockets, and other popular designers, and hosts hair-wrapping, glitter-tattooing, and nail-painting parties.

15 State St., 978-465-7650, livelykid.com.

Where to Eat

(Located in red on the map above)

1. Anchor Stone Deck Pizza

After severing ties with the beleaguered Upper Crust pizza chain, former franchise owners Mark and Jenn Tramontana lowered prices and swapped out pre-made tomato sauce for the fresh stuff.

44 State St., 978-463-3313, anchorpizzeria.com. 

2. Brine

Slurp bivalves and sip bubbly at this sleek oyster bar, the second offering from the Caswell Restaurant Group, which also owns Ceia Kitchen + Bar in town.

25 State St., 978-358-8479, brineoyster.com.

Baked goods at Buttermilk.

3. Buttermilk Baking Company

A board proclaims the provenance of many ingredients at Ashley Bush’s darling bakery, where fruit hand pies are the popular order.

3 Liberty St., 978-499-8278, buttermilkbaking.com.