10 Top-Tier Restaurants to Try in Newport Right Now
Chart a course for all the seafood you can swallow, plus spicy shrimp rangoons and lick-your-plate desserts.
Giusto. / Photo by Angel Tucker
Newport might be famous for its Gilded Age mansions, pristine beaches, and bustling Thames Street, but there are definitely other reasons to give in to the tidal lure of this Ocean State spot. Namely: Cali-Mex cuisine, luxe French fare, and raw-bar hopping while you soak up the sunset over the sea. Savor all these and more as you flow down this list of seven spots that make waves in this seaside city.
Last updated on June 10, 2024.
Photo by Michael Osean
Chanterelle
Did you give in to the gluttony at this favorite French place and now you don’t feel like driving home? Book one of the Bouchard Inn’s rooms near the restaurant. Whether you’re tucking in or hitting the road, set a course for fine fare dished out prix-fixe style. The menu changes frequently, though expect a focus on luxe French connections. Think: escargot with brown butter sauce, duck breast with a zippy sauce of lingonberry and green peppercorn, and sole with a classic beurre blanc sauce brightened by chives.
505 Thames St., Newport, Rhode Island, 401-846-0123, chanterellenewport.com.
Diego’s Newport
A breezy, laid-back spot on Bowen’s Wharf, Diego’s transports diners from Newport to the West Coast with Cali-style Mexican fare combined with killer cocktails. Among the mammoth menu of street tacos, appetizers, larger plates, and shareables (that is, if you’re feeling benevolent enough to split an order of the spicy shrimp rangoons with butternut squash), be sure to try the chicken tinga quesadilla and the slow-cooked Adobo duck empanada that’s served with a side of house spicy duck gravy. And the crack fries? As addictive as they sound, with crisp, hand-cut potatoes slathered with Oaxaca cheese and garlic aioli. There’s an extensive vegan menu, too. Set your clock to island time with tiki drinks, such as the dark rum-rich Painkiller with a dusting of nutmeg, or book a mescal flight.
11 Bowens Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-619-2640, diegosnewport.com.
The Fifth Element
Not all of Newport’s restaurants are fish-and-chips-slinging, nautical-themed joints. Case in point: the sleek industrial vibe of this bustling grill, bar, and beer garden right on Thames Street. As close as you are to the sea, you can absolutely dig into an appetizer of mussels and andouille sausage in a spicy red wine tomato sauce before an entrée of today’s catch. But do yourself a favor and traipse more into turf than surf, especially the lamb poutine—a feast of hand-cut fries topped with chili oil, plus cilantro that cuts through the roasted-garlic cheese curds—and the marinated skirt steak with zippy chimichurri sauce. If the raspberry-ice martini, delighting with both Chambord and fresh-pressed raspberries, isn’t enough for dessert, spring for the famed sticky toffee pudding. You’re welcome!
111 Broadway, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-619-2552, thefifthri.com.
Franklin Spa
You won’t find stuffy white tablecloths at Franklin Spa, the casual and well-loved spot that offers a breather from tourist traffic. Like the grub at your favorite diners, the menu is a novel of nosh—huevos rancheros in grilled tortillas, grilled buttermilk biscuits topped with sausage gravy, and oatmeal with all the fixins, to name a few. Be sure to bookmark the spot for its exceptional breakfasts. The wild Texan omelet with house-made chili and cheese, for one, lassoes big flavor, while plates like the Azorean sandwich with grilled chourico, egg, onions, peppers, and cheese served on grilled sweet bread shout out the area’s Portuguese population. And the raisin-bread French toast, dredged first in cinnamon-egg batter, lives up to the “spa” name, offering full-body bliss.
229 Spring St., Newport, Rhode Island, 401-847-3540.
Giusto
Even though Giusto only opened in September 2021, it already nails stalwart flavors (see: the nettle agnolotti with lemon, watercress and ricotta from Narragansett Creamery, plus the pork loin with smoked hay brodo). As a “freestyle Italian” eatery, the ingredients often chuck the rulebook. Here, harissa (a North African spicy chili condiment) brings a welcomed kick to the maltagliati pasta with beef, and the addition of strawberry to boost the slight sweetness in the fluke crudo is downright rebellious. Pro tip: At $55 a pop, the tasting menu is a more budget-friendly way to enjoy the whole bounty.
4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-324-7400, giustonewport.com.
Courtesy Jo’s American Bistro
Jo’s American Bistro
Much like adding lobster to anything—say, Jo’s house-made, pickle-topped burger—prix fixe is a sure bet. Served Sunday through Thursday, the two-course prix fixe menu takes the guesswork out of dining by curating the house specialties for you. Pair the rich clam chowder with pan-roasted salmon, its savory-sweet kick owing to a bourbon glaze, or the shrimp served with a sea of creamy cheddar grits. At $24.95 per person (and including a glass of wine or beer), you’d be hard-pressed to find a more affordable spot to hunker down with a hanger steak that’s crowned with a dollop of house-made herb butter. And since that cinnamon-peach bread pudding is calling your name, go ahead and splurge for an added dessert. Leaving Boston means you’re basically on vacation, right?
24 Memorial Blvd. W., Newport, Rhode Island, 401-847-5506, josamericanbistro.com.
Mr. R Fusion
This newcomer from the team behind popular Pasta Beach brings surprising fusion-y mashups of American, Asian and Italian cuisines to a sleek and cozy space on Memorial Boulevard. Come hungry to share lots of small bites with the table, like risotto cakes topped with Asian pulled pork, lamb skewers with cucumber tzatziki, and fried Brussels sprouts tossed with gorgonzola and spicy mayo. Do be sure to check out the globe-trotting dumplings, too, especially the French onion soup riff with gruyere and beef. A couple of sandwiches and larger plates round out the menu, though it’s just as tempting to skip to the matcha tiramisu dessert. Heads up: the spot is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, doesn’t take reservations, and is BYOB, so plan accordingly.
7 Memorial Blvd, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-843-8127, mrrfusion.com.
The Mooring. / Photo by Annie Sherman
The Mooring Seafood and Kitchen Bar
Dropping anchor for dinner at the Mooring, set right on the historical waterfront with sweeping views of the boats, is as reliable as the tide; you can count on a delectable meal every time. Roll up your sleeves for feasts of two-pound lobsters with roasted poblano butter and fingerling potatoes, plus seafood pasta boasting pan-seared scallops and shrimp in a Calabrian chili-lime butter sauce. Or skip the stove altogether and rollick through the extensive raw bar, replete with fresh oysters, chilled white Mexican shrimp, and whole chilled lobster with all the trimmings. Indecisive/ravenous? Spring for the Poseidon’s bounty of the grand shellfish platter. And forget dessert; the lobster and shrimp fritters found in the “bag of doughnuts” appetizer might have you swearing off the sweet course all together.
One Sayers Wharf, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-846-2260, mooringrestaurant.com.
Courtesy the Quencher
The Quencher
As the name suggests, start with the drinks—preferably enjoyed on the rooftop as you gaze out at the sunset. Look to the negroni section of the creative cocktail menu for a pick-me-up in the form of the Quencher nitro negroni, which features gin, vermouth, Pilla Select aperitif, blood orange peel, and draft nitro coffee. It’s bound to fuel pub-grub adventures of cornmeal battered and fried smelt (trust us), heaps of calamari, and a meatball panino that showcases and house-made pork and beef meatball on focaccia. The Milanese with panko-crusted swordfish leans luxe, while the classic burger served with fries and a Rejects Ale isn’t afraid to get down n’ dirty.
95 Long Wharf Mall, Newport, Rhode Island, 401-324-7356, thequenchernewport.com.
White Horse Tavern
This colonial beauty sure looks good for its age. First opened in 1673, White Horse is the oldest operating tavern in the country. And with age, comes wisdom: namely, a shrewd-seafood focused menu. Starting in 1708, Newport councilors dined here and had their lunch tabs paid for by the town treasury. You, meanwhile, have to cover the $115 for the luxe caviar service—more than worth it—with all the trimmings of capers, hard-boiled egg, crème fraiche and more. The lobster bisque sings with the right glug of sherry, and the rich duck Scotch egg finds a balance with sides of zippy honey-bourbon aioli and Sriracha. It’s no surprise that the entrées lean old-school, too. Savor a beef wellington, which sees juicy beef wrapped in puff pastry and served with foie gras mousse, and a classic beef bourguignon stew served with a grilled baguette. Those two will hopefully be on the menu for another three centuries.
26 Marlborough St., Newport, Rhode Island, 401-849-3600, whitehorsenewport.com.
