A vibrant community of young chefs makes Providence the perfect getaway for foodies looking to add a little flavor to their palates. The tiny capital with big taste buds offers an abundance of restaurants with plenty to keep you busy between meals.
Shop
Head to Thayer Street and lose yourself in vintage stores, boutiques and unique coffee shops. Be sure to check out the collection of vintage cowboy boots at NAVA.
Eat
For lunch, head to Federal Hill — Providence’s Little Italy — and watch your pasta be made by hand in the front window of Trattoria Zooma before heading in and trying it for yourself. For dinner, reserve a seat at the bar of Nick’s on Broadway and watch chef Derek Wagner work his magic in the form of delights like skillet-roasted Block Island striped bass and and vanilla-lime panna cotta with malted crisp. Channel your inner European and wash it down with a Pimms Cup done right. Also, don’t miss the gourmet-hip experience of The Red Fez. This tiny, dim-lit food Mecca is a trendy place among locals who love to feast on the indulgent menu of chef Ed Reposa. Don’t leave without trying the mac and cheese with cheddar, swiss and smoked gouda. Hint: add chourico. Your late night craving for something greasy and perfect is covered by Haven Brothers food truck, parked at Fulton and Dorrance Streets.
Drink
Order a cocktail and dance with Providence socialites at Tazza, a lounge that feels more like a small club. If
dive bars are more your scene, check out Scurvy Dog, a favorite among local hipsters. Or, check out
McBride’s Irish Pub, one of the newest additions to Wayland Square. The
bar, which shares its building with a funeral home, offers a nightly
pause at 10 pm when patrons lift their glasses in memory of the
departed.
See
Providence is well known for its famed WaterFire art installment by Barnaby Evans. The incredible sight is made up of a series of bonfires that grace the surface of the three rivers that flow through downtown. WaterFire lights up the night several times a month from May to October.
Sleep
There are plenty of hotels for resting your head in Providence, but perhaps none as charming as the centrally located Biltmore. The staff at this 292-room hotel will go above and beyond to make your stay memorable and comfortable. The grand lobby offers a glimpse of aristocratic life in Providence as the city’s whose who’s shuffle in and out.
The triple murder burger was featured on “Man vs. Food.”
Enjoy Providence’s delicious, fresh seafood like this Point Judith Squid and Narragansett bay mussels with local tomato-sweet pepper broth and garden herbs from Nick’s on Broadway.
