Not a Residence, but a State of Mind

Living in little Rhody isn’t just about residency, it’s a mind state — a long, convoluted path of weird and cool chill spots and a ton of brand loyalty. If you’re new, you have a lot to learn, and if you’re a long-time Rhode-Islanduh, then you may be looking for some new stuff to do. Here is our breakdown of the 10 things that will establish that RI street cred.

10. Broadway in Newport, the self-proclaimed local district, is a strip of shops and restaurants worth checking out with lots of style and class. There are great drinks day or night at the dreamy Salvation Cafe, or you can get your ping-pong arm going on the grand patio at The Fastnet Pub.

9. Downtown Chepachet is a sweet spot to get your curio on, with all the antique and gift shops. Stop by the Brown & Hopkins Country Store for all your knick-knack needs. All the historic houses really set the tone for antiquing here, so be sure to check out the Old Post Office to find that statement piece you’ve been hunting for.

8. Visit downtown Wakefield and get your health on at Smoothy Booty Right off Main St before heading to one of the many fitness, yoga and spa locations. Or indulge yourself with pizza and ice cream at Brickley’s and their neighbor Pier Pizza.

7. Downtown Wickford is a quant little bundle of shops on the corner of Brown and Main that will really give you that small town feel right on the water. With Beach Rose Cafe and Tavern By the Sea right across the street from each other and both on the water, there is outdoor seating and a lot great food for any palate. Or head over to the shops and boutiques for some quiet afternoon shopping at Wickford Village Antiques and Grateful Heart.

6. Tiverton Four Corners is a cute, quiet intersection worth a couple hours of downtime. Start your journey at Coastal Roasters for some quality Java. Then make your way down 77 to the corners for some amazing shops and galleries like Milk and Honey, a cheese and honey shop with charcuterie and cut-to-order platters. Take an ice cream break at Gray’s for that nostalgic “no frills” feel. And breakfast, lunch or dinner, Four Corners Grille is the spot to grab the real grub.

5. Downtown Bristol is another spot great for getting your shop on, with the massive space at Second Helpings full to the brim with cool furniture on Gooding, Roxie’s Consignment boutique near the common to fill your wardrobe, and Alfred’s Consignment for a more distinguished furniture collection, including china and crystal.

4. On the East Side of PVD, you’ll find college kids by the handful who come from Brown and RISD. And with JWU just across the bridge, the shops and restaurants here cater to a young crowd with an upper class feel, without the hefty price tags. For food, head to Wickenden and check out Sakura, a Japanese restaurant with cork-fee-free BYOB and a tatami room. Or for an after-gym guilt-free binge, head around the corner to Benefit Juice Bar.

3. Downtown Westerly is boasting a cool scene that rivals PVD. Perks and Corks is a cafe in the classic meaning. It serves coffee and espresso, and when the sun goes down, cocktails, including oversized martinis. Yes, please! Flipside Pinball Bar, joining the hipster revurb of the ’80s, is a pinball bar with a quaint feel. And The Malted Barley for food is obvious when you’re in the area. Beer and pretzels always hit the spot.

2. Downtown Warren, right on main Galactic Theatre at Podsnappery, is a crazy cool menagerie of things in a single space: a micro theater, a bar, a vintage clothing shop and a music venue. This space really packs a punch, so get your butt over there! Coffee Depot, just across the street, is really the opposite with a lush, chill feel and some of the best tea (three red teas!?) and coffee options around.

1. West End is the best end, yo! West End PVD is rife with hipsters, those rowdy 20/30-somethings who love to day drink and eat weird food. There’s a constant influx of new and interesting businesses here right now, so keep your eyes peeled. Pastaio, the pinnacle of Italian food with an American flair, will really knock your socks off. Or for a more raucous night, head over to the neighborhood favorite Ogie’s Trailer Park, a trailer park-themed bar with a swanky ’50s aesthetic and a really cool patio.

Get out there and get that cred!