Quick Hits in Newport, RI

I was about to subtitle this with Sunday Funday and it gave me a moment of cringe. Nothing about a fun little bar hop and shop Sunday in Newport, Rhode Island is cringe! I just think the term wore out its eagerness to please. The satisfaction of a midday to night bar crawl, however, has not.

For a jaunt focused on the downtown wharf area, where you are parking the car and not moving it, I’ll tell you where to eat, drink, party.

22 Bowen’s. Go for the cold lobster roll teeming with lemon mayo, chives, and romaine, on buttered grilled brioche and the mussels swaddled in a white wine, garlic, and creamy mustard broth. I wonder what is better than eating fresh seafood in steamy summer heat, (not much), add in the embrace of a Newport atmosphere — salt water and fancy rising off the brick wharf. I’m drinking a Newport Spritz because what other choice even is there. It has 22 Doli (their pineapple infused vodka), cherry and Aperol syrup, and prosecco! The Beer’d ‘Kittens + Canoes is a thirst quenching NE IPA. Giddyup.

Shop on Thames Street at The Salty Babe, Driftwood Surf Outfitters, and Groove.

The Landing with live music levels up your afternoon. Everyone down to keep the party going is here. If you need a nap before sunset, (went hard the night before at cousin Haley’s Granby, CT farm wedding!) your hotel is right here, and beckons. Sunset beers facing the marina lead the night on.

Clarke Cooke House. I feel like I’m less lets fuck our way around the menu and more demanding you order whatever I did because it was awesome. In that vein, get the Sole Lyonnaise. The way the chef folded the sautéed fish filet up inside itself and those wafer thin chips, stop everything for the Beurre meunière - a crispy brown butter sauce brightened with lemon juice and parsley.

Summer Sushi at The Candy Store (separate menu at CCH) is 100% put it on your NE Summer bucket list. With a shrimp tempura avocado interior, King salmon and lemon blossom dressing exterior, the Salmon Delight Roll is an absolute treasure. The Kanto Roll is giving and giving with fried shishito pepper, spicy tuna, hamachi, kosho mayo and tempura kanikoma. Tako (octopus) and unagi (eel) are my sushi must haves — bites like this are the lightest chewiest barely sweet umami heaven nestled in a chopstick.

For dessert, remember, no fucking around, get an espresso martini and The Snowball in Hell!! Trust!

A bathroom selfie installment coming to you from the basement. Much more exciting would be from the third floor stalls, which were bustling and shall be left a fun surprise. You’ll love the theme.

SALTWater for a casual harborside breakfast before you depart. The sunrise omelet is fluffy, loaded with spinach, peppers, onions and fontina cheese.

Thanks for the quick fix, Newport! Thanks to my mom for watching the boys an extra night. Kid free travel time is to inflate the soul. Exhale steady. Away from the routine with kids in tow hits, too — Cape bound for a flurry of July 4th activity behind us, SQM is up next, here to get after New England in her July glory days.

Hope you are enjoying all of it.

xx,