Fine dining in Rhode Island includes historic restaurants offering lavish food

The food scene is thriving in Providence, RI, which means those seeking an evening of superlative food and scenic surroundings will have dozens of restaurants to choose from. Enjoy Italian-style tapas or Spanish tapas, sip wines from curated and extensive lists, order prime rib from a steakhouse or French favorites from a charming bistro. Look out over the city from a rooftop restaurant or settle in to a dinner of rustic Italian fare in a cozy neighborhood favorite spot. Sample succulent seafood from the raw bar of a waterfront restaurant or seek out something more exotic, like a European-Asian-Island fusion place right on the Riverwalk. Globally inspired menus or American comfort food, dining by candlelight or starlight: Your fine-dining choices are almost endless! For more things to do in Providence, RI, visit GoProvidence.com.

There is something to please every palate on the extensive menu at Newport Vineyards, a unique beverage and culinary destination that combines award-winning wines, fresh craft beer and farm-to-table dining experiences. Gaze out over the vines from inside and outside the taproom as you sample from its selection of reds, whites, roses and specialty wines or choose from Taproot Brewery’s IPAs, lagers and ales. The Taproot Kitchen’s menu is farm-focused, with everything from street tacos, Narragansett Bay quahog chowder and house-made pretzels to a variety of salads, artisanal cheeses, sandwiches (don’t miss the in-house-cured pastrami sandwich), pizzas and desserts. Check the website’s schedule for live entertainment offerings and special menu items that feature ingredients from the on-site culinary garden.

The dining experience at Hotel Viking is as elegant as the hotel itself. Celebrating its iconic Newport, RI location at one of the country’s most fashionable addresses, One Bellevue Restaurant is the hotel’s boutique American dinner bistro, offering guests an inviting menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, extensive wine & beer lists and creative cocktails, served in sophisticated surroundings by an attentive staff. Start with Narragansett Bay oysters, then treat yourself to Block Island scallops or a vegan cassoulet. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. In season, One Bellevue also hosts weekly Lobster Boils, weekend brunches on the patio, & occasional Chef’s Wine Dinners. The historic hotel also offers elevated bar fare & signature cocktails in its Top of Newport Bar + Lounge, with sweeping, dramatic views of Narragansett Bay and Bellevue Avenue. (The sunsets are amazing.) There’s live music every Thursday through Saturday during the season.