While it's tempting to never leave the beach, the coast has too much to offer. Our working shortlist of the places we love — hyper-local staples, exceptional provisions for cooking at home, and the day trips worth the drive.
Tap a pin for details. Pinch and drag to explore.
The closest spot for sandwiches, made-to-order grinders, and last-minute essentials — under a minute from the heart of Matunuck. Loyal locals will tell you the Italian combo is the move; they bake their own bread.
The iconic Matunuck beach dive, perched right over the surf. Big breakfast omelets in the morning, burgers and cold drinks all day, and live music most nights — a true taste of Rhode Island summer. Open Mon–Fri 10 AM–1 AM and Sat–Sun 9 AM–1 AM.
Wood-fired Neapolitan and New York-style, made with ingredients from Campania and ranked among the top 20 pizzerias in the country. Great with kids, and the menu goes well beyond pizza — the Italian specialties and cocktails hold their own. Open Sun–Thu 11–9 and Fri–Sat 11–10.
The sophisticated, design-forward sister to Matunuck Oyster Bar. Hand-crafted pastas, a gorgeous wraparound bar, miso cod, and a pristine raw bar. Refined and climate-controlled — the move for a proper sit-down dinner. Open Mon–Thu 4–9, Fri 4–10, Sat 10–10 and Sun 10–9, with brunch on weekends. Valet parking available.
The pond-to-plate oyster spot that put South County on the food map — the kind of place where the oysters were in the water that morning. The original building on Potter Pond was lost to a fire in May 2025 and is being rebuilt, with a reopening planned for fall 2026. In the meantime, it serves under a tent across the road at 650 Succotash Rd (Sun–Thu 11:30–9, Fri–Sat 11:30–10). The tent is seasonal, so call ahead.
A Rhode Island institution. Doughboys, clam cakes, fried clam strips, and both styles of chowder. Order at the counter, sit inside or out. Open daily from 11, year-round.
A lively food hall a few steps from Narragansett Town Beach — half a dozen fast-casual stalls under one roof (tacos, ramen, pizza, smash burgers, BBQ, a raw bar) plus two full bars with cocktails, beer, and wine. Fire-pit booths, cornhole, and TVs make it an easy call when the group can't agree on one cuisine. Open late.
Dinner right on the water in a granite 1888 lifesaving station designed by McKim, Mead & White (the Breakers architects). The dining room and rooftop deck look straight out over the surf — seafood, steaks, and a raw bar, with sunsets that earn the reservation. A special-occasion spot that's still welcoming for a casual drink upstairs. Open Sun–Thu 11:30–9 and Fri–Sat 11:30–10, with the bar open later.
Family-owned since 1948, with two floors of dining rooms and big harbor views right where the fishing fleet comes in. Open daily 11–9.
A deck where the boats unload: raw bar, Point Judith squid, and lobster rolls. The deck opens daily at 11:30, and the fish market is open 9–6.
The grand bluff-top resort. Forbes Five-Star COAST is the special-occasion dinner (Wed–Sun 5:30–9), the Bistro is open daily, and there is a spa.
Worth the drive on Route 1. Roasting locally since 2009, with cold brew and seasonal lattes that earn the line. Pair the stop with Quonnie Farms right next door. Open daily 7–5.
Right by the beach. Hand-scooped ice cream, milkshakes, and waffle cones — a longtime Matunuck summer ritual. Walk-up window, picnic tables. The closest scoop when you don't want to drive. Summer only.
The kind of ice cream stand that ruins others for you. Hand-packed scoops, giant homemade waffle cones, an absurd flavor list, and a strong dairy-free selection. Walk-up windows and picnic benches. Open Mon–Thu 2–8:30, Fri 2–9, Sat 12–9, and Sun 12–8:30; call ahead in the fall.
Tucked right behind Belmont Market. Pick-your-own pieces and a serious haystack-and-truffle case. The kind of place locals bring as a hostess gift. Open Mon–Sat 9:30–5:30 and Sun 12–5.
A family-owned market that punches above its size. Excellent produce, a real butcher counter, a deli, and a bakery — the ultimate spot to stock up on prime steaks, fresh local produce, and charcuterie for a big family dinner back at the house. Open Mon–Sat 7 AM–10 PM and Sun 7 AM–8 PM.
The wine shop in the Belmont Plaza, a short walk from Belmont Market and Sweenor's. Friday and Saturday tastings, and a deeper selection than the storefront suggests. Open Mon–Thu 9–9, Fri–Sat 9–10, and Sun 10–6.
Fresh-baked breads, scones, pies, local honey, jams, and produce — plus a small gift selection. Open 8 AM–6 PM daily. Easy to combine with a coffee at Dave's.
One of the oldest continuously running summer theaters in the country — Broadway-quality musicals and children's shows staged in a restored 1933 barn, with Bistro-by-the-Sea on site for dinner or a drink before the curtain. And it's practically a neighbor: about a 15-minute walk (0.7 mi) down Cards Pond Road from the house, or 3 minutes by car. The season runs late May to mid-September (the 2027 season opens May 27). Book ahead; shows sell out.
Rhode Island's only undeveloped coastal salt pond — 787 protected acres of fields, woods, and marsh with about three miles of easy, mostly flat trails out to viewing platforms over the water. Wonderful for a morning walk: ospreys, swans, herons, and, if you're lucky, a bald eagle. The barrier beach is a piping plover nesting site. Trails are open sunrise to sunset year-round and free; contact station hours vary.
144 acres of sand and strong surf, with the Block Island ferry going by. Open year-round; the gates close at sunset, lifeguards are on duty in summer only, and no dogs are allowed.
Easy trails over glacial ridges to an ocean-view tower, and great fall birding. Trails are open sunrise to sunset; the visitor center is open daily 10–4. During fall hunting season, wear orange.
Rhode Island's Indigenous museum, with the new exhibit Revolution to Reclamation. Drop in Wednesdays 10–5 or Saturdays 10–2; other days by tour. Adults $6. A good rainy-day outing.
A small seaside village with one of the country's oldest carousels, a walkable Bay Street, and the sandbar walk out to Napatree Point. Worth a half-day, especially in shoulder season when the crowds thin. Napatree is open 24 hours and free; the carousel runs mid-June to early September.
Croissants, pecan sticky buns, and almond pastries that will reset your standards. Coffee is solid too.
The traditional ferry from Galilee to Block Island. Same-day tickets are sold only at the terminal, and cars need a reservation. In the fall there are four sailings a day (9, 11, 2:30 and 5); check the schedule before you go.
The Cliff Walk, the Mansions (Marble House and The Breakers are the headliners), Bowen's Wharf, and a sailing town's worth of restaurants. A few we'd send you to:
Open-kitchen Italian, grilled pizzas, creative cocktails. One of the easier reservations to land and family-friendly without feeling like it.
Elevated Italian on the wharf. Hand-cut pastas, an impressive wine list, and a chef's seven-course option if you want to make a night of it.
Thin, sourdough pies, a local raw bar, and an excellent cocktail program. Lively but not loud — good for a long lunch.
On your way to or from Aquidneck Island, two more worth a stop in Middletown:
The lobster roll worth driving for. Casual, counter-order spot with a seafood market attached — off the tourist track, on the way into Newport.
Newport Restaurant Group's family-friendly outpost. Focaccia and Roman-style pizzas, soft-serve, an open kitchen, and an attentive bar. Easy to pair with Anthony's down the street.
The nearest hospital, about 15 minutes inland, with a full emergency department open 24/7. In an emergency, call 911.
A working guide stays working when neighbors share what they love. Locals, business owners, weekenders — we want to hear about it.