Coffee aficionados can get their fix at Reprise Coffee, which shares space with Pickerel, an intimate ramen restaurant with an ever-evolving tiny menu of Japanese-style appetizers, bowls of homemade broths and noodles, and craft cocktails. Save room for inventive sweets like sticky date, apricot, and rice sponge cake coated with brûléed toffee and toffee cream sauce, served warm and topped with rice funnel cake.
Over on Federal Hill, Loma is making waves as the stylish new gathering spot in town, where Latin charm meets modern sophistication. At just 450 square feet, this intimate bar pulses with the sounds of boleros, jazz, and salsa. Lime-washed walls radiate warmth, a custom velvet banquette invites guests to linger, and amber-hued windows cast a seductive glow. Co-owners Leishla Maldonado and brothers, Osman and Yefri Cortave, infuse every detail with their Puerto Rican and Guatemalan roots, including the elegantly curated menu of classic and signature cocktails and spirits.
Claudine, which opens in May, is set to redefine fine dining in the city. Led by husband-and-wife team Josh Finger and Maggie McConnell, both veterans of Thomas Keller’s three-Michelin-starred Per Se in New York City, this intimate spot will offer an ever-evolving eight-course tasting menu that highlights New England’s seasonal bounty with French precision. Think dishes like Pork and Point Judith Squid Raviolo with Parmigiano Reggiano, and Citrus Pavlova with campari sorbet, winter citrus salad, and young ginger paired with a thoughtfully curated selection of low-intervention, old-world wines.
The 2025 James Beard Nominations alone offer a perfect dining guide—don’t miss a single one of these standouts. A true classic, Nicks on Broadway delivers an exceptional brunch and dinner experience with its locally sourced, beautifully plated dishes. Over at Courtland Club, chef Nikhil Naiker keeps things flavorful and fresh with his “New England Tropical” menu that marries Fijian and Indian flavors with local, seasonal ingredients. For seafood lovers, Oberlin and Gift Horse (where chef Sky Hanuel Kim received a nod) bring an innovative take on coastal cuisine, while Persimmon remains a classic, elevated fine dining experience. At Jahunger, chef Subat Dilmurat is turning heads with his fiery hand-pulled noodles and bold Uyghur flavors. New Haven-inspired slices might steal the show at Pizza Marvin, but save room for the creamy, sweet, slightly savory, and totally unexpected flavors—think focaccia and mandarinquat, strawberry, and toasted rice, or hazelnut ice cream twisted with grape sorbet. Chef Robert Andreozzi and his business partner, Jesse Hedberg, are also set to open a nostalgic bar project, Club Frills, later this year.
Best things to do in Providence
As home to the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Johnson & Wales, and Providence College, the city is always buzzing with activity. Catch a PC basketball, soccer, or hockey game, tour the RISD Museum—home to over 100,000 design objects and fine art masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Picasso, and Warhol (free every Sunday)—or stroll through Brown’s historic campus, particularly stunning in spring when magnolias and cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Providence is a haven for independent shops. Bangled Tiger on South Main Street offers a stellar mix of vintage and modern clothing, while on the West Side, World’s Fair Gallery showcases original artwork from Providence artists. In Fox Point, discover unique jewelry and clothing at Nava or upscale home goods at Stewart House. On Hope Street, visit Kreatelier for custom home décor and Frog & Toad for eclectic, cheeky, locally-made finds. Food lovers will appreciate Fox Point Grocers for specialty items, Stock Culinary Goods for kitchenware and cookbooks, East Side Cheese for gourmet provisions, and Black Leaf Tea, a Black woman-owned tea shop serving up premium blends like CoCo Bae with cacao nibs and coconut flakes. The city’s thriving bookstore scene includes Riffraff Bookstore & Bar, Books on the Square, Symposium Books, and Paper Nautilus Books, where rare books, antiques, and flea-market treasures await.
