Since being setted in 1636 and incorporated in 1832, Providence has had many lives. It’s been described as everything from a beehive of industry, to the jewelry capital of the world, to an armpit on the way to the Cape. It’s been branded the Renaissance City and rebranded The Creative Capital, and recently got some major shout-outs in both Vogue and CNN Travel by East Side-based writer/photographer Christine Chitnis. No matter what anyone calls us, we’ve always known Providence is the greatest city in the world.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

The aim of this guide is to encourage exploration across the city; it is not a directory, so listings provided are just the tip of the iceberg of the many wonderful and unique small businesses you will find in Providence, Rhode Island! Please let us know your favorites by tagging Providence Monthly social accounts and using #heyrhodyphotos

GETTING AROUND

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is a system of buses and trolleys providing low-cost transport around the city and state with the hub currently located at Kennedy Plaza. Buses are bike-friendly, and there are vanpool options, handy for commuters. Connecting carriers include departure points for Peter Pan and Greyhound bus lines. Visit RIPTA.com to easily access maps, or download the WAVE app to pay for bus fares with an Earn As You Go feature. For riding the rails, Providence Station (near Providence Place Mall) is served by Amtrak and the MBTA, and has the charming Cafe La France inside!

Dining

The word “craft” easily and aptly describes Providence’s restaurant scene, which makes sense for such an art-infused city. Without pretension, everything from coffee to cocktails, brews to baked goods, burgers to bibimbap, and pizza to pistachio ice cream sandwiches (on Madagascar vanilla cookies) is executed with artisanal flair. Whether you’re seeking cozy, elegant, eclectic, or grab-and-go, PVD’s cafes, restaurants, bars, and more satisfy a variety of palates and price points.

COFFEE

Bolt Coffee

Cafe Choklad

Cafe Zoey

Coco’s Cafe & Bar

Dave’s Coffee

Little City Coffee & Kitchen

New Harvest Coffee & Spirits

The Nitro Bar

Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Bar

The Rose Room

Small Format

• Founded to be a welcoming hang-out for the queer community, Small Format hosts events like group knits, speed dating, and art exhibitions. Hot coffee, cool cocktails, and “weekend brunchy specials” keep everyone coming back. 335 Wickenden Street

Small Point Cafe

Seven Stars Bakery

Sydney

White Electric

COCKTAILS

345 by Plant City

The Avery

Bellini at The Beatrice

The Boombox

Cafe Italia

Capri Seafood

Clementine Cocktail Bar

The Eddy

Glou

The Industrious Spirit Company Tasting Room

Justine’s

Kimi’s

Layali Restaurant Bar

Marcelino’s Boutique Bar

Needle & Thread

Ogie’s Trailer Park

The Red Door

The Royal Bobcat

Sarto

Tiny Bar

The Walnut Room

• Admirers of dramatic interiors (take note of chiaroscuro, art students) will delight in the dimly lit Walnut Room, where gilded touches and velvet furnishings create the kind of shimmering drama one craves while sipping a cocktail, glass of port, or Super Bock. 245 South Main Street

XO Bar

BREWERIES

Buttonwoods Brewery

• Exposed brick painted in a pattern of gold and black and assorted wood furnishings make Buttonwoods’ enormous new taproom feel like a coveted neighborhood rec-room. Vinyl spinning, delicious lagers and ales, and tasty pub grub confirm: this is where it’s at. 50 Sims Avenue

The Guild PVD Beer Garden (through October)

Long Live Beerworks

Moniker Brewery

Narragansett Brewery

Origin Beer Project 

Providence Brewing Company 

Trinity Brewhouse

Union Station Brewery

PIZZA

Antonio’s Pizza

• Antonio’s is the perfect place to explore new toppings with 30-50 different pies at the ready, including gluten- and dairy-free options. In addition to the classics, discover unique mash-ups like the Potato Cheddar, Chicken Parm, and Artichoke Pesto. 256 Thayer Street & 125 Wickenden Street

Caserta Pizzeria

DownCity Pizza & Sandwiches

Fellini’s Pizzeria and Cafe

Figidini

Flatbread Company

Hotline Pizza

Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza

Nice Slice

Pizza J

Pizza Marvin

Pizza Pie-er

Providence Coal Fired Pizza

Sal’s Bakery

Sicilia’s Pizzeria

SWEETS

Aleppo Sweets

Feed the Cheeks

KNEAD Doughnuts

L’Artisan Cafe & Bakery

Madrid European Bakery and Patisserie

Oak Bakeshop

Pastiche Fine Desserts

PVDonuts

Sin

• Look for the sign featuring a red three-layer cake with a devilish tail and you’ve found Sin. While the bakeshop is known for its custom cakes, you can also take a seat at the bar to enjoy bakery treats, coffee, and cocktails! 1413 Westminster Street

ICE CREAM

Big Feeling (opening soon)

Helado Taiyaki

Kow Kow

• Sugar or waffle cones are standard options, but head to Kow Kow for fresh bubble waffles holding scoops of ice cream that are as yummy as they are pretty to look at and easy to hold. 120 Ives Street

Like No Udder

Newport Creamery

Tizzy K’s Cereal Ice Cream

Tricycle Ice Cream

The Wright Scoop

GLOBAL EATS

Apsara Asian Restaurant

Casa Azul Taquería

Den Den Café Asiana and Den Den Korean Fried Chicken

Dolores

Haruki East 

Hometown Poké & Bubble Tea

• Hometown Poké & Bubble Tea is the ideal place for a mood reset. The interior is bright and welcoming, and the menu is filled with colorful raw bowls (and veggie options) that make eating healthy look easy and delicious. Don’t miss the cute merch. 185 Camp Street

India 

Kin Southern Table & Bar

Lamei Hot Pot

Los Andes

Mokban Korean Bistro

The Village PVD

Viva Mexico Cantina Grill

Wok & Pot

Y Noodle Bar and Y Shabu Shabu

Xaco Taco

WHAT'S NEW

Black Leaf Tea Cafe

Deadbeats

Strive Kitchen + Bar

Frank & Laurie’s

• Chef Eric Brown recently opened his highly anticipated Frank & Laurie’s. An homage to his grandparents, it’s designed to be a neighborhood lunch spot, but this is not your nana’s luncheonette! Dinner served on Fridays. 110 Doyle Avenue

Gift Horse

Irregardless Biscuit

Juniper Bar

Maven’s Delicatessen

The Patio on Broadway

Providence Vegan Deli

There, There

ICONIC EATS

Al Forno

Angelo’s Restaurant

The Capital Grille

Cafe Nuovo

Costantino’s Venda Bar & Ristorante

Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches

• Grilled chicken, melted Muenster, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and Shedd’s sauce (a horseradish-mayo) on a bun make up our namesake sammie, and you can only order a Providence Monthly at Geoff’s. It’s the place to get 90 types of unique sandwiches and a complimentary pickle from the barrel for over 40 years. 401 South Main Street

Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen Italian Restaurant

Olneyville New York System

The Sandwich Hut

Shop

For those who enjoy getting their shop on, you can’t do better than Providence. There are stores for all kinds of styles – from fancy to funky, affordable to pricey – featuring famous labels and one-of-a-kind handmade finds. The city’s streets were designed long before the automobile, resulting in a layout that is compact and wonderfully wonky, which means shopping districts tend to have businesses sprouting like mushrooms off main thoroughfares, so don’t overlook Rhody Gems that could be nestled in the smallest of side streets. We’re looking at you, Traverse, Peck, and Mathewson streets.

APPAREL

Berk’s Shoes & Clothing

Capucine

Garbolino Boutique

Green Ink Boutique

J. Marcel

• Whether you are looking for a new pair of jeans, a pretty dress, or sparkly earrings, J Marcel has it all and then some. This women’s boutique, which just turned sweet 16, is a reliable source of cool gifts and accessories, relaxed atmosphere, and of course, The Back Room – a treasure trove of discounted items, samples, and much more. 808 Hope Street

LOLA

LuLi Boutique

Marc Allen

Mrs. Robinson

NAVA

The Nest

Pretty Snake

Stewart House

Queen of Hearts and Modern Love

BOOKS & RECORDS

Armageddon Record Shop

Books on the Square

Brown Bookstore

Heartleaf Books

Lovecraft Arts & Sciences

Olympic Records

Paper Nautilus Books

RAH-Coco’s Collectibles

Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

• On the corner of Valley and Delaine streets in Olneyville, you’ll find The Plant, a historic mill complex turned mixed-use development, and inside is Riffraff. This bookstore, cafe, bar, and event space always has something going on, thanks to Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann, who are preparing to celebrate their first anniversary as owners. 60 Valley Street, Suite 107A

Stages of Freedom

Symposium Books

HOME, GIFTS & MORE

Adler’s Design Center & Hardware

Asterfields

Balé Homewares

• It’s so nice to have a furniture store downtown again, especially when pieces are handmade and built to last. Providence is one of two showrooms of Balé, a company that uses sustainably harvested teak for furnishings made in Indonesia using generations-old methods. A visit to the light-filled store is sure to inspire. 326 Westminster Street

The Camera Werks

Campus Fine Wines

Craftland

Fox Point Grocers

Frog & Toad

Homestyle

Knit Club

Kreatelier

pH Factor

Rhody Craft

Rustigian Rugs

Sanchez Market

Stock Culinary Goods

Thea Plant Co

White Buffalo

JEWELRY

Brave Daughters

Copacetic Jewelry

Green River Silver Co.

Hegeman & Co.

Reliable Gold Ltd.

• For four generations, family-owned Reliable Gold has been offering all things jewelry. In addition to fine and estate pieces, services include custom design, appraisals, cleaning and maintenance checks, and more. Free gift wrapping and a layaway option are hallmarks of their commitment to customers. 9 Wayland Square

Speidel

Talulah Cooper

SPORTING GOODS

Civil

• Civil was founded 10 years ago by two pals to fill the need they saw in alternative sport stores. The shop has three locations with products reflective of each: Main Street (East Greenwich), and beach (Westerly), and city. Providence’s Civil specializes in skateboards, footwear, and apparel, and they are authorized dealers of every brand they carry, so no fakies here. 231 Westminster Street

Cleverhood

Dash Bicycle Shop

Legend Bicycle

Providence Bicycle

Trek Bicycle

VINTAGE

Bangled Tiger

• Just celebrating its first anniversary, vintage boutique-meets-modern consignment shop Bangled Tiger received an organic boost when actress Jamie Lee Curtis raved about it to her 5.8M followers on IG while in the city filming Ella McCay. Stop in and you’ll see why. 200 South Main Street 

Found

Hall’s On Broadway

Nostalgia Antiques & Collectibles Store

Old Bag Vintage

POP Emporium

Rocket to Mars

Urban Thread

The Vault Collective

Play

When it comes to things to do, Providence is filled with attractions and experiences for all preferences. Feel like attending a rousing Broadway show, the solitude of an art gallery, or a night in a small club seeing a local band play their hearts out? Yup. We’ve got that.

GALLERIES

AS220 Galleries

Atrium Gallery

Bannister Gallery at Rhode Island College

Bert Gallery

Dirt Palace

Gallery Night Providence

Providence Art Club

• The Providence Art Club comprises four unique buildings on Thomas Street. Chances are good that the unique yellow-and-timber Fleur de Lys Studios has caused a double-take or two. While some PAC amenities are members-only, the three galleries are open to the public and feature work of member-artists plus a roster of special exhibits. 11 Thomas Street

Public Shop & Gallery

RISD Museum

Studio Hop

PERFORMING ARTS

AS220

Ballet RI

• ICYMI: a few years ago Festival Ballet was rebranded Ballet RI. More than a simple name change, under the leadership of director Kathleen Breen Combes and artistic curator/resident choreographer Yury Yanowsky, the performance calendar of classics is peppered with shows and statewide locations designed to beckon first-timers to experience the art form. 835 Hope Street

Lit Arts RI

PechaKucha (rotating locations)

Providence Performing Arts Center

Trinity Repertory Company

WaterFire Arts Center

Wilbury Theatre Group

Teatro ECAS

Veterans Memorial Auditorium

The Wurks

Make Art

Anyhow Studio

• We first covered Liz Welch and Anyhow Studio in January of 2019 after spotting her work at Dye House. Since then, the enterprise has expanded in both staff and space, offering memberships and drop-ins and hosting regular events. Save the date for September 18 when Anyhow Studio will be a stop on the Gallery Night tour. 25 Acorn Street

AS220 Community Print Shop

East Side Art Center

Gather Glass

Muse Paintbar

The Steel Yard

RELAX & REFRESH

Ayurveda for Rosebud Salon

Be Well Chiropractic + Health

The Bodhi Spa

Christiaan Salon

Claudia Curl Salon

Lotus Salon

Love Culture Salon

• It’s always refreshing when a salon has stylists who understand all kinds of hair, and that’s what you’ll find – along with a mission of sustainability and good vibes – at Love Culture Salon. A peek on the ‘gram (@loveculturesalon) shows many a curly-friend smiling, tresses of various hues from golden to green, and expertly hand-painted balayage, blow-outs, and more. 506 Broadway

Mariama’s Hair Store & Braids

Moss Salon

The Norwich Spa at Graduate Providence

St. Germain Studio

LISTEN UP

Alchemy

Askew

• Nestled in the Jewelry District, Askew is one of those cool/cozy lounges that every city should have. Art from locals lines the walls, there’s a menu of bar bites and drinks, and programming ranges from open-mic comedy to live bands to dance nights including being the home of groovy Soul Power. 150 Chestnut Street

Fete Music Hall

Moonshine Alley

Nick-A-Nees

The Parlour

The Scurvy Dog

The Strand Ballroom

GAY BARS

The Alley Cat / The Dark Lady

Diva Royale

EGO Providence

Mirabar

Providence Eagle

The Stable

• On busy Washington Street next door to The George, look for two lucky horseshoes flanking the name of this popular bar and you’ve found The Stable. All are welcome at this LGBTQ+ space to enjoy its delish drinks, selection of beer and wine, and entertainment in a party atmosphere. Don’t miss Sangria Sundays with guest bartenders!
  125 Washington Street

STAFF PICKS

Seeking more things to do for your friend crew or fam? Provided are suggestions from your pals at Providence Monthly:

Free Play Bar & Arcade

• The ultimate retro hang-out for pinball, dancing, and games.
  182 Pine Street

Grant’s Block

• A dog park and event space. Westminster/Union Streets

Providence River Boat Company

• Narrated themed boat tours. 101 Dyer Street

Providence Children’s Museum

• Tactile fun for littles and their grown-ups. 100 South Street

Providence Flea

• Shop unique goods in open air Sundays. 195 District Park

Providence Walks

• A full menu of self-guided historic walking tours. GoProvidence.com

Rock Spot Climbing

• Reach new heights at this bouldering gym. 42 Rice Street

Parks rule

Inventive programming keeps the city’s outdoor spaces happening spots year-round

By Alexandra Ashe

Setting 195 District Park aglow last winter with enchanting rotating prisms, Lumina, a month-long festival, succeeded in its plan to lure folks out of their cozy abodes to marvel at rotating Prismatica light displays, ice skating performances, and more. The event was the brainchild of Nora Barré, executive director of the Downtown Providence Park Network (DPPN), and she’s got plenty more projects in the works, all designed to encourage people to enjoy downtown and partake of nearby businesses – many offering event specials – while they’re in the city.

Since 2021, DPPN has worked closely with various community nonprofit organizations, including The City of Providence and the I-195 District Park, to bring vibrancy, community, and pride to Providence’s downtown public spaces, such as the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, Greater Kennedy Plaza, Waterplace Park, and smaller neighborhood parks.

Along with programing like the Meet Us Downtown: Burnside Concert Series, Barré shares the DPPN is working on a city-wide project that includes lamppost banners to “unify the downtown parks, traffic mitigation, and provide better wayfinding,” plus efforts to revive Market Place near RISD this fall, with vendors, music, and a beer garden. She says, “We’re all connected, and collaborations make Providence shine brighter!”