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What to see, eat, and drink while in Providence for ACES 2019

What to see, eat, and drink while in Providence for ACES 2019

March 26, 2019 By Kate Talerico Conferences

What to see

The Athenaeum: One of New England's most beautiful libraries. Home to one of Edgar Allen Poe's secret love affairs — ask the librarians to tell you the story, or take a self-guided tour.

The Rhode Island School of Design Library: A small but varied art collection, located on Benefit Street — perhaps Providence's most beautiful street. Worth popping in for a tour, or at least passing through the neighborhood.

Prospect Terrace: A small park on College Hill with views of the entire city. Go toward sunset for the best pictures.

Westminster Street/The Arcade: Some of the city's most beautiful architecture. Good restaurants and gift shops around, too.

Getting around: Providence has ride-sharing bikes and scooters that make it easy to get around, especially up the hills. Or take a walk around the East Side! Ride-sharing services are great for getting a lift around town.

Where to grab coffee

White Electric Coffee: Locally roasted beans in a hip little cafe.

Coffee Exchange: Providence's best coffee, located on the darling Wickenden Street. This place hasn't changed since it opened as a coffee house in 1984.

Small Point Cafe: A cute, plant-filled urban coffee store located on Westminster Street in downtown Providence.

Where to eat

The Duck and Bunny: If you want the cutest brunch of your life, head to this cozy cafe. On warm nights, grab a cocktail and a cupcake and sit in its twinkle-lighted garden area outside. (The Duck and Bunny's dinner menu is delicious, too.) You'll feel like a fairy.

Den Den: The East Side's best restaurant. Korean food that you order at the counter. Get one of everything.

Olga's Cup & Saucer: If you need to grab a quick lunch on a warm day, this place has some of the shadiest trees to sit under as you sip a coffee or munch on a sandwich. It's located in Providence's Jewelry District, a fast-growing area that's seen the renewal of several of Providence's 20th century costume jewelry warehouses.

Al Forno: Forget what you've heard about Federal Hill being Providence's best place for Italian. If you want to do Italian right in Providence, you'll go to Al Forno's. It's on the more upscale side, but just go for the pizzas if you're on a budget (they're so, so good).

Olneyville New York System: I don't actually recommend that you eat at this place for dinner. But if you're hanging at some of the bars in Olneyville at night, this is where you will end up, and you need to order a coffee milk. It's a Rhode Island tradition.

BONUS: Try the ice cream at Three Sisters. It's organic, and their flavors are fresh and incredible.

Where to drink

Fortnight Wine Bar: A trendy spot with small-batch beers, delicious wines, and an industrial-chic setting. A good place to start your night downtown.

The Eddy: A dimly lit, chic little joint downtown with the best cocktails in Providence.

Bayberry Beer Hall: Great beer selection, fun community tables, and plant-lined walls. Providence's latest hip beer spot.

Justine's: A speakeasy in Olneyville. If you can find it, you'll be feeling like a classy '20s flapper all night long.

The Courtland Club: Another speakeasy-style spot. Great pizzas and food, and upscale cocktails. They take themselves a little seriously — as in, they give you warm towels before serving you cocktails — but sometimes it's nice to feel that classy.

Kate Talerico, a reporter at the Idaho Statesman, spent four years living in Providence.


Photo courtesy of iStock.

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