The Best of Bristol
Neighborhoods
Bristol's waterfront and harbor district consists of Hope St. Thames St. and State St. It's a scenic 10-15 stroll from Walley St. There are also many historic homes to see on High St. Enjoy many restaurants, shops, historic homes and landmarks. This part of Bristol is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hope Street
Hope StreetBristol's waterfront and harbor district consists of Hope St. Thames St. and State St. It's a scenic 10-15 stroll from Walley St. There are also many historic homes to see on High St. Enjoy many restaurants, shops, historic homes and landmarks. This part of Bristol is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Food scene
Favorite local dining recommendations
10 min walk - This is one of our favorite restaurants! Don't let the name "Pizzeria" fool you as Pomodoro serves a wide variety of tasty Italian specialties. The linguine with clam sauce or lasagna are our personal favorites. Start with a small pizza! It's small, BYOB, and usually booked so make sure you plan ahead with a reservation.
28 habitants recommandent
Pomodoro Pizzeria
271 Wood St10 min walk - This is one of our favorite restaurants! Don't let the name "Pizzeria" fool you as Pomodoro serves a wide variety of tasty Italian specialties. The linguine with clam sauce or lasagna are our personal favorites. Start with a small pizza! It's small, BYOB, and usually booked so make sure you plan ahead with a reservation.
15 min walk - If you're looking for outdoor dining, a lively bar, or live music, Portside is the best watering hole in town. It's a modern style pub with industrial decor, great draft beer and unique food options. Some of our favorites are the sesame-crusted ahi tuna, crab cakes, Guinness tenderloin tips and fish-reuben. Avoid the french onion soup. There's a kids menu too. On the scenic waterfront near Independence Park.
22 habitants recommandent
Portside Tavern
444 Thames St15 min walk - If you're looking for outdoor dining, a lively bar, or live music, Portside is the best watering hole in town. It's a modern style pub with industrial decor, great draft beer and unique food options. Some of our favorites are the sesame-crusted ahi tuna, crab cakes, Guinness tenderloin tips and fish-reuben. Avoid the french onion soup. There's a kids menu too. On the scenic waterfront near Independence Park.
Drive or bike path - If you want even more dining options beyond what Bristol offers, check out neighboring Warren RI. It has a new upcoming food scene on Water Street with many good dining options including Revival, The Wharf, Bywater, Tavvino, Trafford's and many others.
16 habitants recommandent
Warren
Drive or bike path - If you want even more dining options beyond what Bristol offers, check out neighboring Warren RI. It has a new upcoming food scene on Water Street with many good dining options including Revival, The Wharf, Bywater, Tavvino, Trafford's and many others.
10 min walk - The Common Pub on Wood St is a gritty, local pub with unexpectedly amazing food. I personally recommend the Portuguese Steak and Eggs! Fairly good selection of draft beers and great margaritas.
Common Pub & Grille
421 Wood St10 min walk - The Common Pub on Wood St is a gritty, local pub with unexpectedly amazing food. I personally recommend the Portuguese Steak and Eggs! Fairly good selection of draft beers and great margaritas.
12 min walk - Thames Waterside at State St. dock is in the heart of the Bristol Waterfront. On a typical Wed. night in the summer you can enjoy watching a sail regatta while you enjoy great food and beverage. On the weekends there is usually live music and a lively scene on the top-side deck where you'll enjoy some of the best views in town. The owner has recently raised drinks prices beyond reason so we're no longer recommending this spot.
17 habitants recommandent
Thames Waterside Bar And Grill
251 Thames St12 min walk - Thames Waterside at State St. dock is in the heart of the Bristol Waterfront. On a typical Wed. night in the summer you can enjoy watching a sail regatta while you enjoy great food and beverage. On the weekends there is usually live music and a lively scene on the top-side deck where you'll enjoy some of the best views in town. The owner has recently raised drinks prices beyond reason so we're no longer recommending this spot.
15 min walk - If ramen is your thing, this place comes highly recommended! Excellent Japanese food. In my opinion, the tonkotsu ramen is addictive and I have to have it weekly!
Sakuratani Ramen & Izakaya
531 Wood Street15 min walk - If ramen is your thing, this place comes highly recommended! Excellent Japanese food. In my opinion, the tonkotsu ramen is addictive and I have to have it weekly!
12 min walk - Great Italian food and wine selections. Make sure you make a reservation! Classic Italian in the heart of Bristol.
14 habitants recommandent
Roberto's Restaurant
450 Hope St12 min walk - Great Italian food and wine selections. Make sure you make a reservation! Classic Italian in the heart of Bristol.
12 min walk - Classic Irish pub with decent food, beer and whiskey choices. It's right in the heart of the waterfront across from Rockwell Park.
39 habitants recommandent
Aidan's Pub
5 John St12 min walk - Classic Irish pub with decent food, beer and whiskey choices. It's right in the heart of the waterfront across from Rockwell Park.
12 min walk - Excellent Japanese and sushi place right on the water in town! IMO, this is the best sushi in area. Near Aiden's Pub.
9 habitants recommandent
Baba sushi
205 Thames St12 min walk - Excellent Japanese and sushi place right on the water in town! IMO, this is the best sushi in area. Near Aiden's Pub.
14 min walk - Highly recommend this place if you're looking for classic French cuisine for lunch or dinner.
10 habitants recommandent
Le Central
483 Hope St14 min walk - Highly recommend this place if you're looking for classic French cuisine for lunch or dinner.
12 min walk - DeWolf Tavern is located in the historic building once known as DeWolf Rum Distillery on the Thames St waterfront, in the heart of downtown. Chef-owner Sai serves up great American cuisine with an Indian influence. The Naan comes highly recommend as a starter!
22 habitants recommandent
DeWolf Tavern
259 Thames St12 min walk - DeWolf Tavern is located in the historic building once known as DeWolf Rum Distillery on the Thames St waterfront, in the heart of downtown. Chef-owner Sai serves up great American cuisine with an Indian influence. The Naan comes highly recommend as a starter!
15 min walk - Very busy in the summer. If you're looking for great seafood and waterfront views this is the spot! Right next to Independence Park.
27 habitants recommandent
Quito's Restaurant
411 Thames St15 min walk - Very busy in the summer. If you're looking for great seafood and waterfront views this is the spot! Right next to Independence Park.
18 min walk - This is great local dining option that's been run by the same family for many years. Recently the menu and atmosphere have been brought more up-to-date. There are many awesome menu options. Our favorites are the clams casino and RI hot chicken! You'll definitely want to make a reservation first. There's a small bar area with seating for 6-8 people.
11 habitants recommandent
S S Dion
520 Thames St18 min walk - This is great local dining option that's been run by the same family for many years. Recently the menu and atmosphere have been brought more up-to-date. There are many awesome menu options. Our favorites are the clams casino and RI hot chicken! You'll definitely want to make a reservation first. There's a small bar area with seating for 6-8 people.
20 min walk - Expensive drink $$$ This is a fun spot right at the end of the bike path. There are outdoor and indoor bars, diverse menu options and great drinks! It's our fav stop after a ride on the bike path!
11 habitants recommandent
The Beach House
805 Hope St20 min walk - Expensive drink $$$ This is a fun spot right at the end of the bike path. There are outdoor and indoor bars, diverse menu options and great drinks! It's our fav stop after a ride on the bike path!
2 min walk - This is the nearest waterfront dining option. It has great views and is just a 2-min walk from Walley St.
9 habitants recommandent
The Lobster Pot
119 Hope St2 min walk - This is the nearest waterfront dining option. It has great views and is just a 2-min walk from Walley St.
12 min walk - "Brick" is a new restaurant on Wood Street. It's a lively bar and brick-oven pizza restaurant located at Unity Park which is the historic site of the National Rubber Company. Right next to Pivotal Brewing, this growing industrial complex will revitalize the Wood St. area of Bristol.
9 habitants recommandent
Brick Pizza Co.
500 Wood Street12 min walk - "Brick" is a new restaurant on Wood Street. It's a lively bar and brick-oven pizza restaurant located at Unity Park which is the historic site of the National Rubber Company. Right next to Pivotal Brewing, this growing industrial complex will revitalize the Wood St. area of Bristol.
Sightseeing
5 min walk - An absolute must for garden lovers, Blithewold is a short 5 minute walk from the Walley St cottage.
61 habitants recommandent
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Rd5 min walk - An absolute must for garden lovers, Blithewold is a short 5 minute walk from the Walley St cottage.
Drive or bike path - With 464 acres of lawns, four miles of paved pathways, hiking trails, historic stone walls, and one of the state’s most spectacular shorelines, Colt State Park is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. There is no entrance fee to the park, but there is a $6-$10 fee for parking at the adjacent town beach.
93 habitants recommandent
Colt State Park
Route 114Drive or bike path - With 464 acres of lawns, four miles of paved pathways, hiking trails, historic stone walls, and one of the state’s most spectacular shorelines, Colt State Park is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. There is no entrance fee to the park, but there is a $6-$10 fee for parking at the adjacent town beach.
Drive or bike path - Fun for kids! Coggeshall Farm Museum on Poppasquash penuisula brings to life the history of middle-class farm families in the late 18th century. Set on 48 acres of coastal farmland, the museum recreates the daily experience of tenant farmers on a salt marsh farm through live interpretation, historic structures, heirloom plants, and heritage-breed animals.
19 habitants recommandent
Coggeshall Farm Museum
1 Colt DrDrive or bike path - Fun for kids! Coggeshall Farm Museum on Poppasquash penuisula brings to life the history of middle-class farm families in the late 18th century. Set on 48 acres of coastal farmland, the museum recreates the daily experience of tenant farmers on a salt marsh farm through live interpretation, historic structures, heirloom plants, and heritage-breed animals.
Drive - Fun for kids and a beautiful place for a nature walk! Farmer's Market Saturdays 9am-12pm when weather permits. Mount Hope Farm is a classic New England farm and landscape, located on 127 acres of pristine open space in Bristol, RI. A national historic site, its mission to preserve and protect its buildings and grounds and to encourage use of the Farm's buildings and landscape. The kiddos will enjoy seeing the cows and goats!
26 habitants recommandent
Mt Hope Farm
250 Metacom AveDrive - Fun for kids and a beautiful place for a nature walk! Farmer's Market Saturdays 9am-12pm when weather permits. Mount Hope Farm is a classic New England farm and landscape, located on 127 acres of pristine open space in Bristol, RI. A national historic site, its mission to preserve and protect its buildings and grounds and to encourage use of the Farm's buildings and landscape. The kiddos will enjoy seeing the cows and goats!
Drive or bike path - Adjacent to Colt State Park is the town beach. There is no entrance fee to the park, but there is a $6-$10 fee for beach parking.
Bristol Town Beach
Drive or bike path - Adjacent to Colt State Park is the town beach. There is no entrance fee to the park, but there is a $6-$10 fee for beach parking.
3 min walk - Just around the block, visit the HMM and step aboard restored sailboats to gain a sense of what it was like to cruise aboard these historic boats or peruse the Nathanael Green Herreshoff Model room which holds a collection of of 500 models that are works of art themselves. A changing number of exhibits illustrates important facets of the Herreshoff sailing history.
25 habitants recommandent
Herreshoff Marine Museum
1 Burnside St3 min walk - Just around the block, visit the HMM and step aboard restored sailboats to gain a sense of what it was like to cruise aboard these historic boats or peruse the Nathanael Green Herreshoff Model room which holds a collection of of 500 models that are works of art themselves. A changing number of exhibits illustrates important facets of the Herreshoff sailing history.
In addition to a marine museum, this is the nautical transit center for Bristol and docks the Bristol-Newport and Prudence Island ferries.
Maritime Welcome Center and Harbormaster
127 Thames StIn addition to a marine museum, this is the nautical transit center for Bristol and docks the Bristol-Newport and Prudence Island ferries.
15 min walk - Here's a historic 1810 Federal period mansion located in the center of downtown Bristol. The mansion and grounds are open to the public from May through October, during the holiday season, and also by appointment.
32 habitants recommandent
Linden Place
500 Hope St15 min walk - Here's a historic 1810 Federal period mansion located in the center of downtown Bristol. The mansion and grounds are open to the public from May through October, during the holiday season, and also by appointment.
5 min bike ride - This scenic walk and bike path hugs the coastline from Bristol to Providence. The path starts near Independence Park & The Beach House restaurant (a great spot to enjoy a beverage at the outdoor bar). You can ride your bike from our place to the path in about 5-10 mins.
71 habitants recommandent
East Bay Bike Path
5 min bike ride - This scenic walk and bike path hugs the coastline from Bristol to Providence. The path starts near Independence Park & The Beach House restaurant (a great spot to enjoy a beverage at the outdoor bar). You can ride your bike from our place to the path in about 5-10 mins.
18 min walk - Enjoy or relax in the open park on the harborfront. Evening concerts in the summertime. Across from Portside restaurant, near Quito's, The Beach House and the end of the East Bay Bike Path.
9 habitants recommandent
Independence Park
419-459 Thames St18 min walk - Enjoy or relax in the open park on the harborfront. Evening concerts in the summertime. Across from Portside restaurant, near Quito's, The Beach House and the end of the East Bay Bike Path.
12 min walk - At the Bristol Marine Center you can pick up the Seastreak Bristol-Newport ferry and the Prudence Island ferry. https://seastreak.com/what-to-know/port-locations-directions-parking/bristol-ri/
Bristol, RI
147 Thames Street12 min walk - At the Bristol Marine Center you can pick up the Seastreak Bristol-Newport ferry and the Prudence Island ferry. https://seastreak.com/what-to-know/port-locations-directions-parking/bristol-ri/
Drive or bike path - A scenic audubon park that's accessible via Hope St (about a 5 min car ride) or via the East Bay Bike Path heading towards Warren.
Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge
1401 Hope StDrive or bike path - A scenic audubon park that's accessible via Hope St (about a 5 min car ride) or via the East Bay Bike Path heading towards Warren.
Based in Portsmouth, Rail Explorers offers you the chance to ride tandem or quad, custom-built, pedal-powered rail bikes along railroad tracks journeying alongside Narragansett Bay. Choose between two different tours: the Northern Ramble, a six-mile exploration of the historic railroad between Portsmouth and the Sakonnet River (a one-way tour), or the Southern Circuit, a six-mile round-trip tour (three miles out, three miles back) down towards Newport and back. All tours begin at One Alexander Road at Melville in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and last approximately 90 minutes.
32 habitants recommandent
Rail Explorers: Rhode Island Division
1 Alexander RdBased in Portsmouth, Rail Explorers offers you the chance to ride tandem or quad, custom-built, pedal-powered rail bikes along railroad tracks journeying alongside Narragansett Bay. Choose between two different tours: the Northern Ramble, a six-mile exploration of the historic railroad between Portsmouth and the Sakonnet River (a one-way tour), or the Southern Circuit, a six-mile round-trip tour (three miles out, three miles back) down towards Newport and back. All tours begin at One Alexander Road at Melville in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and last approximately 90 minutes.
Services
This cleaner is right around the corner on High St. They provide dry cleaning, and wash/dry/fold service for $1.00 per pound of laundry.
Sam's Cleansers
174 High StThis cleaner is right around the corner on High St. They provide dry cleaning, and wash/dry/fold service for $1.00 per pound of laundry.
Liberty Laundromat
246 State StAnother nearby option for local laundry.
Sorry no pets at the house, but this is a local setting service with a great reputation!
Kali’s Cottage Pet Boarding
Leahy DriveSorry no pets at the house, but this is a local setting service with a great reputation!
Breakfast
18 min walk - The sunset is a busy breakfast place on Hope St. (about a 10 min walk from Walley St). It's one of our favorites with great coffee and creative breakfast dishes.
14 habitants recommandent
Sunset Cafe
499 Hope St18 min walk - The sunset is a busy breakfast place on Hope St. (about a 10 min walk from Walley St). It's one of our favorites with great coffee and creative breakfast dishes.
20 min walk - Hope Diner is the classic "greasy-spoon" that's usually bustling with locals chatting with the cook at the grill. It's busy on weekends and has delicious eggs, home-fries, muffins and pancakes.
6 habitants recommandent
Hope Diner
742 Hope St20 min walk - Hope Diner is the classic "greasy-spoon" that's usually bustling with locals chatting with the cook at the grill. It's busy on weekends and has delicious eggs, home-fries, muffins and pancakes.
18 min walk - The Beehive is a local favorite and serves everything from pastries to excellent creative breakfasts. Great coffee. There's usually a long line at the counter where you order and seat yourself or take-out.
51 habitants recommandent
Beehive Cafe
10 Franklin St18 min walk - The Beehive is a local favorite and serves everything from pastries to excellent creative breakfasts. Great coffee. There's usually a long line at the counter where you order and seat yourself or take-out.
7 min walk - This is the nearest coffee shop from Walley St. Great coffee selections, minimal pastries and take-out breakfast items.
9 habitants recommandent
Angelina's, Lower Hope's st. cup of Jo.
301 Hope St7 min walk - This is the nearest coffee shop from Walley St. Great coffee selections, minimal pastries and take-out breakfast items.
Drive - If you're a New Englander like us you probably want to find the nearest Dunkin'. Here it is, about a 5 minute drive to on Metacom Ave and Franklin St.
Dunkin'
375 Main StDrive - If you're a New Englander like us you probably want to find the nearest Dunkin'. Here it is, about a 5 minute drive to on Metacom Ave and Franklin St.
This is a Bristol favorite for coffee and donuts. Many locals (ourselves not included) prefer this to Dunkin! :-0
Sip-N-Dip
775 Hope StThis is a Bristol favorite for coffee and donuts. Many locals (ourselves not included) prefer this to Dunkin! :-0
10 min walk - Looking for a tasty bagel and coffee? It's about a 10 minute walk down to Hope St.
8 habitants recommandent
Bristol Bagel Works
420 Hope St10 min walk - Looking for a tasty bagel and coffee? It's about a 10 minute walk down to Hope St.
Breweries & Beer
Six Pack Brewing
87 Gooding AvenueNice spot to try small batch local beer
Small batch brewer on Metacom Ave. They have a great big tasting room to sample their latest brews.
6 habitants recommandent
Twelve Guns Brewing
549 Metacom AvenueSmall batch brewer on Metacom Ave. They have a great big tasting room to sample their latest brews.
12 min walk - At the historic site of the United States Rubber Company, unique craft beer! Right next to Brick Pizza restaurant.
11 habitants recommandent
Pivotal Brewing Company
500 Wood Street12 min walk - At the historic site of the United States Rubber Company, unique craft beer! Right next to Brick Pizza restaurant.
Conseils sur la ville
Déplacements
Walk to town/waterfront
Just follow the red-white-and-blue painted road! Bristol's historic waterfront district is easy to stroll. Most dining, shopping, parks and site-seeing options are within the sidewalk-lined 1 mile loop of Hope Street and Thames Street waterfront. Take a left out the front door and go straight until you see the water. Turn right onto Hope street. The heart of town is about 1/3 mile.
Déplacements
Getting to Newport or Providence
Newport RI is about a 25-min ride by car. If you don't have a car, Bristol is perfectly situated half-way between Newport & Providence on the RIPTA (RI Public Transit Authority) bus route. Uber and Lyft are also readily available in the area. If you go to Newport during the summer expect to pay $20 to park in Newport for the day.
Another seasonal option is the Seastreak Bristol-Newport Ferry
seastreak .com/what-to-know/port-locations-directions-parking/bristol-ri/
Also, take a look at our "Best of Newport" guidebook!