Providence, Rhode Island is quickly becoming one of my favorite cities to visit in New England. It's a quick drive or Amtrak ride from Boston and I've enjoyed getting to know it's food and coffee scene over the last year. My friend Christine is a writer and photographer for Edible Rhody and she's on the pulse of all things local and food related. She's introduced me to many of her favorite people and places in this little city and let me tell you, Providence has been winning me over big time. I decided it was time to spend a weekend exploring more of this town with Adam and Elsie and we knew there was only one place that we wanted to stay, the Dean Hotel.
Stay:
The Dean is a small, boutique style hotel which feels hip, cozy and historic all at the same time. In fact, it reminded us a lot of our stay at the Highline Hotel in New York City last year. We love a beautifully designed hotel, but throw an excellent espresso bar in the lobby and we're over the moon. As I mentioned in my last post, we're big fans of coffee and with Bolt Coffee Co in the lobby of the hotel, all we had to do was head downstairs for our morning cortado and americano. Plus, having Elsie join us was so fun and convenient.
The Dean is located in the heart of the city, is walking distance from several great restaurants and it's dog-friendly! From the moment we arrived the staff was attentive and helpful throughout our stay. Upon our arrival, Elsie was given a small bag of quality dog treats to help her with any anxiety she might have about her new surroundings. This was such a nice touch and one that we appreciate immensely when traveling with Elsie in tow.
Bathroom photo by: Christine Chitnis
The nor'easter: eggnog, espresso and milk. So tasty!
Dogs at coffee shops makes me so happy!
Elsie eating all of the donut crumbs off of the floor 🤣.
Excellent dog treats compliments of the front desk. Elsie LOVED these treats!
a cortado at bolt coffee co.
Pro tip: The elevator might freak your dog out so we recommend taking the stairs to and from your room.
Eat:
Providence has an impressive food scene and we were eager to dine at some of the restaurants that our friends have been raving about. One of the first spots on our list was Den Den for Korean chicken wings! Adam loves Korean food and I loooove chicken wings so this was a no brainer. This was not a light meal but it was delicious. Someone at the hotel said we must get the kimchi pancakes so we did. Soooo good! I love kimchi everything. In an attempt to order something "healthier" we also got the vegetable dumpling soup. This could be your only meal for the day if you wanted it to be.
omg these chicken wings
Kimchi pancake!! So good.
Even though we were pretty full from our lunch at Den Den I really wanted to have a meal at North, so we rallied. North is attached to the Dean Hotel which made for the easiest walk from our room. They don't take reservations but we were able to snag a table at around 8 pm. The hipster vibe was strong, the cocktails were interesting and Adam was super happy eating all of the noodles. My favorite dish was the charred broccoli, but we also enjoyed some oysters, mini ham biscuits and a celery root dish.
The next day we met up with my friend Christine for brunch at the Grange on the West side of Providence. We were craving something lighter and more vegetable forward so the three of us all ordered the smoked mushroom frittata and we split an order of the cauliflower. It hit the spot after a day of heavier food. They also have a juice and smoothie bar if you're craving that. Thanks for introducing us to the Grange, Christine!
Cozy vibes at the Grange.
For our last and favorite dinner in town we went to Oberlin. Everyone that I mentioned Oberlin to was really enthusiastic about their experiences and insisted that we go. We got a seat at the crudo bar, again no reservations, and enjoyed a really fantastic meal. Everything about this place made us happy and we can't wait to return. The gnocchi was to die for but honestly we thoroughly enjoyed each and every dish that we had. We ordered: the surprise combo (raw), marinated olives and bread, grilled scallions, crispy sunchokes, the gnocchi and slow roasted carrots. Hands down our favorite meal of the weekend! Turns out that Bon Appetit agrees with us.
The Shop is another favorite for coffee, avocado toast and snacks. You many have seen it when Alton Brown was recently in town and in search of Providence's best coffee.
I should have taken this before we devoured the salad. Oops!
No trip to Providence is complete without a stop at Knead Donuts. We were hesitant to buy a bunch of donuts on our way out of town and Adam insisted that he didn't want any. Then I took them out of the box to photograph and he rushed me because suddenly he needed to try them all! These donuts are out of control good. Bring some home for friends and you will make them very happy. My favorite was the pumpkin spice donut. (#basic)
This Buddha at the RISD Museum calmed me immediately
Exploring Providence on our way to the RISD Museum.
The Providence Athenaeum.
STAY:
122 Fountain Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-455-DEAN
www.thedeanhotel.com
EAT:
Oberlin do it.
The Shop DIY avocado toast and great coffee
Den Den 🍗 there are two locations. we went to the korean fried chicken location
North hip scene at the Dean with fun cocktails
Ken's Ramen didn't make it this time but it's on our list! closed on mondays and cash only 🍜
The Grange when you just need some veggies.
Tallulah's been here several times. great for a taco fix 🌮
Nick's on Broadway recommended to us but we didn't make it this trip.
DO:
RISD Museum - We love visiting museums when we travel. This is a nice little museum that won't overwhelm you the way that say the MET does. Also, admission is free on Sundays!
Providence Athanaeum - Insta famous spot. If you're looking for a quiet spot to read or get some work done, this little library is magical. So many nooks and corners to be inspired in.
The Arcade - the oldest in-door shopping mall in America. Also, there's good coffee inside.
Stroll down Benefit Street and around Brown University - peek at all of the beautiful, historic homes along Benefit Str. dressed up for winter.
Prospect Park and College Hill - photo op. nice view of the city and cute neighborhood to walk around.
Running free at Chase Farm in Lincoln, Rhode Island
Dog- Friendly adventures:
Chase Farm Park in Lincoln, Rhode Island - this was a tip from a dog mom at the Dean. Great off-leash walking through some woods and trails. Feels like Vermont. You could also snow shoe, ski and walk with or without a pet.
Lincoln School Dog Park in Providence - if your dog is into dog parks.
Family photo op at Chase Farm. Thanks to the skier who took this!
Until next time, Providence! Where are your favorite spots in Providence? Did we miss any? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
Note: We received a complimentary stay at the Dean Hotel. Opinions and images are my own. Thank you for supporting the destinations that make this blog possible! Thank you to the Dean for having us and for being a dog-friendly hotel.