Prior to this trip, I had never been to Rhode Island. In fact, I had heard good things about Newport but not much about Providence, so I was excited to explore a more underrated destination. Plus, I’ll take any excuse to visit the East Coast!
We only had a few days there so we had to squeeze in our top picks. Here’s what our weekend looked like 🙂
WHERE WE STAYED
The Graduate
This landmark hotel is located in the heart of downtown Providence and is within walking distance from the State Capitol and a lot of fun restaurants!
The lobby gives you a striking welcome with its vintage aesthetic, notably the statement ornate ceiling. The Graduate Providence boasts a mix of old-school charm and post-grad bachelor pad vibes. Definitely unique and makes for a fun stay!
My husband and I cozied up here for two nights and were very pleased with our stay 🙂
I highly recommend this hotel if you’re in the area!
WHERE WE ATE
Union Station Brewery
We stopped at this brewery for a quick beer and some bar food to hold us over before dinner. The Union Station Brewery has great service and delicious food/beer. It was perfect for what we were looking for 🙂
Fun fact: this pub used to be a train station – who knew!
Providence Coal Fired Pizza
This pizzeria was great! We split a few pizzas between our group of six and enjoyed their full bar.
Providence Coal Fired Pizza is a great place to satisfy those carb cravings 🙂
Tricycle Ice Cream
This late-night ice cream run was not planned, but what can I say? We’re spontaneous 😉
Sten and I connected with the owner of Tricycle and he recommended their signature ice cream sandwiches! SO GOOD. Definitely try if you’re in Providence!
The Malted Barley
This was our last food stop before leaving Providence. The Malted Barley is known for their pretzel sandwiches which is never something I thought I’d try, but they were great!
Another great bar food stop if that’s what you’re craving 🙂
WHAT WE TOURED
RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE 
CATHEDRAL OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL 
WATERPLACE PARK
Rhode Island State Capitol
This was an unexpected stop, but the State House was right down the road from our hotel so we figured why not! We had fun exploring the intricate architecture and sightseeing the area. I’m glad we squeezed it in 🙂
Riverwalk and Waterplace Park
We walked from our hotel along the river and snapped some waterfront photos before heading to dinner. It’s super cute! I believe the Waterplace Park hosts a lot of events (there weren’t any when we were there due to COVID-19) so make sure to check their calendar if you’re in the area.
Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul
We stumbled upon this stunning cathedral on our late-night ice cream hunt and were FLOORED at the its beauty. Honestly pictures don’t do it justice. This cathedral takes the cake for the most beautiful surprise adventure of the trip!