Spring Weekend in Providence, Rhode Island

Spring arrived for me on a late March day as I sat at a window-side table at Ellie’s, a Parisian-style bakery-café in downtown Providence. It had been a long winter even by southern New England standards, and the snowflake icon persisted on my phone’s weather app like gum stuck to the sole of a shoe.

And yet, I had reason for hope. Sure, my coffee and shiny croissant had elevated the vibe—but through the restaurant’s sky-high windows were the unmistakably verdant views of budding trees and recently potted curbside flowers. Around me, a flurry of springtime cheer filled the air, as students and neighbors filed in and out of Ellie’s for all manner of pick-me-ups: baguettes, croissants, and any one of the decadent macarons, from lemon lavender to strawberry rose champagne.

A few decades ago, the central district in which Ellie’s sits proudly reclaimed its historical “Downcity” nickname. The neighborhood’s rebirth is emblematic of not just Providence’s revival—today, the surrounding streets are lined with a wide selection of independently owned shops, like Craftland and Symposium Books—but also the city’s rising acclaim as a foodie town. This growing reputation comes courtesy of plucky chefs making the most of locally produced, farmed, caught, and bottled provisions.

I’ve been writing about the Providence food scene for years, and it’s never been better. Last year, for the first time ever, four Providence chefs and restaurants made the short list for the James Beard Awards. The most notable among them was Gift Horse chef Sky Haneul Kim, who won for Best Chef, Northeast. To restaurant connoisseurs who are willing to venture beyond Boston and Portland, this isn’t surprising. After all, this is the sort of thing that happens when Johnson & Wales University (JWU) grads make a go of it on their home turf.

Consider the immediate area surrounding Ellie’s, which one could argue is the best culinary city block in all of New England. Across from the bakery is Oberlin, a popular restaurant lauded for its seafood-forward Italian dishes that was a 2025 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Restaurant. Like Kim, chef Benjamin Sukle (a three-time James Beard finalist for Best Chef, Northeast) and sommelier Bethany Caliaro are JWU grads, and their eatery features an open kitchen, a wood-fired oven, and a steady soundtrack of soulful tunes. There’s ample seating at both the bar and dining room, with an interior just sophisticated enough to feel special without requiring you to dress up.

The main menu at Oberlin is stuffed with dishes like whole wood-roasted fish and hearty pastas. But if the weather is right, time your visit between 3 and 5 p.m. for “Cicchetti on the Patio” for raw bar oysters and clams, as well as a perky drinks menu showcasing Rhodium vodka, distilled in the neighboring city of Pawtucket.

Next door, you’ll find Oberlin’s sister restaurant, Gift Horse—a delight for anyone who enjoys an unexpected mix of flavors that are always beautifully plated. Beyond its full-service raw bar, the full menu’s lineup of unexpected delights (smoked scallop rolls and crispy piri piri fish, to name a few) has earned the restaurant accolades, including a nod from The New York Times as one of its top 50 restaurants in America in 2024. And while chef Sky Haneul Kim recently returned to South Korea to be closer to family, internal promotions have kept the kitchen from missing a beat.

Just steps away is Cielito Mexican Kitchen, dishing Michoacán takes on Mexican classics. I’m a big fan of the chiles anchos rellenos made with dried raisins, which lend a sweet chewiness to the ground beef. Cielito’s teal-hued walls, framed flower-market prints, and a luscious gladiolus and marigold mural over the bar bring a welcome jolt of color to an early spring day.

A new addition to the downtown dining scene is Claudine. Opened last June, it’s the vision of husband-and-wife team Josh Finger and Maggie McConnell, who met while working at Thomas Keller’s famed Per Se in New York City. By design, the only views at Claudine are of the elegantly plated dishes and the open kitchen, where you can witness the owners practice the art of precision. I love the restaurant’s parade of polished, French-inspired cuisine showcasing regional ingredients, like confit dayboat scallops. Just be sure not to rush your experience at Claudine’s—dining here may very well be your activity for the night, and that’s fine.

For accommodations, The Beatrice pairs nicely with Providence’s food scene. The stylish boutique hotel’s Financial District location puts you smack-dab in the center of nightlife; it’s just a short walk to Providence Performing Arts Center, a historic gem of a theater with a roster of nationally touring musicals and a rare Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ, still played by house organist Peter Edwin Krasinski. Seemingly transplanted directly from Europe, The Beatrice boasts such high-end amenities as heated towel racks (and heated bidets) and a rooftop bar perfect for spring’s early sunsets. It’s also home to Bellini Providence, a posh eatery outfitted in blush and teak, whose name is derived from the Venetian cocktail of fresh peach puree and Prosecco. Dining here offers up a nice excuse to dress up for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch.

Finally, any spring weekend must include a trek to Roger Williams Park. Free and open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the landscaped historic district named for the state’s founder is owned by the city and covers 435 acres with 100 acres of lakes. While it’s getting trickier to forecast bloom-time, mid-April through early May generally means the park’s Japanese Garden is awash in a palette of pinks provided by flowering trees including cherry blossoms. There are walking trails, too, plus a self-guided tour of art and architecture, which no doubt will help you work up an appetite for your next delicious bite.

Let us know your favorite ways to enjoy a spring weekend in Providence, Rhode Island.

This feature was originally published as part of the “Weekend Away” series in the March/April 2026 issue of Yankee.

Read More: 
Things to Do in Providence, Rhode Island: Where to Eat, Stay, and Play

Elyse Major

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