Main Street, the center of town, is dotted with clothing, home, and gift stores, including Zuzu’s of East Greenwich (165 Main St.) for women’s fashion; A Gracious Soul Shop (110 Main St.) for consciously sourced apparel and gifts; shabby chic boutique Welcome To ShabAlot (187 Main St.), spotlighting local artisans; The Current’s (99 Main St.) designer-curated modern lifestyle goods; and Blueprint 5 (631 Main St.), an upscale men’s store, features imported Italian clothing and an on-site tailor. Enjoy lively themed Main Street Strolls (think art, music, food, and more) once a month showcasing these retailers and more bringing their wares outside for a day of shopping and festivities (visit EastGreenwichChamber.com for dates).
Hop in the car, enter more fabulous shops to your itinerary, and make a day of perusing. Le’s Isle Rose (1000 Division St. #20) is an enormous store packed with souvenirs, gifts, clothing, home decor, and fresh flowers. French Kiss Boutique (5 Division St.) is a can’t-miss stop for fashionistas, curating fun and functional looks from France and Italy.
Food lovers: find shelves upon shelves of specialty wine, craft beer, and spirits at The Savory Grape (1000 Division St. Unit 130), and preorder an expertly assembled charcuterie board to carry out (or dig into tapas, cheese, and wine on the patio) from Graze on Main (58 Main St.). Complete a picnic lunch by picking up prepared foods from Dave’s Marketplace (1000 Division St.), with locations all over RI, or Back to Basics (500 Main St.), which carries wellness-oriented goods, natural vitamin supplements, and lots of local brands, from honey to pasture-raised meats. Grab a snack for your four-legged friend from Bone Appetit (102 Main St.), an eco-friendly dog treat store. And for plant lovers, Wildwood Nursery & Garden Center (659 Frenchtown Rd.) – a lush wonderland of greenery, plus outdoor furniture, statuary, and planters – is a must see.
When people from Providence are heading to East Greenwich for dinner, you know big things are happening in the culinary scene. The Revival Craft Kitchen & Bar (219 Main St.) focuses on farm-to-table contemporary cuisine using local ingredients. Breakfast and lunch are next level at Dante’s Kitchen (315 Main St.), where American favorites are served with a creative Southern twist. With three locations, T’s Restaurant (5600 Post Rd.) is a local favorite homestyle restaurant known for their all-day breakfast and displays of art by the owner. For craft brews, LineSider Brewing Company (1485 South County Tr.) is a small-batch beer facility and taproom.
Downtown EG has no shortage of coastal and seafood-forward eateries, including Fifty Main Bar & Kitchen (50 Main St.), slinging seafood starters, sandwiches, creative cocktails, and more; Providence Oyster Bar (5707 Post Rd.) for local littlenecks, lobster, and more; and family-owned Chelo’s Waterfront (1 Masthead Dr., Warwick), dishing great views and even better food right on the East Greenwich border. Visit farm-to-table family-owned deli Downtown Tilly (241 Main St.) for sandwiches and more.
For worldly cuisine, no passport is needed when you’re on Main Street. La Masseria (223 Main St.) serves upscale Italian cuisine in an authentic countryside setting. Raku Sakura (148 Main St.) can cure any sushi fix. Rasa Restaurant (149 Main St.) is an upscale Indian restaurant, and Kon Asian Bistro & Hibachi Grill (553 Main St.) offers a fun dining experience with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Wine lovers: Besos Tapas & Wine Bar (378 Main St.) is for you – pass around small plates of patatas bravas and charcuterie and feel like you’re in southern Spain.
Even coffee gets the epicurean treatment in East Greenwich. Felicia’s Coffee (5757 Post Rd.) offers an inviting coffeehouse atmosphere with a huge selection of flavored and specialty coffee. MainStreet Coffee (137 Main St.) doubles as both a coffee shop and espresso martini bar. Brunch bites, mason jar cocktails, and ocean ambiance set the tone at Drip Coffee House (2725 South County Tr.). Not a coffee fan? Spill the Tea (4372 Post Rd.) is a tea house serving healthful and fun iced and hot varieties. Tasteful (5800 Post Rd.) does juice, smoothies, and acai bowls.
To taste some of Rhode Island’s food heritage, stop by Jigger’s Diner (145 Main St.), which has been around since 1917 and is a go-to destination for johnnycakes, the iconic food made from cornmeal ground at Kenyon’s Grist Mill in Kingston.
Until 1854, East Greenwich was one of five state capitals in Rhode Island, one for each county. The seat of the legislature rotated among them. It also claims to be the birthplace of the US Navy, as established by a 1772 General Assembly resolution. Several other towns also stake this claim, but East Greenwich is the earliest and the only one to involve specific governmental authorization. See East Greenwich’s history for yourself at its two museums. The Varnum House Museum (57 Pierce St.) is a Georgian mansion that is a time capsule of early American life. The Varnum Memorial Armory (6 Main St.) houses a military history museum, including artifacts from the Revolutionary War and weapons from World Wars I and II.
Fine art aficionados will find something to love at Heritage Gifts & Glass Studio (5580 Post Rd.), a glass shop off the beaten path that also offers classes; Nancy Stephen Gallery and School of Art (6 King St.) for paintings and lessons; and to add the finishing touches on a work of art you’ve found on your EG adventure, swing by Crestar Picture Framing (51 Liberty St.).
The town’s location on Greenwich Cove makes it easy for day-tripping boaters to make a stop. The East Greenwich Marina (45 Water St.) usually offers transient dockage by the hour or overnight and has two on-site restaurants: Finn’s Harborside (38 Water St.) serves up fresh seafood and live music on the weekends (with a pup-friendly patio), and Blu on the Water (20 Water St.) is the place to see and be seen in this coastal town. Also featuring stunning views of the cove is Water Street Kitchen & Bar (28 Water St.). All are great choices for grabbing a bite after watching vessels compete in the East Greenwich Yacht Club Annual Regatta
(EGYCRegatta.com) on July 8.
Treat yourself to a spa day starting with an eyebrow threading session at Stupa Threading (26 Main St.); skin rejuvenation, massages, and more from Bel Viso Medical Spa (63 Cedar Ave, #7); relaxing and rejuvenating spa packages from Shimmer Salon and Day Spa (500 Main St.); holistic beauty services at Revive Aesthetics & Wellness (175 Main St.); and Dynamic Men’s Grooming (1000 Division St. #50). Benefitness (816 Middle Rd.) is the state’s only stotts pilates certification center.
From crowd-pleasing cover bands to one-of-a-kind comedy acts and more, the Greenwich Odeum (59 Main St.) is the place to be for live music and performances all season. Catch local acts jamming out at The Patio on Main (431 Main St.), The Trap inside Safehouse (195 Old Forge Rd.), and Union & Main (455 Main St.), too.
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