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Labor Day, which falls on September 7th this year, is right around the corner. So, you have about 30 days to make the most of the Summer season in the Ocean State, and that shouldn’t be a problem at all! Everyone knows that our beaches are the best, and one of the most excellent ways to make sure your trip to the beach is complete is to relax and enjoy cocktails and fine local foods at one of Rhode Island’s beach bars. You don’t have to be a local to be treated like one at these fine establishments, and you can eat, drink, dance, and rock out to killer local bands, all while listening to the gulls and waves, and breathing in that clean, salty ocean air. Rhode Island’s beach bars run the gamut from down home and funky, to upscale and elegant. The thing they hold in common is proximity to sand, saltwater, and delicious adult beverages. Try any of these classic Rhody beach bars, and you are assured of satisfied senses, and bonus points for summer success!
Paddy’s Beach Club, 159 Atlantic Avenue, Westerly, phone 596-2610, http://www.paddysbeach.com. Open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week during summer, Paddy’s offers a full menu, great music from DJs and local bands, and distinctive cocktails, all on beautiful Misquamicut Beach. Casual, fun, and rocking as the evenings progress, Paddy’s is a party the sand!
Windjammer Surf Bar, 321 Atlantic Avenue, Westerly, phone 322-0504, http://www.atlanticbeachpark.com. Open from 11-11 daily, from Memorial Day until October, the Windjammer offers food and drink right on the beach, along with amusement rides and arcade games for the children. Want to bodysurf the breakers, then relax with a cocktail just steps away? Visit the Windjammer!
The Andrea Hotel, 89 Atlantic Avenue, Westerly, phone 348-8788, http://www.andreabeachbar.com. The Andrea Hotel is a great comeback story, having, like much of the Westerly coast, sustained major damage from Superstorm Sandy. With a show of intense resilience, the owners of the Andrea rebuilt, and they are there on the lovely sand of Misquamicut to serve food, drinks, and great local entertainment to those lucky enough to be visiting the Rhode Island coast. The Andrea hosts weddings and events, as well, details on their FB page or website.
The Ocean Mist, Matunuck Beach Road. South Kingstown, phone 782-3740, http://www.oceanmist.net. A stone Southern RI classic, the Mist has a deck that stretches out right over the rolling Atlantic, and a staff of bartenders, cooks, and servers that will make sure your experience is memorable. Well known for their huge and delicious breakfasts, and for national musical acts in an intimate oceanfront setting, the Mist is a must visit in Matunuck. Open from 10 am-1 am Mon-Fri, and 9am-1 am Sat and Sun.
Tara’s Tipperary Tavern. 907 Matunuck Beach Road, South Kingstown, phone 284-1901,http://www.tarasfamilypub.com. Tara’s is right on the sand and Matunuck Point, and offers an Irish pub experience like no other in the state. The friendly service, comfort food, pints of Guinness, shots of Bushmill’s, and great local folk music are all available in most Irish pubs, but the proximity to sand, beach cottages for rent, and the presence of the lovely Tara Mulroy all help make this one special. Open as a pub since pre-prohibition times, Tara’s is a warm and cozy place to visit with friends. Check out their food specials, and game and trivia nights, too!
While not strictly on the beach, Twin Willows is a hop, skip, and jump from both Narragansett Town Beach and Bonnet Shores, and offers great water views throughout the restaurant. After a day in the sun, a lobster roll and pitcher of Newcastle from this spot really does the trick. Friendly service, delicious food, and big screen Red Sox games have kept the Willows parking lot full for many years. Stop in and find out why on your next trip to Narragansett!
Oceanside at the Pier, One Beach Street, Narragansett, phone 792-3999 http://www.oceansideatthepier.com. Open 8am-12am daily, in Summer. Only in Rhode Island will you find a neighborhood called the Pier, where no pier exists. Of course, as with many RI landmarks, there used to be one! The Oceanside is a deck that looks out over this particular blogger’s fave beach, Narragansett Town Beach, or just “The Pier”, as well as the seawall that winds down past the Towers. Come here to enjoy a cocktail and meal and be caressed by the warm ocean breezes that make summer in Narragansett so sweet.
Ballard’s. 42 Water Street, New Shoreham, phone 466-2231. http://www.ballardsinn.com. Rhode Island is not an island, but it has a few spectacular islands within it, including Prudence, Patience, and the fantastic Block Island. Ride the ferry over and you will be in another world, one where summer reigns and incredibly clean air and water harken back to earlier times. Ballard’s is an Inn with a beachfront bar that is built for fun, and for making the most of perfect beach days. With live music, great food and drinks, and caring service right on the soft, warm sand, Ballard’s just might be the ultimate RI beach bar. Visit and let us know what you think!
My favorite is Ballards. You feel like you are on a vacation when you are there. We always go to the Windjammer when we make the trip to Westerly.