Wondering what a day of a J1-er in Newport might look like?

Avril works in Giusto, a beautiful freestyle Italian Restaurant, located on Hammett’s Wharf. This is her guide to dawdling, drinking and dining in Newport.

Welcome to a day in the life on my J1 in Newport, Rhode Island. Join me as I take you through my favourite, J1 friendly spots in this beautiful seaside city.

Morning walks around Newport

My favourite way to start my mornings in Newport is with a walk. I usually take a stroll down to Battery Park which has a gorgeous view of the Newport Bridge. I also enjoy a walk down America's Cup, exploring the tourist shops, and soaking in the atmosphere of the beautiful seaside city. I love my morning walks, as they're a great way to get some movement into my day, and also a great opportunity to call home and catch up with my friends and family over the phone.

I always get a coffee on or after my morning walk.

Favourite coffee shops and cafes

There are two Empires in Newport: one on Broadway and another on Bellevue. They have a great selection of coffees and also a good menu of bagels and treats.

Springline Coffee is in a beautiful spot on Bannister's Wharf. The seating area looks out over the water, and it's always a bustling area, with a great atmosphere.

There are also two Nitro Bars in Newport. They do their coffee from taps, like a bar, which is cool. Their coffee shops have such a cool vibe, and they have a delicious menu of sandwiches and other food.

I usually head home after my walk and make myself some breakfast, but on the days, I want to treat myself I head out for breakfast with the girls.

Breakfast and brunch spots

Corner Cafe is Irish owned. Located on Broadway, they offer a huge menu selection, and the food is so yummy, and very affordable. This place is always busy and there's usually a queue, which does move quickly, so get there early.

Root is a great spot for a healthy, plant-based breakfast. Great options for takeaway breakfast or lunch too.

Drift make delicious smoothies, and offer a click and collect service, which is ideal for grabbing a smoothie or a sandwich on the way to work. My order is usually an Encourage-Mint smoothie with added vanilla plant-based protein, and it's delicious and keeps me full for the morning. Drift is always busy, which is a great sign.

It might be considered less glamorous than other breakfast spots in Newport, but Dunkin is a great option for a breakfast on the go. It's very American, and it’s also super affordable and quick – ideal for a J1 student. I love their avocado toast as well as their cream cheese bagels - and of course, they do a great donut.

Belles Cafe is a great place to admire the amazing super yachts in the marina, while enjoying great food. They have a good menu, and the location is hard to beat.

Cru Cafe is a great spot for breakfast lunch or brunch. They offer a huge menu, and the place is always super busy which creates a lively atmosphere. Cru also offers a BYOB option, which is great if you’re looking for a boozy brunch on a budget. This is always a great spot to meet other J1 students.

After my morning ventures, if I'm not headed to work in Giusto, I usually stroll home and get myself ready to head out for the day.

Daytime adventures in Newport

If I haven’t treated myself to a delicious breakfast in one of the above spots, I usually head on an afternoon adventure, armed with a picnic from Stop & Shop or a market.

The Cliff Walk is unmissable. It offers amazing views of the iconic Newport Mansions, as well as beautiful panoramic views of the ocean. The walk can begin from a number of places – depending how long of a walk you want to do, and it ends at Reject’s Beach. It is a doable walk, but I would recommend wearing suitable shoes, as a pair of flip flops might not be the most comfortable for some sections of the walk. The best way to get to the cliff walk if you don’t have access to a car is by the free RIPTA Shuttle Bus that runs regularly in Newport throughout the summer months.

Newport Mansions are an iconic piece of Newport’s history, and they are not to be missed. As a resident of Newport, you get free entry into the mansions – making it a super budget friendly activity. My favourite mansion I visited was The Breakers, which boasted beautiful panoramic views of the sea, as well as amazingly preserved interior and gardens. I would again, recommend getting the free shuttle bus, or else cycling to the mansions, as parking may be difficult to find in the busy summer months.

Rejects Beach is at the end of the cliff walk, and is accessible by free shuttle bus, bike or car. It is always busy in the summer and there are always tons of other J1 students here, which is always fun.

Easton’s Beach is where the cliff walk begins, and it is a great spot for a swim. The beach is huge with loads of bike racks, so it’s easy to park up your bike.

Taylor Point Lookout is a great place to view the Newport Bridge.

A stroll around bustling Bowen’s Wharf is always a very relaxed activity to spend your afternoon doing. The quaint shops offer locally produced food and souvenirs, while the surrounding restaurant terraces offer an unbeatable combination of delicious cuisine and stunning seascapes.

Thames Street is the main street in Newport which has a huge selection of unique boutiques, souvenir shops, and also lots of cool coffee and food spots too.

Newport is always busy with different events and activities. I would recommend keeping up to date on social media, as well as checking in with locals and local establishments about events. I attended a Polo match which was between USA and Ireland and was a great day out. Newport also hosts a Folk Festival and a Jazz Festival towards the end of July and start of August, which brings a great atmosphere to the place, and is something to look into if you’re interested.

Best day trips from Newport

Rhode Island is a beautiful state, with loads of different places worth visiting. There are many which are doable as a day trip such as Block Island, East Matunuck State Beach, Cape Cod.

After a long day of adventuring, I always love to catch the sunset or go for a delicious dinner with friends in one of my favourite Newport restaurants.

Where to watch the sunset in Newport

Castle Hill Inn is a spectacular spot to watch the sunset with a drink in hand from the bar. The iconic white lawn chairs are the perfect spot to watch the sun going down on another lovely day in Newport.

What better way to spend your evening than on a sunset cruise around the Port of Newport? A sunset boat trip is the perfect way to see all the iconic landmarks of Newport such as Fort Adams, the Newport Bridge, Goat Island, and Rose Island.

Giusto is a beautiful freestyle Italian Restaurant and has some of the best, most unique food in Newport, made using only local and fresh ingredients. Situated on Hammett’s Wharf, it is the perfect location to watch the sunset. Giusto offers a full dinner menu, as well as a snacks menu and delicious drinks. The atmosphere as well as the food and drinks in Giusto are outstanding and the service is also unmatched if I do say so myself.

Smugglers is an Irish owned bar, which is on the waterfront just off Thames Street – ideal for sunset. Smugglers is a laid-back bar with regular table tennis tournaments and is always full of young people, making for a great atmosphere.

Evening activities and dinner spots

Teppanyaki in Tokyo House is one of my favourite evening activities, and always fun with a group of friends. The restaurant offers both Teppanyaki and regular meals, but I couldn’t recommend the teppanyaki more. It is so much fun and great value for money.

Fastnet Irish bar is a great spot, especially on their Disco Tuesdays, where you’ll be sure to meet all the J1 students of Newport.

Diegos is a Mexican bar which do delicious food at a reasonable price, and they are open until late. They also make an amazing spicy margarita, which can be bought by the glass or as a jug which is ideal to share with a group of friends.

La Vecina taqueria does delicious tacos and other Mexican food, as well as great drinks. They often do fun activities during the week, where you can win different prizes like a free jug of margarita! They also offer $2 tacos on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to 12am, which is ideal for an after work late night snack.

O’Brien’s Irish Bar, located on Thames Street, is a great place for a group of friends and is always great craic.

The Irish American Athletic Club Bar is a bar located on Thames Street, where they offer a Karaoke Friday which is always super busy and great fun.

Every day in Newport is different for me, but it’s always exciting and really enjoyable. Newport offers loads of different activities, and the weather is mostly beautiful during the summer. Newport is a picturesque spot and there is a great buzz in the seaside city during the summer.

There’s something for everyone in Newport, and I couldn’t recommend a visit more.

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