Newport food & drink guide · Reviewed October 2026
Rhode Island coffee milk, the official state drink, is the first thing to try in Newport, followed by a Del’s Frozen Lemonade, a local beer, a glass of Aquidneck Island wine and a pour of Newport-made Thomas Tew rum. This guide covers what each drink is, where it comes from and where to find it in and around Newport, so you can drink like a local during your trip.
Rhode Island drinks at a glance
| Drink | What it is | Where to try it near Newport |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee milk | Milk mixed with sweet coffee syrup; the official state drink | Make it with Autocrat syrup from local grocery stores |
| Del’s Frozen Lemonade | A slushy lemonade made with real lemons, sold since 1948 | 337 Thames St, Newport; 729 W Main Rd, Middletown |
| Narragansett beer | Rhode Island’s classic lager brand, founded in 1890 | On tap and in cans at bars across Newport |
| Local craft beer | Small-batch beer from Aquidneck Island breweries | Newport Craft, Pivotal Brewing, Taproot, Ragged Island |
| Local wine | Wine grown on Aquidneck Island | Newport Vineyards (Middletown), Greenvale (Portsmouth) |
| Thomas Tew rum | Rum distilled in Newport | Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling, JT Connell Hwy |
Rhode Island coffee milk, the state drink
Coffee milk is about as Rhode Island as it gets. It is simply cold milk stirred with coffee syrup, which makes a sweet, mild drink that tastes a little like coffee ice cream. Locals grow up on it, and on July 29, 1993, the Rhode Island General Assembly named it the official state drink, picking it over Del’s Frozen Lemonade.
The syrup is the key. Autocrat, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has made coffee syrup since the 1930s and is the best-known brand. It also owns the older Eclipse and Coffee Time labels. You will find Autocrat bottles in grocery stores across the state, so the easiest way to try coffee milk is to grab a bottle and mix your own. A bottle also makes a good edible souvenir to take home. For a proper cup of coffee in town, see our guide to the best coffee shops in Newport.
Coffee also shows up in another Rhode Island classic: the Awful Awful, the famously thick ice-milk drink from Newport Creamery. The chain still runs a restaurant in Middletown and, according to a September 2026 NBC 10 report, has added a coffee bar with an espresso version of the Awful Awful. It is one of the classics in our list of 15 iconic Newport desserts.
Del’s Frozen Lemonade
Del’s is Rhode Island’s other famous drink. Angelo DeLucia started selling it from a small cart in Cranston in 1948, using a lemonade recipe his family brought from Italy. It is a half-frozen slush made with real lemons, so you get bits of lemon in every cup.
In the Newport area, the official Del’s locations page lists a stand at 337 Thames Street in downtown Newport and a location at 729 West Main Road in Middletown. Del’s is mostly a warm-weather treat, so it is a perfect stop after a day at the beach. See our Newport hotels near the beach if you want to stay close to the sand.
Narragansett beer
Narragansett, or ‘Gansett, has been Rhode Island’s hometown beer since 1890, when it was founded in Cranston. Its famous slogan, “Hi, Neighbor! Have a ‘Gansett!”, was made popular on Red Sox broadcasts. Today its craft brewery and taproom are in the Fox Point area of Providence, and you will find its lager on tap and in cans in bars all over Newport.
For a casual ‘Gansett in town, Broadway is the place locals go. Pour Judgement lists Narragansett among the Rhode Island breweries on its rotating taps, and our guide to places to drink in Newport covers more bars by neighborhood.
Local craft beer from Newport breweries
Aquidneck Island has a strong craft beer scene, and several breweries are close to downtown:
- Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling, 293 JT Connell Highway, Newport. A brewery and distillery founded in 1999, with a taproom, rooftop patio, lawn and tours. Discover Newport lists beer flights and a dog-friendly lawn. Visit the official Newport Craft website.
- Pivotal Brewing Company, 140 Broadway, Newport. A brewpub with an outdoor beer garden right on the Broadway bar strip.
- Taproot Brewing Co., 909 East Main Road, Middletown. A small brewhouse at Newport Vineyards that pours hop-forward, small-batch beers.
- Coddington Brewing Company, 210 Coddington Highway, Middletown. Newport County’s first brewpub, opened in 1995, with a full food menu.
- Ragged Island Brewing Co., 54 Bristol Ferry Road, Portsmouth. A farm brewery with a greenhouse taproom and hop fields.
As of 2026, Discover Newport listed Newport Craft open from noon daily, until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. Check each brewery’s site for current hours.
Wine from Aquidneck Island vineyards
Newport Vineyards at 909 East Main Road in Middletown is the easiest winery visit from downtown Newport. It has been growing grapes since 1977 and offers tastings, tours, a restaurant and a market, and Taproot Brewing shares the site. Discover Newport listed a tasting of four 2-ounce pours for $22, along with a no-pets policy.
For a quieter setting, Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth sits on the Sakonnet River and has been family-run since 1982. Sakonnet Vineyard in Little Compton is a longer drive but makes a good day trip.
Thomas Tew rum and Newport spirits
Newport has a long history with rum, and Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling keeps it going with its Thomas Tew line, named after a Newport privateer. The range includes Thomas Tew Single Barrel, Reserve and Spiced rums plus cask-finished Cooper’s Blend bottlings. The same distillery also makes White Squall gin and vodka and Sea Fog whiskey. A spirits flight at the distillery is the best way to try them side by side.
Where to stay near Newport’s best drinks
Stay downtown and you can walk to Del’s on Thames Street, the Broadway bars and the waterfront, then take a short ride to the breweries and vineyards:
Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina
A full-service marina hotel on the central waterfront, steps from Thames Street. Check Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina rates and availability →
Francis Malbone House
A historic inn on Thames Street that suits a romantic weekend. Check Francis Malbone House rates and availability →
Brenton Hotel
A modern boutique hotel on Long Wharf at the edge of the harbor, close to Washington Square and Broadway. Check Brenton Hotel rates and availability →
Compare more options in our downtown Newport hotels guide, hotels on Thames Street, hotels with harbor views and best hotels in Newport, and check our reader deals before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rhode Island coffee milk?
Rhode Island coffee milk is cold milk stirred with sweet coffee syrup, a bit like chocolate milk made with coffee flavor instead. Autocrat, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is the best-known syrup brand, and you can find it in grocery stores across the state.
What is the state drink of Rhode Island?
Coffee milk is the official state drink of Rhode Island. The General Assembly gave it the title on July 29, 1993, choosing it over Del’s Frozen Lemonade.
Where can I get Del’s Lemonade in Newport?
Del’s lists a Newport stand at 337 Thames Street and a Middletown location at 729 West Main Road. Del’s is mainly a summer treat, so check hours before you go in the off-season.
What is Thomas Tew rum?
Thomas Tew is the rum line made by Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling at its facility on JT Connell Highway in Newport. The range includes single barrel, reserve, spiced and cask-finished bottlings.
Where can I drink local beer in Newport, RI?
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling and Pivotal Brewing on Broadway are both in Newport, and Taproot Brewing pours at Newport Vineyards in Middletown. Many Newport bars, including Pour Judgement on Broadway, also carry Rhode Island beers on tap.
Is there a winery near Newport, RI?
Yes. Newport Vineyards is at 909 East Main Road in Middletown, a short drive from downtown Newport, and Greenvale Vineyards is in Portsmouth on the Sakonnet River.
More Newport guides
- Places to Drink in Newport, RI
- Newport Food & Drink Guide
- Pour Judgement Newport: Broadway Bar Guide
- The Deck Newport RI Guide
- Best Coffee Shops in Newport, RI
- Best Restaurants in Newport, RI
- Live Music in Newport, RI
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