Quick answer: Yes, plenty of Newport restaurants stay open all winter. Downtown classics like the White Horse Tavern, Clarke Cooke House, Perro Salado, The Mooring, 22 Bowen’s, Midtown Oyster Bar and Brick Alley Pub have a long track record of serving through the off-season. Expect a few of them to take a short break in January or February. The big seasonal closures to plan around are Flo’s Clam Shack in Middletown, which shuts for the year in early November, and The Black Pearl, which usually goes dark for part of the winter.
Newport between November and March is quieter, cheaper and, we think, a lot more fun to eat your way through. Getting a table is easier, the fireplaces are lit, and the harbor-view dining rooms have the place to themselves. Below is our guide to eating out during the 2026–27 off-season. For the full list of where to eat any time of year, see our best restaurants in Newport, RI guide.
Year-Round Favorites
These restaurants have shown up on local “open through winter” lists year after year. Many independent restaurants in Newport close for a few days to a few weeks after New Year’s, though, so check before you go.
Clarke Cooke House (Bannister’s Wharf)
The Clarke Cooke House is a Newport institution in a sea captain’s house built in 1780. It’s one of the most reliable winter picks downtown. Its hours change with the season, so check what’s open the week you visit.
White Horse Tavern (Marlborough Street)
The White Horse Tavern dates to 1673 and bills itself as America’s oldest restaurant. It’s dinner only, and it’s at its best on a cold night. It’s also our favorite fireplace dinner in town (see below).
22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille (Bowen’s Wharf)
This steakhouse and seafood spot sits right on the water at Bowen’s Wharf. Its outdoor Portside patio closes after the fall season, but the dining room stays open through winter. Our 22 Bowen’s guide has more.
The Mooring (Sayer’s Wharf)
The Mooring is a harbor-view seafood restaurant that local guides list as open in winter. It has closed for a few days in mid-January in some past years.
Midtown Oyster Bar (Thames Street)
Raw bar, a lively bar scene, and an upstairs covered terrace. Midtown usually takes a short winter break in early January. In 2025 it closed January 5 and reopened January 9.
Brick Alley Pub (Thames Street)
A casual, crowd-pleasing pub that’s easy for families. It has closed for about a week in early February in past winters and stays open the rest of the season.
Perro Salado and Diego’s
Both are good if you want Mexican food in winter. Perro Salado is in a historic house off Thames Street, and both have regularly appeared on local open-in-winter lists.
Looking for more ideas? See our Newport food and drink coverage.
Cozy Fireplace Spots
A crackling fire makes a winter dinner in Newport. These are the spots where we’ve confirmed a fireplace or fireside seating:
- White Horse Tavern: Low ceilings, old wood floors and a fireplace in the downstairs dining room. It’s the classic choice for a romantic winter dinner.
- Clarke Cooke House: The Bistro on the main floor has a big open fireplace with wicker seating in front of it, and the Candy Store bar also has fireside seats for drinks.
- Perro Salado: A fireplace-warmed dining room and two snug bars in an 1800s house. It feels like eating in someone’s home.
- Sardella’s: A long-running Italian spot with fireside dining.
- Forty 1 North and The Vanderbilt: Hotel lounges with fireplaces, good for a drink before or after dinner.
When you book, ask for a table near the fire. These seats go first on weekends. If you want the fireplace experience to carry over to your room, see our romantic hotels in Newport.
Seasonal Closures to Know
- Flo’s Clam Shack (Middletown): Strictly seasonal. Flo’s posted a closing date of November 1 for the Middletown shack across from Easton’s Beach, and it usually reopens in March on a Thursday–Sunday schedule. If you’re visiting in October, go now.
- The Black Pearl (Bannister’s Wharf): Famous for its chowder, and it has closed for part of the winter for years. It usually shuts in early January and reopens in late winter. Local reporting in January 2025 had it closed until around the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March. Assume the same pattern this winter and confirm before you go.
- Scales & Shells (Thames Street): This seafood spot in the Fifth Ward has taken a longer winter break in recent years. It stayed closed through February 11 in 2025. It is now owned by Heritage Restaurant Group, so its schedule may change.
- Castle Hill Inn: The inn’s restaurants closed after a fire in February 2026 and reopened in May 2026. Aurelia now serves a six-course prix fixe dinner, with reservations on OpenTable. In past years the inn has also taken a few weeks off in January, so check its winter dining schedule before you go.
- Outdoor decks and patios: Waterfront patios and rooftop bars around the harbor generally close after early fall and reopen once spring weather settles in.
Tips for Winter Dining in Newport
- Watch the January lull. The first few weeks after New Year’s are when Newport restaurants are most likely to take a break. If you’re visiting then, have a backup plan.
- Call or check social media. Restaurants often post winter hours and break dates on Instagram or Facebook before they update their websites.
- Go during Restaurant Week. Newport Restaurant Week runs November 6–15, 2026, with prix-fixe lunches at $20 or $30 and dinners at $30, $45 or $60. It’s one of the best-value times of the year to eat out.
- Stay downtown and walk. Most year-round restaurants are clustered along Thames Street and the wharves. Book one of the hotels on Thames Street or another downtown Newport hotel and skip the driving on icy nights.
- Pair dinner with a winter outing. See our things to do in Newport in winter for mansion holiday tours, Winter Festival and more.
Newport Winter Restaurant Status at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Winter Status | Fireplace |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Horse Tavern | Marlborough St. | Open through winter | Yes |
| Clarke Cooke House | Bannister’s Wharf | Open through winter (seasonal hours) | Yes (Bistro, Candy Store) |
| Perro Salado | Downtown | Open through winter | Yes |
| 22 Bowen’s | Bowen’s Wharf | Dining room open; patio closes | Not confirmed |
| The Mooring | Sayer’s Wharf | Open; possible short January break | Not confirmed |
| Midtown Oyster Bar | Thames St. | Open; short early-January break | Not confirmed |
| Brick Alley Pub | Thames St. | Open; possible short February break | Not confirmed |
| Castle Hill Inn (Aurelia) | Ocean Drive | Open; past January breaks, so check | Not confirmed |
| Scales & Shells | Fifth Ward | Extended winter break likely | Not confirmed |
| The Black Pearl | Bannister’s Wharf | Closed for part of winter, typically January to March | Not confirmed |
| Flo’s Clam Shack | Middletown | Seasonal: closes Nov. 1, reopens spring | No (outdoor shack) |
FAQ: Newport Restaurants in Winter
Are restaurants in Newport, RI open in winter?
Yes. Most downtown restaurants stay open from November through March, including well-known spots like the White Horse Tavern, Clarke Cooke House and 22 Bowen’s. Some independents take a short break, usually in January or February, and a handful of seasonal spots close until spring.
What Newport restaurants close for the season?
Flo’s Clam Shack in Middletown closes in early November and reopens in spring. The Black Pearl has usually closed from early January until late winter. Waterfront patios and rooftop bars also close for the cold months.
Which Newport restaurants have a fireplace?
The White Horse Tavern, Clarke Cooke House (Bistro and Candy Store), Perro Salado and Sardella’s all offer fireside dining. Hotel lounges at Forty 1 North and The Vanderbilt have fireplaces too.
When is Newport Restaurant Week 2026?
Newport Restaurant Week runs November 6–15, 2026, with prix-fixe lunch menus at $20 or $30 and dinner menus at $30, $45 or $60.
What’s the best time to visit Newport for dining in the off-season?
We like November (Restaurant Week) and early December (holiday lights and festive menus). Mid-January is when you’re most likely to find your first-choice restaurant on a short break.
Editorial Note
We checked this guide in October 2026 against restaurant websites, Discover Newport and local news coverage. Winter hours and break dates change every year and are often announced at the last minute, so please confirm with each restaurant before you go. If you spot something that’s changed, let us know and we’ll update the page.