Newport restaurant guide · Reviewed October 2026
22 Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, RI is the address of 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, a prime steakhouse with serious seafood that sits right on the harbor at the foot of Newport’s Historic Hill. It is the kind of place locals pick for a birthday dinner and visitors book for the one big meal of their trip: dry-aged steaks, a raw bar, lobster done several ways and a long wine list, with harbor views from the upstairs rooms and deck.
What is 22 Bowen’s?
22 Bowen’s describes itself as a classic prime steakhouse with casual elegance, indulgent food and classic drinks. It is part of Newport Restaurant Group, a local, 100% employee-owned company. That matters for two practical reasons: a single Newport Restaurant Group gift card works at 17 of the group’s restaurants, including 22 Bowen’s, and the group’s free Fare Rewards program earns points here too.
Even though it is best known as a steakhouse, about half the menu comes from the water. Expect a raw bar, crab cakes, chowder, lobster bisque, halibut, tuna and whole steamed Maine lobsters alongside the steaks.
Where is 22 Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, RI?
The restaurant is at 22 Bowen’s Wharf, Newport, RI 02840. Bowen’s Wharf is one of the historic wharves along downtown Newport’s waterfront, between Thames Street and the harbor. The wharf was originally known as Stevens’ Wharf, after ship chandler Robert Stevens, and later took its name from the George Bowen’s Coal Company that kept an office there. Today the old granite quays and 18th-century commercial buildings hold more than 30 shops and restaurants, plus a marina.
Because it is in the middle of downtown, 22 Bowen’s is an easy walk from most hotels near Thames Street, Washington Square and the harbor. A dinner here pairs naturally with a sunset harbor cruise or sail from one of the downtown wharves; see our guide to Newport boat tours and water activities for ideas.
The 22 Bowen’s menu: what to order
The dinner menu is built like a traditional steakhouse: everything is à la carte, and you pick your own sauce and sides. Highlights from the menu at the time of our review:
- Chilled tastes and raw bar: oysters, littlenecks and chilled shrimp by the piece, lobster cocktail, tuna tartare, shrimp ceviche, caviar service, a New England shellfish sampler and a Prime Seafood Tower for a group.
- Appetizers: crab cakes, crispy calamari, frutti di mare with chouriço, stuffed artichokes, wagyu dumplings and wagyu tartare.
- Soups and salads: 22B clam chowder, lobster bisque, French onion soup, a classic wedge, Caesar and Waldorf salads.
- USDA Prime steaks: a 14 oz. New York strip, a 10 oz. center-cut filet, an 18 oz. bone-in Delmonico and a strip au poivre.
- Dry-aged cuts: a 20 oz. bone-in strip, a 30 oz. tomahawk ribeye for two and a 32 oz. porterhouse, served with tallow butter.
- Wagyu: Japanese Miyazaki A5 strip, American wagyu filet and an Australian wagyu ribeye, served rare with freshly shaved wasabi.
- From the sea and entrées: Chinook salmon, yellowfin tuna, halibut, a daily catch, rice-crusted tuna, chicken Wellington, a stuffed portobello and steamed Maine lobster (2 or 3 lb., with a baked-stuffed option).
- Sides: truffle mac and cheese (lobster can be added), four-cheese potato gratin, Rhode Island mushroom fricassee, parmesan truffle fries, asparagus and 22B mashed potatoes.
Every steak, chop and fish comes with your choice of one sauce or butter, such as béarnaise, bordelaise, the house “steakhouse” sauce, cognac cream, chimichurri or truffle butter. Add-ons include a butter-poached lobster tail, Oscar style crab topping, scallops and roasted bone marrow.
Budget note: this is a special-occasion price point. When we reviewed the menu, Prime steaks started in the mid-$50s, dry-aged cuts ran from about $115 to $150 and A5 wagyu was close to $200, with sides priced separately. Prices change, so check the current menu before you go.
Lunch vs. dinner at 22 Bowen’s
Lunch is the smart move if you want the harbor setting without the full steakhouse bill. The lunch menu keeps the raw bar, appetizers, chowder and salads, and adds sandwiches and lighter entrées: a lobster roll served warm with garlic butter or cold with lemon mayo, a “loaded” lobster roll with caviar, a wagyu pastrami sandwich, the 22B burger, a surf-and-turf burger and a French onion burger the menu calls the 2024 Newport “Burger Bender” winner. Steak frites, a steak salad and a salmon naan round it out.
| Visit | Best for | What to order | Hours (check before you go) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | Sightseeing days, a lobster roll with a view, smaller budgets | Lobster roll, chowder, burgers, steak frites | Daily, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Bar, afternoon | A drink and oysters between activities | Raw bar, cocktails, wine by the glass | Bar open all day; limited service 3:30–5 p.m. |
| Dinner | Anniversaries, birthdays, the big night out | Dry-aged steaks, lobster, shellfish tower, sides to share | Sun.–Thu. 5–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 5–10 p.m. |
| Portside (summer) | Warm evenings outdoors on the harbor | Drinks and lighter plates al fresco | Seasonal; confirm with the restaurant |
In summer, 22 Bowen’s also runs Portside, an open-air bar with al fresco dining on the harbor front. It is seasonal, so don’t count on it in the colder months.
Wine, cocktails and the bar
As the full name suggests, wine is a big part of the experience. The restaurant publishes its wine list as a PDF on its website and describes it as a mix of traditional favorites and newer picks that change with the trends. There is a separate cocktail, beer and wines-by-the-glass menu, so you don’t need to commit to a bottle. The bar is open all day, which makes it a good spot for a glass of wine and a dozen oysters after walking Thames Street.
Bar seating is for guests 21 and older. Under the restaurant’s posted policy, guests aged 16 to 21 can sit at the bar only with an adult, and children cannot sit at the bar.
Reservations, policies and private dining
- Reservations: book online for parties of up to 7. Groups of 8 to 14 need to call the restaurant at 401-841-8884. Table requests (like a window seat) are noted but not guaranteed.
- Families: highchairs are available and there is a kids’ menu. Strollers aren’t allowed at tables, but you can check one at the reservations desk.
- Dogs: not permitted in the dining areas. If you’re traveling with a dog, plan around that.
- Dress: the dress code is listed as casual, and the restaurant describes its style as casual elegance, so neat, smart-casual clothes fit right in.
The whole second floor is set up for private events, which makes 22 Bowen’s popular for rehearsal dinners and wedding-weekend gatherings. The Wine Room seats up to 22, the Scull Room (named for the antique wooden rowing scull hanging from the rafters) seats up to 40, the climate-controlled wraparound Deck seats up to 32 with harbor views, and the entire floor can host up to 125 guests with station-style service. Details are on the 22 Bowen’s private events page. Planning a wedding weekend? Our guide to Newport hotels for weddings can help with room blocks.
Parking at Bowen’s Wharf
Bowen’s Wharf has its own paid lot. The wharf’s posted rates when we checked were $6 per half hour from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., up to an $84 daily maximum, with a flat rate for cars arriving after 4 p.m. that varies by season and availability, and a $20 prepaid overnight rate. The lost-ticket fee is $84. See the Bowen’s Wharf parking page for current rates. If your hotel is downtown, walking is usually simpler than driving and parking.
Events on Bowen’s Wharf
The wharf hosts events through the year, and they make a fun excuse to book lunch or dinner nearby. In recent years the calendar has included the Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival in May, the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival in October (2026 was its 35th year), a Halloween trick-or-treat event and a long-running holiday tree lighting in early December, scheduled for December 5, 2026. Dates change every year, so confirm on the Bowen’s Wharf website.
Where to stay near 22 Bowen’s Wharf
If dinner at 22 Bowen’s is the centerpiece of your trip, stay somewhere you can walk home from. These guides compare the best options:
Thames Street and downtown
Hotels and inns on and around Thames Street put you a short stroll from the wharf, shops and nightlife. Start with our guides to hotels on Thames Street and downtown Newport hotels.
Harbor views
To wake up to the same view you had at dinner, browse Newport hotels with harbor views.
Anniversaries and special occasions
Celebrating? Pair a steak dinner with a stay from our list of romantic hotels in Newport, or compare everything in the best hotels in Newport, RI.
Frequently asked questions
What is at 22 Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, RI?
22 Bowen’s Wharf is the address of 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, a prime steakhouse and seafood restaurant on Newport’s downtown waterfront, run by Newport Restaurant Group.
Do you need a reservation at 22 Bowen’s?
A reservation is a good idea for dinner, especially on summer weekends. Parties of up to 7 can book online; parties of 8 to 14 should call 401-841-8884.
Is 22 Bowen’s expensive?
Yes, dinner is a splurge. Steaks and sides are ordered separately, and the premium dry-aged and wagyu cuts run well over $100. Lunch, with lobster rolls, burgers and chowder, is the more affordable way to try it.
Does 22 Bowen’s have outdoor seating?
In summer, the Portside bar offers open-air drinks and dining on the harbor front. The upstairs Deck is a climate-controlled space used for private events.
Is 22 Bowen’s good for kids?
Families are welcome. There is a kids’ menu and highchairs are available, though strollers need to be checked at the reservations desk and children cannot sit at the bar.
Where do you park for 22 Bowen’s?
The Bowen’s Wharf lot is right next to the restaurant and charges by the half hour, with a flat rate for evening arrivals. Downtown hotel guests can usually walk.
More Newport guides
- Best Restaurants in Newport, RI
- Newport Food & Drink Guide
- Zelda’s Newport: Thames Street bar and bistro
- Tavern on Broadway, Newport
- Newport Hotels with Harbor Views
- All Newport Blog posts
