Downtown Providence - Providence, RI Area Guide

The original site of the Providence settlement, the downtown area gradually became the city's center of commerce in the 19th century. The neighborhood underwent massive reconstruction starting in the 1970s to make it the entertainment and cultural hub it is today.

Cultural attractions in the downtown area include the Trinity Repertory Company, a non-profit theater where you can see original and classic plays, and the Providence Performing Arts Center, which plays host to Broadway musicals and headlining concerts. Annual events include the Providence Food & Wine Festival and the FirstWorks Urban Carnevale.

One of the most unique art events around, you can't miss an opportunity to experience WaterFire at Waterplace Park in the summer. Spread along two-thirds of a mile along the river, this performance-art installation features a string of nearly 100 small bonfires floating on the water. The experience includes performers interacting with the crowd and music from around the world.

Modern and sophisticated, the downtown restaurant scene in Providence continues to raise its profile, regularly receiving critical acclaim as a top dining destination. Driven by award-winning chefs, the trendiest downtown restaurants vary wildly in style, price and ambiance.

Close to downtown’s center, Gracie’s stands out for its AAA Four-Diamond status. This upscale restaurant serves seasonal American cuisine with a modern twist, harvesting many ingredients from its own private rooftop garden. Serving meals in three, five or seven courses, menu options include crispy veal sweetbreads with quail’s egg and mushroom ragout, sea scallops with braised pork belly and roasted duck with a parsnip puree.

If you want to dine with a view, several restaurants line the three rivers that flow through the downtown area. Cafe Nuovo is a local favorite, combining elegant cuisine with a casually chic atmosphere. Patrons can enjoy the uninterrupted views of the river through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the winter, or dine riverside on the outdoor piazza in the summer. Serving a fusion of American and international dishes, popular menu items include the crab cake with corn salad and apple relish as well as the lamb shanks, which are braised for six hours for maximum tenderness. Get here early to snag the best seats during riverfront events such as the WaterFire show.

In the heart of downtown, over-the-top opulence meets casual coolness at The Dorrance. Housed in what was once a historic federal bank, the ornate decor includes stained glass windows, intricately detailed ceilings and Victorian-era furnishings. Although the restaurant serves up the finest European fare, there’s no dress code, and the atmosphere is decidedly casual and warm. Must-try items on the menu include the massive and juicy pork chop and the famous Duck Nuggets, which are bite-sized portions of duck confit, breaded and fried.

There’s a surprisingly wide variety of nightlife options packed into the small downtown area. You’ll find options for whatever a night out on the town means to you, whether it’s hanging out at a low-key bar, listening to a local band or dancing the night away.

Stylish but laid-back, The Eddy attracts patrons with its creative, hand-crafted cocktails and hipster vibe. The dimly lit bar has garnered rave reviews for cocktails such as the Brooklyn Cocktail on Tap, which includes aged whiskey, maraschino liqueur and dry vermouth, and the ever-popular House Punch. The elevated bar food at The Eddy has also received high praise from locals, especially the farm fresh deviled eggs and the Bavarian soft pretzels with sweet maple butter. For live music, head to The Spot Underground, known for its excellent acoustics, ample seating and artsy vibe. When you want to dance, EGO Providence has got you covered with a huge dance floor complete with colorful strobe lighting. At this LGBT-friendly establishment, you'll find people from all walks of life hitting the dance floor.

The very compact downtown area regularly ranks as one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the nation. When you don’t feel like walking, Rhode Island’s public transportation service, RIPTA, provides about 60 bus lines and a few trolleys that travel through and around downtown Providence. Taxi services are available, although you may have to head to a major point of interest or a hotel to track down a cab. You can also use the ridesharing service Uber to get around town.

Interstate 95 runs along the entire western border of downtown, making the neighborhood very accessible by car. If you don’t own a car, you can join car-sharing programs Zipcar or RelayRides, which allow you to rent a car for a few hours when you need one. Ample parking options are available throughout downtown, including metered and non-metered street parking, lots and garages. Most meters are free after 6 p.m. and all day on Sundays.

Bicyclists are welcome in downtown Providence, as the city continues to add bike lanes to make main thoroughfares more bike-friendly. Dash Bicycle has bikes available for rent just outside the downtown area in the Federal Hill neighborhood.

A number of parks and green spaces add beauty and community-gathering spaces to the downtown area. WaterPlace Park sits on the north bank of the Woonasquatucket River and features cobblestoned walking paths and Venetian-style bridges where visitors can enjoy unparalleled river views. The open-air amphitheater makes it a popular destination for free concerts and riverside events.

Nearby, Burnside Park provides a grassy respite in the middle of major businesses and government buildings. The park features a beautiful fountain in the center and plays host to regular entertainment and annual events in downtown. Festivals regularly held at the park include the Burnside Park Beer Garden Music Series, a weekly summer event featuring a beer garden area, food trucks and live entertainment.

Although not the most expensive neighborhood in Providence, living close to the city’s best entertainment and attractions comes with a significant price tag. In fact, it costs nearly 59 percent more than the city average to live downtown. The average one-bedroom apartment will cost you about $1,360 a month.

Getting into the city via the RIPTA bus system won’t cost you much at all, just $2 a ride. Driving is a bit more expensive since gas prices are about 9 percent higher in Providence than the national average. At a local pub, expect to pay between $3.50 and $5.50 for a pint of beer.

Shopping options in the downtown area include a mix of well-known chain stores, high-end boutiques and independent small businesses. The Providence Place Mall on the north end of downtown draws large crowds seeking popular stores and a one-stop shopping destination. The mall includes familiar chains such as Macy's and the Apple Store. On Westminster Street, the historic Westminster Arcade was once the first enclosed shopping mall in the country. Today it has been reinvented into a mixed-use complex complete with residences, restaurants and shops. Head to Westminster Street to shop the cluster of eclectic, locally owned shops lining both sides of the street. Stop at Craftland for one-of-a-kind handcrafted artwork and trinkets from local artists, and visit Civil Providence for rare and carefully curated men's fashions. Although close by, there are no major grocery stores within the downtown neighborhood. However, Gourmet Heaven has a select amount of groceries and a popular deli. There's also a farmers' market at Kennedy Plaza on Tuesday afternoons.