Providence’s West End includes the areas around Broadway, West Fountain Street and Luongo Square. This also includes part of Westminster Street, where the street moves away from the downtown business center and the landscape is a mix of residences and urban businesses. The commercial corridor along Westminster Street is defined by its relationship with two neighboring high schools. There is a strong youth arts cluster represented by New Urban Artsand Youth Pride.
This historic urban neighborhood is bustling with revitalization. Throughout the last several years, homes have been renovated, sidewalks repaired, trees planted and community living fostered with the help of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA), organizing businesses and connecting neighbors to preserve and promote the diverse, historic and urban community. WBNA’s mission is to Shop, Work, Eat and Learn Locally. Visit this exciting neighborhood and that is just what you will experience.
It's the perfect place to immerse yourself in the city's rich past and modern classics among food, drink and architecture.
There are a few fab options for vintage on Broadway. Rocket to Mars sells items ranging from clothing, furniture and lighting, to books and jewelry. Stop by Hall’s on Broadway for vintage and consignment art, textiles, antiques and collectibles.
Craving some monster French toast or are you daring enough for a scrambled egg pizza? Julian’s is THE place to brunch. (They also serve up a darn delicious dinner.)
The neighborhood's historic Columbus Theatre, which dates back to 1926, is under new ownership and will reopen as the Uptown Theatre once renovations are complete. Live entertainment will be back on its stage soon.
Unique finds abound in the West End in stores sure to transport you back in time. The collections of Rocket to Mars and Hall's on Broadway are always evolving, but you're sure to find an assortment of vintage clothing, books and jewelry among other treasures.
Armageddon Shop is dedicated to promoting all styles of music, especially local artists, among their curated catalog of CDs, vinyl and cassettes.
Locals love Joe’s Meat Market, also on Westminster. This butcher shop has a huge variety of meat and poultry. Though there is a focus on Latino flavors, one might also find Jamaican hot curry powder and the fixings for Korean short ribs.
Located on nearby Dexter Street, the Virginia & Spanish Peanut Company has been family owned and supplying snackers near and far since 1913 with an assortment of nuts, baking supplies and their signature Brown Bear peanut butter.
With a long list of restaurants serving tasty options for any craving, the only tough choice is figuring out how to try everything.
Zagat calls White Electric Coffee the West End’s favorite coffee shop. Enjoy their strong coffee and tasty baked goods in a cozy setting perfect for lounging with a newspaper or working remotely. Simple and consistent, The Classic Café is known for its generous breakfast portions and mouthwatering burgers and fries.
With “66 AmeriCans of Beer,” Guinness and an outdoor patio tiki bar, Westminster’s Ogie’s Trailer Park is kitschy and cool. Stop for a mai tai and some tater tots. Join the locals on Tuesday nights for trailer park trivia.
Craving some monster French toast or are you daring enough for a scrambled egg pizza? Julian’s is THE place to brunch. (They also serve up a darn delicious dinner.)
La Mei Hot Pot serves up fresh meats cooked for mere minutes in a hot broth with Chinese ingredients. There are also a number of tasty vegetarian entrees. A mouthwatering sauce bar adds to the appeal and gives diners a more interactive experience.
Great Northern Barbecue on Parade Street has low and slow-smoked favorites like brisket, ribs and pulled pork wood. Sides include bacon fat mac and cheese and house-pickled vegetables but there’s also cedar plank salmon and veggie burgers, too.
Nick’s on Broadway is known for reinventing the classics and specializes in seasonal dishes emphasizing fresh, local ingredients. Just blocks away, The Patio on Broadway offers a divers menu and has earned a spot among the best brunch spots in the city.
Providence's robust brewing history means it's easy to find a brewery almost anywhere. Long Live Beerworks features hop-forward beers, playful stouts and sours, all of which can be sampled within the brewery's spacious taproom and expansive mezzanine. Or step into nearby Origin Beer Project to sample highly drinkable and classically balanced beers before crossing the street to Moniker Brewery to enjoy a lager in their laid-back beer garden.
Take a seat by the fountain at Luongo Square, then stop by neighborhood bar The Avery for a martini or craft beer. With more than 40 beers and 60 whiskeys on the menu, there's bound to be something for everyone.
For a quick breakfast bite, Irregardless is known for its friendly, casual vibes and unique biscuit sandwiches. Looking for wickedly delicious options to satisfy your sweet tooth? Sin Bakery's creative confections won't disappoint. The bakery also has some satisfying gluten-free options on the menu.
Located inside the historic Italo-American Club on Broadway, Maria’s Cucina serves up traditional Italian dishes like sweet Italian sausage with broccoli rabe, pasta Bolognese and veal Milanese.
Check out New Urban Arts on Westminster. This studio and art gallery for high school students and emerging artists fosters creative learning opportunities through youth programs, workshops, performances and exhibitions.
Pop into Dash Bicycle for a rental and a coffee at The Nitro Bar. A bike is the perfect way to navigate Providence or take a leisurely ride along the nearby East Bay Bike Path. Rental rates range from hourly to weekly.
Take in a bit of history with a visit to Dexter Park and the grounds of the Cranston Street Armory, once home to numerous military battalions, then mounted commands and, later, the Rhode Island National Guard. The Armory is located at a massive nine-acre park with ball fields, a playground, new bocce courts and chess tables. Seasonal events include a community farmers market, children’s chess workshops, concerts in the park, live theater performances, and a beer garden.
The neighborhood's historic Columbus Theatre, which dates back to 1926, is under new ownership and will reopen as the Uptown Theatre once renovations are complete. Live entertainment will be back on its stage soon.
The West End's landscape includes impressive Victorian-era mansions Barnaby Castle (linked to a notorious 1800s legal case) and Prentiss Mansion, which can be toured annually during WBNA’s tour of historic homes. The Wedding Cake House features intricate architecture sure to leave your sweet tooth aching.
The neighborhood is walkable and bike friendly and also conveniently served by RIPTA. There is also ample on-street parking.
Explore even more of the area's vibrant past at your own pace with the West End Historic Walking Tour.
Beyond Interstate 95 lies Providence’s West Side. A bridge arching over the interstate takes you into the city of immigrants and strivers, of industrialists in Broadway mansions and mill workers in cramped triple-deckers. The Colonial town, built on shipping and the slave trade, huddled along the Providence River. By the early 19th century, textile mills had changed the economy, the result of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and Samuel Slater’s industrial espionage. The new manufacturing city spread across the low-lying flats of the Weybosset side and climbed the hills south of the Woonasquatucket River.
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The first diner in the country was conceptualized/opened on Westminster Street in Providence in 1872. Not far from the original location, further down Westminster, visit the West Side Diner. Try signature dishes like steak and eggs, a Reuben sandwich or one of their specials- cookie dough pancakes.
