Café Mado has been an open tab for months. We finally went on a random Monday, looking for one outdoor drink, and stayed for dinner.

It’s a small neighborhood restaurant located in Prospect Heights, a few blocks from the park. They offer a seasonal menu and have the cutest little backyard.

What we ordered

• The cucumber cocktail and a glass of wine from the Loire Valley (I don’t remember the name)

• The baguette and cultured butter (I’m French and really picky when it comes to bread in the states. This was worth ordering.)

• The caesar salad (delish)

• The local melon with fresh cheese (I’d skip this one.)

• The panzanella heirloom tomato salad (perfectly in season!)

• The cavatelli gold bar squash pasta (loved it)

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Neighborhood: Prospect Heights (791 Washington Ave)
Booking: Resy or walk in
Ask for: a table in the backyard
Price: $$

Worth a visit! Go on a warm summer weeknight and sit outside in the backyard.

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x Melody

We drove from Brooklyn to Watch Hill on a Thursday morning with the intention to spend the day there before heading to Newport for the rest of our stay.

I booked lunch at Verandah at Ocean House and ate my first lobster roll of the trip. This hotel is so beautiful and exactly what I think east coast summer is: pastel colored homes, hydrangeas at every corner and the infinite glistening sea with beautiful sailboats crossing.

After lunch, we walked around the grounds taking it all in before heading to the small town of Westerly, RI. There, we walked down Bay St and bopped into the small shops alongside the harbor.

We then drove to Newport, checked into our cute airbnb and got ready for our first dinner at Flora at the Gardiner House. The scallops and the paella were delish! I’ve been there for brunch as well, but would recommend going there for dinner.

Day 2, we woke up early and like everyone else, headed to the Nitro bar (on pond ave) where we ordered an iced vanilla latte and an iced banana one. I would not order this every day but it’s definitely an interesting one to try. We also ordered the half pesto bagel and it was scrumptious! I love that they offer half bagels as someone who is not too hungry in the morning but always wants to try new things. Take notes New York. If you have a sweet tooth, you can also stop by co-dough, a few blocks away. I have not tried yet but their cinnamon rolls are apparently insane. We then took our dog Moose on a beach walk before heading back to the airbnb and getting ready for lunch. We had a reservation at The Mooring where we ordered oysters, another lobster roll for me and a fresh grilled fish. If you go, make sure to sit outside where you can see all the boats go in and out of the harbor. After lunch, take a stroll around Bannister’s Wharf and make sure to stop by the KJP store – a classic.

Later on we had drinks at The Studio bar at Gardiner House (so cozy and a great dirty martini) and grabbed dinner at Giusto. The food was good overall (try the scotch meatball and the sweet corn ravioli if on the menu) but I would skip the freestyle tasting menu - my friends did not enjoy it.

Day 3, we had the same morning ritual at the Nitro bar followed by lunch at the iconic Castle Hill Inn. We ordered the seafood tower which was exceptional and some cocktails (try the blueberry lemonade). We then sat on the lawn and relaxed watching all of the sailboats pass by. We then headed back to the Wharf to get on a sailboat for a sunset cruise and it was such a beautiful evening - highly recommend (we used Newport Classic Cruises and went on the Madeleine). We ended the night at Thames St Kitchen with steak (get the filet) and caesar salad (one of the best I have ever had!).

Day 4, change of scenery, we grabbed coffee at Beaucoup Café which has the cutest little store attached to it. We then went on a walk at the Cliff Walk (start at Easton’s beach by the Chanler Hotel) and walked all the way to the Breakers before turning around. We were not feeling the rugged path that day but you can continue the walk all the way to the south end but make sure to wear good shoes and bring water with you. We’ve already been to the Breakers before, so we decided to go visit The Elms and stop by The Carriage House after our visit for a spritz and some olives. Note that you can only access it if you have tickets to the mansion. We headed back to get ready for my favorite dinner in town at the Sky bar at Clarke Cooke House. Get the oysters, the scallops (again!) and never skip the snowball in hell for dessert.

That’s the weekend. If you only do three things: get lunch and sit outside at The Castle Hill Inn, book the sunset sail, and a romantic night at Clarke Cooke House (they also do sushi in the summer!).

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x Melody

The Itinerary

Day 1 – Watch Hill & Westerly
Lunch: Verandah at Ocean House (get the lobster roll)
Wander: Ocean House grounds, then Bay St in Westerly
Dinner: Flora at Gardiner House – scallops and paella; go for dinner over brunch

Day 2 – Newport
Coffee: The Nitro Bar on Pond Ave – half pesto bagel and try the banana latte or special drink of the month
Sweet tooth: Co-Dough, a few blocks away (the cinnamon rolls, reportedly)
Lunch: The Mooring – oysters, lobster roll; sit outside
After: Bannister’s Wharf + the KJP store
Drinks: The Studio Bar at Gardiner House (the dirty martini)
Dinner: Giusto – scotch meatball, sweet corn ravioli; skip the freestyle tasting menu

Day 3 – Newport
Lunch: Castle Hill Inn – seafood tower and blueberry lemonade on the lawn
Golden hour: sunset sail on the Madeleine (Newport Classic Cruises)
Dinner: Thames St Kitchen – the filet and that caesar salad

Day 4 – Newport
Coffee: Beaucoup Café (browse the little store)
Walk: Cliff Walk – start at Easton’s Beach by The Chanler
Afternoon: The Elms + a spritz at the Carriage House (mansion ticket required)
Dinner: Sky Bar at Clarke Cooke House – oysters, scallops, snowball in hell

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