Providence Restaurants With a WaterFire View

Published: July 17, 2024

WaterFire, Providence's signature attraction, draws thousands of visitors to the city every year. It's an experience that shouldn't be missed. A stroll along the event route engages your senses with flickering firelight, the scent of wood smoke, enchanting music and more. You'll encounter local vendors and performers, including living statues, as you take in the view of the lighted river.

While we love the up-close-and-personal experience at WaterFire, we'd also suggest extending your evening to include dinner at one of the downtown restaurants with a river view. Relax on the patio, enjoy the brazier lighting, do a little people watching and have a nice meal in style. Do keep in mind that these restaurants fill up quickly on WaterFire nights. We recommend making a reservation at least a week in advance of your planned visit.

Restaurants With a River View:

Cafe Nuovo

One Citizens Plaza

Casually elegant Café Nuovo, at the Gondola Landing on Providence's famed Riverwalk, has been singled out by the Providence Journal as "RI's contribution to world class dining." Dine indoors or alfresco (in season) while enjoying scenic city views and a heavenly fusion of American regional, European, Asian and Island flavors.

The Capital Grille

10 Memorial Blvd.

The Capital Grille boasts an atmosphere of power dining, relaxed elegance, and style. Nationally acclaimed for dry-aging steaks on premises, The Capital Grille serves classic steakhouse offerings such as chops, large North Atlantic lobsters and fresh seafood. We offer an award-winning wine list and don't forget our signature martini "stoli doli".

Hemenway's Restaurant

121 South Main Street

"Rhode Island's Premier Seafood Address" — Hemenway's is Providence's original downtown, riverside restaurant with a national reputation for serving only the freshest seafood while delivering genuine hospitality in a relaxed social atmosphere. When it comes to freshness, no one is more particular than Hemenway's. Don't be surprised if you feel a slight ocean breeze with your first bite.

Jacky's Waterplace Restaurant

200 Exchange Street

A contemporary Asian restaurant and sushi bar, serving lunch, dinner and takeout. Free complimentary valet parking after 5.

Upcoming WaterFire Dates:

Things To Do

2024 WaterFire Dates Released

You can travel the globe and never find anything quite like WaterFire. A series of nearly 100 bonfires that seems to magically perch on the three rivers of downtown Providence, WaterFire is actually an art installation. Created by local artist and Brown grad Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has attracted…

Author

Tara Rugg

Tara Rugg is the marketing manager at the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. She lives in Warwick with her husband, and loves spending time in Providence for dining, theater and concerts. In her free time, she can usually be found with her nose in a book.