I had one of the longest drives of my life to Providence during the December snow storm of 2007. What should have taken 50 minutes, turned into an 8 hours ordeal. The moment I pulled into the parking garage, I vowed to myself I would never drive to Providence again.

That was until my dear friend {and fellow MHC sister} Christina introduced me to East Side Pockets, home of the best falafel wrap in the Northeast. I am known to drive just about anywhere for good food and thus decided a drive to Providence wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Especially if food was involved. But you know what, I never stayed. That all changed, though, when I read about The Dean. At that moment, Providence quickly moved up my list for a weekend getaway.

Turns out, Providence is pretty awesome.

Stay

I could go on and on about The Dean but I will keep it to this. A 52-room boutique hotel with a coffee shop, German beer hall, European speakeasy and a Karaoke bar all housed in a former brothel. How could you not want to stay here? If you opt for a bit more traditional and classic, I suggest the Providence Biltmore.

Eat

For such a small city, the culinary scene in Providence is off-the-hook. Here are few must try places.

Birch {Owner and chef Benjamin Sukle, a 2014 James Beard semifinalist, has created an intimate and unique dining experience with only 18 seats around a u-shaped bar. The menu is a four-course tasting and guided by local and seasonal fare. By far, one of my top dining experiences thus far in 2015.}

Al Forno {The restaurant that put Providence on the culinary map.}

Nick’s on Broadway {A delicious gourmet brunch spot. I had the baked polenta with Rhode Island corn + Vermont cheddar with poached eggs and pumpkin seed pesto. So good!}

The Grange {A great spot for the vegetarians, this cheery cafe is always a safe choice for a healthy and wholesome meal. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.}

Tallulah’s Taqueria {An East Providence gem!}

Kitchen {Truth be told I missed this place on my last two visits, but I hear it is fantastic, just look at their exterior.}

Seven Star Bakery{I love me a bakery and their lemon cakes are sinful.}

The Eddy {The place for a nightcap in Providence.}

I’m already making a list of places to try on our next visit: Olga’s Cup and Saucer, North Bakery, The Dorrance, The Shop and Ken’s Ramen.

Do + See

One of my favorite things to do in Providence is explore. The architecture is mesmerizing and each neighborhood has such a unique feel. Typically I drive to a new neighborhood, park the car and just walk. Some of my favorites include:

A walk down Thayer Street. Located in College Hill, Thayer Street has a similar feel to Harvard Square and is bursting with energy and intellect from near by Brown University. Great shops {Berk’s for shoes is a favorite}, coffee shops and bars abound {and East Side Pockets, of course}!

A walk around Wayland Square.

A visit and walk around Westminster Arcade.

A walk to the State House.

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There is so much to do in Providence that I haven’t yet had a chance to do. WaterFire, RISD Museum, a concert at Providence Performance Arts Center. Must start planning my next visit stat!

Main Image Credit: Parrot Design Studio