Providence is a very nice little city. It is easy to walk around and has many great neighborhoods to explore. Uber/Lyft provide an easy way to get from one neighborhood to another. You can also use the RIPTA bus. Google maps provides good directions for several modes of transport.
The conference will take place on the campus of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, pronounced “Riz-D”), which has a very nice museum and a nature lab that are open to the public.
Coffee
Bolt Coffee at RISD Museum – map – Highly recommended and right near the conference
Ceremony – map has great coffee, tea, and calm vibes – near the lab/Brown Campus
Caffè Nero is right near the Omni hotel
Pastries and Coffee
Seven Stars makes good bread/pastries and has a few locations in Providence – this one is closest to the conference
Madrid is really nice and gives you an excuse to visit Wayland square
Pizza
Al Forno is a really expensive and very popular restaurant – but if you go the bar and order the pizza it is reasonably priced and fun
Fellini’s – also pretty good pizza – near conference
Vegan
Plant City has multiple restaurants and a market
Tacos
Tuxpan taqueria – Really good – homemade tortillas – a little far from conference – not too expensive
Delores is a slightly more formal Mexican restaurant – also with homemade tortillas – nice mole
Tallulah’s Taqueria is also really good
Ramen
Sushi
Haruki East – Nice people – nice environment – sit at the bar or get a table
Donuts
PVDonuts – Providence’s manifestation of the donut craze
Beer
Trinity Brewhouse is the oldest (and very good) brew pub in Providence
The Guild PVD Beer Garden is set up just across the river via the pedestrian bridge
More restaurants/bars
New Rivers is really nice – it’s quiet and expensive – food is very good – people are very nice
The East End has a nice bar, good food, and a big selection of whiskey – it’s on Wickendon street
Palo – is a fun place to get Tapas
Bayberry Garden also has a nice bar, good food, a nice selection of wine and beer
Den Den Café Asiana is a nice place to have lunch or dinner – many good options – on Benefit Street
Jahunger – on Wickendon street
Shopping, Strolling, Eating
Trader Joe’s is a good place to pick up snacks, etc.
Federal Hill is closer than you think and has several blocks of restaurants and shops
Frog and Toad is a great place to find unique/quirky Rhode Island gifts – One location is on Hope Street, which is a few miles from the conference, but a nice place to stroll and shop – the other location is in downtown Providence, closer to the conference.
Another nice couple of blocks to stroll and shop – Wickendon Street
Yet another nice couple of blocks to stroll and shop – Wayland Square
Strolling and shopping near the Brown University campus – Thayer Street
Benefit Street is said to have the highest concentration of colonial era buildings in the US
Visit Newport!
Take the Ferry from Providence to Newport This is a really fun way to take an affordable boat ride on the Narragansett Bay – you’ll end up in downtown Newport – you’ll get to see a lot of very fancy boats in the Newport Harbor. You can also take an Uber to the Cliff Walk and visit the famous mansions.