Newburyport, Massachusetts

Sunset view from the docks on the waterfront.

            I love to be near the water. Living and working near the ocean speaks to my soul and brings me so much comfort. Newburyport is one of my favorite places in the world. It has been a place where I have visited as a local “tourist” living in a neighboring town; where I have held many jobs; and where I have essentially lived. Newburyport offers so much beauty, history, nature and so many quality experiences.

My friend Lauren and I enjoying the sunset on my 28th birthday weekend.

             I think I have to start with a review of some breakfast locations. The all-time favorite is Abraham Bagels. These homemade bagels and cream cheeses are some of the best I have ever had – with flavors from the classic onion to French toast. On this same street are two bakeries where you can find breakfast and dessert options: Buttermilk Baking Company and Figtree Kitchen. I often wander in to these shops just “to look”, but inevitably end up leaving with something creative and delicious. The best option for a full breakfast is Angie’s, a Newburyport staple with consistent good food. For donuts and coffee, check out Angry Donut or Changing Tides. And my favorite coffee shops in Newburyport are Souffles and Plum Island Coffee Roasters.

Inn Street, fall sky beauty.

             There are so many restaurants concentrated in Newburyport. I go through phases of which locations are my current obsessions, but these are all of my favorites. Agave is a Mexican restaurant with the best margaritas and sangria…maybe ever? The food is fresh, consistent and beautiful. And the chips and salsa are the absolute best. Sea Level is a fairly new staple downtown, with options for outdoor seating on either side of the restaurant, a massive indoor bar, and an oyster bar. I am not a fan of seafood, but I love their nachos (of all places and all things). The people I dine there with say that the seafood is also great! The best spot for Thai food is Brown Sugar by the Sea. Their custom cocktails, appetizers and entrees are all spectacular. They also sometimes have live instrumental music, which is a really fun addition to the dining experience. Jewel in the Crown offers Indian cuisine, and is a longstanding staple downtown. Whether you are eating in or getting takeout, the service and food is excellent. Loretta offers American fare. Their rotating seasonal specials usually offer something new and delicious for each visit. I have also stopped in here for a late night slice of cake with some tea – so they have a lot to offer! A new spot that I am excited to try is the latest location in the local Tuscan Kitchen restaurant group, Tuscan Sea Grill and Bar. It is directly on the water with beautiful outside seating and a whole re-designed interior. I can only speak for the food at their other locations, which is always so delicious.

            For more casual eateries and alternatives to a full meal, there are even more dining options! Purple Onion offers wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups and bowls. My personal favorite is the black bean and lime bowl. The Juicery has juices, smoothies and acai bowls. Lexie’s is a hamburger spot with inventive specials, fully customizable burgers and fries (with or without toppings, including truffle). And for a vegetarian like me, their black bean burgers are the best burger alternative I’ve ever had. The best pizza places in Newburyport are Anchor Pizza right downtown on State Street, Otto Pizza a little outside of downtown (great gluten free pizzas too), and Pomodori off of the rotary near Route One. Metzy’s is a more casual Mexican eatery located at the train station. Their sweet potato black bean hush puppies and chipotle sour cream are SO GOOD. For good food and drinks and a view of Newburyport from across the river in Salisbury, The Deck is a fun and beautiful location.

            I would be remiss to not share the best dessert in all of Newburyport. I am 100% biased as a former employee and forever fan, but I also assure you that dessert at Dolce Freddo Gelato in Market Square is absolutely worth it. The seasonal flavors, traditional flavors and creative inventions are all so delicious. The only sad part is that I will not be there to serve it to you ;)

            There is so much to do in this town. In downtown Newburyport, you can wander up State Street and Inn Street, drop in and out of any of the many shops, and head up to Bartlett Mall to see the pond and look for turtles and ducks. You will have to also walk down to the parks along the water, where you can walk along the docks and check out all of the beautiful boats! This is also where you would board one of the Whale Watch boats to take a tour. This is a classic New England activity and I have honestly never been disappointed by a single tour I have taken, even when not many animals are spotted. The recently constructed Clipper City Rail trail is another awesome activity. It follows the old train track lines in a loop from the edge of the water on the west side of town all the way around to the sound at the east side of town.

            The Tannery is a little outside of downtown, but offers more shops to venture through. The Jabberwocky bookstore is a staple of my childhood and I still thoroughly enjoy browsing the shelves there. The Tannery is also the location of the Farmer’s Market, which occurs on Sundays. I recommend this for picking up some fresh produce, baked goods, guacamole, local wine, and artisan goods. For current information on the dates of the market and what vendors will be featured, visit the website.

Sunflower display at the summer farmer’s market.

             For nature walks and explorations, Moseley Woods and Maudslay State Park have many winding paths and attractions. Both have views of the Merrimack River, and Maudslay is an old homestead where you can find the foundation of the Moseley family home, an empty graffiti-ed pool, the old carriage house, beautiful manicured gardens, stone bridges and more. Wandering these paths can easily take up a whole morning or afternoon.

            Newburyport has so much to occupy your time as a visitor, but it is also always changing and providing even a local with more new experiences of things to do or food to try. I hope you will have the opportunity to visit this place that is so near and dear to me!