After a lovely dinner at The Castle Hill Inn, I was in the mood for a nice cocktail. One of the places I really wanted to check out was The White Horse Tavern. It opened in 1673 and is one of the oldest tavern buildings in the United States. They serve farm-to-table American cuisine and various cocktails.
The tavern was originally built in 1652 and served as a two-story residence for Francis Brinley. It was later acquired by William Mayes, Sr. in 1673 and converted into a tavern.
Back then, not everyone was able to read and public establishments identified themselves with symbols. The white horse signified tavern.
We grabbed a couple of seats at the end of the bar. The room was fairly small and also had a few dining tables. It was dimly lit with low ceilings and large wooden frames. You could definitely tell the building has been around for a long time.
We tried one of the few beers they had on tap and I was still in the mood for that cocktail.
I decided to get a martini. It was a cucumber martini and the rim was dipped in basil sugar. It was nice and strong! You definitely got a bit of the basil flavor with every sip.
We only stayed for those couple of drinks. It was fairly quiet and they were closing soon. It was our last night in Newport and it was time to enjoy it elsewhere! I’m glad we had a chance to sip on a couple drinks in such a historical place. I’m sure the food is good too.
White Horse Tavern
26 Marlborough Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 849-3600
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