The Reef
A casual waterfront restaurant in Newport Harbor, offering a tropical paradise with palm trees, fire pits, and stunning ocean views.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
The Reef
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A casual waterfront restaurant in Newport Harbor, offering a tropical paradise with palm trees, fire pits, and stunning ocean views.
"Enjoy a tropical paradise with delicious food and creative cocktails overlooking the harbor."
Reserve Igloos in Advance
Book your themed igloo early to ensure a spot for special occasions.
Visit During Peak Season
Experience the outdoor patios with fire pits and live music during busier times.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Seafood, American
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Themed Igloos with Ocean Views
Dine in unique, cozy igloos offering stunning ocean views, perfect for special occasions.
Fresh Lobster Rolls
Savor classic New England lobster rolls, served either cold with aioli or warm with garlic butter.
Waterfront Dining Ambiance
Enjoy a tropical paradise vibe on palm-tree-lined patios overlooking boats in Newport Harbor.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reserve Igloos in Advance
Book your themed igloo early to ensure a spot for special occasions.
Visit During Peak Season
Experience the outdoor patios with fire pits and live music during busier times.
Dog-Friendly Patio
Bring your furry friend to enjoy the outdoor patio with fire pits and waterfront views.
Ask for Recommendations
Servers like Olivia and Jamie are praised for excellent menu recommendations.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reserve Igloos in Advance
Book your themed igloo early to ensure a spot for special occasions.
Visit During Peak Season
Experience the outdoor patios with fire pits and live music during busier times.
Dog-Friendly Patio
Bring your furry friend to enjoy the outdoor patio with fire pits and waterfront views.
Ask for Recommendations
Servers like Olivia and Jamie are praised for excellent menu recommendations.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Reef offers a fantastic waterfront dining experience with stunning views and a lively atmosphere, especially popular for its themed igloos and fresh seafood. While many rave about dishes like the lobster pasta and rolls, some find the food to be just average. Service is generally friendly and attentive, though occasional inconsistencies are noted. It's a great spot for a relaxed meal, especially if you enjoy ocean breezes and a tropical vibe.
"Everything was just right. We almost did not get in though. They seat the last table at 8:45. Our server was wonderful. They were able to accommodate a food sensitivity to gluten, dairy and soy. She had the hamburger and truffle fries. They have a separate gluten free fryer."
Trey Enterprises
"I frequent Newport often, and I never heard of the reef until the night we went. It’s a restaurant set back along a pier and marina in the center of the tourist area. The place inside and out is pretty nice, and they have plenty of seating for both. In the off season, they offer themed igloos that you can rent out for special occasions like the one we had. The staff were nice, and somewhat attentive. Our server was training someone so some things lacked attention. We had cocktails, appetizers and picked at some entrees between the 6 of us. They didn’t have a huge menu, but they had something for everyone to enjoy. Items like tacos, burgers and lobster rolls were amongst the list. The food I had today wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great to me either. I’d say it was average. The drinks seemed to follow suit. The atmosphere was great. A private themed, self heated, sunset igloo at the end of a pier, was pretty awesome and unique. I think if some minor changes are made with in the menu, this could be a solid spot. Or maybe we just caught an off night. But we will be back soon to give it another shot."
Kyle Phillips
"The Reef was the perfect spot for my birthday brunch! The lobster benedict was AMAZING, really wished we'd gotten two! We had such a fun time with our server Jamie. It was hilarious trying to guess all the different songs that the live steel drum band were playing (live music on Sundays). Great views, great atmosphere! Would definitely go back."
Madalyn Corley
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Reef offers a tropical ambiance with palm trees and waterfront seating, plus unique themed igloos for special occasions and stunning ocean views.
Yes, many items on the menu can be made gluten-free, including clam chowder, lobster rolls, and French fries. They also have good gluten-free knowledge.
Yes, The Reef has a large outdoor patio with fire pits where dogs are welcome.
Visiting during peak season allows you to fully enjoy the outdoor patios with fire pits and live music.
Reservations are recommended, especially if you wish to secure seating in one of the themed igloos.
The lobster pasta and lobster rolls are highly recommended. Other popular items include avocado toast and fish and chips.
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The Reef is your spot for tropical paradise without leaving New England. Set on the harbor overlooking an impressive collection of boats, their outdoor patios are outfitted with palm trees, lounge seating, three bars, and a collection of fire pits. The menu here offers a little bit of everything from around the world, including two choices of lobster rolls: The Newport Lobster Roll served cold with Reef lobster Aioli and the Connecticut Lobster Roll made with warm garlic butter.
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Located dockside in Newport Harbor, this waterfront restaurant serves international cuisine with a well-traveled sailor’s flair. Here, they believe that every day can be a good one when you’re surrounded by the sights, sounds, and flavors of the sea—and we happen to agree. Grab a seat on their patio for a drink and some live music after an afternoon in the sun or dive into their full menu for a satisfying meal to complete your day.
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Lifelong sailor Robert Flaxman and his wife, Leslie, bought The Reef in Newport at the beginning of 2020 — just about the worst time to jump into the hospitality industry. They used the downtime of the pandemic to completely rebuild the waterfront bar and restaurant and create new food and beverage menus, reopening this spring with an island vibe that includes Newport’s only palm tree grove.
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The Reef is a gathering spot that captures the heart of the seadog in all of us. It feels like homeport in all the right ways and acknowledges the wanderlust and adventurous spirit in every sailor’s soul. Situated dockside in Newport Harbor, The Reef is a waterfront restaurant serving international cuisine inspired by the travels of sailors to ports around
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While it seems like everyone in Newport has a dog, there actually aren’t too many places where they are allowed to bar hop with you so we are thankful for The Reef. It’s right on the water with a large outdoor patio and fire pits. The perfect dockside spot for lunch and plenty of seating for an impromptu meeting of friends and fur babies.
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Blink and you might think you’ve been teleported to the Caribbean. Palm trees quiver in the breeze with an epic backdrop of yachts and sailboats. Order island-inspired cocktails while mulling over an international menu with items that represent the seven seas.
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The Reef: Set right the edge of the pier, this is a great spot to watch the sunset and take the boats. Start off with a Aperol Spritz and some fresh oysters. From there, enjoy fresh seafood offerings with classic New England prep.
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We ate at The Reef one night, with a beautiful waterfront view. Many items on the menu can be made GF, including clam chowder, lobster rolls, and French fries.
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The Reef —Everyone loves to dine waterside when they come to Newport. I'm a fan of the buttered lobster roll in the summer sitting al fresco.
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