Julian's is a Providence staple. It has amazing brunch, is vegan friendly, serves sweet treats like apple & spice cocktails & cherry cinnamon buns, and has a cozy-stars wars-cheerful-rock & roll vibe. I feel happy every time I go there.

Cellar Stories is, hands-down, my favorite used book store of all time. I have never left without buying a book. They have especially large sci-fi, art, cooking, and antiquarian sections, as well as a lot of great books on local New England history. Their organization system is lovingly chaotic, but profoundly helpful to finding exactly what you didn't know they needed. A must for any reader or artist.

Tricycle Ice Cream makes bespoke ice cream sandwiches that are delicious, unforgettable, and unique—especially those inspired by co-founder Giovanni Salvador's Filipino heritage like the Ube and Coconut Cookie or the Thai Iced Tea. They also sell homemade ice cream tacos, and push pops, all of which can be eaten in their small patio out back.

A fabulous little Antiques & Americana shop with a potpourri of interesting curios and vintage finds. New pleasing and peculiar finds land in the store every week, including fine, folk, and outsider art, objects of design, lighting, furnishings, signs and advertising, ephemera, antique toys, period clothing and textiles, curiosities, and more. Part of the Old as Adam store is dedicated to the Found Object Gallery, which every few months reopens with a new collection of objects bound by a different conceptual thread. The thematic exhibits sift through the material past to explore the chance poetics, contemporary relevance, and unintentional wisdom of old things, whether trashed or treasured.

Oberlin is one of the best examples of Providence's fantastic dining scene—expect a wide range of excellent lesser-known, sustainably caught local fish like tautog, butterfish and bluefish, as well as a wide range of other regionally-inspired dishes like fresh pasta, homemade sourdough, and roasted local veg. The place has a real neighborhood vibe that makes you want to stay for hours, which is definitely helped by the exceptional wine list and desserts (specifically: the Basque cheesecake).