The Elms Mansion Opens Food and Drink Spot The Carriage House
The Carriage House at The Elms invites visitors to slow down and take in the atmosphere around them while visiting the mansion.
The patio of The Carriage House. Photo by Jamie Coelho.There’s something new to make your trip to the iconic Newport mansion The Elms even more special. The Preservation Society of Newport County held a beautiful event to unveil the new restaurant inside the restored Carriage House at the Elms.
The Carriage House is a new amenity for visitors of The Elms, where they can stop in for a bite and a drink while enjoying the views of the property from the patio. Food is provided by Stoneacre Hospitality Group, featuring primarily New England-inspired menu items, but with a contemporary twist. At Tuesday’s event, offerings included caviar topped blini, lobster salad on crostini, stuffed mushrooms and tiny ahi tuna tacos. Drinks lined both the indoor and outdoor bar with beverages including cocktails by Via Carota and an array of wine and beer options.
The Elms was built in 1901 by and for coal magnate Edward Berwind and his wife, Julia, who wanted to model it after the 18th-century French Château d’Asnières. The Carriage House was built with limestone and the space above it was used as apartments for some of the onsite staff. The restoration of The Carriage House was two years in the making, and now there’s finally a beautiful and cohesive indoor and outdoor café that invites guests to see more of the property’s beauty.
Caviar topped blini. Photo by Jamie Coelho.
“The Elms Carriage House is steps away from the historic Sunken Garden and Grand Allée, so it gives people an additional incentive to explore the property,” says the Preservation Society of Newport County’s Communications Manager Bill Tavares.
Airy and inviting on the inside with elements of French charm, the Carriage House boasts indoor and outdoor seating in the courtyard, allowing visitors to soak up the sun and take in the lush greenery outside while enjoying food and refreshments. The indoor dining area was designed by Melissa Breen and Jeff Moniz of 2HandsDesign Studio in Newport.
The Carriage House was thoughtfully restored by award-winning Kirby Perkins Construction in Middletown. The construction company has worked to restore Gilded Age mansions in the past and collaborates frequently with the Preservation Society of Newport County. Inspiration was taken from the original appeal of the Carriage House, including the use of leather and brass fittings that are a nod to the equestrian roots of the building.
“The idea behind this project was to offer much-needed amenities for visitors to The Elms – food, beverage and restrooms – while also creating a space that encourages people to slow down, take a breath and absorb a unique setting featuring Gilded Age landscapes and gardens sometimes missed by visitors in a rush,” says Tavares.
To slow down and experience a soon to be beloved Newport staple, go to their website for tickets. The Carriage House is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 . pm. through September.
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