To visitors, Rhode Island might read as a charming coastal escape. But for The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, the country’s smallest state isn’t just a place to live — it’s a place to stay.
“The Rhode Island mentality is we never leave,” cast member Kelsey Swanson told Bravo Insider. “We stay put. We stay with our family. And there are very few people who take that step and go somewhere else.”
And why would they want to? “It’s a beautiful state that honestly offers everything: four seasons, coastline, great food, the best of the best, culture, deep roots,” added Rulla Nehme Pontarelli. “I love Rhode Island.”
Below, the cast of RHORI sat down with Bravo Insider to give the full rundown on the Ocean State, geographically, socially, and culturally.
Why Rhode Island is Such a Close-Knit Community
For the cast of RHORI, the smallest U.S. state is the center of the world. “We never leave because we love it so much,” Alicia Carmody said. “That’s kind of a Rhode Island thing.”
That insularity, the Housewives agreed, shapes the social scene. “Living in Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone,” Jo-Ellen Tiberi explained. “That can be a good and a bad thing… The gossip doesn’t stop in Rhode Island. Everyone knows each other’s business constantly.”
As such, it can take a while for newcomers to be folded into the community. “If they didn’t see you in kindergarten, it’s a problem,” joked Alicia. “I have [had] the same group of friends since I was in preschool.”
Virginia-native Ashley Iaconetti, who moved to the state around five years ago with her Rhode Island-native husband, Jared Haibon, has found the social circles tough to crack at times. “I’ve never been to a state where people are so proud to be from it,” she explained on the series premiere. “It’s just a hard place to infiltrate because if you’re not from Rhode Island, it’s like, suspect.”
Even after residing in RI for a decade, Massachusetts-native Rosie DiMare isn’t always regarded as a true local. “You would think that I’m from another planet,” she joked. “I grew up 10 minutes away from the border. If I needed something, I would literally go to Providence for it. But to them, it’s like you’re not from here. You’re an alien.”
It’s true: For Rhode Islanders, a short drive can feel like a world away. Alicia has roots in Cranston, but moved “all the way to Providence” with her fiancé, Bill, when she was eight months pregnant with their daughter, Celina, now 9.
“That was terrible,” Alicia lamented about the approximately five-mile distance.
She’s not alone in that mentality. In the premiere, Alicia’s Cranston-based relatives visit her home in Providence, and they’re less than thrilled about the drive. “It’s just so far,” her aunt Sharon complained on the ride over. “I gotta pack a lunch just to go there.”
Where to Eat, Drink, and Hang in Rhode Island, According to the Real Housewives
Still, the best spots are worth the trip. Across the RHORI series premiere, the Housewives take viewers to some of their beloved locales:
Pizza Mamma (Cranston)
“Billy owns a bunch of restaurants in Rhode Island, and my favorite is Pizza Mamma,” Alicia shared in the episode before visiting the Cranston eatery.
“Alicia’s menu is a love letter to Italian-American pizza styles, offering something for every craving,” Pizza Mamma’s website reads. “Every pizza begins with dough made from scratch, a technique Alicia inherited from Mamma.”
Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center (Providence)
“[My husband] Gerry and I own a cannabis dispensary,” Liz McGraw said in RHORI Episode 1. “We were one of the first on the East Coast. I like to believe that we trail-blazed. My husband’s the king of cannabis, so I think that, by proxy, makes me the queen of weed.”
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“At Slater Center, we offer an extensive range of premium cannabis options, including Flower, Prerolls, Vapes, Edibles, Concentrates, and specialty items like Topicals and Tinctures,” the website states.
Audrey’s Coffee House & Lounge (South Kingstown)
Ashley and Jared opened this local spot nearly four years ago. “It is the second-rated celebrity-owned restaurant in the United States — Bon Jovi being No. 1,” Ashley declared in the episode, though she admitted, “We thought it would make more money.”
As Ashley pulled up a seat at the counter, where Jared was barista-ing, she ordered a syrupy, foam-topped iced coffee. “Owners Jared and Ashley started Audrey’s because they believe in community and wanted a place that embodied that,” Audrey’s website states. In addition to coffee, they serve food and cocktails, and host regular trivia nights.
Water Street Kitchen & Bar (East Greenwich)
In the episode, Liz took her dinghy from her waterfront home in Cranston to meet Kelsey at this scenic seafood eatery. The women ordered gin cocktails and a spicy tuna dish.
Matunuck Oyster Bar (Wakefield)
Jo-Ellen and her husband, Gary, enjoyed extra dirty martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives and a dozen oysters at this waterfront restaurant, which Gary called the couple’s “favorite” spot.
Goddard Memorial State Park Beach (Wakefield)
After filming a picnic-themed segment for her weekend lifestyle show “Rhode Trippin'” Rosie invited the ladies for a beachfront meal at this scenic state park. The picnic was complete with wine, donut holes, and fully-stocked gift bags.
Why Summer Is Rhode Island’s Defining Social Season
If Rhode Island has a main character, it’s summer. Beach days, boating, and outdoor dining aren’t occasional perks; they’re the standard.
“Rhode Island’s very seasonal, so we’re outside a lot,” Liz told Bravo Insider. “All summer long, we’re on the ocean.”
The Fourth of July marks one of the biggest party days for the Ocean State. “Fourth of July is huge in Rhode Island,” explained Jo-Ellen, who hosted a huge bash at a waterfront rental home in Portsmouth during the episode.
For locals, that summer lifestyle is what makes their home so special. “We have the best coastline, the most beautiful beaches,” said 2017 Miss Rhode Island, Kelsey. “Rhode Island is a hidden gem. If you don’t know Rhode Island or you haven’t experienced it, you really have to come and visit.”
For guests, the appeal is immediate. “We came up here, and it was so peaceful and so beautiful. Hydrangeas everywhere and sunsets and romantic and good food,” gushed The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Dolores Catania, who appears as a friend on RHORI while summering there with her fiancé, Paulie Connell. “New Jersey’s more of a fast hustle and bustle. For me, it was much calmer here.”
Or, as Alicia put it: “Why leave, you know?”
