Lucy's Cafe and Bakery, Newport, offers relief from Thames St. crowds

There's a certain bustle to the streets of downtown Newport during the summer months. As explorers walk about to check out all the amazing boutiques and stores that line the streets and piers, a chaotic pace starts to arise. You get caught up in it. You end up walking a bit faster because the family behind you wants to go to the Helly Hansen store. You brace yourself to get bumped by overstuffed Lululemon bags as shoppers make their way toward the new Folk Vintage store. You start talking louder because someone is trying to yell across the street for her friends to meet her at the Groovy Gator. Don't get me wrong – Newport wouldn't be Newport without all the sidewalk traffic. It's great to have the streets full of happy people. But if you’re amongst it, you can get swept up in all the leisurely commotion.

When that happens, the best thing for you to do is to look for an oasis where a moment's rest and some sustenance will help reset your chi. There are plenty of spots to do that, but there's a particularly good place on Lower Thames: Lucy's Cafe and Bakery.

Opened in September of 2022 at the former Fatulli's location at 476 Thames, Lucy's has carved out a nice little niche for itself over the last year. They serve great made-to-order coffees. You can opt for the simple with a cup of fresh brewed Italian roast or you can try their specialties like the intriguing Whipped Coffee or Whipped Matcha. If you are looking for a tasty smoothie, you’ve come to the right place too. The Blueberry Kiwi is blended with fresh blueberries, kiwi, your choice of milk, hemp seed and fresh mint. Or try their Mango Lassi made with mango, yogurt, skim milk, honey and cardamom. Each sip will put a bounce into your step that will help you ease back into the sidewalk shuffle.

Has all that strolling made you a bit peckish? Lucy's has the answer with filling sandwiches, bowls and toasts. Start your day at Lucy's with a Pesto Avocado Breakfast Sandwich made with a house-made biscuit, two eggs, cheddar cheese, pesto, tomato and avocado. You’ll be full for the rest of the morning. For lunch, try something a little different like their Sweet Potato Twister which is roasted sweet potato, micro-greens, salsa verde and feta cheese served on a toasted plain bagel. Lucy's Avocado Toast is always a winner but don't skip their Strawberry Balsamic Toast (toasted sourdough topped with flame-roasted burrata cheese, macerated balsamic strawberries and fresh basil). Power up by trying one of their superfood bowls like the Mango Razzle Acai Bowl – acai puree topped with house-made cherry macadamia granola, mango, raspberries, banana, chia seeds and coco-rum syrup. You’ll feel like Super Mario on star power for the rest of your day's journeys.

If you really want to enjoy yourself, try any of their bakery items. The house-made buttermilk biscuits are as big as your hand, but nice and fluffy. Perfectly served with honey butter. You can taste the love in every bite. Their gluten-free blueberry muffins are the perfect indulgence, or maybe you prefer the homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies loaded with chocolate morsels. The star of the show might be the baked doughnuts. Blueberry or strawberry glazed are part of their usual offerings but keep an eye on their pastry case for new and exciting flavors. If you can't make it down to Thames Street, you can always visit them at the Aquidneck Grower's Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays where they offer an array of their baked goods for sale.

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The location of Lucy's is perfect to give you a break on those long trudges down Thames Street. Inside is nice and bright with 4 or 5 tables to sit and enjoy. The windows are open and you get a nice breeze to cool you down. It's a great spot to sit peacefully in the morning (they open at 7) as you watch and hear the city come to life. But their outside courtyard is the place to relax with well-spaced tables under shade umbrellas, You can kick back away from the riff-raff as you revive with a refreshing iced coffee and a piece of apple crumble.

It's a very pet-friendly spot which is nice because it's named after Lucy, the black-and-white pup with cow patches and a goofy smile who lives with owner Luther Whiting-Collins. There are fresh baked treats available for your pups and always a bowl of fresh water. Whiting-Collins does not have the typical story of a cafe owner. Just two years ago he was doing humanitarian work atop Mount Washington coordinating evacuations from Afghanistan. He decided he wanted to put down roots and to help build community, so he came to Newport with Lucy and his wife Lilly. Lucy's Cafe and Bakery was part of that vision, and mission accomplished.

A day of hitting the sites and shops of Newport may wear you down, but thankfully, there's no shortage of options to help revive you. If you are looking for a good spot to rejuvenate and re-caffeinate, Lucy's has got you covered. For anyone who has hit that wall of sun-drenched tiredness from a day of shopping, a Lucy's smoothie and a fresh-baked doughnut could just save the day.

Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality related. His column appears on newportri.com and Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!