Diego's East Side

Diego's began in Newport and its East Side room sits on Wayland Square, the small, walkable cluster of shops and restaurants on the far side of the Seekonk River from downtown Providence. The food is Mexican-influenced and produce-driven, and the bar has a reputation built on margaritas made from fresh juice rather than sour mix — which turns out to be exactly the foundation a good non-alcoholic list needs.

Two alcohol-free builds are documented in current Rhode Island coverage, and they are constructed rather than poured. The first runs an apple cider reduction against cranberry, ginger, lemon and cinnamon over soda — an autumnal, spiced drink with real body, the reduction doing the work of concentrating flavour that alcohol would otherwise carry. The second is brighter and built for the food: cucumber, mango and agave with lime, lengthened with ginger beer. Between them they cover a cold-weather sipper and something that stands up to chilli heat, which is a sensible pair for this kitchen.

Wayland Square is a pleasant place to be on foot, and the room is family-friendly earlier in the evening, so this works as a dinner destination rather than a late bar. Note that the group runs a Newport location as well; the drinks lists are broadly similar but not identical, and the address above is specifically the East Side room.

We have not published prices or a full current list, since Diego's does not publish its drinks menu online and the specific builds move seasonally. The two above were current in Rhode Island Monthly's zero-proof guide.