Newport was always an enigma to me. For years, I heard tales of beautiful mansions, streets of opulence, centuries of history, a very endearing grass tennis court, a music festival, and, well, sailing. Yet despite living in New York City for over a decade, I’d never made the trip up I-95 (or the Northeast Corridor line) to see this historic town. So when the invitation came from A. Lange & Söhne to join them at the Audrain Concours d’Elegance, I leaped at the opportunity. I was excited to experience the car show, but I was equally excited to see the backdrop.
The history is everywhere the moment you enter Newport, and the town offers so much that it’s worth the trip regardless. Audrain just sweetens the deal. The timing, late September/early October, is smart. It’s just at the tail end of the season, so you still get those beautiful summer sunsets and light, but the crowds have lessened. I think these picks would hold true if you were in town for the Newport Folk Festival, attending the International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, or just spending a long weekend here, but if watches (and cars) are your thing, there’s no better place to be than Newport.
With The Long Layover, I’ll look at events and cities around the world and give a 24- to 72-hour watch (or watch-adjacent) guide to each. The idea is to paint a picture of the city and help contextualize the watches, or, in this case, the event. First up is Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week. The cars might be the main attraction, but the amazing people, watches, and energy of the weekend are what keep people coming back year after year. To learn more about the show itself and the watches I saw all weekend, check out my Photo Report. Here, we’ll focus on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do if you find yourself in Newport for Audrain (which I can’t recommend enough).
Stay: The Chanler
From the moment you arrive at the Chanler, you feel taken care of. The friendly, helpful valet takes you to the front desk, which then takes you to your room. Each room in this classic boutique hotel is different and exquisite, but the lounge might be my favorite part. The lighting here is just right. The bar leads to a cozy dining room, with a nice patio off to the side, where I had dinner and breakfast. Both were a treat. You’ll be out and about most days (and nights), but the Chanler is a good home base to start and end your day. Oh, and it’s steps from the Cliff Walk. The twenty rooms fill up quickly, so if you can’t stay here, be sure to stop by for a drink or a meal.
Visit: Cliff Walk
My day always starts with a run, and the Cliff Walk is an absolutely stunning place to do it. It’s a narrow path (it is on the side of a cliff, after all), so I would go early, and you’ll have it all to yourself. On one side you have dramatic cliffs, on the other, beautiful mansions. Truly out of a postcard. The total Cliff Walk is a couple of miles, so an out-and-back will do just fine. If you want more, I did a little loop down on the southern tip of the island before heading back. Hard to beat as a way to start the day.
Eat: Picnic Cafe
Picnic Cafe is the natural next stop. Strong coffee, a solid selection for breakfast (and lunch), and service to match, all in a charming little cafe. Located just north on Bellevue, the main thoroughfare in town, it’s within walking distance of everything, but not right in the middle. I had a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee after my run, and it was a delightful reward. If you want a moment to get away from the crowds for a bite to eat or a coffee, look no further.
Visit: The Gathering
The weekend officially kicks off here on Friday afternoon. Cars are strewn across the lawn, along with an abundance of food trucks and ice cream carts, all set against the rolling hills of Doris Duke’s estate, Rough Point. The Cliff Walk goes right by it, so you can watch the setup on your morning run. It’s a more informal gathering, a place for everyone to meet, chat, eat, and drink, with amazing cars as far as the eye can see. I even caught a live taping of the Spike Feresten Podcast (Spike was a former guest on Talking Watches), featuring Jay Leno, Jonny Lieberman, and Lange’s Director of Product Development, Anthony de Haas. Good cars, good company, and good weather made it an easy way to start the weekend.
Visit: International Tennis Hall of Fame
Every year, just before the US Open, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, located on Bellevue Avenue (Newport’s main thoroughfare), inducts two new members and hosts an exhibition match. This year, it hosted Roger Federer and Mary Carillo. Unfortunately, you can’t play tennis on these beautiful grass courts during Audrain weekend, as a few cars from the Audrain Museum next door take up the courts, but this is car week after all, so it’s allowed. If you’re a tennis fan, you’ll want to check this one out.
Visit: Audrain Museum
Located right beside the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Audrain Museum is a bustling hive of activity this week, but fun to stop into. You can see past Concours winners, plus some standout cars, with more on the lawn at the Tennis Hall of Fame next door. It’s certainly worth a stop, especially if you find yourself downtown to catch the parade of cars on Saturday.
Eat: Clarke Cook House
Getting a reservation in Newport is no easy task, especially on one of the busiest weekends of the year, so take my advice seriously here—after you book your tickets to Audrain and your stay at the Chanler, your next call should be to get a reservation at Clarke Cooke House, because having dinner here isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s a requirement. It’s that good.
I love going out to eat, as much for the vibe as for the food itself, and I’m certainly biased by living in New York City, so I hope what I’m about to say carries some weight: dinner here was unforgettable. This might have been my favorite restaurant I’ve been to in all of 2026. The food? Excellent. The service? Top-notch. The best restaurants are places people are genuinely happy to be at, and that can’t be fabricated—Clarke Cook House has it in spades. The restaurant’s din speaks to this, and something else I noticed also does: the attire. I loved how dressed up everyone was, a sight you don’t see often. I’m sure some folks were in town for Audrain, but I met a local the day after who said he was dining here the night I did and that the crowd was pretty local. Immaculate. A must-visit.
Visit: The Breakers
The biggest tourist attraction in town for a reason, this Gilded Age mansion is certainly worth the full tour. Typically, Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance takes place on the terrace and lawn, but sadly, they closed it for repairs this year. Thankfully, the main residence was still open for tours, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d advise getting here early, as it got quite crowded when I was there. I didn’t have time for the full Mansion Tour, which includes tickets to a few nearby mansions, but I’ll save that for next time, since I’d definitely like to check them out. Fun fact: the Vanderbilts, who built this in the early 1900s, called this their “summer cottage.”
The Main Event: Audrain Concours d’Elegance
The main event. Normally, we would be back at The Breakers for this, but the terrace and part of the lawn were under construction, so we were across town at Fort Adams. Regardless of the location, it’s a joyous occasion befitting such a fantastic weekend of activities. There are different competitions within the larger competition (from Cadillacs to sports cars to, new this year, scooters) that all ladder up to a Best in Show winner. It’s a wonderful day to stroll around, look at cars, and talk to owners with remarkable stories about their cars. The whole weekend builds to this, and it’s a fitting end to a fantastic weekend of cars in Newport.
Of course, I also checked wrists throughout the weekend, and I can confidently say there were some great pieces. A. Lange & Söhne, now in its fourth year as a sponsor of the Concours, had a really nice area set up all weekend at Fort Adams with plenty of pieces on display, a one-foot-wide display of a Datograph movement (which I found completely mesmerizing and found myself staring for far too long), and patrons were able to supplement their car fix with a watch fix there. Plenty of Langes (and other great pieces) were out in the wild, naturally, including Jay Leno’s Datograph Perpetual Calendar and Tony de Haas’s limited-edition, recently released Triple Split in Platinum.
If you can make it to Newport, I highly recommend it, and if you are remotely interested in cars (or have never been to a car show), Audrain is a must-visit. This was my first time in Newport, and it most certainly won’t be my last, as there is so much more I can’t wait to do next time. If you’re attending Audrain next year, I encourage you to use the above guide as a jumping-off point, leave yourself some room to wander, and be sure to wear something fun on your wrist. You’ll be in good company.
