Oregon Coast town named among 8 “cool coastal towns for seafood fans”

One Oregon Coast town is among eight places across the United States recognized by TripAdvisor for travelers who enjoy fresh seafood.

Newport was named on the travel-planning platform’s list of “8 cool coastal towns for seafood fans,” highlighting it as one of the Pacific Northwest’s best coastal towns to grab some seafood.

The list looks at coastal communities where local seafood is part of the experience, from Maine lobster and Maryland crab to Oregon pink shrimp and Dungeness crab.

Tripadvisor writer Nicholas DeRenzo put together the list, which was published May 16, 2023.

Here’s what to know about Newport’s spot on the list and the Oregon Coast businesses Tripadvisor highlighted.

Why did Newport make Tripadvisor’s list?

Located along Yaquina Bay on the central Oregon Coast, Newport has a long connection to commercial fishing, crabbing, and seafood.

Tripadvisor called Newport a “favorite among anglers and crabbers” and pointed to the public pier, where people fishing and crabbing share the waterfront with the city’s well-known sea lions.

The article also highlighted some of the wildlife travelers can see around Newport, including bald eagles and migrating whales.

Newport is also home to Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.

Which Newport seafood restaurants did Tripadvisor highlight?

Several familiar Newport businesses made Tripadvisor’s list of places to stop for seafood.

Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, which opened in Newport in 1946, was highlighted for its slumgullion, a clam chowder served with Oregon pink shrimp, along with its Yaquina Bay oyster stew.

South Beach Fish Market also made the list.

Tripadvisor said the market “has perfected the art of fish and chips,” pointing to choices that include albacore tuna, halibut, local popcorn shrimp, and calamari.

The list also highlighted Local Ocean Dockside Grill & Fish Market on Newport’s bayfront.

According to Tripadvisor, Local Ocean “sources directly from local fishers.” Menu examples highlighted in the article include Dungeness crab po’boys and moqueca de peixe, a Brazilian fish stew.

What else did Tripadvisor recommend in Newport?

Seafood was the focus of the list, but Tripadvisor also included a couple of ideas for travelers planning to spend more time in Newport.

The article recommended Agate Beach Motel, noting its proximity to tide pools where visitors can find sea stars, urchins, and sea anemones.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium was also highlighted as another nearby stop.

For Pacific Northwest travelers, Newport is within a few hours of several of Oregon’s major population centers, making the working fishing town a practical stop during a central Oregon Coast trip.

Which other coastal towns made the list?

Newport was the only destination from Oregon or Washington included among Tripadvisor’s eight picks.

The list includes:

• Key West, Florida
• Marshall, California
• St. Michaels, Maryland
• Portland, Maine
• Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama
• Chatham, Massachusetts
• Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
• Newport, Oregon

The destinations cover several different regional seafood traditions, including oysters in Northern California, lobster in Maine, shrimp along the Alabama Gulf Coast, and Dungeness crab and Oregon pink shrimp in Newport.

For Oregon travelers, Newport’s inclusion puts the central Oregon Coast alongside some of the country’s better-known seafood destinations while highlighting several businesses that are already closely tied to the city’s working waterfront.