Must-see restaurants in Cape Cod

  • Belfry Inn & Bistro

    Cape Cod

    If you like quirky, this restaurant (in the B&B of the same name) occupies the sanctuary of a former church and is one of the Cape's more unusual fine…

  • Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar

    Cape Cod

    Fried seafood is the staple (plus renowned onion rings); there's also salads, baked cod and steamed lobster on the menu. Everything is fresh, and at night…

  • Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium

    Cape Cod

    Lobster mania takes a new twist at Ben & Bill's, where the crustacean has crawled onto the summertime ice-cream menu. It's a butter-based ice cream with…

  • Abba

    Cape Cod

    Feeling adventurous? This fine-dining restaurant offers superb pan-Mediterranean fare with a hint of Thai thrown in, from an Israeli-born chef. Start with…

  • Crepe Cod

    Cape Cod

    It's worth making the detour from Falmouth's town center to enjoy a breezy lunch at this French bistro. As the pun in its name suggests, the specialty…

  • Aquarium Marketplace

    Provincetown

    This 1920s building was originally a garage, then an aquarium, and is now a food court, with a variety of vendors serving crowd-pleasing dishes, including…

  • Red Nun Bar & Grill

    Cape Cod

    If burgers are your thing, step into this unassuming joint and order the Nun Burger. It starts with a half-pound of Angus beef placed in an oversize…

  • Dunbar House

    Cape Cod

    Tucked amid gardens, a swan pond and period homes, the tea room resembles a Victorian-era movie set. The crumpets, cream teas and classical music just add…

  • Box Lunch

    Cape Cod

    Light on the wallet and handy for a quick lunch, this simple roadside operation attached to a farm stand offers an array of roll-up sandwiches, the best…

  • Edwidge

    Provincetown

    New England seafood takes imaginative twists at this lively bistro. For the best breakfast treat on Cape Cod, slip into one of the highback booths, sip a…

  • Brazilian Grill

    Cape Cod

    Celebrate the Cape's Brazilian side at this real-deal rodízio (steakhouse), where an immense buffet is paired with churrasco (barbecued meat on skewers),…

  • Chapoquoit Grill

    Cape Cod

    At the northwest side of town, this place makes excellent wood-fired pizzas loaded with everything from artichoke hearts to whole baby clams. The nightly…

  • Spanky's Clam Shack

    Cape Cod

    One of those fun, family-friendly, unstuffy waterfront places the Cape specializes in. The menu is big (including options for kids and land-food-only…

  • Spiritus Pizza

    Provincetown

    This is the place to pick up a late-night slice, or a late-night date if you haven't been lucky at one of the clubs. While the cruising is top rate, the…

  • Wicked Oyster

    Cape Cod

    Hang out here for the likes of filet mignon with a bourbon caramel sauce, buttermilk-fried calamari and, of course, several incarnations of Wellfleet…

  • Captain Frosty's Fish & Chips

    Cape Cod

    Don't be misled by the 1950s ice-cream shack appearance: this simple seafood takeout joint does it right. Forget frozen food – there's none in this…

  • Brax Landing

    Cape Cod

    Head to this casual harborside gem for water-view dining and fresh seafood at honest prices. The menu's broad, but stick with the local catch, like the…

  • Friendly Fisherman

    Cape Cod

    This simple seafood spot, attached to a fish market, has outdoor picnic tables and serves the perfect lobster roll: huge, overflowing with sweet chunks of…

  • Raw Bar

    Cape Cod

    Come here for the mother of all lobster rolls: it's like eating an entire lobster in a bun. The view overlooking Hyannis Harbor isn't hard to swallow…

  • Corner Store

    Cape Cod

    Corner Store's name and location (a charming storefront complete with a covered porch) are all nostalgia, but what it offers is a modern make-your-own…

  • Red Pheasant

    Cape Cod

    This former ship's chandlery is more than 200 years old, so you can feel as elegant as your surroundings as you tuck into brick chicken, Moroccan-inspired…

  • Marshland

    Cape Cod

    If you're looking for some local character, stop into this beloved diner just outside Sandwich's town center; it's the kind of place where the regulars…

  • Optimist Cafe

    Cape Cod

    Set in an old sea captain's home painted a cheery yellow, this laid-back cafe offers breakfast fare of the waffles-and-eggs variety until closing…

  • Pickle Jar Kitchen

    Cape Cod

    Hearty, healthy comfort food, prepared with seasonal ingredients and lots of love. Look for satisfying hash for breakfast, lovingly prepared sandwiches,…

  • Lobster Claw

    Cape Cod

    Super family-friendly and decidedly retro, the Lobster Claw has a cute nautical interior and a menu of steamed clams, mussels and littlenecks, plus…

  • Seafood Sam's

    Cape Cod

    Opposite the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center, Sam's is a good, simple family choice for fish and chips, fried clams and lobster rolls. The $7 kids' menu…

  • Kung Fu Dumplings

    Provincetown

    Scoring low for aesthetics but high for flavor and value, this central place has a selection of dumplings (choose steamed or pan-fried) plus a short menu…

  • Chatham Cookware Café

    Cape Cod

    No, it's not a place to buy pots and pans, but rather the downtown spot for a coffee fix, homemade muffins and sandwiches. Order at the counter and take…

  • Cobie's

    Cape Cod

    Just off the Cape Cod Rail Trail, this bustling roadside clam shack dishes out fried seafood that you can crunch and munch at outdoor picnic tables, as…

  • Water Street Kitchen

    Cape Cod

    Lots of seafood with impeccable local pedigree is on offer at this modern restaurant by the drawbridge, but it's not all fishy fare: upmarket burgers,…

  • Larry's PX

    Cape Cod

    True local flavor, with Formica tables, fishers' hours and service with a sassy smile, can be found at this roadside diner just outside of Chatham's…

  • Crisp

    Cape Cod

    Stop in this ultra-popular restaurant, which specializes in creative flatbreads with ingredients such as duck bacon and butternut squash. Even if you're…

  • Black Cat Tavern

    Cape Cod

    Stop in the harbor-adjacent Black Cat Tavern for some post-sightseeing or pre-ferry boarding fried clams or lobster rolls. The menu selection isn't unique…

  • Cupcake Charlie's

    Cape Cod

    Cupcake nirvana can be found here, where pretty confections beckon from the cabinet: lemon drop, peanut butter pleasure, Oreo delight. There's also soft…

  • Happy Fish Bakery

    Cape Cod

    Follow your nose to the calorific French pastries, sticky buns and traditional loaves baked at this high-end bakery – and get in early or you may find…

  • Jack's Outback

    Cape Cod

    People rave about the breakfast at this unpretentious restaurant and bakery off Main St in Yarmouth Port. Even Rachael Ray called it out as one of her…

  • Portuguese Bakery

    Provincetown

    This old-school bakery has been serving malassada (sweet fried dough), spicy linguica (sausage) sandwiches and Portuguese soups for more than a century…

  • Purple Feather Cafe & Treatery

    Provincetown

    You can't miss the purpleness of this place, a popular spot for coffee, killer panini sandwiches, a rainbow of gelatos and decadent desserts – all made…

  • Little Sandwich Shop

    Cape Cod

    Stuffed subs, cheesy burgers and a plethora of breakfast options are made to order at this petite restaurant on Main St. It's a good first stop before…