Food Scene
A cozy hangout within walking distance popular with the locals. The coffee is excellent and there are some breakfast options. Free WiFi as well!
57 locals recommend
Nirvana Coffee Co
3206 Main StA cozy hangout within walking distance popular with the locals. The coffee is excellent and there are some breakfast options. Free WiFi as well!
For unbeatable fresh seafood, you have to check out the Sesuit Harbor Cafe! This is the best clam shack I have ever been to and I cannot recommend it enough! Great food at decent prices. If you are hungry, I recommend the Fisherman's Platter. Their scallops should be sampled at the very least. They also have a raw bar for Oysters, etc. Can be a little packed depending on the day. It is outdoor seating only, BYOB and Cash only (but they do have an ATM on site).
Side note: At the Harbor on Fridays & Saturdays from 5-8, fresh lobster can be purchased from the Emma Rose lobster boat.
167 locals recommend
Sesuit Harbor Cafe
357 Sesuit Neck RdFor unbeatable fresh seafood, you have to check out the Sesuit Harbor Cafe! This is the best clam shack I have ever been to and I cannot recommend it enough! Great food at decent prices. If you are hungry, I recommend the Fisherman's Platter. Their scallops should be sampled at the very least. They also have a raw bar for Oysters, etc. Can be a little packed depending on the day. It is outdoor seating only, BYOB and Cash only (but they do have an ATM on site).
Side note: At the Harbor on Fridays & Saturdays from 5-8, fresh lobster can be purchased from the Emma Rose lobster boat.
For a proper high tea experience, you must visit the Dunbar Tea Room. Listed in the Great Tea Rooms of America, Dunbar offers exceptional food and a wide variety of teas served in traditional tea room style. Loose tea is also available for purchase.
23 locals recommend
Dunbar House Restaurant & Tea Room
1 Water StFor a proper high tea experience, you must visit the Dunbar Tea Room. Listed in the Great Tea Rooms of America, Dunbar offers exceptional food and a wide variety of teas served in traditional tea room style. Loose tea is also available for purchase.
If you are in Provincetown (especially in the off-season), be sure to get your dumplings fix at Kung Fu Dumplings. Open all year round. We recommend the soup dumplings!!
Kung Fu Dumplings
293 Commercial StIf you are in Provincetown (especially in the off-season), be sure to get your dumplings fix at Kung Fu Dumplings. Open all year round. We recommend the soup dumplings!!
A clam shack perched above the beach. No better place to get your oysters!
192 locals recommend
The Beachcomber of Wellfleet
1120 Cahoon Hollow RdA clam shack perched above the beach. No better place to get your oysters!
I consider Spoon and Seed to be one of the many hidden gems on Cape Cod, but the only one I've found for brunch and delicious breakfast. All their food is local Cape farm sourced including their coffee! The atmosphere is wonderful and the sit-down setting is friendly for groups and families alike. The portions are appropriately filling and not so large that you will be walking away with that over-stuffed feeling. If you have room at the end of your meal, be sure to try one of their Spudnuts (potato donuts). Get one to go if you can't eat it then, you will not be disappointed!
On top of all this, it is within a 5 minute drive from the house!
27 locals recommend
Spoon and Seed
12 Thornton DrI consider Spoon and Seed to be one of the many hidden gems on Cape Cod, but the only one I've found for brunch and delicious breakfast. All their food is local Cape farm sourced including their coffee! The atmosphere is wonderful and the sit-down setting is friendly for groups and families alike. The portions are appropriately filling and not so large that you will be walking away with that over-stuffed feeling. If you have room at the end of your meal, be sure to try one of their Spudnuts (potato donuts). Get one to go if you can't eat it then, you will not be disappointed!
On top of all this, it is within a 5 minute drive from the house!
On top of having a fine assortment of fantastic wines, cheese, and other accouterments, The Brown Jug provides a wood fired thin crust pizza experience that should not be overlooked.
The pizza creations take your taste buds on a culinary adventure that steers clear of the standard "pepperoni pizza" fare one would find at any chain pizza house. Top-shelf ingredients are combined in ways that simply work and I don't think anyone should be afraid of a bad experience with anything from the menu. The special pizza changes regularly and is highly recommended.
A note about hours: they close at 8pm and from year to year have different end-of-season dates. Call ahead to make sure they are open!
24 locals recommend
The Brown Jug
155 Main StOn top of having a fine assortment of fantastic wines, cheese, and other accouterments, The Brown Jug provides a wood fired thin crust pizza experience that should not be overlooked.
The pizza creations take your taste buds on a culinary adventure that steers clear of the standard "pepperoni pizza" fare one would find at any chain pizza house. Top-shelf ingredients are combined in ways that simply work and I don't think anyone should be afraid of a bad experience with anything from the menu. The special pizza changes regularly and is highly recommended.
A note about hours: they close at 8pm and from year to year have different end-of-season dates. Call ahead to make sure they are open!
Arts & Culture
From their website: "The Sturgis Library, a historic public library in the village of Barnstable, is dedicated to providing services and resources to meet the needs of a contemporary community while preserving and promoting Cape Cod history."
Sturgis Library Barnstable
3090 Main StFrom their website: "The Sturgis Library, a historic public library in the village of Barnstable, is dedicated to providing services and resources to meet the needs of a contemporary community while preserving and promoting Cape Cod history."
Essentials
The local grocery store within walking distance. Has all the essentials with a great deli (I recommend the Tom's Treat sandwich) and well stocked beer & wine section. Very good and reasonably priced pizza is also available for order. Just call and ask to order!
24 locals recommend
Barnstable Market
3220 Main StThe local grocery store within walking distance. Has all the essentials with a great deli (I recommend the Tom's Treat sandwich) and well stocked beer & wine section. Very good and reasonably priced pizza is also available for order. Just call and ask to order!
Entertainment & Activities
A newly renovated movie theater with spacious seating offering current run movies with occasional classic movies and specialty screenings. There is a full service cafe offering some food & drink selections (including Cape Cod local beers on tap). We recommend booking ahead of time online and showing up early as seating is limited and often sells out quickly in the summer season.
52 locals recommend
Chatham Orpheum Theater
637 Main StA newly renovated movie theater with spacious seating offering current run movies with occasional classic movies and specialty screenings. There is a full service cafe offering some food & drink selections (including Cape Cod local beers on tap). We recommend booking ahead of time online and showing up early as seating is limited and often sells out quickly in the summer season.
Parks & Nature
Free and public access to the Brewster Flats. Go at or near low tide for a seemingly endless expanse of tidal flats!
32 locals recommend
Paines Creek Landing and Beach
143 Cedar Hill RdFree and public access to the Brewster Flats. Go at or near low tide for a seemingly endless expanse of tidal flats!
Getting Around
Fancy a trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard? Grab a ferry ride from here. Parking can be tricky depending on the season and some of the hotels/motels offer parking options.
37 locals recommend
Hyannis Cruise Terminal station
69 South StFancy a trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard? Grab a ferry ride from here. Parking can be tricky depending on the season and some of the hotels/motels offer parking options.
Drinks & Nightlife
Only minutes away, Cape Cod Beer is the largest of the 3 breweries on Cape. Daily tours at 11AM by some of the friendliest brewery staff I have ever met. Definitely worth a visit if you are into the craft beer scene!
54 locals recommend
Cape Cod Beer
1336 Phinneys LnOnly minutes away, Cape Cod Beer is the largest of the 3 breweries on Cape. Daily tours at 11AM by some of the friendliest brewery staff I have ever met. Definitely worth a visit if you are into the craft beer scene!
The outermost brewery with good brews and an awesome game room! There is an attached restaurant with a wide variety of food offerings.
42 locals recommend
Hog Island Beer Co.
28 West RdThe outermost brewery with good brews and an awesome game room! There is an attached restaurant with a wide variety of food offerings.
The smaller of the 3 breweries located on Cape Cod, Devil's Purse offers both traditional and experimental beer varieties and is my personal favorite. Their tasting room is cozy and follows their nautical theme!
33 locals recommend
Devil's Purse Brewing Company
120 Great Western RdThe smaller of the 3 breweries located on Cape Cod, Devil's Purse offers both traditional and experimental beer varieties and is my personal favorite. Their tasting room is cozy and follows their nautical theme!
One of the few vineyards on Cape with great tastings of both their wines and their spirits. Limited openings in the off-season.
150 locals recommend
Truro Vineyards
11 Shore RdOne of the few vineyards on Cape with great tastings of both their wines and their spirits. Limited openings in the off-season.