Cape May is home to a wide array of different restaurants. Local residents and visitors alike can find dining spots that range from hotdog stands to oceanfront, world-class restaurants, with numerous restaurants open throughout the year. It should come as no surprise that seafood is the theme of the cuisine found in many restaurants, particularly oysters. A number of spots offer extensive wine lists and fully stocked bars, while others let guests bring their own alcohol.
We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.
1.Magnolia Room
The Magnolia Room Restaurant is a nationally acclaimed restaurant in Cape May that serves Southern-style cuisine lovingly made with family recipes by a third generation of women from the Dickerson family. The Magnolia Room is open for both breakfast and dinner seven days a week from May to September. During the summer season, the restaurant’s veranda provides an ideal setting for dinner. The breakfast buffet includes both a three-course prix fixe menu and a la carte choices. A supper buffet is offered on Sundays.
301 Howard St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-8409
2.The Blue Pig Tavern
The Blue Pig Tavern serves all day dining in distinctive dining rooms in Cape May’s Congress Hall. Tucked away in the Congress Hall’s corner, the name of the restaurant comes from a gambling parlor that once existed in the building during the middle of the 1800’s. The Blue Pig Tavern has been recognized by the 2019 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Awards for a variety of awards, including “best American restaurants” and “great for lunch” among others. The Blue Pig Tavern offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
200 Congress Pl, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-8422
3.Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Ebbitt Room
The Ebbitt Room is one of the most popular seaside restaurants in Cape May. From the comfortable lounge and bar with weekend live piano music to the restaurant’s relaxing front porch, the Ebbitt Room is rooted strongly in a farm-to-glass, farm-to-table dining philosophy. The restaurant uses the freshest ingredients, sourced from its very own farm.
25 Jackson St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-5700
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4.Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Fins Bar & Grille
The Fins Bar and Grille, located along the Washington Street Mall, serves cocktails, dinner, and lunch seven days a week. The restaurant features outdoor seating, a full bar, and seasonal nightly live entertainment. Fins Bar and Grille also offers takeout and is known for having a great Happy Hour, featuring specialty cocktails, wines, and more than twenty craft beers, which include River Horse, Glasstown Brewing, and Cape May Brewing. Popular dishes at Fins include the Shrimp and Crab Penne, the Local Day Boat Scallops, and the Lobster Cobb Salad. Fins Bar and Grille is great for anyone looking for some high end food.
142 Decatur St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-3449
5.Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Tisha's Fine Dining
Tisha’s Fine Dining is conveniently situated along the pedestrian Washington Street Mall and has been a Cape May establishment for more than thirty years. Serving New American fare, the restaurant offers something for even the most sophisticated of palates for both lunch and dinner. Guests can to choose to dine in the indoor dining room or if they prefer the fresh air, al fresco dining is available as well. Owned and operated by Paul Negro and his wife Jennifer, the menu at Tisha’s Fine Dining is inspired by what Paul learned from his mother, Letitia, combined with his own talent.
322 Washington St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-9119 x322
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6.410 Bank Street Restaurant
The 410 Bank Street Restaurant is hidden away down a winding pathway through tropical foliage and overhanging vines, housed within a Carriage house from 1840. The ceiling fans slowly spinning stir around the smell of the kitchen cooking French-New Orleans inspired cooking, steaks grilled over mesquite, and trawler-to table fresh seafood. All of the meats and seafood are butchered in-house, then slowly smoked in-house as well. The 410 Bank Street Restaurant maintains a tradition of making every sauce, soup, and dish from scratch. The dining destination aims to transport guests to Key West or New Orleans through its cuisine.
410 Bank St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-2127
7.Aleathea's Restaurant
Aleathea's Restaurant is considered by many to be one of the best kept secrets in the town of Cape May, offering a unique dining experience by the sea. The dining spot serves contemporary American fare featuring steaks and a variety of fresh fish served in a setting from the Victorian era with porch dining, offered during the summer season, and ocean views. Aleathea's Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week during the season. During the off-season, Aleathea’s is still open, but with much more limited hours and only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
7 Ocean St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-5555
8.Black Duck On Sunset
The Black Duck On Sunset is located in West Cape Bay, at the start of Sunset Boulevard. Housed within a traditional seashore house, the restaurant is just a short distance away from the heart of Cape May’s historic district and the Washington Street Mall. The Black Duck on Sunset, a BYOB gourmet bistro, features a casual, cool environment reminiscent of an old porch on Cape May, with wicker-paddle ceiling fans and tropical palms. The menu includes fresh local seafood, a wide variety of appetizers, char-grilled steaks, slow-roasted honey-glazed duck, and more, ending with desserts that include a whiskey bread pudding.
1 Sunset Blvd, West Cape May, NJ, Phone: 609-898-0100
9.Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille
Harry's Ocean Bar and Grille is a popular dining spot with both visitors and locals in the Cape May ara. The rooftop bar and restaurant has been named as one of the “Best Place to Drink Outside” on the Jersey shore by Philadelphia Magazine. Harry’s is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a happy hour on a seasonal basis and is the only spot in Cape May with a rooftop bar, in addition to its amazing views of the ocean. The dishes served at Harry’s are made with quality, locally sourced ingredients, specializing in sandwiches, fresh salads, and local clams and oysters.
1025 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-2779
10.Hemingway's Steaks & Seafood Restaurant
The Hemingway's Steaks and Seafood Restaurant is a popular casual dining spot in Cape May with both locals and visitors alike, serving contemporary American fare with an array of culinary creations that include locally sourced fresh seafood and its famous juicy steaks. The restaurant is open for all day dining and offers a “Sunset Dining” menu. The Bar @Hemingway’s Restaurant boasts a “classically casual never stuffy” atmosphere, making it a great spot to unwind at the end of the day, offering specialty cocktails that come with some interestingly unique backstories. The bar is also a place to catch the game.
1045 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-5611
11.Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: The YB
The YB, or The Younger Brother, first opened in 2011 and is one of the pillars of the successful Kara Restaurant Group, which also owns and manages Michael Kara Catering, Shamone, and George’s Place. The YB is situated along the town of Cape May’s beachfront between Perry Street and Jackson Street, where Executive Chef Peter Gingerelli puts his own fresh and intriguing twist on modern American fare combined with Asian and Mediterranean influences. The YB is a cash-only, BYOB establishment and children ages six and younger are not permitted at the restaurant after 6:00pm.
314 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-898-2009
12.The Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar
The Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar is located on the historic Jackson Street and is referred to as the “Granddaddy of Cape May’s fine restaurants.” The recipient of several critically acclaimed awards, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner inside of the Carroll Villa Hotel, which has welcomed guests since the year 1882 and is designated as a national landmark. Open year-round, guests at the Mad Batter Restaurant and Bar can enjoy a meal in the skylit dining room, in the garden terrace, or during the summer season, on the front porch. Happy Hour and live music is provided daily.
19 Jackson St, Cape May, NJ, 08204, Phone: 609-884-5970
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The Oceanview Family Restaurant is a popular dining establishment located in historic Cape May, owned by two local restaurateurs, Nick Margarites and Ted Margarites. The dining spot offers creative specials, generous portions, and warm hospitality combined with an oceanfront setting. The BYOB beachfront dining spot serves seafood plates, breakfast, and a variety of American fare all day. Along with the Oceanview Restaurant, Nick and Ted also own several other dining establishments, and with the help of Bill Patras, serve delicious seafood dishes, along with other non-seafood fare, to guests with views of the Atlantic Ocean.
235 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-3772
14.Oyster Bay Restaurant & Bar
The Oyster Bay Restaurant and Bar is a centrally located dining spot in Cape May known for its combinations of steak and seafood. The restaurant provides a memorable dining experience with daily specials freshly prepared by experienced chefs and friendly, attentive service. Oyster Bay focuses on New American cuisine, serving certified Angus beef and fresh local seafood. Guests can also enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail at the intimate and inviting bar, as well as free parking in the private parking lot. The Oyster Bay Restaurant and Bar is a popular spot with both locals and visitors.
615 Lafayette St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-2111
15.Restaurants Near Me: Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant
The Peter Shields Inn and Restaurant consists of five welcoming dining rooms for guests to dine on a delicious meal, as well as a front porch that overlooks the ocean. The executive uses only the highest quality of ingredients to prepare both contemporary and traditional dishes that highlight the seasonal ingredients. While the Peter Shields Restaurant is a BYOB venue, like several other dining establishments in Cape May, it also provides a selection of Cape May wines.
1301 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ, Phone: 609-884-9090
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Sapore Italiano is a fine dining, BYOB Italian restaurant situated in West Cape May in New Jersey. Housed within a restored Victorian-style house, the dining destination offers fine Italian cuisine made from local, farm-picked, fresh ingredients served in an elegant setting. Dishes featured on the dinner menu at Sapore Italiano include a range of the freshest ingredients, including fresh flounder, tilapia, branzino, salmon, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and shrimp, as well as Jersey farm tomatoes, fresh tea and coffee, and homemade desserts made fresh daily. While advance reservations are strongly encouraged, walk-ins are also welcome.
416 S Broadway, West Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-600-1422
17.Restaurants Near Me: SeaSalt Restaurant
The SeaSalt Restaurant offers its guests of both visitors and local residents alike in Cape May a unique fine dining seafood experience that features fresh ingredients native to the Cape May area paired with a variety of wines and specialty cocktails in a memorable and chic beach environment. With hints of influences from the Mediterranean and Asia, the flavorful and innovative food is matched by the attention to detail and ambiance of the restaurant. The SeaSalt Restaurant is serves breakfast and dinner daily during the on-season, and open on the weekends from the end of March to the end of April.
1035 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-7000
18.Restaurants Near Me: The Lobster House
The Lobster House overlooks the Cape May Harbor and has been providing guests with an array of dining experiences for more than four generations. Open daily for both lunch and dinner throughout the entire year, the waterfront restaurants features a full bar and five dining rooms that offer family-friendly, upscale dining with a special nautical atmosphere. Providing a varied and extensive menu, the Lobster House serves only the freshest seafood available, with much of it coming from its own commercial boat fleet. There are also many non-seafood dishes, and everything served is made fresh each day in the kitchen.
906 Schellengers Landing Rd, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-8296
19.Restaurants Near Me: Union Park Dining Room
The Union Park Dining Room is an elegant dining spot situated across from the Atlantic Ocean and offers classic American fare with a unique touch. The restaurant has consistently received the “Critics Choice Award” from the New Jersey Monthly Magazine as one of the state’s best restaurants since 2005, as well as the “Diners’ Choice Award” from OpenTable since 2010. The spacious dining areas in the Union Park Dining Room feature antique fixtures, mahogany and cherry furniture, and fireplaces, offering a romantic setting for dinner. Private dining rooms are also available, accommodating anywhere from eight to forty-two guests.
727 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-8811
20.Restaurants Near Me: Washington Inn
The Washington Inn was built back in the year 1846 with a design meant to look like Mount Vernon, with huge columns stretching up to the building’s third floor. Arthur and Rona Craig bought the inn and its restaurant in 1979, shifting the business focus entirely on the restaurant. Now owned by their son Michael, the Washington Inn has now become one of the highest ranked and more popular of Cape May’s fine dining restaurants.
801 Washington St, Cape May, NJ 08204, Phone: 609-884-5697
21 Best Restaurants in Cape May, NJ
- Magnolia Room, Photo: Magnolia Room
- The Blue Pig Tavern, Photo: The Blue Pig Tavern
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Ebbitt Room, Photo: Ebbitt Room
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Fins Bar & Grille, Photo: Fins Bar & Grille
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Tisha's Fine Dining, Photo: Tisha's Fine Dining
- 410 Bank Street Restaurant, Photo: 410 Bank Street Restaurant
- Aleathea's Restaurant, Photo: Aleathea's Restaurant
- Black Duck On Sunset, Photo: Black Duck On Sunset
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille, Photo: Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille
- Hemingway's Steaks & Seafood Restaurant, Photo: Hemingway's Steaks & Seafood Restaurant
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: The YB, Photo: The YB
- The Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar, Photo: The Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar
- Oceanview Restaurant, Photo: mikhail_kayl/stock.adobe.com
- Oyster Bay Restaurant & Bar, Photo: Oyster Bay Restaurant & Bar
- Restaurants Near Me: Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant, Photo: Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant
- Restaurants in Cape May, NJ: Sapore Italiano, Photo: Sapore Italiano
- Restaurants Near Me: SeaSalt Restaurant, Photo: SeaSalt Restaurant
- Restaurants Near Me: The Lobster House, Photo: The Lobster House
- Restaurants Near Me: Union Park Dining Room, Photo: Union Park Dining Room
- Restaurants Near Me: Washington Inn, Photo: Washington Inn
- Cover Photo: Kzenon/stock.adobe.com
More Ideas: The Mainstay Bed and Breakfast Inn in Cape May
Set in an ornate, Victorian former gambling club, the Mainstay Bed and Breakfast Inn is an upscale bed and breakfast in the heart of Cape May that offers a tranquil escape from the city. Located just a few blocks from the beach and the vibrant atmosphere of Washington Street, the Mainstay boasts elegant guest rooms and suites with antique furniture and modern amenities, a stylish lounge with a grand piano, and a beautiful garden.
The Mainstay Bed and Breakfast Inn features six guest rooms in the main house, six cottages rooms, and a stylish beach apartment.
The six beautifully-appointed guest rooms in the main house and the cottages include the Cardinal Gibbons Room, the Henry Sawyer Room, the President Harrison Room, the General Grant Suite, the Stonewall Jackson Suite, and the Henry Clay Room. All of the rooms and suites in the main house feature beautiful antique four-poster beds with gorgeous linens, down pillows, and handmade quilts, and en-suite bathrooms with showers and/or bathtubs, plush towels and bathrobes, and Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities. Accommodations feature modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, individual climate control with heating and cooling, and complimentary wireless Internet access.
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Named in honor of the 18th president of the United States, President Ulysses S. Grant, the General Grant Suite is a spacious suite on the third floor that features a king-sized brass bed dressed with luxurious linens, and a separate sitting room with charming period antiques. The suite is flooded with natural light from eight windows and has a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and soaking bathtub and modern amenities such as individual climate control, flat-screen televisions and complimentary wireless Internet access.
Honoring the famous British actress and mistress of the Prince of Wales, the Lillie Langtry Room is an inviting sunny room with five large windows that boast beautiful views over Columbia Avenue. The room has a king-size bed with luxurious linens and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a spacious seating area looking out over the beach and modern amenities, including flat panel televisions with cable channels, individual climate control with heating and cooling, and complimentary wireless Internet access.
The Clara Barton Room is a charming room with glorious ten-foot ceilings and a large bay window overlooking the gardens. Named after the famous Civil War nurse, the room features a queen-sized Victorian bed and marble dresser, a comfortable bathroom with double shower and modern amenities, including individual climate control, flat-screen televisions and complimentary wireless Internet access.
The Commodore Stephen Decatur Suite features an impressive Victorian queen-sized bed and matching marble dresser, private bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a separate sitting room with beautiful antique furnishings. The Suite is naturally lit from six windows on all four sides and modern amenities abound.
The Mainstay Beach Apartment Suite is a recently renovated modern apartment that can cater up to four people. The first floor of the apartment features a spacious living area with a gas fireplace, queen-size sleeper sofa, a small kitchenette with a stove, microwave and refrigerator, a dining area and a private deck. The second floor is accessed by a spiral staircase and houses the bedroom with a queen-size bed, and private bathroom with showers and/or bathtubs, plush towels and bathrobes, and organic bath products.
A full breakfast is served in the elegant dining room around an original walnut dining table or on the verandah in summer. Breakfast choices may include a selection of juices, fresh fruit platters, a signature entrée of sausage, bacon, ham, and eggs, an assortment of bread with preserves, bagels, freshly baked cake of the day, a selection of cereals, and coffee and an assortment of teas.
Afternoon tea is served daily and includes a daily variety of hot teas, iced tea and homemade lemonade (in summer only), assorted savories and pastries, homemade sweets and fresh fruits.
The Mainstay Bed and Breakfast Inn offers an array of amenities, including beach chairs and towels for use on the beach, early and late check-in options, a 24-hour self-service coffee and tea service, ice machines and use of guest refrigerators. Other amenities include a refreshment center with a variety of soft drinks and spring water, the Inn’s famous bottomless ‘Cookie Jars’ and ‘Pretzels’ in each room, and wireless high-speed Internet throughout the property. Additional guest services include concierge and reservation assistance, and daily delivery of Philadelphia and Cape May newspapers.
Next read: Weekend Getaways in New Jersey
635 Columbia Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey 08204, Phone: 609-884-8690
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