Cape Cod Foodie Guide: Best Restaurants, Breweries and Local Favorites
Cape Cod isn’t just about beaches and lighthouses, it’s also home to incredible seafood, craft breweries, and international cuisine. If you’re wondering where to eat in Cape Cod for fresh lobster rolls, waterfront dining, and hidden gems, this guide highlights my top picks from a recent trip (with more to come).
Food has become the focal point of my travels. While I didn’t always prioritize it when I was younger, now I love trying new dishes, eating like a local, and learning how meals are prepared and sourced.
Ready to dive into the best places to eat in Cape Cod? Let’s start with a true waterfront gem.
Where to Eat in Cape Cod by Town
Looking for restaurants in a specific part of Cape Cod?
Here are the places featured in this guide:
- Provincetown: Bay Cafe – seafood and waterfront dining
- Falmouth: Bad Martha Brewery – craft beer and pizza
- Hyannis: Brazilian Grill – Brazilian barbecue
1. Bay Cafe: Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Dining in Provincetown, Cape Cod
If you’re searching for the best lunch Cape Cod has to offer, Bay Cafe (formerly Bayside Betsy’s) tops my list. It’s a Provincetown classic which features a fully-stocked bar and casual restaurant with indoor and ocean view dining.
Sadly during our April visit, it was too cold to sit outside, but if given a chance, have a seat on the spacious deck for 180-degree views of the glistening Provincetown Harbor.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Bay Cafe sources local ingredients and seafood daily by local fishermen. Popular dishes include fresh Wellfleet oysters, clam chowder, lobster, and scallop rolls.
Wanting to sample as much as we could, we ordered Fisherman’s Delight, a large seafood platter with Haddock, scallops, shrimp, calamari, and fried clams served with golden fries and homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce.
I’m a big fan of their tartar sauce, do not skip it!
We also ordered the fresh scallop roll. The lightly breaded scallops were cooked to perfection!
As for cocktails, we sipped on a Mojito and PTown Punch, a refreshing cocktail with Malibu coconut rum, spiced rum, peachtree Schnapps, and pineapple juice.
My advice: come to Bay Cafe with an appetite. You will leave satisfied!
A special shout out to our friendly waiter McKenzy who calls Provincetown home after moving from Seattle eight summers ago.
Also, keep an eye out for paintings from local artists like Ken Pratt, a self-taught artist painting mostly landscapes and nautical scenes from the Provincetown area. You can even purchase these paintings if you’d like.
In summary, Bay Cafe is one of the Cape Cod waterfront restaurants you don’t want to miss!
Read Next: Free Things To Do in Martha’s Vineyard
2. Bad Martha Brewery: Top Cape Cod Craft Breweries to Visit in Falmouth
Among Cape Cod craft breweries, Bad Martha stands out for refreshing beer flights and delicious locally sourced pizzas.
If you’re looking for a chill atmosphere while sipping on a refreshing pint, I recommend Bad Martha Brewery in Falmouth.
Opened in 2019, the Bad Martha Falmouth location is spacious, dog-friendly, and nautical-themed.
When you walk through the front doors, you’ll be greeted by Bad Martha voluptuous maiden and the brewery’s friendly staff. Choose from various seating options, including the taproom, the front porch, back porch, or outdoor seating decked out with heating lamps.
The traditional Amish-style barn is stunning and perfectly compliments the brewery’s farm-to-table menu.
Serving eleven craft beers, there’s something for everyone, including IPAs, blondes, porters, stouts, and sours.
If it’s your first time, I recommend ordering a flight so you can sample a bunch of beers and narrow down your favorites.
As for grub, the 17-inch brick oven thin crust pizza is finger-licking good. We ordered half mellow mushroom and half cheese and left the brewery stuffed.
Listen to this podcast episode as we share details about our first time visiting Bad Martha Brewery in Falmouth.
If you’re looking for a Cape Cod brewery with friendly staff, refreshing craft beer, great music, and delicious pizza, this is the place for you. We recommend starting with a flight of four beers to narrow down your top picks.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music
Partnering with local farmers throughout Cape Cod and Massachusetts, Bad Martha takes pride in sourcing local ingredients like hops. They also donate a portion of their profits to a local hunger relief charity.
If you plan to hop on the ferry and visit Martha’s Vineyard, stop by Bad Martha Brewery in Edgartown.
Press play to watch a 30-second recap of my Cape Cod getaway.
3. Brazilian Grill in Hyannis
While not a traditional seafood spot, Brazilian Grill offers a delicious alternative for those exploring the diverse Cape Cod food scene beyond lobster rolls and clam shacks.
While looking for dinner spots in Hyannis, we discovered Brazilian Grill, within walking distance of our vacation rental.
Brazilian Grill is a family-owned, all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse that features a salad bar, Brazilian hot dishes, and a variety of slowly grilled meats. There are two restaurant locations, Hyannis and Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
After sitting down and placing our drink order, we were invited up to the salad bar. As a pescatarian (I do not eat meat), there weren’t many seafood options. However, my husband had a fantastic time trying all sorts of grilled meats.
A gaucho would come to our table with knives every few minutes offering beef, pork, chicken, and lamb skewers. The Gauchos would carve up the skewers right there at our table.
At Brazilian Grill, I recommend trying the yellow fried bananas, rice, and black beans — so yummy! While this was our first time experiencing Churrasco a Rodizio, traditional Brazilian barbecue, it will not be our last.
Expect to spend upwards of $40 per reservation plus drinks, tax, and tip.
Final Thoughts: Come Hungry and Leave Satisfied
Cape Cod’s food scene is just as memorable as its beaches and coastal charm.
Whether you’re craving fresh lobster rolls or international flavors, these best places to eat in Cape Cod will make your trip unforgettable.
While my list is only a starting point, I’ll continue updating this guides as I explore more towns and hidden gems across the Cape.
With 15 towns and two islands to discover, the culinary adventures are endless.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite places to eat in Cape Cod?
Check out this video by Sarah Funky featuring what to eat and drink specifically in Provincetown, Cape Cod.
Read Next: Best Vacation Spots on the East Coast
Just a scenic drive from the Cape, Boston’s food scene is a must-try for foodies.
From iconic clam chowder to artisanal sandwiches and rooftop views, Boston pairs perfectly with your Cape Cod adventures, offering a bustling city vibe with historic charm.
Here’s how to spend three days in Boston, including where to stay, what to eat, and the best things to do!
Danielle Desir Corbett is an award-winning and 6x grant-funded travel writer and podcast host who went from financial struggle to visiting 27+ countries all without waiting until retirement. Her story is proof that budget doesn’t limit adventure. Tune into The Thought Card Podcast for practical strategies to travel smarter and live on your terms. Say hello: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
Again I am amazed at how simply and effectively you explain things. Thanks for this one. I have been struggling with it for years.
Never. in cape cod. Always. On cape cod.
soo yummy dishes. i am also food lover your blog is soo amazing.
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