After a day spent discovering the beaches, museums, galleries, and various attractions of Cape Cod, a tasty meal is essential. On the Cape, there’s nothing quite like fresh seafood to recharge after a day full of excitement. We’ve compiled a list of over two dozen top seafood restaurants on Cape Cod, ensuring that you can enjoy a meal no matter where you’re adventuring.
Best Restaurants for Seafood in Woods Hole & Bourne
Water Street Kitchen
In the southwestern tip of the Cape, Water Street Kitchen in Woods Hole offers contemporary flavors. This chef-owned establishment emphasizes farm-to-table dining with a focus on seasonal, fresh ingredients. As a result, the menu is crafted from scratch and varies based on the availability of ingredients.
Landfall Restaurant
Established in 1946, Landfall Restaurant has become a top waterfront dining spot in Woods Hole. Boasting some of the Cape’s most stunning ocean views, its dining room is uniquely built from reclaimed building boards and shipwreck timber. The seafood menu includes fresh clams, lobster, finfish, scallops, and swordfish, and there’s an oyster bar.
Lobster Trap
Aiming to provide diners in Bourne with an authentic Cape Cod experience, Lobster Trap originally started as a local seafood market on the Back River in 1969 before eventually becoming a restaurant. It offers a laid-back atmosphere with a bar and a serene patio, while the kitchen serves up refined dishes.
Best Sandwich & Mashpee Seafood Restaurants
Fishermen’s View
Run by local fishermen, Fishermen’s View in Sandwich is both a boat-to-table fish market and one of Cape Cod’s most delightful seafood restaurants. The kitchen crafts globally inspired dishes using only fresh, locally sourced seafood. Diners can enjoy breathtaking views of the marina and canal from the dining room. Additionally, the property includes Sandie’s Outdoor Bar, a relaxed venue offering cocktails and live music.
Seafood Sam’s
Since its debut in 1974, Seafood Sam’s has been delighting families with exceptional seafood dishes. Over the years, the menu has grown to include over 100 items with consistently fast and friendly service. Besides its original location, this Sandwich restaurant operates a second restaurant in Falmouth and a food truck that travels to various towns across the Cape.
Cooke’s Seafood
Since 1977, Cooke’s Seafood in Mashpee has been offering award-winning fried and broiled seafood. The menu — crafted entirely from scratch — ensures a fresh dining experience. While you can enjoy your meal in the restaurant, the dishes are equally delightful when ordered for takeout.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Hyannis & Yarmouth
The Naked Oyster
One of the best oyster bars on Cape Cod, The Naked Oyster in Hyannis is a bistro that specializes in fresh, local ingredients. The oysters served here are sourced directly from the restaurant’s own farm in the northwest part of Barnstable Harbor. Chef Lowell crafts inventive dishes, complemented by an extensive wine list.
Captain Parker’s Pub
Captain Parker’s Pub has been a staple in West Yarmouth since 1981, renowned for its hearty fare. Recognized as one of Cape Cod’s top seafood spots, the clam chowder stands out as the signature dish, having won 18 first-place trophies and achieving the triple crown. The chowder has even been showcased on various Food Network programs and was featured in a “Jeopardy!” question.
Skipper Chowder House
Situated in South Yarmouth, Skipper Chowder House is one of the oldest Cape waterfront dining establishments — famed for its award-winning, triple crown chowder. The diverse menu includes seaside sandwiches, lobster rolls, pastas, and various fish and shellfish platters. Additionally, patrons can enjoy offerings from The Skipper Raw Bar and Skipper’s Ice Cream Shack.
Best Dennis Seafood Restaurants on Cape Cod
The Ocean House Restaurant
The Ocean House Restaurant in Dennis Port offers contemporary fine dining with stunning views of the Nantucket Sound. Ideal for special occasions, it is celebrated for its handcrafted cocktails and dishes made from the finest ingredients, including organic farm produce and locally sourced seafood.
Red Cottage Restaurant
At Red Cottage Restaurant in South Dennis, you can enjoy a variety of lunch classics and specialties. Local favorites include home fries, chèvre cheese and fresh chive scramble, spinach and bacon crepes, eggs Napoli, French toast foster, and cinnamon bun French toast.
Sesuit Harbor Café
Operating from April to October, the beloved Sesuit Harbor Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This family-run cafe features numerous outdoor picnic tables with picturesque views of the harbor and the boats. Along with serving some of the best lobster rolls on Cape Cod, it has a raw bar and operates lobster roll cruise charters.
Best Restaurants for Seafood in Brewster & Harwich
The Brewster Fish House
A favorite among locals, The Brewster Fish House is a modern bistro that adjusts its menu seasonally based on the freshest available ingredients. Diners can enjoy seafood options such as octopus, oysters, and scallops. In addition to lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers a selection of unique cocktails and an extensive array of craft beers and wines.
JT’s Seafood Restaurant
JT’s Seafood Restaurant in Brewster, a contemporary clam shack, has garnered numerous Cape Cod Life silver and gold awards for its clam chowder, lobster rolls, fried clams, and onion rings. The restaurant has also received accolades for its ice cream. Additionally, the menu features a variety of options, including burgers, fish and chips, fried platters, hot dogs, and scallops.
Cape Sea Grille
Cape Sea Grille in Harwich Port crafts inventive dishes using the freshest local catch, sustainable meats, and other regional ingredients. This results in a dynamic, ever-evolving menu curated by the chef. The restaurant boasts an extensive wine list, and diners enjoy their meals in the elegant setting of a 19th-century sea captain’s home too.
Kate’s Seafood
Situated in Brewster, Kate’s Seafood has been a go-to spot for fried seafood and ice cream on Cape Cod since 1986. Operating seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, this walk-up window on Route 6A offers a cozy outdoor seating area for patrons.
Cobies’ Clam Shack
A Cape Cod staple since 1948, Cobie’s Clam Shack in Brewster offers a variety of dishes, including fried clams and seafood, burgers, hot dogs, French fries, and ice cream. For lighter fare, salads, wraps, and panini sandwiches are on the menu. Conveniently located off the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Cobie’s is easily accessible for cyclists, motorists, and tourists. The restaurant features a spacious porch with covered dining tables and ample parking in front and around back.
Best Chatham & Eastham Seafood Restaurants
Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster
While Mac’s Seafood boasts multiple locations on Cape Cod, Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster at the Cornfield Marketplace stands out as a favorite. The restaurant features an inventive menu with daily specials and gluten-free fried options. In addition, patrons can enjoy beer and wine at the outdoor picnic tables.
Impudent Oyster
The Impudent Oyster in Chatham, one of Cape Cod’s premier seafood restaurants, offers an upscale dining experience in a unique setting — a former church. The menu features creative seafood dishes, including local favorites: oysters Rockefeller and spicy mussels with chorizo. The cozy tavern boasts a vibrant bar scene as well.
Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar
In Eastham, Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar is a top-rated seafood spot renowned for its fresh lobster rolls, fried clams, and onion rings. This popular eatery has earned high praise for serving delicious food and maintaining friendly service. On top of that, it offers several standout features — a spacious outdoor seating area, a raw bar with fresh oysters and clams, and an 18-hole mini-golf course with various homemade ice cream flavors.
Best Cape Cod Seafood Restaurants in Wellfleet
Van Rensselaer’s Restaurant & Raw Bar
Located in South Wellfleet, Van Rensselaer’s Restaurant & Raw Bar is a family-operated establishment that has been a community staple since 1980. The menu features a wide array of locally sourced seafood dishes, alongside fresh meats and options catering to gluten-free and vegan diets. Guests can also enjoy an impressive selection of local beers, cocktails, and wines.
Bookstore & Restaurant
Operated by three generations since 1964, Bookstore & Restaurant offers a delightful blend of straightforward, lovingly prepared seafood dishes. It’s an ideal family dining destination, and the menu features seafood favorites like cod, lobster, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Before you head out, explore the bookstore to pick up a new or secondhand book, magazine, or comic.
Moby Dick’s Restaurant
Elevating the traditional clam shack experience, Moby Dick’s Restaurant has been a go-to seafood destination since 1983. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, it serves some of the freshest seafood on Cape Cod. Guests are welcome to bring their own beer or wine to drink with their meal, enhancing the relaxed and enjoyable dining experience.
Best Truro & Provincetown Restaurants for Seafood
Blackfish
Nestled in a quaint former blacksmith shop in Truro, Blackfish stands out as one of Cape Cod’s most distinctive seafood restaurants. Retaining much of its original architecture, this tiny American bistro offers an elegant dining experience within its rustic brick walls. Guests can savor sophisticated seafood dishes, enjoy a refined bar scene, or opt for convenient takeout.
The Mews Restaurant & Cafe
Located near the northeastern tip of Cape Cod, The Mews Restaurant & Cafe in Provincetown originated from the Provincetown Mews Food and Wine Society in 1964. It offers two distinct dining experiences: a main dining room situated on the beach and an upstairs bistro that provides sweeping views of Cape Cod Bay.
Lobster Pot
Highlighted as a premier Cape Cod restaurant by a Zagat Survey, the Lobster Pot in Provincetown boasts stunning harbor views. Diners are encouraged to sample its acclaimed clam chowder and signature lobster dishes. The restaurant has additional locations too, including the Lobster Pot Express and the Lobster & Chowder House.
Best Places to Eat Lobster in Cape Cod
If you’re craving an exceptional lobster dinner, these Cape Cod seafood restaurants are our top recommendations for indulging in lobster:
- Skipper Chowder House — 508-394-7406
- Mattakeese Wharf — 508-362-4511
- Sesuit Harbor Café — 508-385-6134
- The Beachcomber Restaurant — 508-349-6055
Stay at a Luxury Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast
Whether you’re passing through Brewster or seeking a central base for your Cape Cod vacation, Candleberry Inn is ideally situated. Our charming bed and breakfast provides elegant accommodations and is just a short walk from The Brewster Fish House and a quick three-minute drive from JT’s Seafood Restaurant.
Many of our top seafood restaurant picks on Cape Cod are within about an hour’s drive. For those not in the mood for seafood, we’ve also curated a comprehensive list of other excellent dining options on Cape Cod. Check the availability of our rooms to book a room and start exploring this beautiful region.
