Top 10 Best Waterfront Cape Cod Restaurants

If you’re visiting Cape Cod, one of the best things to do is dine on the water. As a local Bostonian, my husband and I spend every summer on the Cape. Over the years we’ve found all the best restaurants, some well-known and other hidden gems. It’s very easy to ferry from Cape Cod to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket is one of my favorite places to visit in the world! Even though it’s technically not ON the Cape, I also included some of my favorite waterfront restaurants there as well. Keep reading for all the best waterfront Cape Cod restaurants!

Waterfront Cape Cod Restaurants: A Comprehensive Guide

1 The Canteen: A Ptown favorite, Provincetown Cape Cod

The Canteen is one of the best Cape Cod restaurants on the water. It not only has incredible views but it’s a Provincetown icon. The Canteen sources all their food locally and around New England. The owner attended the International Culinary Center in New York so naturally their food is delicious.

This restaurant can get busy and they do not take reservations. It’s very casual, with mostly outdoor seating. You’ll first place your order up front, and then head to the pickup window. They have plenty of picnic tables and additional seating available out back. My favorite part about this restaurant is it is waterfront dining Cape Cod at its finest, since you can dip your toes in the sand while eating a delicious lobster roll!

As a Bostonian Provincetown is one of my favorite places on Cape Cod, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to visit.

Parking at the Canteen: Parking in Provincetown can be difficult, especially finding available street parking. There are public parking lots in Provincetown including MacMillan Pier. In the summer this lot can be full and you’ll find additional ‘unofficial’ parking areas with smaller businesses. These businesses will charge you to park your car at their smaller business parking lot. The public parking lots should be available on Google Maps, but keep an eye out driving into the town.

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Best Places to Stay on Cape Cod

Overall Best Hotel on Cape Cod: Chatham Bars Inn

Best 5 Star luxury Hotel and Spa on Cape Cod: Wequasset Harwich

Best for Adults Only: Crowne Point Inn adults only Provincetown

Best Resort for Families: Ocean Edge Resort Brewster

Best Boutique Hotel: Platinum Pebble Inn Harwich

Best Value: Rugosa Guest House Eastham

Best Unique Stay on Cape Cod: AutoCamp Falmouth

Best Historic Hotel: Candleberry Inn Brewster

Best Ocean Views: AWOL Hotel Provincetown

Best Central location: Faraway Nantucket even though this isn’t on the Cape itself, this location is central in the heart of Nantucket and is worth a visit, the decor is simply beautiful!

2 Chatham Bars Inn: The best of both worlds, Chatham Cape Cod

One of the best places to eat on Cape Cod is the Chatham Bars Inn. This luxuruios hotel offers three waterfront Cape Cod restaurants. The first option is The Veranda, a casual dining experience overlooking the water that is first come, first serve with bookings. The second and more casual option is The Beach House Grill which is as it says, right on the beach. The third is a fine dining option inside the hotel where you can enjoy a meal overlooking the ocean from floor-to-ceiling windows. Book a reservation around sunset, and you will not be disappointed.

If you’re heading to Chatham in the summer and dining at any of these restaurants in Chatham MA, take a walk around the surrounding area and admire all the famous Cape Cod hydrangeas.

Parking at the Chatham Bars Inn: The Chatham Bars Inn offers free valet parking for guests, make sure to drive to the main entrance of the Inn to find it.

3 Provincetown’s Red Inn, Provincetown Cape Cod

Provincetown’s Red Inn doubles as a hotel and restaurant. It is one of the most instagrammable spots in Provincetown and one of the best waterfront Cape Cod restaurants. You won’t need reservations for the bar, but make sure to make a reservation for the dining area. Even though we haven’t attended in years, the Red Inn still lists a jazz brunch on their website.

As a Bostonian Provincetown is one of my favorite places on Cape Cod, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to visit.

Parking at the Provincetown Red Inn: The Inn has a parking lot directly across from their entrance. I would recommend when you book to ask where to park. If you can’t find parking in the lot, you’ll find street parking at the end of the road from the Inn that’s not too far of a walk.

4 Galley Beach, Step’s Beach Nantucket

One of my favorite restaurants on Nantucket is Galley Beach. Even though this restaurant can be pricey, one of the best sunsets I’ve seen from Nantucket was on my birthday right at this very spot! The restaurant itself is beautiful and boasts an extensive outdoor patio completely covered by the elements. Galley Beach also offers seating right on the beach during the day and even hosts bonfires in the evenings. This restaurant serves all the best local ingredients and has the most delicious cocktails. Reservations are required to dine, check out their website for more information.

Even though I’ve traveled the world, Nantucket is one of my favorite places. Even though I would love to spend a week here during the summer, it can be quite pricey and a weekend is all you need. I would highly recommend a visit, here’s how to spend a perfect weekend in Nantucket!

Parking at Galley Beach: Galley’s Beach offers parking for a fee, but this spot isn’t too far from the center of town. If you’re saying in town you can easily walk from downtown!

5 Mac’s on the Pier, Wellfleet Cape Cod

This next spot is one of the best seafood restaurants on Cape Cod. Mac’s has a few locations across the Cape making them some of the best restaurants on Cape Cod. The pier restaurant is located right in Wellfleet Harbor. The other more casual option is right off a public beach, complete with a large outdoor dining area. I love this location in Wellfleet, watching sailboats and fishing boats cruising in and out of the harbor.

The additional Mac’s location is down the street from this pier restaurant. This restaurant offers casual seating and a large outdoor area.

Parking at Mac’s on the Pier: There is a large parking lot on site for public beach access, but the restaurant has its own parking lot as well.

6 The Seafood Shanty, Martha’s Vineyard island

Located in the idyllic Edgartown, the Seafood Shanty is one of the best waterfront restaurants on Martha’s Vineyard. This restaurant came highly recommended when I first visited, and it didn’t disappoint. Make sure to sit outside on the roof deck as it overlooks the water and Chappaquiddick Island. Here’s a comprehensive guide for how to visit this popular island!

Parking at the Seafood Shanty: There’s a main street that runs right through Edgartown that offers street parking, but there are of course a few public parking lots as well.

7 The popular Sesuit Harbor Cafe, East Dennis Cape Cod

Sesuit Harbor Cafe is one of the best restaurants on Cape Cod and also one of my favorites! Because it’s one of the best and due to its popularity, make sure to visit during off hours, especially in the summer. If you attempt to dine during peak times you may be waiting a few hours.

The Sesuit Harbor Cafe’s lobster roll is famous, but I do love their tuna sandwich. Feel free to bring a cooler with your beverages, they have quite a few picnic tables right along the water and marina. The last time we attempted to visit in the summer we had to park right in the middle of five stories of boat storage. We ended up finding a different place to have dinner that night, when we left the wait was over an hour and counting!

Parking at the Sesuit Harbor Cafe: There is a smaller parking lot attached to the restaurant, and in the summer they use the adjacent boat lot to park cars as well. Keep in mind even if you find a parking spot, you might still be waiting in line to order as this is one of the most popular Cape Cod restaurants.

8 The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort, Dennis Port Cape Cod

Recently renovated the Pelham House Resort features a beautiful rooftop restaurant and bar. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel you can book in for a reservation. Keep in mind when booking that you can specifically book a high-top table which will allow you to have the best oceanfront view.

Parking at the Pelham House Resort: This resort offers valet and complimentary parking!

9 The Ocean House, Dennis Port Cape Cod

Another spot in Dennis, this restaurant was named one of 2023’s top 100 most scenic restaurants on OpenTable. This restaurant has a beautiful indoor seating area, but also an extensive and casual outdoor beach bar. Reservations are encouraged and can be made 30 days in advance.

Parking at the Ocean House: Valet parking is required, but also free for guests.

10 The iconic Beachcomber, Wellfleet Cape Cod

Considered one of the only remaining oceanfront Cape Cod restaurants on the Atlantic side, it’s not only one of the best waterfront Cape Cod restaurants but also the most iconic. The Beachcomber or ‘Comber’ has been around since the 1950s! It was once a small inn that was converted into the restaurant it is today. Fast forward ten years to the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy created the Cape Cod National Seashore. Since the Beachcomber was located along the land that was purchased it was “grandfathered” in and was allowed to remain standing on the preserved area.

This spot always makes the list of the best restaurants on Cape Cod including this shout-out from the Boston Magazine.

Parking at the Beachcomber: On the Beachcomber’s website it does detail information about parking. They do have a large parking lot and charge $30 between the hours of 9 am-6 pm. You’ll be able to use the $30 charge at the restaurant or on merchandise. Their lot does tend to fill up quickly on nice beach days, but if you visit in the evening you can also avoid the fee!