The Short List - Waterfront Dining on Cape Cod

Welcome to The Short List!
CapeCod.com is where the Cape Finds Community and we’ve developed The Short List to provide an opportunity for the Community to have their say on a number of topics! Cape Cod is surrounded by water…we celebrate the Ocean and our lakes and ponds. So our first Short List is the Cape Cod Broadcasting Media team’s favorite spots to dine and drink by the water. We asked the staff who live all over the Cape to send us their favorite spots. The Short List is our top picks, but we’ve also created a map of all our favorites as a resource to you! Feel free to add your own choice on the poll below. And make sure you look for the Short List every week for recommendations from your community!

[google_map_easy id=”1″]

1. The Wellfleet Beachcomber
A bar and restaurant right on the beach! The Wellfleet Beachcomber has been a must-visit summer destination for more than 50 years. Great for all ages, the Wellfleet Beachcomber offers an unbeatable location, fantastic scenery and friendly service right on Cahoon Hollows Beach. Whether you want to stop in for lunch with the family or have a late night out with some friends, the Wellfleet Beachcomber has live music, creative cocktails and tasty dishes for a great dining experience.

2. The Ocean House
Along with a view of the water and live music, the Ocean House has a great menu with a variety of options to choose from. Serving pizza as well as fresh seafood, some of the entrees also include Pad Thai noodle bowl, flat iron steak and lobster ravioli. Dessert is served for an after dinner treat. There is also the Beach Bar and Beaches Café providing breakfast, lunch and cocktails right on the water.

3. Baxter’s
A Cape Cod Tradition since 1957, Baxter’s is built entirely over the water with breathtaking views of the harbor activities, including the ferry boats going to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and local commercial fishing boats unloading their catch. Baxter’s serves lunch and dinner and features live entertainment on the piano, making it the ideal place for summer relaxation. Since it opened in 1967, Baxter’s has attracted celebrities, including the Kennedy’s who became regular visitors.

4. Brax Landing
Brax Landing offers stunning views over Saquatucket Harbor and serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Fried seafood is served here as well as burgers and sandwiches. A children’s menu is available so that the whole family can enjoy. Get a lobster roll or another local favorite. Sunday brunch includes dishes like Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce and desserts such as strawberry shortcake.

5. Chart Room
The Chart Room Restaurant opened in 1966 and was originally a barge and is now converted into a restaurant. The Chart Room serves lunch and dinner and offers seafood, steak and sandwiches. There is indoor seating and outdoor seating on the covered porch where you can enjoy the sunset over the water. There is an open piano bar and typically nightly entertainment in the form of live music.

6. Mattakeese Wharf Waterfront Restaurant
Directly on the harbor front, Mattakeese Wharf invites you to experience spectacular views of Barnstable’s seaport while you dine in comfort. Choose Mattakeese Wharf for lunch, dinner or a leisurely Sunday brunch. Sip cocktails and watch from the Mattakeese Wharf indoor deck as the sun sets and the harbor settles into its evening hum. Feast on steamers and lobster, or try their pasta, steaks, and other seasonal seafood. Catch all the Sox games at the bar. And while you’re there, order a slider with homemade potato chips baked with melted bleu cheese off their bar menu.

7. Tugboats
Overlooking all of Hyannis Harbor, Tugboats an award winning waterfront restaurant that serves local seafood and is acclaimed for quality and dining at affordable prices. Tugboats has two large bars along with three dining areas and heated canopied decks for when it is cool out. Tugboats serves lunch and dinner and is a fantastic place to go enjoyed good seafood with friends and family.

8. The Waterfront at Lighthouse Inn
Oceanfront dining in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring panoramic ocean views and an oceanfront deck for dining, The Waterfront Restaurant at the Lighthouse Inn is a great spot for friends and family to get together. Overlooking Nantucket Sound, the Waterfront Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mouthwatering dishes include surf and turf, pasta, sandwiches and more!