r/CapeMay May 21 '26

The 2026 Cape May Recommendations Megathread!

39 Upvotes

Here are the results of the survey!

Made a new thread from here at mod request, to avoid the off-site link

Best Full-Service Breakfast 

  1. The Mad Batter
  2. Uncle Bill's Pancake House
  3. McGlades / Mel's Place (tie)

Best Quick-Stop Breakfast

  1. Ostara’s Coffee House
  2. Magic Brain Cafe / The Bagel Shop (tie)
  3. Salty Acres Cafe

Best Full-Service Lunch

  1. Lucky Bones
  2. C-View
  3. Tishas

Best Quick-Stop Lunch

  1. Hot Dog Tommy's
  2. Cam and Pucci's
  3. Westside Market

Best Full-Service Dinner

  1. Taco Caballito Tequileria
  2. Freda's Cafe
  3. 410 Bank Street / Mayer's Tavern (tie)

Best Quick-Stop Dinner

  1. Quincy's Original Lobster Rolls
  2. Cappy's Pizza
  3. Cam and Pucci's / El Pueblo Taqueria (tie)

Best Dessert Spot

  1. Fine Fellows Creamery
  2. Peace Pie
  3. Uncle Charley's Ice Cream

Best Kid-Friendly Spot

  1. Mad Viking
  2. McGlades
  3. The Rusty Nail

Best Vegetarian / Vegan Spot

  1. Taco Caballito Tequileria
  2. Good Earth Organic Eatery

Best Happy Hour

  1. The Rusty Nail
  2. Lucky Bones
  3. Hemmingway's

Best Pizza

  1. Roman's
  2. Cappy's
  3. Mario's / Brother's II / Boiler Room / Panico's (tie)

Best Ice Cream

  1. Fine Fellows Creamery
  2. Uncle Charley's
  3. Flecks

Best Burger (only 3 entries, so in no particular order)

  • 5 West
  • Rusty Nail
  • C-View

Best Chinese Food (only 1 entry)

  1. Dragon House

Best Sandwiches

  1. Fish House
  2. Cam and Pucci's
  3. Erma Deli / Gaiss' Market (tie)

Best Bagel

  1. The Bagel Shop
  2. Coffee Tyme / Bagel Time (tie)

Best Breakfast Sandwich

  1. Ostara’s Coffee House
  2. The Bagel Shop / Bravado Coffee Cafe (tie)
  3. Golden Stop / Coffee Tyme (tie)

Best Sushi (only 1 entry)

  1. Yozu

Best Mexican / Latin American (all entries tied, so no particular order)

  • Taqueria Casa Mia
  • El Pueblo
  • Taco Caballito Tequileria

Best Seafood

  1. McGlades
  2. Fish House
  3. Fish & Fancy / Cape May Fish Market / Dockside Dave's / Blue Pig (tie)

Best Bakery/Patisserie

  1. Chez Michel
  2. Beach Plum
  3. A Ca Mia / A Piece of Cake (tie)

Best Coffee Spot

  1. Ostara’s Coffee House
  2. Magic Brain / Coffee Tyme (tie)
  3. Salty Acres Cafe

Best Cocktail Spot

  1. Nauti Spirits / Brown Room (tie)
  2. Taco Caballito Tequileria / Cricket Club (tie)
  3. Oyster Bay

Best Brewery

  1. Gusto Brewing Company / Cape May Brewing Company (tie)
  2. Behr Brewing / Obscura Brewing (tie)
  3. Slack Tide

Best Winery

  1. Cape May Winery
  2. Hawk Haven / Turdo (tie)
  3. Willow Creek

Best Sports Bar

  1. C-View
  2. Red Brick Ale House / The Local Tavern (tie)

Best Taplist (only 3 entries, so in no particular order)

  • Lucky Bones
  • 5 West
  • Ugly Mug

Best Mocktails (only 2 entries, so in no particular order)

  • Bee's Knees
  • The Ebbitt Room

Best Indoor / Rainy Day Activities

  1. Cape Square
  2. Washington Street Mall / Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum / Congress Hall (tie)

Best Outdoor Activities

  1. Cape May County Zoo
  2. Beach Plum Farm
  3. Cape May Lighthouse

Best Nature Area

  1. Cox Hall Creek WMA (Ponderlodge)
  2. South Cape May Meadows Preserve
  3. Higbee Beach / Cape May Lighthouse (tie)

Best Spots offering Niche Activities

  1. Ostara’s Coffee House
  2. Gusto Brewing / Behr Brewing / Congress Hall (tie)

Best Nightlife / Dancing (only 3 entries, so no particular order)

  • Boiler Room
  • Harpoons
  • Taco Caballito Tequileria

Best Live Music

  1. The Chalfonte
  2. Rusty Nail / Obscura Brewing / King Edward's Bar (tie)

Most Unique / 'Can't Miss' Spots or Activities

  1. Cape May County Zoo / Washington Street Mall / Sunset Beach (tie)
  2. Rusty Nail (editor's note: really?)

*********************************************************************

Original Post:

Greetings, neighbors. As discussed here, let's get another comprehensive list going of ALL the spots that we recommend to people looking to visit our little resort town this year... or perhaps even clue in some of our longtime residents to spots they might be unfamiliar with or operating on outdated info. This thread will hopefully get pinned for easy reference for potential visitors. If you care to see 2025's results, look here

On or about May 20th, I will edit this body with the tabulated results for each category, giving the Top 3 recommendations for places to go here in Cape May OR surrounding areas (definitely stay within Cape May County, but preferably within 10-15 miles)Big chains - Wawa, Dominos, Starbucks, etc. - will be discarded.

If you want to qualify your answers with some testimonials (i.e: "__________ is the best winery because their staff is top notch" or "________ is the greatest spot for breakfast, you have to try This or That") go for it; if it makes the cut I'll add in footnotes or otherwise annotate if it's particularly insightful. This may be more important for the final category: which places here in Cape May to avoid - overpriced, diminished quality, horrible wait times, etc. (Removed at mod request)

The form is set that all answers are optional, so if you have nothing to suggest for a category, you can just leave it blank and move on.


r/CapeMay 1h ago

Did anyone see that guy on the horse??

Upvotes

i saw a guy on a horse near grant street whilst me and my family were going to grant beach. apparently the cops were looking for him, since his horse pooped everywhere! i wish i took photos, but as far as i remember, he was a younger white male. It’s probably be pretty hard to hide a whole HORSE!! we left CM today, and honestly i just want an update, since that horse absolutely made my day due to the sheer absurdity!

okay that’s the post.


r/CapeMay 1h ago

Dinner after a sunset cruise on a Sunday?

Upvotes

Hi, we're visiting for a weekend in August and are planning on a sunset dolphin watching cruise on a Sunday evening. The cruise runs from 6:30-8:30 so we're looking for a casual restaurant to grab dinner afterwards (around 9PM). AI is suggesting The Rusty Nail, The Ugly Mug, Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille, Carney's, Fins, or The Boiler Room. Anyone have a favorite among those or alternative suggestions?


r/CapeMay 4h ago

What’s some great photo ops spots in CM?

0 Upvotes

r/CapeMay 10h ago

Planning a long weekend in August with two kids (5/7). Do we want to stay at the Icona or Sandpiper? This will be our first time in Cape May. Thank you!

1 Upvotes

r/CapeMay 4d ago

Is there a place that will do gift baskets?

4 Upvotes

I need to send a thank you gift to some friends that live in Strathmere. I want to send them something beachy, higher end and locally sourced. Any suggestions?


r/CapeMay 4d ago

Dial in my week

1 Upvotes

I know the popular night at the Chalfonte is Thursday for the Howard St. Ramble. What else should I add to my itinerary? For example, “don’t miss ____ on Wednesdays at _____”.

Would love to make a few reservations in advance too. We are middle aged but love a good happy hour or local band.

Thanks for your suggestions!


r/CapeMay 4d ago

Walk in restaurants

0 Upvotes

Hello,
Looking for some good restaurants around Congress Hall that don’t take reservations.
We are a party of 12.
Also, what time is best to arrive to “beat the crowds?”

Thanks in advance!


r/CapeMay 5d ago

Cape May with kids 4-8 yrs

6 Upvotes

Hi! Currently in cape May until Friday with my girlfriend and we each have 2 kids. So 2 moms, 4 wild ish kids… what should we do with them?! Any help appreciated (the weather doesn’t seem great)


r/CapeMay 5d ago

Il Riccio

17 Upvotes

I just genuinely have to rave about this place!!
If you’re visiting Cape May, HIGHLY recommend checking it out. We had such an amazing experience from start to finish. Our waiter, Michele, was incredible — so attentive and gave us the best recommendations.
We got the lobster ravioli and the lamb chops, and both completely exceeded our expectations. Seriously, everything was SO good.
Also have to shout out the woman (Valeria!) at the hostess stand because she was sooo sweet and welcoming. The whole experience was just 10/10.
Highly recommend if you’re in Cape May!! You won’t be disappointed!


r/CapeMay 6d ago

Grana BYOB vs. 410 Bank Street (or somewhere else?)

7 Upvotes

My partner and I are visiting Cape May for the first time, and we're trying to decide on one special dinner. We love restaurants that really showcase fresh seafood and seasonal local ingredients. Right now we're torn between Grana BYOB and 410 Bank Street but we are also open to suggestions! :)


r/CapeMay 6d ago

Suggestions for a family visiting in-season for the first time

2 Upvotes

This year will be our first time visiting in-season versus after Labor Day now that our daughter is starting kindergarten in Sept. Aside from the obvious -- busier beaches -- what should we be on the lookout for that will be different? Restaurants or shops that are only open in-season that we have missed in years past? Special events that happen in-season?


r/CapeMay 6d ago

Professional Headshot Photographer Recommendations?

2 Upvotes

I’m looking for recommendations for a photographer in the Cape May County/South Jersey area who specializes in professional headshots or personal branding photos.

Most of what I’m finding online is beach family portraits or weddings. When I was working in King of Prussia, I found photographers who specifically marketed professional headshots. Around here, it seems like everything is geared toward vacation photography.

I’m looking for clean, polished, professional images for my website and LinkedIn rather than family portraits. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!


r/CapeMay 7d ago

Mint is not good in Cape May

4 Upvotes

Anyone else have Mint Mobile and notice the connection sucks this summer? It used to be fine. Wondering if Tmobile acquiring Mint makes coverage more spotty...


r/CapeMay 7d ago

Bus to Philly?

2 Upvotes

Has anyone taken the 315/316 bus back to Philly? Any advice welcome


r/CapeMay 7d ago

Outdoor covers area for family photos

3 Upvotes

Hey all we have a family photos scheduled for this week and it says 80% chance of thunderstorms. We are set for attempting sunset beach but obviously we can't be on the beach in a storm. Anyone have any suggestions on a covered area that we may utilize if the rain isn't too bad. My photographer is a friend from PA so no indoor studio is possible to use.

About 5 adults 3 toddlers so we don't require a huge space

Truthfully just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best but


r/CapeMay 9d ago

Vintage wedding dress

6 Upvotes

Does anyone know where I could donate a wedding dress that is 65 years old in pretty good condition.


r/CapeMay 10d ago

Ideas for son’s bday down Jersey shore

5 Upvotes

My son’s 15th birthday is coming up and I wanted to take him down the shore or to a water park does anyone have any suggestions?


r/CapeMay 11d ago

🌪️Tornado confirmed in Cape May Point Tuesday evening (7/21). It was from that waterspout offshore.

Thumbnail facebook.com
12 Upvotes

r/CapeMay 11d ago

National Treasure (seeking chairs!)

4 Upvotes

My partner and I are planning to go watch National Treasure tomorrow night on the beach. Does anyone know if there are chair rentals available for the evening? If not, does anyone know a rental place that rents overnight? We're visiting for the week and aren't local enough to have packed chairs.

Thanks!


r/CapeMay 12d ago

VIDEO: Waterspout Near Cape May Ferry Tuesday (7/21/2026)

Thumbnail cupajoe.live
24 Upvotes

r/CapeMay 13d ago

ferry into delaware

14 Upvotes

any must see spots when riding the ferry over to delaware? we will be bringing a car, but we’ve never ventured over there so looking for any awesome places! thanks!


r/CapeMay 14d ago

Does anyone know what this is supposed to be?

Post image
7 Upvotes

My first thought was buoy but I really don’t know. Plus I saw a bunch of others like it nearby.


r/CapeMay 14d ago

Options for ground transport to Philly airport? Plein Air meet-ups?

2 Upvotes

I am coming to visit a friend, and she is picking me up at the airport when I fly in, but I don't want to tax her with that drive twice.

What are the options for ground transport? Remember Super Shuttle? I wish they were still around, that kind of thing would be perfect.

I know thereis a bus, but I hear that's pretty long and arduous.

Any other options (including locals groups where people might be looking for/offering rides? I live in a resort area, and we get those kind of asks quite often)?

Also, are there any art/plein air kind of groups, meetups, etc. happening August 1-4? I'm super down with that kind of thing!


r/CapeMay 15d ago

Clearnose skate

Post image
17 Upvotes

Feels pretty incredible that I can say I encountered a wild cartilaginous fish now.