Cape May is one of my absolute favorite spots, and one of the best beach towns in New Jersey to visit this summer 2022. All the way down at exit zero lies this quaint, family-oriented beach town with lots of restaurants/eateries, shops, and coastal vibes. Cape May is a top recommended vacation spot at the bottom of the state that is definitely worth checking out for a few days (or longer). If you are planning to visit and are looking for some yummy food to try, then keep reading to learn about 10 casual restaurants & eateries in Cape May worth checking out!
1. Aloha Smoothie Company
Address: 7 Gurney St, Cape May, NJ 08204
Aloha Smoothie Company is right off of Beach Ave. on Gurney St. They serve up fresh and tasty smoothie bowls & smoothies in the $10-$20 range depending on the size you get. They offer indoor and outdoor seating, plus a quick, casual breakfast/lunch! Be sure to check google for the current hours.
RATING
- Food: 5/5
- Atmosphere: 4.8/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
2. Playa Bowls
Address: 307 Beach Ave unit 2, Cape May, NJ 08204 (in the Akroteria)
Playa Bowls is a New Jersey classic, and I am thrilled they have one here in Cape May. Playa Bowls is always a reliable smoothie bowl spot for when you’re craving something quick and refreshing! My go-to order is the Nica Bowl with the base of the Booster Bowl. They offer a very wide selection of smoothies, smoothie bowls and juices, and bowls are in the $10-13 range.
RATING
- Food: 4.9/5
- Atmosphere: 4.7/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
3. The Mad Batter
Address: 19 Jackson St, Cape May, NJ 08204
My boyfriend and I decided to do breakfast at The Mad Batter which is located at the Carroll Villa Hotel. The food is delicious here and we enjoyed everything we ate. We ordered the Chesapeake Bay egg’s benedict with fresh lump crab, the oatmeal pancakes with blueberries and a side of real maple syrup, and an omelet. This restaurant is within a few minutes walk of Congress Hall, The Washington Street Mall, and the beach. Our waiter was friendly, although due to the crowdedness of this spot, the food may take a little longer to come. There tends to be a wait time, so I recommend factoring that in when you visit.
RATING
- Food: 4.7/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.7/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
4. Beach Plum Farm
Address: 140 Stevens St, West Cape May, NJ 08204
The Beach Plum Farm is about a 10 minute drive from Cape May beach and is one of the cutest photo spots in the area! The atmosphere and vibe of this farm is a solid 5/5 and is perfect for that rustic farm/garden aesthetic. They offer a small breakfast/lunch menu, and I recommend the egg sandwich on a brioche roll ($15). My boyfriend ordered the frittata ($15) and personally did not like this dish, but other than this, their food is usually pretty yummy. The pulled pork sandwiches looked thick and mouth-watering at the table next to us! The food here is a bit pricy, but you are given free access to explore the farm grounds including their chickens, many gardens, and market store. Even if you didn’t want to eat here, I still highly recommend coming the Beach Plum Farm at least for the environment and to get some photos!
RATING
- Food: 4.6/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5 (honestly 100/5, so pretty)
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.4/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
5. George’s Place
Address: 301 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
George’s Place now has two locations in Cape May; one on Beach Ave. and one in the Washington Street Mall. I have only dined at the Beach Ave. location, and the food is always consistent here. Everything I’ve had is delicious and this is one of my go-to casual eateries in Cape May. They service is welcoming and attentive, and the interior feels like a small scale, old-fashioned diner. They offer American and Greek fare, and are reasonably priced. Check out their full menu and hours here.
RATING
- Food: 4.8/5
- Atmosphere: 4.7/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
6. Viggiano’s on Sunset
Address: 109 Sunset Blvd, West Cape May, NJ 08204
Viggiano’s on Sunset is a cozy Italian-American restaurant that offers a wide selection of pasta and meat dishes, plus more. They offer indoor and outdoor dining, and reservations are accepted. Their prices are reasonable, especially considering it is a BYOB. They offer single portions of pastas and entrees for roughly $15-$22, or family-style portions (feeds 2-4 people) for roughly $30-$40+. We ordered the asparagus, lasagna and gnocchi with baby meatballs, and all are delicious! The staff are very inviting and give a warm welcome to guests dining at their restaurant. Viggiano’s is a great date night spot in Cape May, and you can dress up or dress casual, it’s really up to you.
RATING
- Food: 4.6/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Service/Staff: 5/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
7. Mayer’s Tavern
Address: 894 3rd Ave — Schellenger’s Landing, Cape May, NJ
Mayer’s Tavern is a local bar and restaurant serving local seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and more. They tend to have live music, and offer both indoor and outdoor dining. This restaurant is very casual, and they are most known for their fried scallops dish, amongst other seafood options. The menu is small, and the options are each prepared with a unique touch. The crab fritters are delicious, and they whip up a pretty massive kale salad. This is a nice spot if you are looking for a casual vibe with entertainment, local seafood, and drinks.
RATING
- Food: 4.5/5
- Atmosphere: 4.6/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.6/5
8. Taco Caballito
Address: 429 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
Taco Caballito is a Mexican restaurant and tequileria with a beautiful bar and ambience. This ocean-front restaurant is relatively new to Cape May. They opened in 2019, taking over the building that used to be home to Cabanas Beach Bar. Their menu is large and offers starters such as guacamole, pico de gallo, queso, nachos etc… Entrees include burritos, burrito bowls ($16-$19), tacos ($10-$20), and more. The service is very attentive and friendly. Although the chicken tinga burrito/burrito bowl we ordered did not stand out as anything extraordinary, it still tasted good. I think this spot is worth checking out, and is a hip restaurant/bar with an aesthetic interior and casual bites.
RATING
- Food: 4.3/5
- Atmosphere: 4.6/5
- Service/Staff: 4.8/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5
9. Fine Fellows Creamery
Address: 313 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
I can’t write a blog post about Cape May eateries without including a few dessert spots! Cape May has many chain ice cream shops like Kohr Bros, Dairy Queen, and Ben & Jerry’s, but a local spot is always the best! Fine Fellows is a town favorite and serves up delicious scoops of Bassett’s ice cream. The interior is fun and colorful, and the staff are always nice. Like most seasonal Jersey Shore ice cream shops, the prices are a little high, but it’s so worth it for a delicious treat! They offer classic cups/cones, decadent sundaes, shakes, and lots of extra toppings.
RATING
- Ice Cream: 4.8/5
- Atmosphere: 4.7/5
- Staff: 4.7/5
- Price: 4.5/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
10. Cape May Peanut Butter Co.
Address: 516 Carpenters Ln, Cape May, NJ 08204
I can’t go to Cape May without stopping at the Cape May Peanut Butter Co. in the Washington Street Mall. It’s not a sit down eatery by any means, but more of a retail shop/bakery. If you love peanut butter, then this is the perfect shop for you! They sell many varieties of freshly made peanut butter and peanut buttery treats. You can buy jars of traditional and flavored peanut butter or powdered peanut butter, bags of candies, jellies and more. I also recommend grabbing a few of their handmade cookies/treats at the bakery counter before heading out. Their large peanut butter cookie with a peanut butter cup in the center is my fav! The people working here are always so nice too!
RATING
- Peanut Butter & Bakery Treats: 5/5
- Staff: 4.7/5
- Price: 4.8/5
OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
