Cape May Insider Tips

Looking for ideas about what else to do while you’re in Cape May? Curious Cape May can help!

We’ve compiled a list of the other interesting activities that we mentioned during the bike tour. And we’ve included some of our all-time favorite things to do around town. Whether you are visiting for a day or a week, we hope that this will help ensure that you enjoy your stay!

Insider Tips for Your Cape May Stay

Want to feel like a local? Then check out some of these insider tips during your visit. These are places we love and things we do when we’re not out biking around town.

• Best Bike Rides

  Want more time on the bike? Check out the Self-Guided Bike Tour booklet from the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts. Pick up your keepsake copy at the kiosk downtown and then treat yourself to some of Cape May’s Victorian architecture. If you’ve had enough biking for one trip, you can also use the map to explore Cape May on foot.

  Or if you’re looking for a longer ride, try biking the Cold Spring Bike Path – it goes from Cold Spring Village all the way to the Cape May Zoo!

  If you need to rent a bike for these adventures, check out our Partners page to see a list of bike rental companies in town.

• Best Place to Watch the Sunrise

  If you are an early riser, grab a cup of coffee and your favorite beach chair, and head to the ocean to watch the sun ascend into the sky. There’s something special about having your feet in the sand to start your day. Just pick a spot along the beach and be sure to bring your phone or camera to capture the moment. Then share it on social media to make all your friends jealous. #capemaysunrise

• Best Place for Breakfast/Brunch

  If you’re not staying in one of our award-winning bed and breakfasts you’ll want to check out The Red Store in Cape May Point for breakfast or brunch. Housed in an old general store not far from the lighthouse, they offer a simple, flavorful, and fresh menu – try to eat on the porch if you can and enjoy the peacefulness of the neighborhood.

• Best Place for a Cocktail in Town

  Put The King Eddie Bar (located inside the Chalfonte Hotel) on your must visit list. This tiny watering hole is great for grabbing a drink and enjoying it out on the sweeping porch where you can feel the seaside breeze all summer. You can also wander out back to check out their “Secret Garden”. They have live music most nights in the summer and if you’re in town on Thursday night you can enjoy a local favorite – they host the “Howard Street Ramble” which features an eclectic mix of local musicians from 9 pm to midnight.

• Best Place for a Craft Cocktail

  Nauti Spirits Distillery is a relative newcomer to the Cape May scene but it is quickly becoming the place to enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail. Using their own award-winning vodka, rum, and gin – all made from sweet potatoes grown on the adjacent farm – Nauti Spirits makes fresh and innovative drinks that pair nicely with the vibe of their indoor or outdoor space. Add in great acoustic music most nights in the summer and this place belongs on your must-do list.

• Best Jazz Night

  Cape May has a vibrant music scene all year round. But if you enjoy live jazz music be sure to stop by The Merion Inn on Tuesday nights in the summer. Their jazz trio that starts at 8:30 pm is legendary – and so are their martinis! And don’t forget to order their famous potato cup.

• Best Scallops

  Cape May is the culinary jewel of the Jersey Shore and delicious seafood dishes are on every almost menu. It’s also one of the largest scallop ports on the east coast. So if you’re looking to enjoy super fresh scallops during your visit, check out Mayer’s Tavern – it’s an old fisherman’s bar that reopened this spring. In addition to their mouth-watering scallops, the burger is one of the best on the island.

• Best Pizza in Town

  Congress Hall is best known for all of the presidents that have stayed there, but its modern-day treasure is the brick oven pizza you will find down in the Boiler Room. Open nightly, they have some creative toppings to go along with their farm fresh salads. If you’re extra hungry, try their meatball appetizer and don’t let the wait staff take the sauce when you’re done – keep it to dip your pizza crust! And be sure to check out the old Christian Admiral cast iron railings on your way down the stairs.

• Best Happy Hour

  There are some great places to grab a cold beverage on a hot summer day in Cape May, but two local favorites stand out from the rest for happy-hour. Check out The Washington Inn for a variety of drink and tapas specials at the bar Sunday through Friday. Or try The Mad Batter for some local “flavor” along with half-priced drinks from 3 pm to 6 pm daily. Or, better yet, try them both!

• Best Live Music Venue

  There’s something about being outside in the ocean air and listing to great music. Throw in an amazing rooftop view of the waves and the sand and you’ve discovered the secret to Harry’s Bar in Cape May. With their own happy hour from 4 pm to 6 pm and live music daily during the season, Harry’s is a must-see destination during your stay.

• Best Shopping Venue

  Cape May offers discerning shop-a-holics a lot of unique and curious stores right in the Washington Street Mall area downtown. But if you’re looking for something fun and eclectic slightly off the beaten path, check out the West End Garage in West Cape May. With more than 50 mini stores under one roof (of what was once a gas station), you can window shop to your heart’s content.

• Best Place to Watch the Sunset

  Cape May sunsets are magical wherever you can see them, but they are especially stunning from two locations – head to the Cove Beach or the appropriately named Sunset Beach. Both have sunset flag ceremonies during the summer and both offer incredible views of the sun dipping into the ocean. If you go to Sunset Beach, get there early to look for your very own Cape May diamonds on the beach. And if you don’t find any, stop into the gift shop and head to the jewelry counter in the back where you can purchase one to take home.

More Info

If you need additional suggestions, visit the Cape May Welcome Center. They are located at 609 Lafayette Street, and they are happy to make recommendations. Or check out the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities – they are a non-profit organization that promotes the restoration, interpretation and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors.