The Best of Cape May is CapeMay.com’s annual survey, when we ask you to tell us what businesses you think deserve the title “Best of Cape May.” It took us over two days to crawl through the responses, but we have determined a winner and runner-up for every category in this year’s Best of Cape May. Public voting was open from August 1-25 and we broke previous voting records with over 2,200 votes across 81 categories. Many names on this list are ones you’ve seen before, but we are excited to welcome the newcomers. Here are your winners of this year’s Best of Cape May.
The Best of Cape May: Shopping
Women’s Clothing Pink by Victorious
Runner Up: Cotton Co.
Men’s Clothing Galvanic
Runner Up: Cotton Co.
Children’s Clothing Happy Baby
Runner Up: Lynn Arden’s
Shoes Casales
Runner Up: Pink by Victorious
Accessories Victorious
Runner Up: Whale’s Tale
Jewelry Henry’s
Runner Up: Whale’s Tale
Swim Wear Pete Smith’s Surf Shop
Runner Up: South End Surf Shop
Handbags and Totes Victorious
Runner Up: Red Oak Trading Co.
Candy Original Fudge Kitchen
Runner Up: Fralinger’s
Gifts Whale’s Tale
Runner Up: West End Garage
Home Decor West End Garage
Runner Up: Cape May Wicker
Art gallery or art store SOMA Gallery
Runner Up: Washington Street Gallery
Furniture Cape May Wicker
Runner Up: West End Garage
Antiques West End Garage
Runner Up: Antique Doorknob
Gourmet / Specialty Food Cape May Peanut Butter Co.
Runner Up: Love the Cook
Surfing gear South End Surf Shop
Runner Up: Pete Smith’s
Toys Whale’s Tale
Runner Up: Toy Shop of Cape May
Dog accessories Dog Days of Cape May
Runner Up: Wagging Tail
Cape May souvenirs Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Runner Up: Whale’s Tale
Bath and Body Bath Time
Runner Up: A Place on Earth
Liquor or Wine Collier’s
Runner Up: Sunset Liquors
The Best of Cape May: Dining
Coffee Coffee Tyme
Runner Up: Magic Brain
Tea Coffee Tyme
Runner Up: Magic Brain
Smoothies Aloha Smoothie Co
Runner Up: Chill
Pancakes Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Runner Up: Mad Batter
Brunch Mad Batter
Runner Up: George’s Place
Hot Dog Hot Dog Tommy’s
Runner Up: Captain Kahuna
Wings C-View Inn
Runner Up: Mad Batter
Burger The Ugly Mug
Runner Up: Lucky Bones
Fish Taco Key West Tacos
Runner Up: The Rusty Nail
Sandwich or hoagie Westside Market
Runner Up: Cappy’s
Pizza TIE! Mario’s and Louie’s
Runner Up: TIE! Cappy’s and Lucky Bones
Outdoor Dining Lobster House
Runner Up: Rusty Nail
Seafood Lobster House
Runner Up: Oyster Bay
Mexican / Tex Mex La Dona
Runner Up: Gecko’s
Italian Sapore Italiano
Runner Up: Panico’s
Steak Washington Inn
Runner Up: Oyster Bay
Crabcakes Lobster House
Runner Up: Freda’s
Ice cream / custard / gelato Kohr Bros.
Runner Up: Uncle Charley’s
Vegetarian Good Earth Organic Eatery
Runner Up: Bella Vida
Fries Lucky Bones
Runner Up: Mad Batter, Curley’s (Wildwood)
Dessert Washington Inn
Runner Up: The Mad Batter
Baked Goods & Pastries Little Store
Runner Up: Madison’s Bakery
Takeout Lobster House
Runner Up: Lucky Bones
Children’s Menu Rusty Nail
Runner Up: Oceanview Diner
Best Place for a Date Washington Inn
Runner Up: Peter Shields Inn
A restaurant worth the splurge Washington Inn
Runner Up: Peter Shields Inn
Best bar for a cocktail The Brown Room
Runner Up: The Mad Batter
Best bar for craft beer The Mad Batter
Runner Up: Ugly Mug
Best venue for live music Mad Batter
Runner Up: Rusty Nail
Best outdoor bar Rusty Nail
Runner Up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
Best happy hour Mad Batter
Runner Up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
Best mocktails Mad Batter
Runner Up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
The Best of Cape May: Leisure
Spa or Massage Cape May Day Spa
Runner Up: Sea Spa
Golf course Cape May National Golf Club
Runner Up: Avalon Golf
Miniature golf TIE! Stockton Mini Golf and Ocean Putt
Runner Up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Free or low-cost activity Cape May County Park & Zoo
Runner Up: Cape May beaches
Winery tasting/tours Cape May Winery
Runner Up: Willow Creek Winery
Brewery or distillery tours/tasting Cape May Brewing Co.
Runner Up: Nauti Spirits Distillery
Guided or walking tour Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities
Runner Up: Cape May Food Tours
Self-guided tour The Cape May Lighthouse
Runner Up: Beach Plum Farm
Cruise or boat tour Cape May Whale Watcher
Runner Up: Cape May-Lewes Ferry
Bicycle and surrey rental Shields Bicycle Rental
Runner Up: Village Bicycle
Kid-friendly activity Cape May County Park & Zoo
Runner Up: The Cape May Lighthouse
Museum The Emlen Physick Estate
Runner Up: Naval Air Station Wildwood
Thrill/adrenaline rush East Coast Parasail
Runner Up: Morey’s Piers
Honorable mention: “Finding parking” received 3 votes!
Live performing arts Cape May Stage
Runner Up: Convention Hall Summer Concert Series
Food festival/event Cape May Crab & Craft Beer Festival
Runner Up: West Cape May Lima Bean Festival
Holiday festival/event West Cape May Christmas Parade
Runner Up: Congress Hall Winter Wonderland
The Best of Cape May: Accommodations
B&B The Queen Victoria
Runner Up: The Carroll Villa
Guest House Highland House
Runner Up: Antoinette’s
Hotel Congress Hall
Runner Up: Victorian Motel
Campground Beachcomber
Runner Up: Holly Shores
Best accommodation for couples The Queen Victoria
Runner Up: TIE! Congress Hall and The Carroll Villa
Best place to stay with pets Highland House
Runner Up: TIE! Beach Shack and the Marquis de Lafayette
Best place to stay with kids Victorian Motel
Runner Up: Congress Hall
Best place for girls’ getaway The Queen Victoria
Runner Up: Congress Hall
Best swimming pool Congress Hall
Runner Up: Victorian Motel
Best view Congress Hall
Runner Up: La Mer
Best on-site amenities The Queen Victoria
Runner Up: Congress Hall
Most accommodating staff The Queen Victoria
Runner Up: Congress Hall
That’s it for the 2017 Best of Cape May! We hope you found a few new places to try out. Thank you so much to everyone who voted in this year’s survey. If you missed this year’s voting window and your favorites didn’t make the list, please check back next August.
Results are final as published. Winners are determined by a public vote, not by Cape Publishing’s staff, and this list should not be considered endorsement.
