It’s an odd thing, but sometimes a vacation can be very stressful. Probably the biggest reason for existential angst is simply not knowing where to go, where to eat, what to eat, and the best time to eat it. One suggestion, forget about all that for just one night and take time out for the quiet cocktail. A place where the music and mayhem do not prohibit conversation, but, in point of fact, encourage it. Cape May has some great places to kick up your heels and some equally great places to cross your legs, sit back and enjoy the moment. In many instances, the place for the quiet cocktail and a great place to eat, converge in one, making the decisions all that much easier.
Martini Beach
Say, for example, Martini Beach at 429 Beach Avenue. If you get there just before the dinner crowd, you can sit at the bar, have a view of the beach, order from a menu filled with wonderful martinis and have a nice chat. The bar is intimate enough that, you can strike up a conversation with the other people at the bar, if you’re both feeling friendly, or stay focused on your drinking companion. The plus is they have a fabulous tapas menu, giving you the luxury of satisfying both your need to relax and your need to eat something light and delectable.
Pier House
Also on Beach Avenue, but at a quieter east end of town, near Poverty Beach, is Pier House at La Mer Beachfront Inn. Great view. Small bar. Friendly bartenders. Again, they have a great starters menu, so you can have a drink, some conversation and something to eat without stressing about reservations or the granddaddy of decisions: What entrée should I order? You might want to watch you timing on this because the bar really is small and if you come at the height of the dinner hour – say 7-9 – you might find yourself right back in the frying pan, defeating the purpose of seeking the quiet cocktail.
Probably the best kept secret in town is the Café Promenade on Beach Avenue at the Montreal Hotel. It has a nice long bar, large enough to accommodate those waiting for a table and pleasant enough to attract locals hiding out from the maddening crowds and if you swivel your barstool around, you can see the beach. Or how ‘bout this, like Pier House, the Promenade is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can go to the beach and then pop in for a cocktail before you go back to you hotel room. Take a nap and wake up refreshed and ready for dining and dancing. It’s all about the pacing.
Aleathea’s
Another little-known secret and a great hideaway bar is Aleathea’s, located at the Inn of Cape May on Ocean Street. Aleathea’s bar, looking over the veranda, is truly old Cape May. The hotel, formerly known as The Colonial, is 110 years old. And yes, you can see the ocean from the bar, but you can also listen to the piano playing of Doug Williams. This enters into a whole ‘nother realm of relaxation. The view, the company, the atmosphere and the music. Plus, if you get hungry, you can order at the bar but you’re also in a position to see about a table with an oceanfront view for dinner either that night or another night. See? The quiet cocktail takes some of the hassle out of the vacationer’s quest for the ultimate dining experience which sometimes ranks right up there with the quest for the Holy Grail. And the piano bar is just so classic, especially at the shore. It takes one back to Casablanca and Rick’s Café Americain or New York, Bobby Short and the Café Carlyle.
Merion Inn
And if that’s your taste – you must, must have cocktail at the Merion Inn on Decatur Street. The Merion Inn is a Cape May tradition, dining wise, but we strongly recommend Tuesday night around 9 p.m. for drinks. This is when acclaimed jazz pianist George Mesterhazy, who has accompanied jazz vocalists Rebecca Parris, Melanie Rice and the late Shirley Horn, jams with a combo comprised of visiting musicians. George plays nightly unless he has a gig in New York but there’s always someone good at the keys. However, unless you have dinner reservations, stay clear of the Merion Inn on Saturday nights because the intimate setting of the piano room/bar can get a wee bit claustrophobic when the dining room is kicking.
Ebbitt Room
Another piano-man must is Steve LaManna who plays nightly at The Ebbitt Room located on Jackson Street at the Virginia Hotel. Enjoy an aperitif or after-dinner drinks in their fireplace lounge. Talk about relaxing. Talk about elegant. While you’re there, don’t waste the moment – take a peek at this five-star restaurant’s menu. Another accomplished pianist, Steve plays all the old tunes with a smooth touch. You’ll not be disappointed.
Brown Room
The Brown Room, located in historic Congress Hall is très élégante and a wonderful place to have a quiet afternoon cocktail. Dinnertime gets a little hectic, as patrons wile their time away waiting to be seated in The Blue Pig Tavern but it would be worth the trip even then. Soft, comfy chairs, a fireplace, a small intimate bar, steps away from the beach and a jazz combo on Friday and Saturday evenings. On Tuesday evenings, they have ballroom dancing in, of all things, the Congress Hall Ballroom adjacent to the Brown Room.
The Pilot House on Decatur is one of the friendliest places to get away for a cocktail and some conversation. A favorite of locals, it has a happy hour every weekday from 4-6 p.m., but it is a particularly nice to place to come for a mid-afternoon or after-dinner kind of drink. Low key, no fuss – come as you are (well, make sure you have shirt and shoes on but other than that…). The bartenders are particularly friendly and Debbie Bové makes a fabulous Pomatini – as in pomegranate, as in martini.
Elaine’s Dinner Theater
Now for a place where no one will ever think of finding you – try Elaine’s Dinner Theater on Lafayette. That didn’t quite come out the way it should have. Because Elaine’s is a dinner theater and themed restaurant, most passers-by wouldn’t think about just stopping in for a quiet cocktail. Now, that’s where they make their mistake. Because of all those reasons, it’s the perfect place to go. Just make sure you time it so that the show has already started. No pre-dinner crowds please. That would defeat the purpose. This is the best getaway ever and a lovely bar with one of the nicest bartenders around at the helm.
Three more suggestions and then, we’ll send you on your way. The Mad Batter on Jackson Street. A funky bar, great place to strike up a conversation – locals and tourists tend to stop by – and a place devoted both to the art of food and to art. There’s always a local artist being featured either in the main dining room or the Gallery Room. There’s always a creative cocktail on the board.
Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay Restaurant on Lafayette, across from the Acme Grocery Store, has one the most beautiful bars around. It is separated from the dining room, something I think both diners and drinkers can appreciate. Food can be served at the bar and it’s just the perfect little getaway.
King Edward Bar
Last, but certainly not least, is the King Edward Bar (locals refer to it as the King Eddy). The King Eddy is located in the Chalfonte Hotel at Howard Street. This is also old Cape May. The Chalfonte is 130 years old this year. The King Eddy is truly a quaint room where locals, tourists, and devotees of the hotel tend to gather and swap Chalfonte moments. Many stop in either on their way to or from the cabaret show in the adjoining Henry Sawyer Room and it’s a nice respite from the hectic world along the beachfront.
There you have it. The quiet cocktail gives you a sneak peek of the some of the finest restaurants, some of the finest examples of architecture, and some of the finest bartenders in Cape May. More importantly, it gives you and your companion an escape from the hustle and bustle of vacation torments. Cheers.
