Updated September 24, 2021
It’s that time of year again when we celebrate what you consider to be the Best in Cape May, from fish tacos to B&Bs. For the first time since 2015, we have a new winner for Best Takeout, unseating long-time winner The Lobster House! We also have first-time winners and runners-up in several other categories, including some new businesses we hope you’ll try.
A bit about the process: Winners are determined through a reader survey we hosted in August. They were nominated by people who know and love the area, and hand checked by our staff. In many cases, winners take a category by a single vote, so the counting process takes us a few days in order to guarantee accuracy.
Thank you to everyone who shared their opinions with us! Here are your winners and runners-up for the 2021 Best of Cape May.
Shopping
What’s the best place to get…
Women’s Clothing: Cotton Company
Runner up: Cash & Clive
Men’s Clothing: Galvanic
Runner up: Cotton Company
Children’s Clothing: It’s a tie between Arden’s Kids and Happy Baby
Runner up: Tommy’s Folly
T-shirts and Sweatshirts: It’s a Breeze
Runner up: It’s a tie between Great White Shark and The Flying Fish Studio
Shoes: Casales
Runner up: Galvanic
Accessories: Red Oak Trading
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Jewelry: Henry’s
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Surf & Swimwear: South End Surf Shop
Runner up: Pete Smith’s Surf Shop
Handbags & Totes: Red Oak Trading
Runner up: Queen May
Candy & Fudge: The Original Fudge Kitchen
Runner up: Fralinger’s
Gifts: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Home Decor: Cape May Wicker
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Art: SOMA Gallery
Runner up: Three-way tie between Cape May Snaps, Cape May Art Gallery, and Gallery D’May
Antiques: West End Garage
Runner up: Out of the Past Antiques
Gourmet / Specialty Food: Cape May Peanut Butter Co.
Runner up: Cape May Olive Oil Co.
Toys: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Toy Store of Cape May
Pet Accessories: Dog Days of Cape May
Runner up: The Wagging Tail
Cape May Souvenirs: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Bath & Body: Bath Time
Runner up: Shore Soaps
Liquor or Wine: Collier’s
Runner up: Sunset Liquors
Dining
Who has the best…
Coffee: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Magic Brain
Cold/Frozen Drinks: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Harry’s Bar and Grill
Pancakes: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Runner up: Mad Batter
Brunch: Mad Batter
Runner up: Blue Pig Tavern
Breakfast Sandwich: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Bagel Time Cafe
Hot Dog: Hot Dog Tommy’s
Runner up: Dawgtown Dogs
Wings: C-View
Runner up: Tie between Ugly Mug and Lucky Bones
Burger: It’s a tie between Exit Zero Filling Station and the Ugly Mug
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Fish/Shrimp Tacos: Taco Caballito
Runner up: Key West Tacos
Sandwich, wrap, or hoagie: West Side Market
Runner up: Wawa
Pizza: Mario’s
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Appetizers: Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Seafood: The Lobster House
Runner up: Oyster Bay
Scallops: The Lobster House
Runner up: Mayer’s Tavern
Crabcakes: The Lobster House
Runner up: Freda’s Cafe
Oysters on the half shell: The Lobster House
Runner up: Oyster Bay
Mussels: The Lobster House
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Mexican: La Dona
Runner up: El Pueblo Taqueria
Italian: Sapore Italiano
Runner up: Panico’s
Steak: The Washington Inn
Runner up: Primal
Sushi: Yozu
Runner up: Momiji
Chinese, Japanese, or Thai: Yozu
Runner up: Momiji
Vegetarian / Vegan: It’s a tie between Good Earth Organic Eatery and Bella Vida
Runner up: The Mad Batter
Fries: Lucky Bones
Runner up: Three-way tie between Harry’s Bar and Grill, Hot Dog Tommy’s, and Fried Cape May (in the Akroteria)
Salads: Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: George’s Place
Dessert: Peace Pies
Runner up: Chez Michel
Ice cream, custard, or gelato: Kohr Bros
Runner up: A tie between Peace Pies and Uncle Charley’s
Baked goods & pastries: Chez Michel
Runner up: Madison Bakery
Takeout: Homestyle to Go
Runner up: The Lobster House
Best options for kids: Rusty Nail
Runner up: Oceanview Diner
Best place to eat outside: The Lobster House
Runner up: Rusty Nail
Best view from the table: Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: The Lobster House
A restaurant worth the splurge: The Washington Inn
Runner up: Peter Shields Inn
Nightlife
Who has the best cocktails? Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: Congress Hall
What’s the best outdoor bar? Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: Rusty Nail
Where’s the best place to hear live music? Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: It’s a tie between Rusty Nail and Carney’s
Who has the best happy hour? Harry’s Bar and Grill
Runner up: The Mad Batter
Leisure
What’s the best…
Spa or massage: Cape May Day Spa
Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall
Golf course: Cape May National
Runner up: There were not enough votes to determine a runner up
Bicycle or surrey rental: Cape Island Bikes
Runner up: Shields Bike Rentals
Winery: Cape May Winery
Runner up: Willow Creek Winery
Brewery or distillery: Cape May Brew Co
Runner up: Nauti Spirits
Walking or Guided Tour: Cape May MAC
Runner up: Cape May Food Tour
Boat tour or cruise: Cape May Whale Watcher
Runner up: Tiny Cruise Line
Museum or historic site: Emlen Physick Estate
Runner up: Harriet Tubman Museum
Thrill or high-speed activity: East Coast Watersports
Runner up: Thundercat Dolphin Watch
Live performing arts: Cape May Stage
Runner up: East Lynne Theater
Food festival/event: Cape May Craft Beer and Crab Festival
Runner up: Lima Bean Festival
Holiday festival/event: West Cape May Christmas Parade
Runner up: Winter Wonderland at Congress Hall
Accommodations
Update: The Highland House, which has won our Best Guest House category from 2015-2019 (the survey didn’t run in 2020) took the category again this year, as well as Best B&B. This caused some confusion, so we got in touch with the Highland House to clarify their accommodation type. Hybrid accommodations do exist in Cape May, but the Highland House asked to be formally categorized as a B&B and turned down this year’s Best Guest House award, asking that we recognize other businesses instead. We’ve re-tallied that category.
Best B&B: The Highland House
Runner up: The Queen Victoria
Best Guest House: Antoinette’s Guest House
Runner up: 931 Beach Guest House
Best Hotel: Congress Hall
Runner up: The Sea Crest
Best Campground: Beachcomber Camping Resort
Best place to stay with pets: Highland House
Runner up: The Boarding House
Best place to stay with kids: The Beach Shack
Runner up: Montreal Beach Resort
And finally, the best month to visit…September (with July as the runner up).
Thanks again to everyone who nominated a business! If you missed voting in this year’s round, mark your calendars and check back with us next August. You can follow CapeMay.com on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
If you’re a winner or runner up and would like a printable flyer to display at your business, you can download yours from our Dropbox. We did our best to double check them, but if yours sneaked through with a mistake, just email jessica@capemay.com and we’ll fix it.
