CapeMay.com’s Best of Cape May has been an annual hallmark of our website since 2005. It has run every year in August except in 2020, when we paused it during the pandemic. The original survey had just twenty questions, including things like the best street in town (Jackson), best service (a tie between Henry’s on the Beach and Uncle Bill’s), and the best time of day (sunset). Over the years, we’ve expanded and honed the questions to recognize the variety of businesses in town and deliver results that help visitors plan their next trip to Cape May.
This year, we polled in seventy-four categories. As always, we hand tally the results to ensure no duplicates or vote stuffing. Here are the winners for the 2022 Best of Cape May, as voted by you, recognizing excellence in shopping, dining, and experiences.
The Best in Shopping
Accessories: Red Oak Trading
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Antiques and Vintage: West End Garage
Runners up: Out of the Past Antiques and Cape May Antique Center
Art Gallery: D’May
Runner up: SOMA NewArt Gallery
Bath and Personal Care: Bath Time
Runner up: Shore Soaps
Books: Cape Atlantic Books
Runner up: Barrier Island Books
Candy and Fudge: The Original Fudge Kitchen
Runners up: Louisa’s Chocolate Bar and Fralinger’s
Cape May Souvenirs: Sunset Beach Gift Shop
Runner up: The Whale’s Tale
Children’s Clothing: Arden’s Kids
Runner up: Happy Baby
Shoes: Casale’s
Runner up: Galvanic
Gifts: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shop
Gourmet / Specialty Food: Cape May Peanut Butter Co.
Runner up: The Cheese Shop
Handbags & Totes: Red Oak Trading
Runner up: SeaWeeds
Home Decor: Cape May Wicker
Runner up: West End Garage
Jewelry: Henry’s
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Liquor Store: Collier’s
Runner up: Joe Canal’s
Men’s Clothing: Galvanic
Runner up: The Cotton Company
Pet Store: Dog Days of Cape May
Runner up: Collar and Bone
Surf & Swimwear: South End Surf Shop
Runner up: Pete Smith’s Surf Shop
Tees & Sweatshirts: It’s a Breeze
Runner up: Great White Shark
Toys: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Toy Shop of Cape May
Women’s Clothing: The Cotton Company
Runner up: Sunflowers
The Best in Dining
Appetizers: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runner up: Fins
Baked Goods & Pastries: Chez Michel
Runner up: Madison’s Bakery
Breakfast Sandwich: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Bagel Time
Brunch: Mad Batter
Runners up: Blue Pig Tavern and Vintage
Burger: Ugly Mug
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Coffee: Coffee Tyme
Runners up: Magic Brain and Ostara’s
Cold & Frozen Drinks: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Crab Cakes: Freda’s Cafe
Runner up: Cape May Fish Market
Fish or Shrimp Tacos: Key West Tacos
Runner up: Taco Caballito
Fries: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Hot Dogs: Hot Dog Tommy’s
Runner up: The Hot Dog Lady at Historic Cold Spring Village
Ice Cream, Gelato, or Sorbet: Kohr Bros
Runner up: Peace Pies
Italian: Sapore Italiano
Runner up: Viggiano’s on Sunset
Mexican: Taco Caballito
Runner up: El Pueblo Taqueria
Mussel: Lucky Bones
Runners up: The Lobster House and Lucky Bones
Oysters: Oyster Bay
Runner up: The Lobster House
Pad Thai: Exit Zero Filling Station
Runner up: Murasaki
Pancakes: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Runner up: Dock Mike’s
Pizza: Mario’s
Runner up: Boiler Room
Plant-based Options: Good Earth Organic Eatery
Runner up: Bella Vida Garden Cafe
Salad: George’s Place
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Sandwich, Wrap, or Hoagie: Westside Market
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Scallops: Mayer’s Tavern
Runner up: The Lobster House
Seafood: The Lobster House
Runner up: Tisha’s
Steak: Primal
Runner up: Washington Inn and Tisha’s
Sushi: Yozu
Runner up: Harbor View
Wings: C-View Tavern
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Takeout: The Lobster House
Runner up: Homestyle 2 Go
Best Options for Kids: Rusty Nail
Runner up: Mad Batter
Best Place to Eat Outside: The Lobster House
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Best View from the Table: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runner up: Primal
Worth the Splurge: Washington Inn
Runner up: Primal
Best Cocktails: The Brown Room
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Best Outdoor Bar: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runner up: Rusty Nail
Best Place to Hear Live Music: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runners up: Rusty Nail and the King Edward Bar at the Chalfonte
Best Happy Hour: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille
Runner up: Oyster Bay
The Best Experiences
Bicycle and Surrey Rental: Cape Island Bikes
Runner up: Village Bicycle Shop
Boat Tour, Charter, or Cruise: Cape May Whale Watcher
Runner up: Thundercat Dolphin Watch
Brewery or Distillery Tour: Cape May Brewing Co.
Runner up: Nauti Spirits
Best Food Festival: Craft Beer and Crab Festival
Runner up: West Cape May Lima Bean Festival
Golf Course or Par 3: Cape May Par 3
Runner up: Cape May National Golf Course
Holiday Event: West Cape May Christmas Parade
Runner up: Cape May City’s Halloween Parade
Live Performing Arts: Cape May Stage
Runner up: Exit Zero Jazz Festival
Kid-friendly Activity (besides the beach): Cape May County Park and Zoo
Runner up: The Nature Center of Cape May
Mini Golf: Ocean Putt on Jackson Street
Runner up: Sunset Beach Mini Golf
Museum or Historic Site: Emlen Physick Estate
Runner up: Harriet Tubman Museum
Park, Garden, or Preserve: Nature Trails in Cape May Point State Park
Runner up: Garrett Family Preserve
Pet-Friendly: Cold Spring Brewery
Runner up: Lower Township Beaches
Spa or Massage: Cape May Day Spa
Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall
Thrill or High-Speed Activity: East Coast Watersports
Runner up: Morey’s Piers
Walking or Guided Tour: Cape May Food Tours
Runner up: Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour or Ghost Capers
Winery Tour and Tasting: Willow Creek Winery
Runner up: Cape May Winery
Best Month to Visit: September
Runner up: July
Did your business win the Best of Cape May? Download your customized poster to display in a sign holder or window.
