Armed with a pumpkin pie latte from this year’s winner for Best Coffee, we sorted through nominations in seventy-seven categories to bring you this list: the best restaurants, shops, and activities in Cape May. While a lot of your favorites are back this year, we have a few brand new categories to celebrate AND some overturns in our regular lineup.
Here they are, as voted by you, the winners of the Best of Cape May 2024.
Shopping
Accessories: Red Oak Trading Co.
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Antiques and Vintage Goods: West End Garage (Fast Eddie’s received multiple votes!)
Runner up: Out of the Past Antiques
Art Stores & Galleries: Gallery D’May
Runner up: TIE! Splash and Jawbone
Bath & Personal Care: Bath Time
Runner up: Shore Soaps
Beach Bags & Totes: Sea Bags
Runner up: Trading Post at Dellas
Beach Reads: Cape Atlantic Book Co
Runner up: Barrier Island Books and Art
Candy & Chocolate: The Original Fudge Kitchen
Runner up: Louisa’s Chocolate Bar
Honorable mention: Fralinger’s was close to taking the runner-up spot this year!
Cape May Souvenirs: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Runner up: Whale’s Tale
Children’s Clothing: Arden’s Kids
Runner up: Happy Baby
Fine Jewelry: Queen May
Runner up: Splash
Honorable mention: Henry’s is closing this year. They were one vote away from tying for second place!
Flip Flops & Sandals: Casale’s Shoes
Runner up: Southend Surf Shop
Gifts: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: West End Garage
Gourmet & Specialty Food: Cape May Creamery
Runner up: TIE! Love the Cook and Cape May Olive Oil Co
Home Decor: West End Garage
Runner up: Cape May Wicker
Liquor Store: Collier’s Liquor Store
Runner up: Sunset Liquors
Men’s Clothing: Galvanic
Runner up: Cotton Company
Honorable mention: Coastal Club Clothing nearly tied for runner up!
Pet Accessories, Treats, and Toys: Dog Days of Cape May
Runner up: Collar and Bone
Surf & Swimwear: Southend Surf Shop
Runner up: Pete Smith’s Surf Shop
Tees & Sweatshirts: It’s a Breeze
Runner up: Flying Fish Studio
Toys & Games: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Toy Shop of Cape May
Women’s Clothing: Sunflowers
Runner up: Cotton Company
Dining
Baked Goods & Pastries: Chez Michel
Runner up: Madison Bakery
Bar Bites / Small Plates: Oyster Bay
Runner up: Ugly Mug
Breakfast Sandwiches: TIE! Westside Market and Avalon Bagel
Runner up: Bagel Time
Honorable mention: Smash Shack was just shy of tying for second place
Brunch: Mad Batter
Runner up: Vintage
Burger: Ugly Mug
Runner up: TIE! Exit Zero Filling Station and Smash Shack (can confirm SS’s burgers are delicious)
Coffee: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Magic Brain
Cold & Frozen Drinks / Smoothies: Coffee Tyme
Runner up: Magic Brain
Honorable mention: Chill nearly tied for second place!
Crab Cakes: Lobster House
Runner up: Washington Inn
Fish or Shrimp Tacos: Taco Caballito
Runner up: El Pueblo Taqueria
Fries: Ugly Mug
Runner up: C-View
French: Maison Bleu
Runner up: 410 Bank Street (note: 410 serves French-New Orleans cuisine)
Hot Dogs: Hot Dog Tommy’s
Runner up: Shorty’s Hot Dogs
Ice Cream, Custard & Gelato: Kohr Bros
Runner up: King’s
Indian: Exit Zero Filling Station
Runner up: Curry Inne
Runner up: Sandalwood in Rio Grande was just shy of second place
Italian: Sapore Italiano
Runner up: Vigganos on Sunset
Lobster Rolls: Quincy’s Original Lobster Rolls
Runner up: Cape May Fish Market
Honorable mention: La La Lobster received a good number of votes!
Mexican: Taco Caballito
Runner up: El Pueblo Taqueria
Mussels: Lucky Bones
Runner up: Lobster House
Oysters on the Half Shell: Oyster Bay
Runner up: Lobster House
Pancakes: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Runner up: Mad Batter
Pizza: Mario’s
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Plant-based options: Bella Vida Garden Cafe
Runner up: Mad Batter
Salad: George’s
Runner up: TIE! Fins and Delaneys
Sandwich, Wrap, or Hoagie: Westside Market
Runner up: Wawa
Scallops: Mayer’s Tavern
Runner up: Lobster House
Seafood: Lobster House
Runner up: Washington Inn
Smoothie Bowls: Playa Bowls
Runner up: Aloha Smoothies
Steak: Primal
Runner up: Washington Inn
Sushi: Yozu
Runner up: Port Marina
Wings: C-View
Runner up: Harpoons on the Bay
Takeout: Mario’s
Runner up: TIE! Lucky Bones and Lobster House
Best Options for Kids: TIE! Lucky Bones and Rusty Nail
Runner up: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Best place to eat outside: Lobster House
Runner up: Tisha’s
Best view from the table: 3-way TIE! McGlade’s on the Pier, Primal, and Lobster House
Runner up: TIE! Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille and Harpoons on the Bay
A restaurant worth the splurge: Washington Inn
Runner up: Primal
Nightlife
Who has the best cocktails? Congress Hall
Runner up: The Ebbitt Room
What’s the best outdoor bar? The Porch at Elaine’s
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
Best place to hear live music: The Chalfonte
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
Who has the best happy hour? Oyster Bay
Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille
Experiences
Bicycle or Surrey Rental Service: Cape Island Bikes
Runner up: Shield’s
Boat Tour, Charter, or Cruise: Tiny Tiki Cruise Line
Runner up: Cape May Whale Watcher and Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center
Brewery or Distillery Tour and Tasting: Cape May Brewing Company
Runner up: Nauti Spirits
Farms, Parks & Preserves: Beach Plum Farm
Runner up: TIE! Cape May County Zoo and Cape May Point State Park
Food Festival: Lima Bean Festival
Runner up: Oktoberfest
Golf Course / Par 3 Course: Cape May National
Runner up: Par 3
Holiday Festival or Event: West Cape May Christmas Parade
Runner up: MAC’s Candlelight House Tours
Live Performing Arts: Cape May Stage
Runner up: Cape May Concert Series at Convention Hall
Kid-friendly Activity (besides the beach!): Cape May County Park & Zoo
Runner up: Nature Center of Cape May
Miniature Golf Course: TIE! Cape May Miniature Golf and Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Runner up: Ocean Putt
Museum or Historic Site: Emlen Physick Estate
Runner up: Harriet Tubman Museum
Self Care (spa, massage, pedicure, etc): Cape May Day Spa
Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall
Thrill or High-speed Activity: Morey’s Piers
Runner up: East Coast Watersports
Tours of Cape May (guided, walking, trolley, etc): Cape May MAC’s trolley tours
Runner up: Combination Underground Railroad trolley tour + Harriet Tubman Museum visit
Winery Tour and Tasting: Cape May Winery
Runner up: Willow Creek Winery
Best thing to do outside of Cape May: Cape May County Park & Zoo
Runner up: Wildwood Boardwalk
And finally, what’s the best month to visit Cape May? September
Runner up: August
Congratulations to all of the businesses recognized in this year’s lineup! As always, thank you to our followers who took the time to nominate their favorites. If you didn’t see your top choices on the list, be sure to come back next August when voting will open for 2025.
Winner Posters
Download and print your winner poster! They are available in both PDF and PNG formats, and were created for home printers.
