Provincetown

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Credit: Christine Hochkeppel
  • Current
    Weather

Rain & 44°

  • When
    to Visit

May-September

  • Population
     

3,000

  • Founded
     

1700

By Jacqueline Cain

The tip of Cape Cod has been a favorite destination for visitors of all stripes ever since the Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown in 1620. An artist enclave and a haven for LGBTQ folx too, the coastal community lovingly called Ptown is lively year-round but especially in the summertime. It also boasts some of the best dining and nightlife on the Cape, often influenced by Ptown’s strong ties to the fishing industry and history of Portuguese immigration. From a beachside coffee bar and a nautical brunch nook to a magical garden of Mediterranean meze, here’s an itinerary for a delicious day in Provincetown. 

The tip of Cape Cod has been a favorite destination for visitors of all stripes ever since the Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown in 1620. An artist enclave and a haven for LGBTQ folx too, the coastal community lovingly called Ptown is lively year-round but especially in the summertime. It also boasts some of the best dining and nightlife on the Cape, often influenced by Ptown’s strong ties to the fishing industry and history of Portuguese immigration. From a beachside coffee bar and a nautical brunch nook to a magical garden of Mediterranean meze, here’s an itinerary for a delicious day in Provincetown. 

Credit: Ric Ide

Kohi Coffee
Cool espresso bar Kohi Coffee Co. sits on Commercial Street overlooking the waterfront, so you can start your day with an expertly prepared brew and an energizing view of the beach. Though the menu features Maine-roasted Tandem Coffee, Kohi is no washashore (that is, someone not born on Cape Cod). Owned by the team behind Spindler’s restaurant at the nearby Waterford Inn, Kohi Coffee Co. has also expanded with two excellent Boston cafes.

Credit: Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar

Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar
Feel like a local at Liz’s Cafe, Anybody’s Bar while perched on a barstool at the ship-shaped counter. The proprietor of local gourmet shop Angel Foods opened Liz’s in 2017 in a spot that had been a breakfast favorite for nearly 50 years. Understandably, the first meal of the day is properly revered on her menu. This popular brunch nook, which popped up igloos on its wintertime patio, celebrates Provincetown’s culinary history in delicious ways, like three-egg omelettes filled with Portuguese linguiça, a lobster benedict, and a robust Cold Brew Martini. 

Credit: Nathan Butera

Relish Bakery
You’re here for Key Lime Tarts, Chocolate Espresso Cookies, and other irresistible treats, but you might as well also pick up lunch for the beach. West End neighborhood spot Relish Bakery is on the way to the bay, but we think you’d find the savories tempting enough to make a stop there anyway. Sandwiches are stacked with the likes of ham, butter, cornichon, and grainy mustard (in the case of The Parisian). But don’t overlook cold gazpacho and vegan-friendly salads like Quinoa with Cranberry, Cucumber, and Mint, which pack up perfectly for picnics.

Credit: Christine Hochkeppel

The Canteen
A beach bar serving up casual-but-inspired Cape Cod cuisine (including one of the best lobster rolls in Ptown), The Canteen might just be Provincetown dining at its most idealized. Snagging a table in the sand and ordering up frosé and that buttery local lobster-on-brioche is an unbeatable move, but this no-reservations spot is open all day, year-round, so there’s plenty of time to mix things up. We love the menu-staple Cod Banh Mi, plus seasonal veggie dishes and bowls like Falafel Salad with tabbouleh.

Credit: Trevor Pittinger

Provincetown Brewery Company
Ptown has plenty of great places to get a beer, but with 2019 newcomer Provincetown Brewing Co., the day-drinking destination finally has its own brew. Numerous styles, in fact, from Crandaddy Sour to Bearded Mistress IPA, plus a house hard seltzer called Spilt Tea. PBC has a fun vibe, with games inside and a patio offset from Bradford Street by blooming flowers. If you find yourself here hungry, you’ll be surprised by a tasty food menu—try the Jerk Chicken Sandwich. Total bonus? The place donates 15% of all profits to local and LGBTQ+ organizations.

Credit: Lauren Kunkler

Strangers & Saints
With beautifully plated dishes meant to share (think Local Oysters with pomegranate mignonette and kombucha granita, and House-Made Pappardelle with duck confit and ras el hanout carrot sugo), dining here is like going to a dinner party at the beach house of a posh Spanish yachter. Strangers & Saints fills an antique cottage and garden with enticing Mediterranean meze, pizza, and libations. Wine and beer selections are top-notch, but seasonal cocktails are what we want here, like this summer’s Heart of the Tides, a gin sipper with herbal lift thanks to Génépy, burnt rosemary, and Pontarlier Absinthe.

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