10 Coastal Massachusetts Restaurants With Views As Rich As The History
Massachusetts coastal towns offer more than just seafood. They serve up unforgettable dining with a side of breathtaking ocean views.
From upscale harborfront establishments to casual dockside eateries, these restaurants combine the region’s maritime heritage with culinary excellence.
Pull up a chair at any of these waterfront gems and prepare for a feast for both your taste buds and your eyes.
1. The Ocean House (Dennis Port, Cape Cod)
Nantucket Sound stretches before you like a shimmering blue tablecloth at this Dennis Port gem.
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Atlantic as if it were a living painting, constantly changing with the light. The chef’s tasting menu showcases Cape Cod’s bounty – from dayboat scallops to locally-foraged mushrooms – all while sailboats drift lazily across your field of vision.
OpenTable’s recognition as a top scenic restaurant is well-deserved for this coastal culinary landmark.
2. Beach House Grill at Chatham Bars Inn (Chatham, Cape Cod)
America’s top waterfront restaurant isn’t just serving meals – it’s creating memories against the Atlantic’s endless blue canvas.
The symphony of crashing waves provides the soundtrack as you savor locally-harvested oysters and butter-poached lobster. I still remember my anniversary dinner here, watching the sunset paint the sky while fishing boats returned to harbor.
Weekend visitors enjoy live music that perfectly complements both the ocean breeze and the chef’s seasonal specialties.
3. Sesuit Harbor Café (Dennis, Cape Cod)
Lobster roll perfection awaits at this unassuming harbor hideaway, where paper plates and plastic forks never detract from the five-star views.
The ordering system is refreshingly simple: line up, place your order, then claim a picnic table mere feet from bobbing fishing boats.
My family has made this our traditional first-day-of-vacation spot for years – nothing says “we’ve arrived” like cracking into fresh seafood while watching seagulls swoop overhead.
BYOB policies make this budget-friendly spot even more appealing.
4. Skipper Chowder House (Yarmouth, Cape Cod)
Golden-hued chowder served in bread bowls has made this Yarmouth institution legendary among Cape Cod visitors.
The upper deck provides the perfect perch for admiring Nantucket Sound’s expansive beauty while sampling the day’s catch. When I first visited as a teenager, I proclaimed their clam chowder the best I’d ever tasted – a verdict that still stands decades later.
Summertime brings crowds eager for both the casual seafood classics and the postcard-worthy beach panorama just across Shore Road.
5. Mac’s on the Pier (Wellfleet, Cape Cod)
Perched literally over the water, this no-frills seafood shack delivers maximum flavor with minimum pretension.
The wooden pier creaks pleasantly underfoot as you carry your tray of just-fried clams and ice-cold beer to a waterside table. Fishing boats glide past so close you could practically reach out and touch them, while the rhythm of the tides dictates the day’s pace.
At sunset, the harbor transforms into a golden mirror, creating the perfect backdrop for savoring Mac’s famous lobster rolls.
6. 28 Atlantic at Wequassett Resort (Harwich, Cape Cod)
Sea captains once gazed across Pleasant Bay from this historic home, spotting returning ships laden with treasures from distant shores.
Today, diners experience similar awe as they survey the panoramic water views through the restaurant’s grand windows.
The Forbes five-star rating hints at the culinary artistry awaiting inside – think butter-poached lobster and herb-crusted rack of lamb.
I celebrated my parents’ 50th anniversary here, watching their faces light up as waiters presented a surprise champagne toast against the backdrop of sailboats gliding across the bay.
7. 71° West Atlantic Steakhouse (Plymouth)
Plymouth Rock’s historical significance finds a culinary counterpart in this harborfront newcomer that’s already making waves.
Named for its longitudinal coordinates, the restaurant pairs prime cuts of beef with the freshest seafood, all enhanced by the spectacular harbor panorama.
The glass-walled dining room seems to float above Plymouth Harbor, with views stretching all the way to the Atlantic.
Their signature tableside-carved tomahawk steak for two has quickly become the talk of the town, cementing its “Best New Restaurant” status.
8. Yella on the Water (Gloucester, North Shore)
Mediterranean sunshine seems to beam directly from the kitchen at this waterfront jewel in America’s oldest seaport.
Lebanese-inspired seafood creations gain extra dimension when enjoyed against the backdrop of Gloucester’s working harbor.
The restaurant’s bright yellow exterior matches its sunny outlook – a perfect complement to dishes brightened with preserved lemon, sumac, and fresh herbs.
Fishing schooners still ply these waters, connecting diners to the maritime heritage that has defined this community for centuries.
9. C.K. Pearl (Essex, North Shore)
Oyster lovers rejoice at this riverside retreat where bivalves slide from shell to palate mere hours after harvesting.
The Essex River’s gentle current provides a soothing backdrop as you sample the restaurant’s impressive raw bar offerings.
Something about this place feels timeless – perhaps it’s the unchanged marsh landscape or the generations of clammers who’ve worked these waters.
I’ve developed a tradition of bringing out-of-town friends here, watching their expressions as they taste their first Island Creek oyster while gazing at the very waters where it was grown.
10. Warren’s Harborview (Wareham, South Shore)
History whispers from every timber in this restored 19th-century building overlooking Wareham River’s strategic narrows.
The restaurant occupies what was once a bustling shipbuilding hub, where vessels destined for whaling expeditions and merchant voyages first touched water.
Today’s diners enjoy classic New England seafood while contemplating this maritime legacy through original exposed beams and artifacts displayed throughout.
The adjacent Besse Park provides additional historical context – interpretive signs explain how this narrow passage sheltered ships during Revolutionary War naval conflicts.