Unearth The Voyage
Massachusetts has some of the most beautiful coastlines in America, and eating fresh seafood while watching waves roll in makes any meal taste even better. From fancy fine dining spots to casual clam shacks where you order at a window, the Bay State offers waterfront restaurants that pair amazing ocean views with delicious local catches. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just want fish and chips with your toes in the sand, these 15 restaurants prove that sometimes the scenery really is just as memorable as what’s on your plate.
1. The Ocean House – Dennis Port (Cape Cod)
Right on the edge of Nantucket Sound, this restaurant brings together fancy New England dishes and exciting Asian-inspired flavors in one beautiful waterfront package. Big windows let diners watch the waves while enjoying carefully prepared meals that feel both familiar and adventurous.
Couples love coming here for anniversaries and date nights because the atmosphere feels romantic without being too serious. The combination of dressy-but-comfortable vibes and those incredible water views makes every occasion feel more special.
Summer is the busiest time, so calling ahead to reserve your table is really important if you want to guarantee a spot. The restaurant sits close enough to the sound that you can almost feel the sea breeze, making it one of Dennis Port’s most memorable dining experiences year after year.
2. Beach House Grill at Chatham Bars Inn – Chatham
Eating lunch with sand between your toes and the Atlantic Ocean stretching out in front of you is exactly what happens at this restaurant, which sits right in the dunes on a private beach that feels like a secret getaway.
USA Today readers voted it the best waterfront restaurant in all of America for 2025, and it’s easy to see why. Fresh lobster rolls, clam chowder, and other local catches taste even better when you’re this close to where they came from, with Chatham Harbor visible in the distance.
This spot only opens during warm months, and tables fill up fast once summer arrives. Getting there early in the day helps you snag the best seats, and the relaxed-but-polished feel means you can dress comfortably while still enjoying top-quality food and service.
3. Sesuit Harbor Café – Dennis
This classic clam shack keeps things wonderfully simple: order your food inside at the counter, grab a picnic table just feet from the water, and dig into some of the freshest seafood on Cape Cod. Lobster rolls overflow with meat, fried clams come out crispy and hot, and the chowder tastes like grandma’s recipe.
Boats bob in the marina right in front of you while you eat, creating that perfect Cape Cod postcard moment. Families with kids love the super-casual atmosphere where nobody worries about spills or noise, and the prices won’t empty your wallet either.
Bring cash because credit cards don’t work here, and remember that seasonal hours change throughout the year. The no-frills approach is part of the charm—this is real Cape Cod dining at its most authentic and delicious.
4. Skipper Chowder House – South Yarmouth
Since 1936, this old-school seafood spot has been serving up award-winning chowder and fried seafood platters to hungry beachgoers. That’s nearly 90 years of perfecting recipes and making sure every bowl and basket lives up to Cape Cod’s high seafood standards.
The outdoor deck faces Nantucket Sound, giving you beach and ocean views while you crack open clams or dip bread into creamy chowder. Everything about the place feels comfortably worn-in, like your favorite pair of jeans—familiar, reliable, and exactly what you want after a day at the beach.
Lines can get long during July and August when tourists flood the Cape, so patience pays off. Snagging an outside table when the weather cooperates is worth the wait, especially as the afternoon sun sparkles off the water and seagulls circle overhead hoping for dropped fries.
5. Mac’s on the Pier – Wellfleet
Walking out onto the pier with your tray of fried clams and lobster roll feels like stepping into a Cape Cod vacation commercial. This honest-to-goodness clam shack doesn’t try to be fancy—it just serves great seafood in the most perfect harbor setting imaginable.
Families return summer after summer, often sitting at the same picnic tables and ordering the same favorite dishes. The harbor stretches out around you with fishing boats coming and going, and if you time it right, sunset turns the whole scene golden and magical.
Like many Cape spots, Mac’s closes for winter, so plan your visit between late spring and early fall. Arriving during that golden hour before sunset gives you the best light for photos and the most beautiful backdrop for what might be the freshest seafood you’ll taste all year.
6. twenty-eight Atlantic at Wequassett Resort – Harwich
Cape Cod’s only Forbes Five-Star restaurant sits inside a beautifully restored sea captain’s home, where huge windows frame Pleasant Bay like living paintings. This is where you go when you want to celebrate something really important—an anniversary, a graduation, or just the fact that you made it to one of Massachusetts’ finest dining rooms.
The menu features elevated versions of New England classics alongside seasonal dishes that change with what local farms and fishermen bring in. Every plate looks like art, but more importantly, everything tastes incredible and sophisticated without being weird or confusing.
Dress nicely and definitely make reservations well ahead of time because tables fill up fast. The combination of refined food, attentive service, and those stunning bay views creates memories that last long after the meal ends.
7. The Lobster Pot – Provincetown
That bright neon lobster sign glowing on Commercial Street has welcomed hungry visitors for decades, becoming one of Provincetown’s most recognizable landmarks. Inside, the upper dining rooms give you front-row seats to all the harbor action – ferries coming and going, fishing boats unloading their catches, and sailboats gliding past.
People travel from around the world specifically to eat here, ordering steaming bowls of chowder and lobster prepared every way you can imagine. The atmosphere buzzes with energy and conversation, creating that quintessential busy-harbor-restaurant feeling that makes you glad you’re on vacation.
Lines form quickly once lunch and dinner hours hit, especially during summer when Provincetown fills with tourists. Coming early or during off-peak times helps you avoid the longest waits, though honestly, even standing in line feels like part of the P-town experience.
8. The Beachcomber – Wellfleet (Cahoon Hollow Beach)
Perched on top of the dunes at Cahoon Hollow Beach, this place combines everything great about summer into one spot: fresh oysters, cold drinks, live music, and dramatic ocean views from a cliff-top deck. It’s been called one of the sexiest beach bars in the world, which might sound like hype until you actually sit there watching the surf crash below.
The vibe runs high-energy and summery, with music pumping and crowds gathering to celebrate beach life in all its glory. Raw bar favorites, burgers, and beach-perfect cocktails fuel the party atmosphere that makes this one of Cape Cod’s most famous seaside destinations.
It only opens from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so you’ll need to visit during warm months. Expect crowds, expect music, expect fun—this isn’t a quiet romantic dinner spot, it’s a beach celebration that happens to serve really good food.
9. The Chart Room – Cataumet (Red Brook Harbor)
Did you know this restaurant sits inside a converted railroad barge that once built boats for the Army and Navy? That fascinating history adds extra character to an already charming spot moored at Red Brook Harbor, where yachts and sailboats create a postcard-perfect marina scene.
Sunset is when The Chart Room really shines, with golden light spreading across the water and reflecting off boat hulls while diners spread out on the waterfront lawn and deck. Seafood plates and cocktails taste better when you’re watching the sky turn pink and orange over the harbor.
This is a seasonal spot that closes for winter, with the website cheerfully announcing they’ll see you next summer. The slightly nostalgic atmosphere and classic Cape waterfront location make it worth planning your visit during warm months when everything Cape Cod is at its absolute best.
10. 71 West Atlantic Steakhouse – Plymouth
Floor-to-ceiling windows at this Plymouth Harbor restaurant put you right at the water’s edge, watching boats drift by while you decide between steak and seafood. The menu cleverly covers both options, so nobody in your group has to compromise—landlubbers get perfectly cooked steaks while seafood fans dive into raw bar selections and local catches.
Voters named it Best New Restaurant in 2024, recognizing how it fills a gap in Plymouth’s dining scene with upscale-but-approachable waterfront dining. The atmosphere works great for date nights without feeling so fancy that you stress about which fork to use.
Harborside tables disappear first because everyone wants those direct water views, so mentioning your preference when you book really helps. The combination of good food, professional service, and Plymouth Harbor right outside makes this one of the South Shore’s most appealing new dining destinations.
11. Warren’s Harborview – Wareham
Designed specifically to showcase its location on the Wareham River narrows, this newer restaurant makes the most of every window and outdoor seat. Diners look out at the Narrows Bridge, Besse Park, and busy harbor traffic while working through a menu that includes everything from chowder to steaks to a full raw bar.
The contemporary coastal design feels fresh and current, making it popular for group dinners and celebrations where you want nice surroundings without stuffiness. In autumn, the foliage around the river adds extra color to already pretty views.
Weekend specials and prix fixe menus pop up regularly, so checking their schedule before you go might reveal some good deals or themed dinners. The combination of event space and regular dining means this place handles both casual family meals and bigger celebrations with equal skill and style.
12. Legal Sea Foods – Harborside (Legal Harborside) – Boston Seaport
This isn’t your typical Legal Sea Foods tucked into a mall—this flagship location spreads across multiple levels with harbor-facing patios and a rooftop bar called The Overlook that operates year-round. From up there, you can watch ferries, sailboats, and even cruise ships moving through Boston Harbor while the city skyline rises behind you.
All the Legal classics show up on the menu: famous clam chowder, fresh lobster, raw bar selections, and fried seafood platters that never disappoint. The bustling Seaport location adds energy and urban excitement to the traditional seafood house experience.
Sunset brings out crowds to the rooftop especially, so booking through their website or OpenTable increases your chances of getting the spot and time you want. The multi-level setup means different vibes on different floors, from casual lower levels to the more scene-focused rooftop where drinks and views compete for attention.
13. Pier 6 – Charlestown (Boston Harbor)
From across the water in Charlestown, this trendy spot delivers possibly the best skyline views in Boston—the whole downtown cluster of buildings lights up at night while the USS Constitution sits nearby as a reminder of the harbor’s deep history. The open-air deck becomes the place to be on warm days, with everyone fighting for outdoor tables.
Lobster rolls, oysters, chowder, and other New England favorites share menu space with burgers and seasonal specials, all designed for sharing with friends over drinks. The laid-back-but-stylish vibe attracts a younger crowd who appreciate good food without formal fussiness.
Those panoramic views mean the deck fills up lightning-fast when weather cooperates, so booking ahead and specifically requesting outdoor seating gives you the best shot. After dark, the illuminated skyline reflecting in the harbor water creates one of Boston’s most Instagram-worthy dining backdrops.
14. Yella on the Water – Gloucester (North Shore)
In America’s oldest seaport, this restaurant takes a different approach by bringing Mediterranean flavors to the waterfront instead of just serving traditional fried seafood. Lebanese-influenced dishes mix with locally caught fish and farm-fresh ingredients, creating something that feels both globally inspired and deeply connected to Gloucester’s fishing heritage.
The bright, modern dining room overlooks the working harbor where fishing boats still unload their catches daily. Watching that maritime activity while eating creative seafood preparations reminds you that Gloucester remains a real fishing community, not just a tourist destination.
This makes a perfect choice if you’ve had enough fried clams and want something a little different without leaving the waterfront. The upscale-casual atmosphere works for both special occasions and regular nights out when you want quality food and harbor views in equal measure.
15. C.K. Pearl – Essex
Marsh grasses sway in the breeze outside this Essex River restaurant, where tidal waters and boats create a constantly changing natural backdrop. The menu focuses on local ingredients and seafood-forward dishes, with a raw bar that showcases the region’s famous clams and oysters in their freshest possible form.
Travelers consistently rate this place highly for both atmosphere and food, appreciating the casual-chic vibe that feels polished without being pretentious. Locals and visitors mix easily here, which usually signals a restaurant that’s doing things right.
Timing your visit for sunset pays off beautifully—the marsh grasses seem to glow golden, and the river turns into a mirror reflecting the colorful sky. That combination of carefully prepared food and stunning natural scenery makes C.K. Pearl one of those restaurants where you linger longer than planned, not wanting the evening to end.
