Innkeepers Steve and Dave’s 2024 Provincetown Dining Guide

Here at Aerie House we take our dining out seriously.  Please find below our alpha listing of Provincetown’s dining establishments as well as our descriptions and commentary on each.  There are links for each restaurant to go to their web site where in most cases you can preview menus to help you plan your Ptown dining experience before you arrive as many of the most popular restaurants require advance reservations.  Advance reservations are always a good idea and are strongly recommended during peak summer season and fall weekends.  Feel free to contact Steve and Dave at Aerie House for recommendations and suggestions.    Happy Dining!

Aqua Bar – A unique dining setting, this is actually an outside beachfront deck bar at the end of the Aquarium Marketplace.  The Marketplace houses seven takeout food venders ranging from raw bar to burritos to burgers to Chinese and you can bring your food to the tables at Aqua Bar to enjoy with your favorite cocktail and stunning views.

Bay Cafe – Formerly Bayside Betsy’s. One of the few establishments with a waterfront deck to dine on.  Casual fare with a great Friday night all-you-can-eat fish fry and popular and fun bar overlooking Commercial Street.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner offered.

Blue Monkey Café – Light bistro fare and wonderful desserts with outdoor cafe dining.

1620 Brewhouse – Indoor and outdoor pub dining overlooking Commercial Street with a great beer selection.

Bubala’s By The Bay – Fun dining on a huge patio overlooking Commercial Street with an emphasis on excellent seafood.  No reservations for parties under 5.

Café Heaven – Breakfast, lunch and dinner in a lively spot favored by both locals and visitors alike for their take on “New American” fare.  Large  floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Commercial Street and candlelit dining in the evenings.

Canteen – A Ptown favorite.  Counter ordering from their eclectic, casual lunch or dinner menu  and enjoy your food on their backyard beach.  Great lobster rolls. Open all year with rotating theme nights during the winter.

Chach – Popular breakfast and brunch venue. Diner ambiance on Shank Painter Road.

Ciro & Sal’s – A Provincetown institution for over 70 years.  Focusing on delicious homemade Italian specialties.  Dine in either their cave-like atmospheric dining room or their romantic backyard courtyard with views up to Aerie House.  Ciro & Sal’s has been re-born under it’s current owner and is one of Steve and Dave’s favorites.

Crown & Anchor – Butch’s–  A new restaurant concept.  Details to follow once opened.  A large covered patio overlooking Commercial Street is a perfect place to enjoy some raw bar delicacies while enjoying the people parade on Commercial Street.  A great pre-show choice for dinner if you are attending one of the live shows at the Crown.

Fanizzi’s – A local’s year-round favorite, Fanizzi’s offers a broad, eclectic menu with something for everyone.  The warm, comfortable dining room and lively bar abuts the crashing waves of the bay, creating a feeling of being on a ship.  The large portions ensures you will not leave hungry.

Freemans Tavern – A beautiful renovation has created an intimate, upscale atmosphere offering some of the finest food in Ptown.  One of our favorites which we highly recommend. Fine dining by reservation only.  Reservations available 30 days ahead of dining date.

Front Street – Long time popular establishment featuring classic Italian dishes with ever-changing eclectic Continental specials.   Excellent food in a somewhat cramped facility without a lot of atmosphere.

George’s Pizza – Traditional pizza place fare with bar in front.  Offers delivery service.

Governor Bradford –  Totally reimagined menu featuring Japanese cuisine in a pub environment.  We call it a Japanese inspired Gastro-Pub and we like it!

Grand Central – Charming spot down a side street across from the A-House.

Grilled Cheese Gallery – A casual, high energy spot located behind Commercial Street between the two town piers.  Featuring delicious and creative takes on grilled cheese sandwiches at very reasonable prices.

Helltown Kitchen –  Latin fusion cuisine.  A fairly small menu so check it out before you go but everything is really delicious and service is great but the  location does not offer much in the way of ambience.

J.D.’s – Located on a second floor deck next to Town Hall overlooking Commercial Street.  Lively spot with pub style menu and sushi and lots of TVs for watching sporting events.

Jimmy’s Hideaway – Jimmy’s is a dark, intimate, cozy, warm restaurant with a Continental menu supplemented with comfort food specials and is extremely popular.  There is also outdoor deck seating on the beach.  One of the favorites of Aerie House guests.  Reservations essential.

Johnny Thai Bistro –  Featuring extensive Thai menu in a very lively, high energy setting.  Serve till late.  Adjacent Monkey Bar is a great place to enjoy a martini or two or three.

Joon Bar & Kitchen – A fun, cozy spot with great food and extensive wine bar. Back to an a la carte menu.

Kung Fu Dumplings – A casual take out Chinese eatery specializing in delectable dumplings  An expanded menu also includes other Chinese dishes.  Picnic tables outside to dine on-premise and delivery available.

Liz’s Café – Extremely popular with the locals, Liz’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner year round.  Reasonable prices, delicious food and a warm, homey setting keep drawing them in.

Lobster Pot – A Provincetown seafood institution.  Offering a huge seafood menu from fried to gourmet in a traditional fish house atmosphere.  No reservations and you might have to wait in line to get a table.  We prefer and recommend eating in the second floor bar area either at the high top tables or at the bar.  In 2020 Lobster Pot Express opened nearby for casual counter and take out.

Local 186 – THE place for gourmet burgers of all kinds.  Large deck overlooking Commercial Street as well as a popular and fun bar.

Mac’s Fish House – Another of our favorites.  Trendy and popular seafood restaurant with a wonderful sushi counter and raw bar happy hour.  Fun and friendly bar where we love to sit, dine and chat,  They also have a fantastic adjacent seafood market which is worth checking out.

Mayflower Café – Old-world Cape tradition.  The type of place with paper placemats featuring a map of Cape Cod and lots of wood paneling.  Traditional fried seafood and Portuguese specialties.  Very reasonable prices.  Often a line to get a table.

Mews – There are two levels, each with a different atmosphere.  The upper, Bistro level, is our favorite.  This has a more lively energy and is where the bar is located.  There is bar seating as well as table seating with windows overlooking the beach and bay.  The lower level is more sedate and features glass doors looking right out at the beach.  Both levels feature the same great menu featuring Continental and some ethnic specialties.   The Mews is probably our favorite restaurant in Ptown for delicious food, flawless service and warm atmosphere.  Reservations are essential.  UPDATE – The Mews has embarked on an extensive renovation of their space which will last most of 2024.  While this work is underway they are relocating to the space formerly housing Spindler’s.

Mezze – In the space that Yolqueria occupies for breakfast and brunch.  Dinner specializing in Mediterranean small plates and craft cocktails.  Charming spot with indoor and outdoor dining and delicious food.

Nine Ryder Seaside Dining – Old school southern Italian dining in a charming building at the foot of Provincetown Marina.  Water views and warm hospitality.

Nor’east Beer Garden – Small menu but really delicious food in this intimate outdoor setting on Commercial Street with specialty beers on draft and in bottles as well as a full bar.  No reservations

Ocean 193 – This new for 2024 restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by The Club.  The menu focuses on seafood served on their open-air bayfront deck.

Patio – One of our favorites for eating outside, being seen and watching the Commercial Street parade.  Inspired New England cuisine and craft cocktails.

Pepe”s Wharf – Seaside indoor and outdoor dining in an elegantly restored wharf building featuring local seafood.

The Pointe @ Crowne Pointe – Delicious American coastal cuisine.  Dine in either their more formal dining room, more casual front porch or their outdoor patio overlooking the Pilgrim Monument.  Great craft drinks and impressive wine list but current menu is smaller and less creative than in the past.

Post Office Café –  Refreshed and still serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere.  Inside and outside dining and a good spot for dinner if you are seeing one of the shows in their upstairs cabaret room.

Provincetown Brewing Company – With a taproom located in the center of town this is a great place to sample their awesome brews and enjoy some light dining.  Inside you will find a large bar, lounge and bar table games or relax on their spacious outdoor patio overlooking Bradford St.  Friendly and very reasonable.

Provincetown House of Pizza – Traditional pizza fare and other favorites offering local delivery.

Red Inn – In our view, the most atmospheric restaurant in Ptown and the perfect place for that special celebration.  Sophisticated atmosphere overlooking Provincetown harbor in a historic inn dating back to 1805.  Great drinks and wine list and raw bar happy hour.  Reservations essential.  Our only gripe is they never change their menu.

Ross’s Grill – A very popular waterfront establishment featuring European style bistro fare and an extensive wine list.  Great energy, excellent food and service packs them in.  Reservations essential.

Royal Thai – Located in the Pilgrim House where The Landing was previously.  This is the second location for the popular Eastham Thai restaurant.

Spiritus – Walk-in pizza place very popular late at night.  Cash only and no delivery service.

Squealing Pig – Elevated pub style food including fresh oysters and curry dishes in a fun, lively setting.  Great beer selection and  second floor deck for outside dining.  Great value.

Surf Club –  Has closed and will become a Luke’s Lobster mid-summer.

Terraza – A great new dining addition for 2023 by the owners of Helltown Kitchen.  A reimagined outdoor space on the second floor overlooking Commercial Street where Baie Bar previously was located offering an imaginative though small menu featuring flavors from Asia and Latin America.  Creative and large pour drinks compliment the food.

Tin Pan Alley – Directly across from Town Hall, featuring seasonal new American cuisine.  Very popular bar in front with nightly entertainment.  Inside dining in the rear as well as lovely outdoor dining on their patio on the beach.

Twisted Pizza – Traditional pizza fare offering local delivery.  Great pizza but if you are like us and love your pizza with anchovies you will have to look elsewhere as they do not offer them.

Victor’s – Located in the west end with indoor and outdoor dining.  Specializing in new American small plates meant to be shared .  Great cocktails and a very popular raw bar happy hour perfectly times as you head back from the beach.

Vorelli’s – Casual dining specializing in steaks.

Yolqueria – The place for breakfast and brunch.  Charming spot with indoor and outdoor seating.  Very popular.

2024 Restaurant News

There are all sorts of potentially exciting changes to the Ptown dining scene for 2024.  Keep checking here for the latest news.

Our favorite, The Mews, is closed for an extensive renovation which will last for most of 2024.  While work continues, The Mews is relocating to the space previously housing Spindler’s at the Waterford Inn.

A new restaurant, Ocean 193, is opening in the former space of The Club.  See above listings for details.

Strangers & Saints has permanently closed and the real estate is being developed as condos.

Way Downtown has closed as the owner has retired.  The building owner is looking for a new restaurant operator.

The Surf Club has closed and Luke’s Lobster has opened in it’s space.

Spindlers has closed and is now the temp space hosting The Mews while their permanent home undergoes an extensive renovation.

Coffee emporium The Wired Puppy has closed and the space is currently for rent.

Crown & Anchor has a new restaurant, Butch’s, to replace Balena

Blue Monkey Cafe has new owners and is now the new location of Box Lunch.

Perfect Picnic has closed and the space it occupied has become a unique retinal eye art space.

Governor Bradford now has a totally new menu focus featuring Japanese cuisine.  Kind of a Japanese Gastro-Pub.

Bayside Betsy’s has changed their name to Bay Cafe.

Mistralino has  permanently closed and the space it occupied is becoming an antiques store.

Napi’s has permanently closed and the real estate is being developed as condos.