Sandwich happens to be the oldest town on the Cape, and even though it wasn’t named after a turkey on rye, it’s still a great place to get a sandwich. Come to Cafe Chew for a tuna salad with lettuce, tomato, and onion on multi-grain, or something for breakfast like The Cody Chew with two fried eggs, melted cheddar, and bacon on a ciabatta roll. Cafe Chew has a small inside space, but we also love taking some pastries and sandwiches out to their large garden patio.

This fine dining spot in Falmouth has been serving New American dishes, like rich lobster strudel with mascarpone and white wine, for the past 13 years. Other favorites include seafood and mushroom risotto and duck breast that’s brined for hours before it gets a nice sear. While the wait staff still wear ties and pressed white shirts and you’ll probably need a reservation, this place isn’t super formal, and certainly is your best bet in the area for a nicer sit-down dinner.

Up until recently, there weren’t many great Japanese or ramen options on Cape Cod, which is why we’re glad that Tiger Ramen and all their noodly dishes are here now. Start with some ginger pork gyoza and smashed cucumber salad, then focus in on the spicy pork shoyu with a pleasant kick or the drunken clam ramen with sake, butter, and plenty of chilies—and know that most of the menu can be made gluten-free.

If you’re looking for a place to take your friends for drinks after a long day at Kalmus Park Beach, come to Añejo in Hyannis. Go for chicken tacos, something from their large selection of margaritas, and vegetarian options like breaded avocado tacos, salads, and roja enchiladas. Make sure to ask for a table outdoors on the patio, as there’s a beautiful beechtree with draping yellow lights in the middle of the dining area.

Bread and Roses is a bookstore that also functions as a community center for Hyannis. They serve alcohol and coffee, which means it's a great place to browse books on social justice and labor history, sip a cortado or an IPA, and eat something from their plant-based menu like kale salad or a Beyond burger, especially on one of those rainy summer days. They have live music in the evenings and host a slew of classes on writing, painting, and some all-important Dungeon & Dragons meet-ups.

This casual seafood spot is directly on Hyannis Harbor, so you can get a table on the pier and watch the boats sail in and out while you snack on fried fish and sip harborside rum punch. There are always loud crowds of friends and families here, but odds are you won’t really mind—they have plenty of outdoor tables, meaning you can spread out with your own big group. Go for their delicious seafood stew or try their creamy, thick clam chowder before digging into some fried clams.

Chillingsworth in Brewster is where you’ll find classic French food with a twist, like the pan-roasted halibut over Israeli couscous and yellowfin tuna tournedos with seared foie gras. The outdoor tables are all set up in the front yard, which sits back from Route 6A, and you’ll be in a very pretty scene under some umbrellas and string lights. Make sure you don’t skip dessert, as the raspberry souffle and the flourless chocolate cake are both rich and delicious.

You can find a few Snowy Owl locations throughout the Cape, but their main cafe is in Brewster. They’re open every day, and it’s a great place to relax outside while drinking a cup of their small-batch Jaws blend made from beans they roast themselves. If you’re on the Outer Cape, consider checking out their Espresso Bar in Chatham, a cozy little coffee spot with an outdoor terrace.

Buca’s Tuscan Roadhouse is the best Italian restaurant on the Cape. We love the veal scallopini and the cacciucco, a medley of mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, and fresh fish in a rich tomato sauce, but dessert is also a highlight. Both the blueberry crisp and a rich hazelnut torte with figs make the most of the seasonal produce, but there’s also a great tiramisu if you want to keep things classic. The atmosphere is informal and there’s a seemingly never-ending wine list of over 100 bottles.

This fine dining restaurant located at the Wequassett Resort & Golf Club is somewhere you should save for your one nice dinner of the trip. The restaurant is located in a renovated 18th-century sea captain’s home with 14-feet tall glass windows that open onto Pleasant Bay, and you’ll probably need a reservation. Like every other sit-down place on the Cape, the menu constantly rotates with all the seasonal produce, but one thing that’s always available is the ash cod.