Neighborhooding: Brewster, Cape Cod

Walking out on the Brewster Flats during low tide

My relationship with the Cape: a timeline.

Growing up in Scituate with its countless beautiful town beaches (Minot! Peggoty! Humarock! The Spit!), my experience with the Cape was limited. We had no reason to go down there. Why sit in traffic for hours to get to a beach when there were 10+ right down the street?

It wasn’t until I got some dusty boyfriends (and later, a sparkling gem of a husband) that I started to experience Cape Cod properly.

  1. In high school, my boyfriend’s family rented a cabin on a lake every summer, right over the Sagamore Bridge on the Upper Cape.
  2. After college, the next boyfriend had a family Cape house that was a 15-minute drive to the beach near Osterville.
  3. A few years later, I dated someone whose family had a house in Brewster within walking distance to the beach.

And then I met Bill, whose family had a waterfront house facing the bay with a private beach. Though it wasn’t by design – I swear – each time I dated someone new with a connection to the Cape, I was leveling up to the ultimate Cape experience: a house on the beach. And in what would become one of my favorite Cape towns: Brewster.

Bill on the beach in Brewster

Though I don’t have the decades of memories of living down the Cape every summer like Bill does, I’ve got a few summers under my belt and a decent handle on the best places to eat, drink and have fun in Brewster, Massachusetts.


Where to Stay

Low tide on the Brewster Flats, where you can walk almost a mile out into the bay

Airbnb: If you’re coming to Brewster, the only place to stay is in a cottage on your own private beach.

Ocean Edge: Whether you’re in a room in The Mansion or a little Cape in the Villages, Ocean Edge is a sprawling resort on either side of 6A with a bunch of onsite restaurants, bars, pools, private beach with drink service, golf, a spa and more.


Where to Eat

Stone L’Oven: OK, don’t call the cops on me, but yes I am recommending a pizza place on the Cape. And a chain, no less. Located on Underpass Road across the street from Breakwater Fish Market and Pico’s Mexican, Stone L’Oven makes some of the best pizzas and salads around. My favs: Fig & Prosciutto pizza, BBQ Chicken pizza, Asian or Pear salad.

Brewster Fish House: This is where you go for a nice night out to satisfy all your local seafood cravings but in a non-cheesy environment. Oysters, clam linguine, cioppino, a fish sandwich… they do it up nice.


Where to Caffeinate

Snowy Owl: The lines can get crazy (especially on weekend mornings) but even a 30-minute wait for a turmeric latte and a croissant is worth it at this local spot that roasts its own coffee beans. Grab a bag of beans at the beginning of the week to last through your vacation, or at the end to take home.


Where to Drink

The live band scene at The Woodshed
The Woodshed: A tiny wood shed bar with live music on the weekends.


Where to Shop

Breakwater Fish Market: Local fish market that also has a takeout window & small patio. They have an awesome poke bowl.

Ring Brothers: Located at the Brewster exit off Route 6, Ring Brothers has everything you need for a week down the Cape – a seafood counter, meat counter, produce, prepared foods, a bakery, a juice & smoothie bar, beer & wine, a ton of Stonewall Kitchen stuff, etc. They’ll also deliver.


Stalk the Stylish Locals

 
 
 
 
 
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Patrick Ahearn Architect (@patrickahearnarchitect) • Instagram photos and videos

Local architect whose work is quintessential Cape.

 
 
 
 
 
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JB Robbie Builders (@jbrobbiecustomhomes) • Instagram photos and videos

Cape and South Shore homebuilder.


Worth a Detour

Reggie on the back patio at The Canteen in Provincetown

Ptown: Make a day of it and drive the 45 mins out to Provincetown at the very tip of Cape Cod. Hit up The Canteen for lobster rolls, brussels sprouts and an Aperol Spritz, stroll down Commercial Street soaking up the atmosphere, and stop by Provincetown Brewing Co. for a Bearded Mistress IPA. The best part of Ptown is how dog-friendly it is; dogs are welcome almost everywhere, including some of the National Seashore beaches!

Sunbird: We’ve only stopped at this cute cafe in Orleans for breakfast sandwiches and coffees to go, but it’s open til 2pm for lunch and serves the tastiest food using local ingredients.

Summer 2021 at The Beachcomber in Wellfleet

The Beachcomber: If you don’t have a Beachcomber crewneck, did you even go to the Cape this summer? Perched on a quickly eroding dune above Cahoon Hollow Beach, this indoor/outdoor bar & restaurant is iconic for a reason. Come for the Goombay Smashes and Mudslides, and stay for the live music. Check their summer schedule since they’re able to pull some pretty big names. Like the summer I lived & worked in Wellfleet, had my “locals only” pass and saw Weezer at the Comber. They also own two cottages on the property that I’ve been dying to rent, but they’re not dog-friendly so hard pass.

Reggie loves the lawn at Truro Vineyards

Truro Vineyards: Yes, there’s a vineyard on the Cape! This is a cute spot to spend an afternoon outside on the lawn with locally made spirits and wine, and a very good food truck.

The raw bar at Sesuit Harbor Cafe

Sesuit Harbor Cafe: The best fried seafood, lobster rolls & raw bar right in the harbor in Dennis. And it’s BYOB so pack your cooler… or your picnic basket complete with a dirty martini setup, which is not as far-fetched as it sounds.

Treehouse in Sandwich

Treehouse Brewing: Right on the water in Sandwich is Treehouse, the famous central MA brewery known for long lines and cult beers. This location has the best views and even makes their bizarre ‘must buy drink tickets online in advance’ policy tolerable.

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