Cape Cod restaurants serve some of the freshest seafood in Massachusetts, and oysters and clams are among local favorites. These saltwater bivalves are known for their high salinity and sweet finish, so residents have been feasting on them for centuries.
And with so many raw bars on Cape Cod, no visit is complete without a taste. We’ve put together a list of the best places to get clams and oysters (listed from southwest to northeast).
On your way to some of Cape Cod’s raw bars, there is plenty to explore. Check out our free Vacation Guide for activities, museums, events, and even more restaurants.
Flying Bridge Restaurant
Serving traditional New England fare, Flying Bridge Restaurant in Falmouth puts a contemporary flair on its dishes. You can order Cotuit oysters, littleneck clams, and jumbo shrimp from its raw bar menu — all of which come with co*cktail sauce.
In addition to the raw bar, this premier waterfront venue — located at The Flying Bridge Marina — serves sandwiches, fried classics, dinner entrees, lobster dinners, and vegetarian options.
Epic Oyster
Reviving a 1922 classic Tierney dining car, Epic Oyster in North Falmouth shucks fresh, local oysters for each order. The rest of the restaurant’s menu features creative, Portuguese-inspired flavors, and you have a long list of wines to pair with your meal.
FUN FACT: During his Rolling Thunder tour in 1974, Bob Dylan stopped by the diner — as evidenced in the documentary “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese.” The owners like to believe that the legendary singer’s spirit lives on here.
Fishermen’s View
In Sandwich, Fishermen’s View is a sea-to-table restaurant with a market next door. Two commercial fishermen brothers are the owners, and their raw bar menu includes Jonah crab, local oysters, jumbo shrimp, and salmon carpaccio.
Other items on the menu include nigiri and sushi rolls, sashimi, steamed lobster and crab buckets, broiled fish, sandwiches, and meal boxes — even gluten-free meal boxes. You can pair your meal with a beer, glass of wine, co*cktail, or mocktail too.
TIP: Check out the while you’re in Sandwich.
The Naked Oyster
Specializing in local seafood, The Naked Oyster in Hyannis is a French bistro and a top choice among residents and visitors alike. The owner and executive chef, Florence Lowell, has extensive knowledge about food and wine.
Her oysters come from a family farm in Barnstable Harbor, and they’re served with co*cktail sauce, lemon, or mignonette. You can order the oysters in many variations — including as a shooter with spirits. Littleneck clams are on the raw bar menu as well, and the restaurant serves baked and steamed seafood.
Shack Out Back at the Black Cat Tavern
The Black Cat Tavern in Hyannis is a casual waterfront restaurant that serves classic fare — from littleneck clams and select oysters to lobster rolls, fried seafood, and award-winning chowder.
But, its Shack Out Back raw bar is the star of the show. Alongside littleneck clams and Barnstable oysters, you can order ahi tuna sashimi, jumbo shrimp co*cktail, tuna poke, and a chilled seafood tower with a little bit of everything.
Spanky’s Clam Shack
Another raw bar in Hyannis, Spanky’s Clam Shack is a special spot on the water that serves amazingly fresh, locally caught seafood. The raw bar menu includes oysters, littlenecks, shrimp co*cktail, and a sample of each.
Open seasonally, the rest of Spanky’s menu offers sandwiches and rolls, fried dinners, lobster feasts, land and sea entrees, and more. Plus, you can choose from beer, co*cktails, and wine.
The Oyster Company
Since 2005, The Oyster Company has been serving the freshest seafood in Dennis Port. Its raw bar features Quivet Neck oysters from its own oyster beds in Quivet Creek.
There are also sashimi oysters and a seafood tower with a variety of oysters, clams, shrimp, and more. On top of that, you can order from several entrees — from lobster and scallops to chicken and Angus steak.
The Impudent Oyster
At The Impudent Oyster in Chatham, you can enjoy a raw bar with oysters, littlenecks, shrimp co*cktails, and a sampler of all the above. Everything on the menu is served chilled with fresh lemon and housemade co*cktail sauce.
In addition, the restaurant has a lot of creative dishes on its main menu, particularly the names — such as Devils on Horseback and Clams Casino.
Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar
In Eastham, Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar has been a landmark for more than four decades. Open seasonally, it’s known for being an award-winning clam shack. The raw bar features Wellfleet Select oysters, native clams, jumbo shrimp co*cktail, and more.
Also on the menu are chowders, baked dinners, steamed lobsters, fried baskets, sandwiches, and hamburgers. You can pair your meal with co*cktails, beer, and wine too.
On top of that, you can get gourmet hard and soft-serve ice cream from Arnold’s Ice Cream Shop. And if you have time, play a round of Arnold’s Mini Golf.
TIP: Consider stopping by the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center before or after you hit the raw bar.
Van Rensselaer’s Restaurant & Raw Bar
South Wellfleet’s Van Rensselaer’s Restaurant & Raw Bar is a family-owned joint that has been serving fresh, locally caught seafood since 1980. The raw bar is amazing, featuring oysters, littlenecks, shrimp co*cktail, and a sampler of all three.
The restaurant menu also includes craft flatbreads, land and sea entrees, and local lobster. Beer, wine, and specialty co*cktails — even frozen co*cktails and mocktails — are available to order as well.
Van Rensselaer’s serves breakfast too. On the menu, you’ll find French toast, pancakes, a variety of egg dishes, hollandaise-topped dishes, smoothies, and morning co*cktails.
The Beachcomber
Voted one of the best waterfront dining spots in the Northeast, The Beachcomber in Wellfleet is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has an extensive raw bar of littleneck clams, Wellfleet Select oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, mussels, oyster shooters, lobster in the rough, steamers, and more.
But, that’s not all. You can find house sandwiches, seafood plates, platters, fish tacos, and lobster, clam, and scallop rolls. Plus, this venue organizes live music in a friendly atmosphere.
Pearl
A spot in Wellfleet with a legendary raw bar is Pearl, one of the Cape’s premier seaside dining destinations. Along with a picturesque view of the harbor, you can nosh on Wellfleet oysters, oyster sashimi, local littlenecks, and peel-and-eat shrimp.
Beyond the raw bar, you can dine on crispy seafood, big bowls, and land and sea entrees. You can enjoy your meal indoors or outdoors in the enclosed patio along with a hand-crafted co*cktail, local beer, or glass of wine in your hand.
TIP: If you time your visit right, you could attend the Wellfleet OysterFest to celebrate (and eat) the saltwater bivalves.
Mac’s Seafood
Operating two raw bars on Cape Cod, Mac’s Seafood has been around since 1995. Mac’s Shack Wellfleet and Mac’s Fish House Provincetown both offer Wellfleet oysters, Wellfleet littlenecks, and wild Mexican shrimp on their raw bar menus.
Also, you’ll find sushi, chowder, lobster and broiled seafood, sandwiches, land and sea entrees, and gluten-free fried foods. At the Provincetown location, you can order craft co*cktails as well.
The Canteen
Serving classic seafood-shack dishes with a modern American twist, The Canteen in Provincetown is a casual eatery. Its raw bar features Provincetown oysters, which are served with co*cktail sauce, horseradish, lemon, and mignonette. Or, get your oysters with some original or chipotle Tabasco.
Aside from the raw bar, the restaurant’s main menu offers chowder, sandwiches, various grilled cheese options, lobster rolls, and a few land and sea entrees. Housemade drinks, beer, cider, co*cktails, and wine are available too. Additionally, brunch is served on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
TIP: You can spend an entire day in Provincetown. Here are our recommendations for a day trip itinerary.
More Cape Cod Restaurants Serving Oysters & Clams
Alongside these raw bars on Cape Cod, several restaurants on the Cape have clams and oysters on their menus. Generally, they serve them half-shell with assorted sauces. These restaurants also have a lot of classic and creative dishes, so don’t miss out on trying multiple dishes:
- Bleu in Mashpee
- Scargo Cafe in Dennis
- Casa del Cabo in Eastham
- The Wicked Oyster in Wellfleet
- The Lobster Pot in Provincetown
Best Bed & Breakfast for Resting Between Raw Bars on Cape Cod
Whether you plan a trip to explore everything on the Cape or just to tour all the best raw bars, Candleberry Inn is a central location to call home. Our Brewster bed and breakfast has elegant rooms and suites where you can rest after filling your belly.
And while you’re staying with us, you can enjoy a fresh, homemade breakfast before you set out to visit Brewster attractions and do other things around the Cape. You can take advantage of all our luxurious amenities as well.
Find out which rooms and suites are available at Candleberry Inn during your Cape Cod travel dates.
