Date Night in Cape May

A friend recently asked me for recommendations for date night in Cape May. It was a bit on an aha moment—why have I not written a post on this before??? Of course, there are so many different versions of a date night that it is hard to even know where to start.  I landed on giving options at different levels so people could mix and match.

Dinner

There is a wide array of options in Cape May from very high end to super casual. The option of full bar and BYOB is also plentiful. One pro tip here—always double check to see if the place you are going is CASH ONLY. You don’t want to ruin a lovely evening by having to run to the ATM in a panic.

A few high-end spots with a full bar are The Washington Inn and The Ebbitt Room in the Virginia Hotel. Grabbing a drink on the porch of The Virginia before or after dinner is so much fun. I always seem to strike up a conversation with folks on the porch. If you want to go the BYOB route, there are even more options such as Primal (with ocean views), Grana (my favorite BYOB) Peter Shield’s, 410 Bank Street and Maison Bleue Bistro to name a few. If you really want to go for it, Jardin at The Hugh is very unique Pre fixe culinary experience.

Some more moderate options are primarily (but not exclusively) BYOB. For example, Sapore Italiano, Tisha’s, Freda’s Cafe, YB and Shamone are all BYOB. The Blue Pig is also an option with a bar that has lovely outdoor dining in summer and cozy fireplace dining when it gets chilly. Of course, I must mention The Mad Batter and The Cricket Club. On the marina side, C-View and of course The Lobster House are ones to consider as well. Fun fact, did you know that Taylor Swift has been to The Lobster House?

It goes without saying that more casual date nights are awesome too! Taco Cabilito, Fins and Elaine’s come to mind for full bar spots in town. Mayer’s Tavern and Lucky Bones Back Water Grille are ones to consider with a bar on the marina side. I am a big fan of grabbing tacos from Key West Tacos, grabbing a favorite beverage and watching the sunset at Cove Beach.

I have not even scratched the surface of all fun and eclectic options for a date night dinner out in Cape May. There is certainly something for absolutely everyone! If you are a fan of making reservations like I am there are several online or app reservation systems used by Cape May establishments: OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Seven Rooms and Toast. When in doubt, you can always call the restaurant as well.

Wineries and more…

There are several wineries that would be great stops for a date night. Instagram is full of pics taken of just that. Cape May, Willow Creek and Hawk Haven all have great outdoor and indoor seating. Willow Creek does Fire pit Fridays, which is great fun. Schedule a tasting, share a bottle, enjoy a wine flight, and grab a little food while you’re at it. Please check on the individual sites for any reservation recommendations.

If you are in the mood for a little something stronger, there are two local distilleries that are worth a try. Nauti Spirits is just plain fun, with plenty of space indoors and out to hang out and sip a cocktail. They have some pretty amazing food trucks that stop by, but you can absolutely bring your own. Cape May Distillery is another place to stop for a cocktail in their cozy tasting room or outside.

Fun Activities

Dancing

There are so many fun things to do in Cape May for a memorable date night! Dancing or just listening to live music is a favorite of so many. You can dance the night away at Carney’s, The Boiler Room or Hemingway’s on the weekends.

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

For an extra romantic date night, reserve a horse drawn carriage ride through the beautiful streets of Cape May. There are 15 and 30 minute tours that can be booked online or at the booth on Ocean and Washington Streets. You will also learn a little bit of history.

Cruises

Both whale watching cruises offer a Sunset Cruise – Cape May Whale Watchers & Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center. A more intimate option is available from Cape May Island Hoppers on a Sunchaser Pontoon Lounge. This small vessel accommodates only 6 passengers and can be booked as a private cruise.

Theater

One does not necessarily think of theater when they think of Cape May, but there are two awesome options. Cape May Stage on Lafayette Street which began in 1989 and has a rich history. Learn more and purchase tickets on their website. The other great option is East Lynne Theater Company currently at the Presbyterian Church on Hughes Street. This company was founded in 1980 and named after a popular melodrama in the 19^th Century. They will be moving to a dedicated space in the former Allen A.M.E. Church on Franklin Street.

Mini golf

So many people think of mini golf when they think of Cape May. There are four fun options in and around Cape May. Ocean Putt on the corner of Jackson and Beach is the quintessential old time mini golf experience. It happens to be my son Ian’s favorite, as he has fond memories growing up and putting the ball through the alligator. Steve’s Stockton Golf on the corner of Howard and Beach is much more elaborate with two water features and greenery. Cape May Miniature Golf on Jackson Street is also more expansive and has the longest hole in Cape May at over 38 feet! The final one is a bit of a drive from town at Sunset Beach—Sunset Beach Mini Golf. This 18 hole course has beautiful view of Delaware Bay and the first 9 holes are wheelchair accessible.

I hope I have given you plenty of options when planning a Date Night in Cape May! If you want to turn this into a full weekend trip, check out my tips for Valentine’s Day. Here is another post that will give you some date night inspo–Planning a Pub Crawl in Cape May.

Helping folks make memories in Cape May is what it is all about for me! If you do try out some of my suggestions for a fabulous date night and post anything on Instagram, please tag me! I would love to see it #capemaydays

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