On the tour, you’ll learn from experts about oyster farming, how it can benefit the ecosystem, the harvesting process of the oysters, and you’ll even get to indulge in some fresh local oysters at the raw bar once your tour is complete.

Shopping along Main Street

In the center of Chatham are a variety of shops along Main Street. There’s everything from clothing stores and candy shops, to home decor and gift shops to find souvenirs. Some favorites included places like Mayflower for home goods, Fisherman’s Daughter for clothes, and Chatham Candy Manor for candies and sweets, but there are plenty more where that came from.

Where to dine

Cuvée

Cuvée offers a tasting menu, with optional wine pairings from their expert Sommelier, so guests can try a variety of dishes from their menu. The tasting menu consists of four courses, with occasional surprises sprinkled throughout the evening. The executive chef, Isaac Olivo, features dishes that highlight the finest, high-quality ingredients on the Cape like local seafood, some even caught  just that morning like the sea scallops. A few of the dishes include options like East Coast Oysters with a plum mignonette, peach purée, and red verjus, Foie Gras with pistachio, brioche, and cherries, and fresh Sea Scallops with Wellfleet clams, rosé Nage, and crispy polenta. Getting into the main dishes, there are options like New England Lobster, tender Striped Sea Bass, and even Japanese A5 Wagyu that melts in your mouth, perfectly cooked with an option to add shaved truffles.

Speaking of additions, you can ask for an add-on of caviar to enjoy on its own or enhance each dish, placing a little on the oysters or scallops as you enjoy them. The pastry chef, Whitney Stancil, has created dishes like the Toasted Coconut Panna Cotta with macadamia brittle and lychee purée, or the Carrot Cake with salted caramel ice cream, vanilla bean ganache, and mascarpone mousse. Not only does the chef prioritize finding the freshest, flavorful ingredients, but Cuvée cares deeply about sustainability. They make an effort to compost, grow their own gardens for ingredients in their dishes, maintain beehives for local honey right on the property, and support local fisherman and farmers whenever possible.

Pates Restaurant

Pates is a phenomenal place to visit if you’re looking for fresh, delicious dishes featuring local produce, meat, and seafood. Pates makes an effort to work with local fisherman and farmers to get high quality ingredients for their Chef (and Owner), Anthony Silvestri, to work with in the kitchen. Enjoy delicious dishes like the Lobster Tostadas with cured cucumbers, crunchy kimchi cabbage slaw, and kewpie mayo or juicy, local Little Neck Clams to begin the meal. The Seafood Pan Roast features a variety of seafood like lobster, scallops, shrimp, and salty pancetta over fettuccine in a black pepper, basil cream sauce and the Salmon Fillet is incredibly tender and light.

Chatham Pier Fish Market

When visiting Chatham, a trip to the Chatham Fish Pier Market is a must. Not only is it a great location on the waterfront to watch the boats come in between 10 AM and 4 PM every day, but they have delicious seafood options in a no-frills environment. You can pick up flavorful chowder, lobster rolls, lobster bisque, fried whole belly clams, seafood salad, and more to snack on at the picnic tables outside. After you enjoy your food, head up to the end of the pier to watch the seals swimming in the water, waiting for the fishing boats to come in.

Where to stay

Chatham Inn

For a 5 star stay in Chatham in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Chatham Inn is the ideal place. Not only is the bed-and-breakfast located within walking distance from Lighthouse Beach, featuring the historic 19th century lighthouse, but in the other direction, there is a strip of local, boutique shops to browse through. The Chatham Inn features comfortable, luxurious rooms to relax in at the end of the day after exploring, and the staff are always incredibly helpful, willing to offer any input on local restaurants, things to do, and places to visit while in town.

If you flew into Cape Cod or are visiting without a car, they have a Volvo program through the hotel where guests can use a 2022 XC90-T8, complementary with their stay, to explore Cape Cod. Just email them ahead of time if you’re interested in the program or are in need of a car. Although most activities are walkable, this is a great opportunity to explore outside of the main strip in Chatham.

When planning a trip to Cape Cod, there are a lot of beautiful destinations along the region to explore, but Chatham is easily one of the best. If you’re looking for great beaches, phenomenal places to eat, local shops, and plenty to do, Chatham is a great jumping off point for your stay in Cape Cod.