Best Boat-to-Table Seafood
Hooked Up Seafood
Wildwood

Seafood sourced directly from the restaurant’s commercial fishing boats goes from the water to your plate with minimal stops in between, letting the quality of the catch speak for itself.
Best Waterfront Happy Hour
The Reeds
Stone Harbor

Handcrafted cocktails, a bay breeze and front-row seats to the sunset — yeah, you’re not leaving anytime soon. This is the happy hour that turns into a whole evening.
Best Boutique for Coastal Style
Petes Mercantile
Avalon, Ocean City & Wildwood Crest
Find bright colors, breezy clothing and accessories that are actually thoughtfully picked – not just vacation merch. You’ll find pieces you’ll keep wearing long after the trip’s over.
Best Bayside Coffee Break
Turtle Gut
Wildwood Crest
Grab a handcrafted coffee, find a seat overlooking the bay and ease into the day with fresh pastries and breakfast favorites. Honestly one of the best views in Wildwood Crest.
Best Dockside Dinner
The Lobster House
Cape May
Watching the boats come and go while cracking into lobster or digging into a seafood feast has made this waterfront landmark a Shore tradition for generations.
Best Place for Your Next Beach Read
Sandbar Story Shack
Long Beach Island
This bookstore on wheels is rolling through LBI and Ocean County all summer long. Pick out your next beach read, or take a chance with a “blind date with a book.” And the best part? It all comes to you.
Best Way to Explore Down The Shore
Coastal Cruiser
Wildwood to Cape May
Parking the car and hopping into the Coastal Cruiser is one of the easiest ways to explore wineries, breweries and more from Wildwood to Cape May. It turns getting around into part of the fun.
Best BYOB
Mamma Lena’s Trattoria
Ventnor
A great bottle of wine deserves a great meal, and Mamma Lena’s delivers. Bring your favorite vintage, settle in with homemade Italian classics and enjoy.
Best Cure for Cabin Fever
Marjorie & Lewis Katz JCC
Margate
When the weather keeps everyone indoors, we know just where to go – swimming, fitness classes, sports, family programs and activities for all ages. There’s always something going on.
Best Sports Fits Down the Shore
izzi and lu
Sea Isle City, Avalon
Game day down the Shore hits different. izzi & lu stocks the latest sportswear, matching sets and easygoing styles that look just as good strolling the boardwalk as they do at the game.
Best Place to Watch the Ferry Come In
Stowaways
Cape May
There’s something surprisingly relaxing about watching the Cape May–Lewes Ferry come into the harbor. Settle in with a cocktail and enjoy a front-row seat.
Best Made-From-Scratch Donuts
Frog Hollow Bakery
Greenfield
The whole display case is honestly hard to resist, but the donuts are the real stars here. Soft, fresh, baked daily — the kind of treat that turns a quick bakery run into a Shore tradition.
Best Mediterranean Bites
Sofia
Margate
A table at Sofia is meant to be shared. Creamy hummus, whipped feta, grilled octopus, saganaki – it’s basically impossible to stop at just one plate.
Best Brewery with a Side of History
Cold Spring Brewery
Cape May

Tucked inside Historic Cold Spring Village, this place pairs small-batch brews with one of the most unique settings around, so your pint comes with a side of South Jersey history.
Best Place to Turn a Weekend into a Story
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Atlantic City
A concert, a lucky streak, a late-night dinner that somehow turns into sunrise on the Boardwalk – this place just has a way of packing a whole story into one weekend.
Best Post-Beach Comfort Food
Holiday Snack Bar
Long Beach Island
This LBI favorite has been welcoming sandy, sunburned beachgoers for generations. Nothing hits the spot after a day in the sun like a basket of fries, a juicy burger and a slice of their famous chocolate cake.
Best Raw Bar by the Water
Beach Creek Oyster Bar & Grille
Wildwood
Fresh oysters just taste better with a waterfront view. The raw bar is stocked with fresh shellfish while the marina setting and bay breezes create the perfect atmosphere.
Best Boardwalk Snack to Save From The Seagulls
Johnson’s Popcorn
Ocean City

Photo: Philip Gabriel Photography
Everyone knows the rules: watch your fries, guard your funnel cake and definitely keep an eye on your Johnson’s Popcorn. It’s so good even the seagulls want a taste.
Best Coastal Tavern
Mayer’s Tavern
Cape May
Whether you’re digging into oysters, scallops or the catch of the day, you’ll feel like an old-school fisherman here. Fresh-off-the-boat seafood and seasonal local ingredients make Mayer’s Tavern a standout.
Best Specialty Sushi Rolls
Megu Sushi
Ventnor
Classic rolls are great, but this is where things get really fun. Signature rolls stacked with fresh seafood, bold flavors and creative combinations make it genuinely hard to order the same thing twice.
Best Beachfront Getaway
The Grand Hotel
Cape May

The best part? The beach is basically right outside your door. Spend the day on the sand, by the pool or exploring Cape May, then come back to ocean views.
Best Window Seat
La Finestra
Sea Isle
The best tables in the house are the ones overlooking the ocean. Floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the beach make the meal just that much better.
Best Speakeasy-Style Escape
Angeloni’s Club Madrid
Atlantic City
It’s one of AC’s best-kept secrets. Dim lighting, expertly crafted cocktails and vintage lounge vibes create the perfect setting to settle in, slow down and savor the night.
Best Rooftop Dinner
Santorini
Wildwood
Here you’ll find fresh Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and a rooftop atmosphere that makes you want to order one more course just to stay a little longer. Especially when the sun starts to go down.
Best Scoop Made from Scratch
The Woohoo
Beach Haven
This place doesn’t rely on pre-made mixes. Every batch of ice cream is made from scratch in-house using fresh dairy, quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations.
Best Beach Day Picnic
Wild Roots Provisions
Cape May
Wild Roots Provisions stocks chef-made sandwiches, fresh salads, snacks and picnic essentials, making it easy to pack a lunch that you’ll have to guard from the seagulls.
Best Place to Find Something You Didn’t Know You Needed
Eastward
Ocean City
You might walk in looking for a gift, but don’t be surprised if you leave with something for yourself, too. Coastal-inspired goods and unique finds make every visit feel like a treasure hunt.
Best BBQ
The Surfing Pig
North Wildwood
Smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and house-made sides that hit every single craving – whether you’re coming off the beach or settling in for a proper dinner by the bay.
Best Sticky Buns Worth the Wait
Barry’s Buns
Wildwood Crest

The line moves fast, but honestly, even if it didn’t, you’d still wait. Fresh from the oven with a gooey cinnamon filling, these sticky buns earn every minute.
Best Specialty Hot Dog
LouDogs
Sea Isle
Creative specialty dogs piled high with toppings turn this boardwalk favorite into a destination of its own. You could order just the classic… but that’s not as fun.
Best Night Out
Morey’s Piers
Wildwood
Three amusement piers packed with rides, classic boardwalk games and attractions for every age mean there’s a little something for everyone’s perfect night out.
Best Shore Brew
Cape May Brewing Co.
Cape May

Whether you’re sipping a flagship Cape May IPA, sampling a flight of seasonal releases or relaxing in the beer garden, this brewery has become a Shore tradition.
Best Way to End a Boardwalk Night
Sea Shell Ice Cream Parlor
Wildwood
The rides are winding down, there’s an ocean breeze rolling in and there’s only one move left: grab a cone. This spot is the perfect ending to Wildwood boardwalk nights.
Best Sunset Dinner by the Water
Fish House
Cape May
Some tables just come with a view worth sticking around for. Fresh seafood, waterfront seating and a Cape May sunset that steals the show every single time.
Best Handmade Pasta
Spiaggetta
Stone Harbor

Fresh pasta is the whole point here. Every dish features perfectly hand-shaped pasta made the traditional Italian way using simple, high-quality ingredients that let authentic flavors take center stage.
Best Bike Ride Beer Stop
Behr Brewing
Cape May

A ride along the Cape May County Bike Path gets even better with a beer. Park your bike, cool off with a locally brewed pint and relax in the taproom before heading back out on the trail.
Best Wine Bar
Sargasso
Margate
Settle in with a thoughtfully curated list, seasonal small plates and a vibe that works just as well for a quick drink as it does for a long, leisurely night.
Best Distillery
Nauti Spirits Distillery
Cape May
Nauti Spirits grows many of the grains and botanicals used to craft its award-winning spirits. Stop in for a tour, stay for a tasting.
Best Place to Spoil Your Pup
Salty Paws
Stone Harbor
Puppies deserve treats too. Here, dogs get their own lactose-free ice cream, bakery treats and toppings to create the perfect dessert.
Best Crab Cakes
The Crab Trap
Somers Point
Sweet lump crabmeat, just enough seasoning and a recipe that’s been keeping seafood lovers coming back to Somers Point for generations. Once you try them, you’ll get it.
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