CapeMay.com’s Best of Cape May has been an annual hallmark of our website since 2005. It has run every year in August except in 2020, when we paused it during the pandemic. The original survey had just twenty questions, including things like the best street in town (Jackson), best service (a tie between Henry’s on the Beach and Uncle Bill’s), and the best time of day (sunset). Over the years, we’ve expanded and honed the questions to recognize the variety of businesses in town and deliver results that help visitors plan their next trip to Cape May.

This year, we polled in seventy-four categories. As always, we hand tally the results to ensure no duplicates or vote stuffing. Here are the winners for the 2022 Best of Cape May, as voted by you, recognizing excellence in shopping, dining, and experiences.

The Best in Shopping

Accessories: Red Oak Trading

Runner up: Whale’s Tale

Antiques and Vintage: West End Garage

Runners up: Out of the Past Antiques and Cape May Antique Center

Art Gallery: D’May

Runner up: SOMA NewArt Gallery

Bath and Personal Care: Bath Time

Runner up: Shore Soaps

Books: Cape Atlantic Books

Runner up: Barrier Island Books

Candy and Fudge: The Original Fudge Kitchen

Runners up: Louisa’s Chocolate Bar and Fralinger’s

Cape May Souvenirs: Sunset Beach Gift Shop

Runner up: The Whale’s Tale

Children’s Clothing: Arden’s Kids

Runner up: Happy Baby

Shoes: Casale’s

Runner up: Galvanic

Gifts: Whale’s Tale

Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shop

Gourmet / Specialty Food: Cape May Peanut Butter Co.

Runner up: The Cheese Shop

Handbags & Totes: Red Oak Trading

Runner up: SeaWeeds

Home Decor: Cape May Wicker

Runner up: West End Garage

Jewelry: Henry’s

Runner up: Whale’s Tale

Liquor Store: Collier’s

Runner up: Joe Canal’s

Men’s Clothing: Galvanic

Runner up: The Cotton Company

Pet Store: Dog Days of Cape May

Runner up: Collar and Bone

Surf & Swimwear: South End Surf Shop

Runner up: Pete Smith’s Surf Shop

Tees & Sweatshirts: It’s a Breeze

Runner up: Great White Shark

Toys: Whale’s Tale

Runner up: Toy Shop of Cape May

Women’s Clothing: The Cotton Company

Runner up: Sunflowers

The Best in Dining

Appetizers: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runner up: Fins

Baked Goods & Pastries: Chez Michel

Runner up: Madison’s Bakery

Breakfast Sandwich: Coffee Tyme

Runner up: Bagel Time

Brunch: Mad Batter

Runners up: Blue Pig Tavern and Vintage

Burger: Ugly Mug

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Coffee: Coffee Tyme

Runners up: Magic Brain and Ostara’s

Cold & Frozen Drinks: Coffee Tyme

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Crab Cakes: Freda’s Cafe

Runner up: Cape May Fish Market

Fish or Shrimp Tacos: Key West Tacos

Runner up: Taco Caballito

Fries: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runner up: Lucky Bones

Hot Dogs: Hot Dog Tommy’s

Runner up: The Hot Dog Lady at Historic Cold Spring Village

Ice Cream, Gelato, or Sorbet: Kohr Bros

Runner up: Peace Pies

Italian: Sapore Italiano

Runner up: Viggiano’s on Sunset

Mexican: Taco Caballito

Runner up: El Pueblo Taqueria

Mussel: Lucky Bones

Runners up: The Lobster House and Lucky Bones

Oysters: Oyster Bay

Runner up: The Lobster House

Pad Thai: Exit Zero Filling Station

Runner up: Murasaki

Pancakes: Uncle Bill’s Pancake House

Runner up: Dock Mike’s

Pizza: Mario’s

Runner up: Boiler Room

Plant-based Options: Good Earth Organic Eatery

Runner up: Bella Vida Garden Cafe

Salad: George’s Place

Runner up: Lucky Bones

Sandwich, Wrap, or Hoagie: Westside Market

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Scallops: Mayer’s Tavern

Runner up: The Lobster House

Seafood: The Lobster House

Runner up: Tisha’s

Steak: Primal

Runner up: Washington Inn and Tisha’s

Sushi: Yozu

Runner up: Harbor View

Wings: C-View Tavern

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Takeout: The Lobster House

Runner up: Homestyle 2 Go

Best Options for Kids: Rusty Nail

Runner up: Mad Batter

Best Place to Eat Outside: The Lobster House

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Best View from the Table: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runner up: Primal

Worth the Splurge: Washington Inn

Runner up: Primal

Best Cocktails: The Brown Room

Runner up: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Best Outdoor Bar: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runner up: Rusty Nail

Best Place to Hear Live Music: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runners up: Rusty Nail and the King Edward Bar at the Chalfonte

Best Happy Hour: Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille

Runner up: Oyster Bay

The Best Experiences

Bicycle and Surrey Rental: Cape Island Bikes

Runner up: Village Bicycle Shop

Boat Tour, Charter, or Cruise: Cape May Whale Watcher

Runner up: Thundercat Dolphin Watch

Brewery or Distillery Tour: Cape May Brewing Co.

Runner up: Nauti Spirits

Best Food Festival: Craft Beer and Crab Festival

Runner up: West Cape May Lima Bean Festival

Golf Course or Par 3: Cape May Par 3

Runner up: Cape May National Golf Course

Holiday Event: West Cape May Christmas Parade

Runner up: Cape May City’s Halloween Parade

Live Performing Arts: Cape May Stage

Runner up: Exit Zero Jazz Festival

Kid-friendly Activity (besides the beach): Cape May County Park and Zoo

Runner up: The Nature Center of Cape May

Mini Golf: Ocean Putt on Jackson Street

Runner up: Sunset Beach Mini Golf

Museum or Historic Site: Emlen Physick Estate

Runner up: Harriet Tubman Museum

Park, Garden, or Preserve: Nature Trails in Cape May Point State Park

Runner up: Garrett Family Preserve

Pet-Friendly: Cold Spring Brewery

Runner up: Lower Township Beaches

Spa or Massage: Cape May Day Spa

Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall

Thrill or High-Speed Activity: East Coast Watersports

Runner up: Morey’s Piers

Walking or Guided Tour: Cape May Food Tours

Runner up: Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour or Ghost Capers

Winery Tour and Tasting: Willow Creek Winery

Runner up: Cape May Winery

Best Month to Visit: September

Runner up: July

Did your business win the Best of Cape May? Download your customized poster to display in a sign holder or window.