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A Weekend Visitor’s Guide to Chatham, Cape Cod

When it comes to quintessential summer days, all roads lead to this Lower Cape town.

By Brittany Jasnoff· 5/26/2026, 7:00 a.m.

A coastal residential area with numerous houses surrounded by trees and greenery, bordered by a sandy beach and calm blue water with several small boats anchored nearby. The scene is captured under a clear sky with soft sunlight.

Guests of Chatham Bars Inn have exclusive access to a pristine stretch of shoreline. / Courtesy of Chatham Bars Inn

IF YOU could conjure a postcard of Cape Cod in your mind, it’d surely look a lot like Chatham. The always-charming town is packed with miles of beaches, sprawling shingle-style homes framed by hydrangeas, and a lighthouse that looks like it came straight out of central casting. It’s also home to one of the most walkable (and shoppable) main streets in all of the Cape, lined with upscale boutiques and ice cream and candy shops. And late June/early July is one of the best times to go, as the town ramps up to its epic July 4 weekend, which includes one of the country’s oldest parades, fireworks, and a carnival along the beach at Chatham Bars Inn, the beating heart of the town’s summer festivities.

A grassy outdoor area with multiple colorful whale-shaped sculptures mounted on metal stands. The whales are painted in various designs, including one with an American flag and another in a blue marbled pattern. Trees with green leaves provide partial shade, and a building with large windows is visible in the background.

The town’s Art in the Park is a summer tradition. / Photo by Greta Georgieva

PLAY

Mornings always start with a stroll down Main Street for coffee at the Snowy Owl Espresso Bar, a little java shack with big ambitions. The day is your oyster (quite literally). You can hit one of the town’s many beaches, from the sweeping Lighthouse Beach to the calm, sea-life-filled waters of Ridgevale. Boating is also a big draw: If you’re staying at Chatham Bars Inn, it’s easy to hop on its gratis boat shuttle over to North Beach Island for a peaceful walk—or charter a vessel for any number of saltwater pursuits, from whale watching to fishing. Prefer to stay on dry land? Watch the seals munch on lunch at the Chatham Fish Pier; take a hike in the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge; or hop on the Old Colony Rail Trail. It connects to the iconic Cape Cod Rail Trail, which you can pick up from Depot Road in the center of Chatham. Beginning in mid-June, you can also stroll Kate Gould Park to take in works from local artists through the town’s Art in the Park program. See something you like? Go online and bid on it—you’ll find out if it’s yours at the end of the summer.

Five colorful cocktails are arranged on a white table outdoors, with a blurred beach and ocean background. The drinks include a red cocktail with an orange slice in a wine glass, a light orange cocktail with berries in a wine glass, a red cocktail with a watermelon and lime garnish in a short glass, a tall pink cocktail with mint and red berries, and a creamy yellow cocktail with an orange slice and celery stalk.

Drinks with a view at CBI. / Photo courtesy of Chatham Bars Inn

EAT

Another benefit of staying in Chatham is the proximity to so many Boston-quality restaurants. Fuel up for the day’s adventures at Chatham Bars Inn’s Stars restaurant, easily the best breakfast in town (don’t miss the homemade doughnuts on the buffet). Lunch is at Codo Mexican Kitchen, a recently opened counter-service spot with some seriously good tacos and margs. Dinner options abound, whether you go for French at Pain D’Avignon‘s Chatham outpost, seafood at Drifters, or hearty American fare at CBI’s Sacred Cod tavern. But a new town favorite is Aplaya Kitchen + Tiki Bar, where owners Pelinda and Tom Deegan show off Pelinda’s Filipino heritage with homemade lumpia (pork egg rolls), siopao (meat buns), and a tropical tiki-bar ambiance on the patio. And whatever you do, grab a few mini pies from Marion’s Pie Shop after the beach—especially the Razzleberry (blackberry, raspberry, and apple). Our advice? Don’t share.

Bright, colorful scarves and pouches are displayed on racks in a well-lit, modern store with a sign reading "Main Street Mahjong." The space features clear acrylic chairs around tables covered with patterned cloths, and shelves with various vibrant items. Large windows let in natural light, highlighting the cheerful and inviting atmosphere.

New boutique Main Street Mahjong is making a splash. / Photo via the Boudreau Group

SHOP

Shopping is one of the best ways to pass the time in Chatham between beach and boating trips—or on a rainy day. You could spend a full afternoon with the kids just hitting up the Chatham Candy Manor and Ducks in the Window, where they’ll delight in choosing from more than 1,000 styles in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Grownups will enjoy browsing the many home, clothing, and souvenir shops, including local fave BroDenim, where you can customize jean jackets and hoodies with cool patches. Newly opened boutique Main Street Mahjong, meanwhile, is a must-visit for those who play the game.

Wooden deck with two white Adirondack chairs overlooking a calm blue ocean, with a neighboring building and a small dock visible in the background under a clear sky.

A waterfront deck at the resort. / Photo courtesy of Chatham Bars Inn

STAY

Situated on a pristine stretch of sand, Chatham Bars Inn is the ideal Cape resort—grand enough to feel like a proper getaway, but spread out enough to feel like a home away from home. Accommodations range from luxe rooms in the circa-1914 main inn to multi-room suites with water views—either way, you’ll have access to the resort’s gorgeous oceanfront pool, private beach with cabanas, and fleet of Lexus vehicles for borrowing—including an oversand SUV should you decide to trek out to Race Point Beach at sunset (first come, first served!). Bonus points for a robust kids’ club that keeps the little ones entertained while their parents kick back with a cocktail in hand at the new South Lounge Bar—or unwind at the excellent on-site spa.

GETTING THERE

You know the drill—straight down 93 and Route 3, cross the bridge, U.S. 6 East all the way to Chatham. Easy as pie—unless, of course, there’s traffic, which you know there will be.

This article was first published in the print edition of the June 2026 issue, with the headline,“Chatham, Cape Cod.”