Where to Eat & Drink in Essex
Essex has more places to eat and drink than most visitors expect, and more variety too. Fifteen options on one stretch of the North Shore, from iconic clam shacks that have been doing this for over a century to a waterfront dining room, a proper pub, a craft brewery, and neighbourhood cafés that locals rely on year-round. The seafood is the headline, but it’s far from the whole story.
Blue Marlin Grille
Award-winning seafood, steaks, and pasta on Route 133. A Cape Ann dining institution on the North Shore. Click here for more details.
Boat House Grille
Year-round seafood, steaks, oyster bar, and craft cocktails on John Wise Ave. A Cape Ann dining staple. Click here for more details.
Cape Ann Pizza
Classic and gourmet pizzas, calzones, grinders, and pasta. A reliable local option on Cape Ann’s Route 133. Click here for more details.
Chebacco Market
200+ wines, 135+ craft beers, and 150+ spirits on Western Ave. Strong selection of Cape Ann and North Shore local producers. Click here for more details.
CK Pearl
Family-owned restaurant on the Essex River with seasonally inspired menus, handcrafted cocktails, and Sunday brunch. Click here for more details.
DownRiver Ice Cream
Small-batch artisan ice cream beside the tidal Castleneck River. Adirondack chairs, a garden pergola, and the Great Marsh on Cape Ann. Click here for more details.
Essex Pizza
Pizzas, calzones, grinders, pasta, and salads on Western Ave. Includes Brazilian-style dessert pizzas. Click here for more details.
Essex Seafood
Fried clams, lobster, chowder, and fresh seafood at Essex Seafood on Route 133. On-site fish market and lobster pool. Click here for more details.
Fairway Pub
Pub fare and craft beers at Cape Ann Golf Club. Deck seating overlooking the North Shore’s most scenic course. Click here for more details.
Googans Galley
Artisan coffee, scratch-made pastries, soups, and prepared foods all day. A beloved Cape Ann café and community gathering spot. Click here for more details.
Great Marsh Brewing Company
Essex’s own craft brewery. A rotating tap list of small-batch beers brewed on site, from hoppy IPAs to Belgian classics. Click here for more details.
J.T. Farnham’s
A beloved Essex institution since 1941. Whole-belly fried clams, homemade chowder, and blackened fish tacos on the Essex River. Click here for more details.
John’s Farmstand
Seasonal farm stand on Southern Av. Fresh local produce, eggs, honey, and 14 varieties of homemade pie. Click here for more details.
Marshview Farm General Store
Farm-fresh produce, prepared foods, local beer, wine. Supporting local growers and makers across the North Shore. Click here for more details.
Riversbend Restaurant & Bar
Wood-fired New England cuisine with panoramic Essex River views. Local seafood, seasonal ingredients, and a spacious deck. Click here for more details.
Salty’s Pizza & Ice Cream
Gourmet pizzas and handcrafted locally-sourced ice cream. A newer favorite in the heart of Cape Ann.. Click here for more details.
Schooner’s Market
Essex’s longstanding neighborhood convenience store on Eastern Ave. Beer, wine, spirits, and everyday essentials, a practical stop on Cape Ann’s Route 133. Click here for more details.
The Farm Bar & Grille
House-smoked BBQ, comfort food, signature cocktails, and live music on Route 22. Family-friendly with outdoor deck seating. A Cape Ann favorite. Click here for more details.
The James Pub & Provisions
Lunch, dinner, brunch, and live music on Main Street. A proper neighborhood pub with a full menu and bar on Cape Ann’s North Shore. Click here for more details.
The Mill
Homemade breakfast, lunch, and prepared take-away dinners on Eastern Ave. A beloved Cape Ann café run by local residents. Click here for more details.
The Shipyard Tavern
Fresh New England seafood and tavern fare at the foot of the Essex Causeway Bridge. Wraparound bar and waterfront patio with views of the Essex River. Click here for more details.
Woodman’s of Essex
Celebrating 112 years of New England seafood tradition. The birthplace of the fried clam, a Cape Ann institution drawing visitors from across the region. Click here for more details.
Essex, Massachusetts has earned its reputation as one of the best places to eat on Cape Ann, and the numbers bear it out. Fifteen restaurants, cafés, and food businesses line the town’s two main roads, serving everything from whole-belly fried clams and lobster rolls to wood-fired pizza, house-smoked BBQ, and handcrafted ice cream.
The town’s seafood heritage runs deep: Woodman’s of Essex invented the fried clam here in 1914, and the tradition of cooking the local catch simply and well has never left. J.T. Farnham’s and Essex Seafood, both fixtures on Eastern Avenue, have built devoted followings of their own, and the broader dining scene has collectively accumulated Food Network appearances, Best of North Shore awards, and the kind of loyal regulars that no amount of marketing can manufacture.
Beyond the seafood shacks, Essex rewards those who look further. CK Pearl brings contemporary New England cooking and a serious wine list to the Essex River. Great Marsh Brewing Company brews on site on Main Street. Googans Galley serves some of the best coffee on the North Shore. The Farm Bar & Grille draws crowds with live music and generous BBQ platters. And for provisions, Chebacco Market and Marshview Farm General Store between them cover everything from local craft beer to farm-fresh eggs and artisan snacks.
Whether you’re planning a full day on Cape Ann or just passing through on Route 133, Essex is worth stopping for, and worth staying longer than you planned