No matter the time of year, locating a good cup of coffee and a quick meal is a priority when visiting Cape Cod. Finding a local spot to frequent in the morning ensures every day gets started on the right foot, helping you make the most of your time on the Cape.
Sandwich, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest towns in the country, and you’ll find history everywhere you look. It also has an excellent coffee scene, with trendy cafes, classic coffee shops, and homestyle diners from which to choose.
Each establishment on this list is worth checking out, especially if you book a vacation rental nearby. Here’s a look at the top five coffee shops in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
1) Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters
Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters is a thriving local chain with locations in Brewster, Chatham, and Sandwich. The Sandwich location is the company’s newest and sits conveniently on Route 6A, just off Main Street.
All the coffee at Snowy Owl is roasted on the Cape, and they offer both single-origin and blended varieties. They also serve tea, freshly-squeezed orange juice, pastries, empanadas, granola, and cookies. Specialty coffees on the menu include mocha, Americano, cappuccino, cortado, and cafe au lait, and you can also purchase beans to take home with you.
For some of the best coffee available on the East Coast, you won’t want to miss Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters in Sandwich, MA.
2) Beth’s Bakery and Cafe
If you’re in the mood for more than a cup of coffee, Beth’s Bakery and Cafe might be your best bet. This restaurant sits on Jarves Street, between Main Street and Route 6A, making it easily accessible from all parts of downtown Sandwich.
Beth’s specializes in hometown baking, as the menu features popular items like scones, pastries, muffins, bread, and cookies. You can also grab some oatmeal, a quiche, or a breakfast wrap in the morning or visit for lunch and enjoy a sandwich, panini, or soup.
The coffee, espresso, and tea at Beth’s Bakery and Cafe are excellent, as well, so you can even stop in for a quick drink in the morning before carrying on with your day. It’s also worth mentioning that Beth’s sits in a 175-year-old building that was once a Puritan Church, so there’s significant history here.
3) Cafe Riverview
The concept of Cafe Riverview is slightly different from the other venues on this list because it’s part of Riverview School’s hands-on classroom initiative. The idea is that students in the school’s Post High School Transition Program work at the cafe to learn about food preparation and restaurant operations. Visiting this cafe allows you to actively participate in the future of these students while enjoying one of Sandwich’s best coffee shops.
Cafe Riverview sits in East Sandwich, so it’s further away from the downtown area than other establishments on this list. It isn’t too far, though, especially if you’re spending time on the beaches of Cape Cod Bay during your time on the Cape.
As for the menu, Cafe Riverview has smoothies, breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, bagels, salads, quinoa bowls, and lunchtime sandwiches available. They also have an excellent house blend coffee and specialty drinks like cappuccinos, espressos, lattes, mochas, and Chai teas.
4) Cafe Chew
Cafe Chew is best known for its lunch offerings, as the restaurant serves salads, sandwiches, soups, and paninis. The lunch menu is massive, and the eatery is worth visiting in the afternoon for its sandwiches alone.
However, Cafe Chew is also open in the morning for coffee and breakfast, so you can check them out first thing. The breakfast menu features favorites like pancakes, eggs, omelets, sausages, ham, Canadian bacon, toast, oatmeal, and breakfast sandwiches. Their coffee is also a hit, featuring a house blend, a guest brew, espresso, cappuccino, cafe latte, and mocha.
As a bonus, almost everything on the menu is organic, and all the coffee and tea items are fair trade. Cafe Chew is located on Merchants Road, not far from the Sandwich Marina.
5) Greek Caffeina Cafe of Sandwich
The Greek Caffeina Cafe is in the same complex as Cafe Chew, making it easy to check both locations out during your Cape Cod vacation.
The Greek Caffeina Cafe has an international flair and features unique menu items like Papu’s Traditional Greek Espresso, Affogoto Espresso, Greek Espresso Frappucino, Greek Shaken Espresso Chocolate Almond, and Mediterranean Pistachio Latte, in addition to all the traditional morning time drinks you’d expect at a cafe.
You can also choose between various baked goods, like scones, croissants, and donuts, crepes, and breakfast items like waffles, avocado toast, and breakfast sandwiches. There’s a lunch menu, too, with souvlaki, paninis, sandwiches, gyros, and Greek salad.
Checking Out Some Local Spots
You don’t want to miss Cape Cod’s culinary scene because there are great places to sample in every town. Sandwich’s coffee shops provide a great way to start your morning, and some are even open later in the day if you get off to a slow start.
One thing for sure is that you’ll love the coffee at all of these venues, and they’re sure to add another layer of enjoyment to your time on the Cape.
