Trying a lobster roll or two is essential whenever you visit Cape Cod. After all, this part of the country has some of the most delicious variations of this famous sandwich you’ll ever sample, so it’s worth checking them out.

When spending your vacation in Barnstable, you’ll have dozens of great restaurants to visit, many of which have outstanding lobster rolls on the menu. However, a few of them stand out from the rest.

Here’s a look at the top five lobster rolls in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

1) Mattakeese Wharf Seafood Restaurant

It doesn’t get much more iconic than Mattakeese Wharf Seafood Restaurant. For starters, the eatery’s location on Barnstable Harbor provides beautiful views of the water and is one of the top spots on the Cape to take in a sunset.

Then, you have the menu featuring various seafood options and lobster rolls in multiple formats. There’s a traditional lobster roll on a brioche hot dog bun, which is always a crowd-pleaser. You can also go with a lobster roll taco on a flour tortilla with salsa and guacamole. Or, you can order a lobster salad without the bun or tortilla.

All of these items are delicious, and you can take in some live music with your meals at Mattakeese Wharf Seafood Restaurant seven days a week in the summer if you visit for dinner.

2) Baxter’s Boathouse

Hyannis Harbor is home to Baxter’s Boathouse, a casual spot on the water dating back 60 years that serves assorted seafood items. Many visitors to Baxter’s grab a spot on the patio and watch the ships rolling in and out of the harbor while having a lobster roll and a drink, and you can do that too on your next Cape Cod vacation.

The lobster roll at Baxter’s is served with mayo and lettuce on a hot dog bun. It comes with your choice of French fries, homemade coleslaw, or Cape Cod Potato Chips, and the portions are rather generous.

You can also have a lobster salad, which is the meat from the lobster roll on a baby green salad with cucumbers and carrots.

3) Black Cat Tavern

Another option on Hyannis Harbor is the Black Cat Tavern. This venue enjoys a beautiful location behind Bismore Park with plenty of parking, and there are two other restaurants – the Black Cat Harbor Shack and the Shake Out Back Raw Bar – on the same property.

However, if you’re really into lobster rolls, the Black Cat Tavern is the place to visit because they serve the Giant Black Cat Lobster Roll.

You’ll have to see this version of this iconic sandwich to believe it, as the lobster meat is packed into the bun at levels you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll be stuffed when you leave the tavern, especially since the roll comes with a bag of Cape Cod Potato Chips and the pickle.

Of course, if you’d prefer a smaller lobster roll, you can head to one of the neighboring restaurants for a more normal-sized meal option.

4) The Raw Bar at the Bluewater Grille

The Raw Bar at the Bluewater Grille is almost directly beside the Black Cat Tavern. This venue might sound a little more high-end than the others on this list because of its name, but it isn’t a fine dining establishment, and you don’t have to get dressed up.

Once you walk into The Raw Bar, you’ll realize it’s very laidback, and most diners choose to sit outside on the patio. You’ll also see why the lobster roll is on this list, and hopefully, you’ll have the chance to try it.

You’ll have two lobster roll options at The Raw Bar: the traditional and the hot buttered. The traditional roll is served cold with some mayo on a hot dog roll. Alternatively, the hot buttered roll comes warm without the mayo. Both options include potato chips and a pickle, but you can upgrade to fries or onion rings for a small fee.

5) Barbyann’s Restaurant

Most of the options on this list are in tourist zones by the water. It makes sense to serve outstanding lobster rolls in those areas because they see the most traffic in the summer, but you can also head off the beaten path for a hidden local gem and find similar quality.

Barbyann’s Restaurant sits in an industrial area near Cape Cod Gateway Airport. It’s a small diner most visitors to the Cape will never get to see, but it is worth a visit if you have a vehicle and want to avoid dealing with the crowds in the touristy areas.

The lobster roll at Barbyann’s is simple: lobster, mayo, and celery on a bun. The outcome is delicious, though, as the sandwich brings locals back week after week because of its quality. If you want to eat like a local, check out Barbyann’s.

Try a Few Lobster Rolls

You can’t go wrong with any of these Cape Cod lobster rolls because they’re all delectable. Each restaurant does things a little differently, though, so trying a few of them makes a lot of sense.

One thing for sure is that you won’t run out of high-end lobster rolls to sample during your Barnstable vacation.