If you are looking for one of the best beach bars in New England, the town of Brewster is a good place to start.
Located about 85 miles southeast of Boston, at the inside of the flexed Cape Cod arm, is the beach town of Brewster, Massachusetts. Nicknamed “the Sea Captain’s Town”, Brewster is the quintessential Cape Cod town with rolling sand dunes, beautiful historic new England architecture, great seafood restaurants, lots of great beaches, and one of the Northeast’s hidden gem Beach Bars.
History
Named after one of the original Mayflower pilgrims, William Brewster, who settled here in 1659. The town soon earned its nickname as sea captains chose to settle here. They built beautiful homes after earning capital from their successful sea voyages.
The town was also beginning to attract the attention of prominent families from around the country looking to set up summer residences. Two such families, both who made fortunes in the Chicago alcohol distilling market, chose Brewster to build their summer getaways.
One of these families was the Crosby family, whose mansion still stands today and is open to the public for tour, weddings, and more. The other family was the Nickersons (pictured above), in particular Samuel and Matilda Nickerson, and their son Roland.
This prominent family has a State Park named after them. It has been called one of the crown jewels of Cape Cod. Born on Cape Cod in neighboring town, Chatham, Samuel Nickerson began to learn about the liquor business when he married Brewster native Mathilda Crosby in the late 1850’s. This brought him to Chicago where he eventually got involved in banking and became president of Chicago’s First National Bank in 1867. He made a fortune when he sold his shares in the bank to a syndicate that included J.P. Morgan, Marshall Field, and E.H. Harriman.
What does all this history have to do with the best beach bars?
Well, luckily for us, in the late 1880’s Nickerson purchased a huge piece of oceanfront land in Brewster, Ma, where he decided to build a beautiful Tudor style summer home…ahem… mansion. Dedicating nearly 50 acres of the land to the house and grounds, Fieldstone Hall, as it was known, was completed in 1890.
Fieldstone Hall
The Carriage House (Below)
Unfortunately, in 1906 two disasters struck the family. First, Fieldstone Hall burned to the ground. Then only a few weeks later, Samuel and Mathilda’s son Roland, passed away. Through the combined efforts of Roland’s widow, Addie, and Samuel, the house was rebuilt better than before.
Years after Samuel and Mathilda’s passing, Addie Nickerson went on to donate over 1,700 acres of land, creating the first state park in Massachusetts, Nickerson State Park. After Addie’s passing, Fieldstone Hall exchanged hands to the LaSalette eternal order, then acquired in the mid 1980’s by current ownership group, Corcoran Jennison Hospitality.
Soon after the purchase, the transformation from Tudor mansion to full-scale, Quintessential coastal Cape Cod meets modern luxury resort began. The property was divided into two sides: the Mansion side and the Villages side. Construction began on an award-winning Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. Custom one, two, and three-bedroom villas were built around the course. More traditional hotel rooms were built on the Mansion side.
The Beach Bar
What stands today, is a AAA Four-Diamond, Conde Naste Traveler Multi Award-Winning, 4 Consecutive Boston Magazine Best of Cape Cod resort, that consists of 6 bars and restaurants, 2 indoor and 3 outdoor pools , 2 fitness centers, tennis courts, a spa, winter time/outdoor Frost Bar, the Cape’s only Jack Nicklaus designed course, a pool bar, and of particular interest to us, one of the hidden gem beach bars in New England.
The Beach Bar sits atop a sand dune above the resort’s private beach. But, THE BEACH BAR IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! As are the rest of the restaurants throughout the resort!
Launched on July 4th weekend 2016, the Beach Bar has 32 seats, with a panoramic view of the ocean and surrounding area. According to the Beach Bar web page:
On clear days, Provincetown is visible on the horizon, and each night is greeted by a stunning sunset. Order a regionally-inspired cocktail, and relax; we’ll keep your worries at bay.
On the beach, the resort offers beach chair and umbrella service to guests. In Caribbean Tropical resort fashion, you never have to leave the comfort of your chair. The wait staff will graciously take your order and bring the food and beverages to you.
As a guest of the resort, if you are looking for a change of pace from the beach and beach bar, there are many more bars and restaurants to choose from including:
- The Frost Bar: Launched in 2020, this offers a unique experience in which diners can book their own private, outdoor, heated igloos. Here you can enjoy seasonal entrees, hors d’oeuvres and seasonal beverages. Guests can also book a table inside for more traditional a-la-carte dining. Check out the dinner and drink menu here.
- The Shark Bah: This poolside bar offers frozen drinks, quick bites family friendly meals, soft serve ice cream, and more.
- Bayzo’s Pub: According to the Ocean Edge webpage, “this old-fashioned pub offers comforting, family-friendly plates all year long. Signatures include prosciutto mac n’ cheese with Vermont cheddar, craft-beer battered fish n’ chips, and seared lobster with cognac cream.”
- The Linx Tavern: This bar/restaurant located in the golf course clubhouse offers live music, indoor and outdoor dining, and a great selection of food and beverages.
- The Front Lawn: A pop-up summer experience, this area offers food and beverage service, lawn games, live music, a kitchen shed, and more. One of the best parts is the outdoor oven!
- The Ocean Terrace: Offering both indoor and outdoor (seasonal) dining, the Ocean Terrace offers an ocean side, fine dining experience, with menu items including grilled lobster roll with basil aioli, lobster poutine, an 18-hour pork shank, oysters fresh from the onsite oyster farm, butternut squash risotto, local scallops, mussels, clam chowder and more.
Some of the specialty drinks include the Cape Cod Cranberry Mojito, the Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned, a New England Apple Manhattan, the Pear and Pomegranate Fizz, and their Blueberry Lemonade made with Cold River Blueberry Vodka, Limoncello, Blueberries, and Lemon.
For the entire drink and dinner menu click here.
Activities
Aside from the many bars and restaurants on the 429-acre property, there is so much to do. As we mentioned earlier, they have an award-winning Jack Nicklaus designed golf course… it is the only one on the Cape. The beach is a beautiful, picturesque, New England beach, with rolling sand dunes, and beautiful sunset views. The views are especially unique here. Formations in the sand in the salt flats area known as the Brewster flats, create stunning views of the ocean, especially during sunsets at the Beach Bar.
The hotel offers the largest ballroom on Cape Cod, which attracts numerous corporate events and weddings year-round. The Beach House Spa offers high end full-body treatments, facials, porch parties and more.
There are nine tennis courts, 2 fitness centers, 5 pools, 6 brand new pickleball courts, kayak and paddle boarding, and much more. The resort also offers private tours of their oyster farm, mixology classes including a wintertime spiked hot cocoa workshop, and more.
Ocean Edge even has their own beer! Bayzo’s Brew. They partnered with Cape Cod Beer who specially brews Bayzo’s Brew just for Ocean Edge.
Cleanliness
The Beach Bar and surrounding Ocean Edge Resort offers the kind of service and cleanliness one would expect from a high-end luxury resort. From the moment you walk through the front door, one of the first things you will notice is the attention to detail paid to cleanliness and upkeep.
Crowd
As with most beach bars, the weekends draw the largest crowd. Typically, Thursday through Sunday evenings are the busiest. Those visiting earlier in the week (Monday-Wednesday) may find it easier to grab a seat to watch the beautiful sunset at the Beach Bar. Just make sure you get there early as those 32 seats fill up fast.
Special Events
The resort offers several special events, year-round. These include:
- Wine and Whiskey Tastings
- Wine Pairings
- Private fires on the beach (guests only)
- Front lawn live music
- Weddings
- Conferences
- Art Exhibitions and Classes
- Lawn Games and Seasonal Programming
- Trivia Nights
- Themed School Vacation Weeks
- Corporate Retreats
- And more…
Beverages
Feeling the cool ocean breeze as the sound of the waves crashing on the shore echoes around you. Watching the sun slowly set over the horizon with a tasty beverage in hand. Listening to relaxing music while indulging in friendly conversation. One of the best places to experience this is at the Beach Bar, over “the dunes on the Cape” in Brewster, Massachusetts.
How does that famous song by Rupert Holmes go?
“In the dunes on the Cape
Then I’m the love that you’ve looked for
Write to me and escape”
From their ever-popular Cape Cod Cranberry Mojito and Famous Mudslide, to their Beach Bar Rum Punch, the signature cocktail selection and bartender mixing those drinks would be rated 6 Margarita’s if we did not stop the ratings at 5.
Throughout the resort the other bars also offer great signature cocktail selections, offer great wine and beer selections, including beers from local breweries including Hog Island, Devils Purse, and of course the Ocean Edge exclusive Cape Cod Beer Bayzo’s Brew.
In the wintertime (yes, this Cape Cod beach resort is open year-round) the popular drink choices include the Jack Frost, a Winter Paloma, and their Hot Cocoa Martini. For a night out with friends, family, or that someone special, how does one…. or two, or three of these on a cold, winter night, inside a heated, outdoor igloo sound? Check out the dinner and drink menu here.
Bites
A picture is worth a thousand words. It does not get much better for an afternoon or evening meal, than the picture above. If you are going for dinner, just make sure you get there early as these seats fill up fast?
At the Beach Bar the most popular menu items include:
- Fish Tacos
- Peruvian Shrimp Ceviche
- Burger
- Lobster Roll
- Crab Cakes
- Caprese Panini
Throughout the resort the menu items vary depending on where you are eating. One thing is for certain though, great tasking, fresh from the ocean lobster is always on the menu.
Out on the front lawn during summer, lobster flat breads cooked in the wood fire oven are a must. From fresh oysters from the onsite oyster farm, local scallops, mussels, and crab cakes to their roasted chicken stew and butternut squash risotto, there is no shortage of great tasting menu options.
Overall Rating
One of the best sunset views on the cape. Check
Open air, oceanside bar. Check
Excellent drinks and quality drink menu. Check
Great bartenders. Check
Great food. Check
Great vibe and crowd. Check
Surrounded by 429 acres of other amenities including 5 other restaurants, 5 pools, a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, a spa, and 2 fitness centers, all by the ocean. Check.
5 out of 5 Margaritas!!
For more info on Ocean Edge and the Beach Bar, check out this great Youtube video!
Contact Info
The Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club
2907 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631
Phone: (508) 896-9000
From Boston
- Take the Southeast Expressway South to Route 3 South. Follow it to the Sagamore Bridge. Cross the bridge to Route 6 East and follow it for approximately 45 minutes.
- Take Exit 10 towards Brewster/Harwich and turn left off the ramp onto Route 124 North. Follow the road to the intersection of Route 6A, approximately 10 minutes away. Turn right onto Route 6A East.
- In 1.5 miles, guest registration for The Villages will be on the right, at the White House at 1 Villages Drive.
- In 1.8 miles, guest registration for The Mansion will be on the left. Once on the grounds, bear left and continue past the Mansion. Park in the registration parking lot.
From Hartford
- Take Route 84 East to Route 90 East. Get off at exit 11A toward Route 495 South. Route 495 South becomes Route 25 South. Take Exit 3 to Bourne/Sagamore (Route 6). Follow the signs for Route 6 East to Hyannis/Provincetown. Go three-quarters of the way around the rotary, following signs for Route 6 East. With the Cape Cod Canal on your right, follow the road to the split and bear right, following signs for Route 6 East. Cross the Sagamore Bridge and follow Route 6 East for approximately 45 minutes. Take Exit 10 to Brewster/Harwich and turn left off the ramp onto Route 124 North. Follow 124 North to the intersection of Route 6A and turn right onto Route 6A East.
- In 1.5 miles, guest registration for The Villages will be on the right, at the White House at 1 Villages Drive.
- In 1.8 miles, guest registration for The Mansion will be on the left. Once on the grounds, bear left and continue past the Mansion. Park in the registration parking lot.
From New York City
- Take I-95 North to Providence. Once in Providence, take the exit for Route 195 East. Follow Exit 22A to Route 25 East.
- From there, take the second exit off Route 25 to Bourne/Sagamore. Follow the signs for Route 6 East to Hyannis/Provincetown. Go three-quarters of the way around the rotary, following signs for Route 6 East. With the Cape Cod Canal on your right, follow the road to the split and bear right following signs for Route 6 East. Cross the Sagamore Bridge.
- Follow Route 6 East for approximately 45 minutes. Take Exit 10 to Brewster/Harwich and turn left off the ramp onto Route 124 North. Follow the road to the intersection of Route 6A. Turn right onto Route 6A East.
- In 1.5 miles, guest registration for The Villages will be on the right, at the White House at 1 Villages Drive.
- In 1.8 miles, guest registration for The Mansion will be on the left. Once on the grounds, bear left and continue past the Mansion. Park in the registration parking lot.
From Providence (T.F. Green Airport)
- Follow signs to Route 95 North. Take Route 195 East to Exit 22A. From there, take the second exit off Route 25 to Bourne/Sagamore. Follow the signs for Route 6 East to Hyannis/Provincetown. Go three-quarters of the way around the rotary, following signs for Route 6 East. With the Cape Cod Canal on your right, follow the road to the split and bear right following signs for Route 6 East. Cross the Sagamore Bridge.
- Follow Route 6 East for approximately 45 minutes. Take Exit 10 to Brewster/Harwich and turn left off the ramp onto Route 124 North. Follow the road to the intersection of Route 6A. Turn right onto Route 6A East.
- In 1.5 miles, guest registration for The Villages will be on the right, at the White House at 1 Villages Drive.
- In 1.8 miles, guest registration for The Mansion will be on the left. Once on the grounds, bear left and continue past the Mansion. Park in the registration parking lot.
From Sagamore Bridge
- Cross the Sagamore Bridge to Route 6 East. Follow Route 6 East for approximately 45 minutes. Take Exit 10 to Brewster/Harwich and turn left off the ramp onto Route 124 North. Follow the road to the intersection of Route 6A. Turn right onto Route 6A East.
- In 1.5 miles, guest registration for The Villages will be on the right, at the White House at 1 Villages Drive.
- In 1.8 miles, guest registration for The Mansion will be on the left. Once on the grounds, bear left and continue past the Mansion. Park in the registration parking lot.
