Mary Jo’s guidebook
Food Scene
Gloucester has a lot of good restaurants that range in price, and almost all of them have good seafood.
Good seafood and other food generally. Kind of a down home, comfy place by a marsh. Closed sometime around Thanksgiving until Spring.
35 locals recommend
Lobsta Land Restaurant
84 Causeway StGood seafood and other food generally. Kind of a down home, comfy place by a marsh. Closed sometime around Thanksgiving until Spring.
1 block away. Has pastries, desserts, sandwiches, salads.
Closes at 2 p.m. Might be closed Sundays.
The Cove Cafe
1064 Washington St1 block away. Has pastries, desserts, sandwiches, salads.
Closes at 2 p.m. Might be closed Sundays.
Good (but expensive) Lobster as well as other seafood. on the water. Gorgeous views. Picnic tables outside or eat inside. Hours: 11:30-7:00 Closed in the winter so call before you go.
44 locals recommend
The Lobster Pool
329 Granite StGood (but expensive) Lobster as well as other seafood. on the water. Gorgeous views. Picnic tables outside or eat inside. Hours: 11:30-7:00 Closed in the winter so call before you go.
Indoor and outdoor dining in nice weather. Good food. View of the harbor.
31 locals recommend
Seaport Grill
6 Rowe SquareIndoor and outdoor dining in nice weather. Good food. View of the harbor.
Bar atmosphere. Weird decor . seating indoors and, in nice weather, outside too. Harbor view. Hamburger or fish.
50 locals recommend
Minglewood Harborside
25 Rogers StBar atmosphere. Weird decor . seating indoors and, in nice weather, outside too. Harbor view. Hamburger or fish.
Good Portuguese food. We really enjoy the tower of tapas (you can try a lot of different dishes).
22 locals recommend
Azorean Restaurant & Bar
133 Washington StGood Portuguese food. We really enjoy the tower of tapas (you can try a lot of different dishes).
Jalapeños
88 Main StLarge assortment of good Mexican food as well as good Margaritas.
Thai Choice Restaurant
272 Main StGood Thai food and just hits the spot sometimes.
This is a relatively new pizza place on Main St. I haven't eaten here yet, but I hear it's very good.
Bravo By The Sea, Gloucester
131 Main StreetThis is a relatively new pizza place on Main St. I haven't eaten here yet, but I hear it's very good.
Great Tuna. Also a wide selection of Italian foods. Very good. on the expensive side.
43 locals recommend
Tonno Restaurant
2 Main StGreat Tuna. Also a wide selection of Italian foods. Very good. on the expensive side.
Down home. Good seafood and other dishes. I love their fish soup and their halibut. Takeout or dine in.
41 locals recommend
Causeway Restaurant
78 Essex AveDown home. Good seafood and other dishes. I love their fish soup and their halibut. Takeout or dine in.
Mom's Kitchen
Great breakfast/ Brunch place. Very popular. Open 5a.m. -1p.m. Closed Mondays.
Small, cheap cantina type Mexican restaurant. Great food that you can sit and eat or grab and go. We love this place.
Tacos Lupita Gloucester
Small, cheap cantina type Mexican restaurant. Great food that you can sit and eat or grab and go. We love this place.
Loved by locals. Good food, reasonable prices. In the movie "Olive," they changed this restaurant into a pharmacy.
25 locals recommend
Passports
110 Main StLoved by locals. Good food, reasonable prices. In the movie "Olive," they changed this restaurant into a pharmacy.
Franklin Cafe Cape Ann
118 Main StGood food. Moderate prices. Popular.
The fish and chips are delicious! Take out only. They catch the fish and serve it up fresh, fresh, fresh. Yummy Fish & Chips .
Their fish balls are also delicious, and they have a variety of fresh fish to bring home and cook.
7 locals recommend
Turner's Seafood Market & Fish n Chips Shoppe
4 Smith StThe fish and chips are delicious! Take out only. They catch the fish and serve it up fresh, fresh, fresh. Yummy Fish & Chips .
Their fish balls are also delicious, and they have a variety of fresh fish to bring home and cook.
Sightseeing
If you've never done a Whale Watch, it's a must. last time we went it was almost as if they were putting on a show for us. Wear warm clothing. don't forget your Drama mine or candied ginger if you're so disposed.
19 locals recommend
7 Seas Whale Watch
63 Seas WharfIf you've never done a Whale Watch, it's a must. last time we went it was almost as if they were putting on a show for us. Wear warm clothing. don't forget your Drama mine or candied ginger if you're so disposed.
old castle that's very cool. The owners were into the Spiritualism Movement and in the Halloween season, they do Thursday night candlelight tours.
55 locals recommend
Hammond Castle Museum
80 Hesperus Avenueold castle that's very cool. The owners were into the Spiritualism Movement and in the Halloween season, they do Thursday night candlelight tours.
Rocky Neck in Gloucester was one of the, if not THE first artists colony in the United States. Still full of artists homes and shops. Most shops closed in the winter
27 locals recommend
Rocky Neck
Rocky Neck in Gloucester was one of the, if not THE first artists colony in the United States. Still full of artists homes and shops. Most shops closed in the winter
Lots of little shops to check out. Home of Roy Moore's Lobster shop. Live Lobsters (They will cook them for you if desired), oysters, fish of the day etc.
36 locals recommend
Bearskin Neck
Bearskin NeckLots of little shops to check out. Home of Roy Moore's Lobster shop. Live Lobsters (They will cook them for you if desired), oysters, fish of the day etc.
Motif #1
Bradley WharfOne of the most iconic views in Rockport for artists and photographers.
Cape Ann Museum
27 Pleasant StGreat museum specializing in the sea. Wonderful
Stacy Boulevard. Home of the Fisherman and Fisherman's Wife Statues as well as gorgeous gardens from Spring to Fall. Wonderful place to stroll between the flowers and the sea.
29 locals recommend
Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Memorial
107 Western AveStacy Boulevard. Home of the Fisherman and Fisherman's Wife Statues as well as gorgeous gardens from Spring to Fall. Wonderful place to stroll between the flowers and the sea.
Has a variety of music for everyone. Has a classical music festival in the summer . Look on line
to see schedule of events.
77 locals recommend
Rockport Music-Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main StHas a variety of music for everyone. Has a classical music festival in the summer . Look on line
to see schedule of events.
Rated one of the best beaches in the country. You can walk out to Salt Island at low tide. Need reservations in the summer. Can call for reservations 10 days prior to visit. Some surfing here in early mornings prior to crowds.
118 locals recommend
Good Harbor Beach
Rated one of the best beaches in the country. You can walk out to Salt Island at low tide. Need reservations in the summer. Can call for reservations 10 days prior to visit. Some surfing here in early mornings prior to crowds.
Another beautiful beach in Gloucester. Also need reservations here (see Good Harbor Beach).
66 locals recommend
Wingaersheek Beach
Another beautiful beach in Gloucester. Also need reservations here (see Good Harbor Beach).
Nice, smaller beach walking distance from the house. No reservations needed.
19 locals recommend
Plum Cove Beach
1000 Washington StNice, smaller beach walking distance from the house. No reservations needed.
Center of the island has great hiking. Dogtown Commons is one of the original old settlements of the island. Lots of lore surrounding it, and many things to check out, such as the old quarries and boulders with sayings. Have a map handy!
8 locals recommend
Dogtown Commons
Center of the island has great hiking. Dogtown Commons is one of the original old settlements of the island. Lots of lore surrounding it, and many things to check out, such as the old quarries and boulders with sayings. Have a map handy!
Kayaking
Cove close to the house. Great for kayaking, paddleboarding, and jumping off the wall to swim! I rent kayaks for $30.00/4 hrs or $15.00/2 hrs.
Lanes Cove
Cove close to the house. Great for kayaking, paddleboarding, and jumping off the wall to swim! I rent kayaks for $30.00/4 hrs or $15.00/2 hrs.
They have Kayaking tours and rentals. They also rent electric bikes
19 locals recommend
North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center
9 Tuna WharfThey have Kayaking tours and rentals. They also rent electric bikes