Guidebook for Gloucester
Food Scene
Tonno Restaurant
2 Main Stdelish fish
Short & Main
36 Main StCasual, friendly and reliably tasty every time. Popovers are a thing there!
25 locals recommend
Passports
110 Main St Casual, friendly and reliably tasty every time. Popovers are a thing there!
Duckworth's Bistrot
197 E Main St Reservations a must - and far in advance.
Sugar Magnolias
112 Main Stlocal go-to for brunch (temporarily closed for renovations)
Really excellent for dinner - they also have a great Jazz band some nights
47 locals recommend
Franklin Cafe Cape Ann
118 Main StReally excellent for dinner - they also have a great Jazz band some nights
Delicious French croissants, quiche, simple sandwiches. Limited hrs - located in Ipswich now - great stop if you're visiting Crane Estate/Castle Hill/Crane Beach, etc.
Sandpiper Bakery
29 North Main StreetDelicious French croissants, quiche, simple sandwiches. Limited hrs - located in Ipswich now - great stop if you're visiting Crane Estate/Castle Hill/Crane Beach, etc.
If you want to take your basic reliable espresso and tasty pastry where the old Italianmen go. (I do.)
14 locals recommend
Caffe Sicilia
40 Main StIf you want to take your basic reliable espresso and tasty pastry where the old Italianmen go. (I do.)
Organic Garden Cafe
294 Cabot Stveggie/organic
Where locals go; great marsh views, giant patio. Open seasonally.
35 locals recommend
Lobsta Land Restaurant
84 Causeway StWhere locals go; great marsh views, giant patio. Open seasonally.
J.T. Farnham's
88 Eastern AveYummmmmmmy and phenomenal natural setting for a modest clam shack.
Foufou chichi bar scene; haven't eaten there yet, wants to be a bit fancy.
46 locals recommend
Feather & Wedge
5 Main StFoufou chichi bar scene; haven't eaten there yet, wants to be a bit fancy.
Lobster rolls at a picnic table in downtown Rockport, or take to go and stroll along the water.
45 locals recommend
Roy Moore Lobster Co
39 Bearskin NeckLobster rolls at a picnic table in downtown Rockport, or take to go and stroll along the water.
Tasty cappuccino and cakes and wraps and quiche & a couple
water view cafe tables.
25 locals recommend
Bean & Leaf Cafe
12 Bearskin NeckTasty cappuccino and cakes and wraps and quiche & a couple
water view cafe tables.
Woodman's of Essex
119 Main StA classic.
For me, it's about a great deck over the water. For the record: An iconic neighborhood establishment featuring refined classics and local seafood by James Beard Award Winning Chef Barbara Lynch. Located in the historic Rocky Neck art district.
12 locals recommend
Rudder Restaurant
73 Rocky Neck AveFor me, it's about a great deck over the water. For the record: An iconic neighborhood establishment featuring refined classics and local seafood by James Beard Award Winning Chef Barbara Lynch. Located in the historic Rocky Neck art district.
Drinks & Nightlife
Minglewood Tavern
25 Rogers StLive Music
The Studio
51 Rocky Neck AveMachaca
14 Rogers StFOOD, DRINKS, BANDS!
The Cut - Stage • Studio • Restaurant • Bar
Parks & Nature
Halibut Point State Park
Gott Avenueoceanside quarry! spectacular spectacular
Dogtown
Easy hike - lots of history and lore.
Very pleasant easy hiking trail nearby w parking at end of Gee St. Or you can simply walk from our cottage to Carter Reservation trailhead at the intersection of Dennison and Annisquam Height Rd and walk the trails (in woods take the rightmost fork at the first major three-way for the quickest route to the reservoir) through the woods to the reservoir; once at Reservoir, the paved loop is about 2 miles around.
Goose Cove Reservoir
Very pleasant easy hiking trail nearby w parking at end of Gee St. Or you can simply walk from our cottage to Carter Reservation trailhead at the intersection of Dennison and Annisquam Height Rd and walk the trails (in woods take the rightmost fork at the first major three-way for the quickest route to the reservoir) through the woods to the reservoir; once at Reservoir, the paved loop is about 2 miles around.
Many beautiful trails/loops. All Trails app can be helpful when navigating but these ones are also pretty well marked (vs Dogtown not so much). Super easy parking just off the highway.
Tompson Street Reservation
Many beautiful trails/loops. All Trails app can be helpful when navigating but these ones are also pretty well marked (vs Dogtown not so much). Super easy parking just off the highway.
very pretty trails, a good variety of rocks and swamp, and little rises w ocean peekaboos...
Ravenswood Park
very pretty trails, a good variety of rocks and swamp, and little rises w ocean peekaboos...
This is a five-minute walk from the cottage and will lead you to miles/hours of other trails if you like or a small loop option too.
Carter Reservation
This is a five-minute walk from the cottage and will lead you to miles/hours of other trails if you like or a small loop option too.
Good Harbor Beach
99 Thatcher RoadStage Fort Park and Beach
24 Hough AveWingaersheek Beach
Beauty
An in-town beach in Rockport for a lunch n shop n stroll and sand kinda vibe after lobster rolls at Roy Moore Lobster Co. or before a show at Shalin Liu Performance Center.
Front Beach, Rockport, MA 01966, USA
An in-town beach in Rockport for a lunch n shop n stroll and sand kinda vibe after lobster rolls at Roy Moore Lobster Co. or before a show at Shalin Liu Performance Center.
Entertainment & Activities
living room sofa style cinema (up stairs, no elevator)
18 locals recommend
The Cape Ann Cinema and Stage
37 Rogers Stliving room sofa style cinema (up stairs, no elevator)
Cabot Street Cinema Theatre
286 Cabot StOld school cinema restored art house movie theatre.
A spectacular place to see a live show
77 locals recommend
Rockport Music-Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main StA spectacular place to see a live show
Arts & Culture
Cape Ann Museum
27 Pleasant StFolly Cove Printmaking collection and so much more.
Everything is made of paper! This is near some pretty trails of Johnson Rd too - a short walk to spectacular Steek Derrick Quarry (privately owned but off-season easy enough to see.)
9 locals recommend
Paper House
52 Pigeon Hill StEverything is made of paper! This is near some pretty trails of Johnson Rd too - a short walk to spectacular Steek Derrick Quarry (privately owned but off-season easy enough to see.)
Magnificent (a la Newport style Golden Era mansions)
43 locals recommend
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
290 Argilla RdMagnificent (a la Newport style Golden Era mansions)
Ipswich Museum
54 S Main StJohn Whipple House
1 S Main StFirst Period House / Museum House you can tour
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex StExcellent exhibits, high caliber museum.
Essentials
Market Basket
400 Somerville AveThe big one. Good fish Mkt
Common Crow Natural Market
200 Eastern AveHealth Food, Organic Grocer, Fabulous Mkt
Richdale
120 E Main StHandy convenience store- also a Liquor Store-has good wine.
Turner's Seafood Market & Fish n Chips Shoppe
4 Smith St