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Washington Inn, Cape May, NJ

Washington Inn

4.9 (9125)
$50 and over
American
801 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
  • Charming
Built in 1840, this Cape May estate is now home to the acclaimed Washington Inn and Wine Bar. The Craig Family has carefully preserved the beauty & essence of this distinctive treasure without undertaking major alterations to its original form. The Inn's welcoming facade overlooks tree-lined Washington Street in the seaside community Historic District. The Washington Inn offers six unique dining areas, from a summer patio to cozy fireside tables. Cocktails are a must in the Wine Bar, where the passing Cape May scene can be best appreciated. Often described as romantic, our easy-going elegance will satisfy anyone's craving for fine dining. Our enticing menu offers the best of American cuisine but with an inventive, upscale edge. Food, Service, and Ambiance, the essential ingredients for dining excellence, are all masterfully blended here at the Washington Inn. Come experience it for yourself!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Mediterranean, Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Bar Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Miriam Wood
  • Catering
    The Washington Inn provides off-premise catering at whatever location you desire. We are expert at arranging details, creating just the right look, and, of course, offering your guests the highest quality food & attention available. Our catering staff will help you plan an outstanding event, customized to your needs and budget. The Inn caters early- afternoon wedding receptions for up to 125 people on premises. If your guest list is longer, we can help to arrange a reception at the Cape May Beach Club, the Isaac Smith Vineyard, Cape May Winery, your home or wherever you prefer.
  • Neighborhood
    Cape May
  • Cross street
    Jefferson & Washington
  • Parking details
    We offer Complimentary Valet Parking - simply drive up to the front of the restaurant on Washington Street and our valet will happily park your car, free of charge!
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • SOLD OUT: Bubbles & Blooms

    $70.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 4, 2025 only
    1:00 PM
    Join us for Bubbles & Blooms at the Washington Inn & Wine Bar, a charming springtime experience collaborating with Badcat Farms. This floral-inspired event will take place on Sunday, May 4, with a third session added at 1pm! **11am and 12pm SOLD OUT** Guests will enjoy a florist-led build-your-own-bouquet workshop while sipping on their choice of wine, mimosa, or mocktail. They will also enjoy assorted tea sandwiches featuring smoked salmon, egg salad, and chicken salad. To complete the experience, a mini dessert trio will be served. Tickets are $70 per person plus tax. Additional wine by the glass, mimosas, tea, and coffee will also be available for purchase. For those looking to enhance their visit, an optional wine tasting, hosted in the Patio room with Somm April, is available for $15 following your bouquet-making experience. If you're more interested in the bubbles than the blooms, a standalone wine-tasting experience featuring a guided tasting of three sparkling wines is available for $25 plus tax at 12pm, 1pm, and 3pm. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot early and celebrate the beauty of spring with Bubbles & Blooms at the Washington Inn & Wine Bar!
    SOLD OUT: Bubbles & Blooms Photo
  • Sparkling Wine Tasting

    $25.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 4, 2025 only
    Multiple times
    Join Somm April for an engaging and educational sparkling wine tasting in the Patio Room. We will enjoy and discuss sparkling wines from Cava (Spain), Crémant de Bourgogne (France), and Franciacorta (Italy). You'll learn about the production processes and what makes each of these wines unique! This is an excellent opportunity to learn and ask questions about these different sparkling wine styles in a small group setting. Bottles will be available for purchase at special retail prices.
    Sparkling Wine Tasting Photo
  • Cellar Series Wine Dinner - Kermit Lynch

    $162.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 18, 2025 only
    6:00 PM
    This edition of our Cellar Series is truly something special. Our in-house sommeliers are absolutely thrilled about these selections, and trust us, you should be, too. In 1972, a self-proclaimed “penniless musician” named Kermit Lynch took a $5,000 loan, bought 35 cases of wine, and unknowingly built an empire. Fast forward 50+ years, and he’s one of America's most legendary wine importers, bringing in over 500,000 cases annually from Italy and France. Now, we’re bringing his incredible portfolio straight to your glass. Our Cellar Series Wine Dinners are the crown jewel of the Washington Inn & Wine Bar—intimate, expertly curated, and always in high demand. This exclusive evening features highly sought-after selections from Kermit Lynch, perfectly paired with elevated cuisine from Chef Vincent and Chef Maria. Expect an unforgettable night of top-tier wines, exquisite dishes, and engaging conversation. This event will sell out fast, so don’t wait—secure your seat now and prepare for a next-level wine experience. Questions? Please email winecellar@washingtoninn.com
    Cellar Series Wine Dinner - Kermit Lynch Photo

What 9,125 people are saying

Washington Inn reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Cape May

    Best Overall

  • Cape May

    Best Food

  • Cape May

    Best Service

  • Cape May

    Best Ambiance

  • Cape May

    Healthy

  • Cape May

    Great for fine wines

  • Cape May

    Romantic

  • Cape May

    Good for special occasions

  • Cape May

    Lively

  • Cape May

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Washington Inn in Cape May offers a "consistently great dining experience" with "fantastic oysters," "exceptional service," and an "impressive wine selection." The ambiance is "elegant but understated," and guests rave about the "phenomenal" food, from seafood to short ribs. Many highlight the "attentive staff" and the "cozy, inviting atmosphere."
9,125 Reviews
  1. CRAIG

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Washington in is one of our all-time favorite restaurants. The food is always excellent, never had a bite of anything that wasn't fantastic!! Also nowadays it seems like every restaurant is incredibly loud, not at Washington inn, it's not stuffy, totally comfortable but peaceful so you're able to have a nice conversation with your guests. The servers are always excellent, super friendly and knowledgeable. Anyone who's never been here is truly missing out on a wonderful experience. We don't even live in the area. We drove down (about 2 hours) to hang around, have dinner and then drive home -and that probably says it all. Keep up the great work!!!

    Is this helpful?

  2. WASHINGTON Inn

    Atlantic City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful dinner. The food was delicious and our waitress was very attentive. The decor was beautiful and very inviting,

    Is this helpful?

  3. Jason

    Atlantic City18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I were looking for a nice dinner spot for our anniversary. We found many recommendations pointing us to the Washington Inn. We arrived quite early and found ourselves in a cute tucked away wine bar while we waited for our table. The bar had a nice selection of premium wine and we were pleasantly surprised by the customer service from the moment we arrived. Once seated the experience only got better. The waitress and wait staff were very attentive but not overwhelming. A fine balance. When I booked the restaurant I never mentioned our anniversary but the restaurant picked up on it and informed our waitress. While the night went on we were treated to an amazing dining experience complete with a small complimentary appetizer and dessert. I can’t say enough about how special that made us feel and created a lasting memory we will have of our 23rd Anniversary celebration.

    1 person found this helpful

  4. Gina

    New York City14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Have been to The Washington Inn many times, but have not been in several years. It never disappoints! The restaurant is as gorgeous as ever, food and wine is stellar as well as service. Owner came over several times, & to other tables as well, to check on everything. Can’t wait to go back to this Cape May institution!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Ruth VIP

    Atlantic City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Consistently great dining experience at the Washington Inn. Fantastic oysters and short rib.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Mary VIP

    New York City7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The staff and servers at Washington Inn are very accommodating and efficient. We picked a very busy Friday night at the restaurant and had a number of large wedding parties dining around us. The noise didn’t make the food any less tasty! The escargot, Caesar salad and rack of lamb was fabulous. The restaurant treated my partner to a complementary sorbet dessert for his birthday!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Ellen VIP

    Philadelphia8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server, Shayna, was wonderful, providing information about the menu and excellent service. I appreciated that the vegetarian entree, roasted eggplant, was not only different from the usual vegetarian fare, but was delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Patrick VIP

    New Jersey15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Everything was delicious and the staff was very friendly. The “early bird” specials are awesome!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Kathleen VIP

    Miami17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had Easter dinner at the Washington Inn. As usual, the food & service were excellent. From the bartender in the Wine Bar , to the guy who filled our water glasses, to our server, quality customer service was exhibited by all.

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  10. Christine

    Atlantic City21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The rolls before dinner were so warm and delicious. The crab cakes are great and the passion fruit martini was perfect!!!!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Washington Inn is rated 4.9 stars by 9125 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New Jersey
  4. Cape May
  5. Cape May

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Washington Inn

801 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Jefferson & Washington
  • Neighborhood
    Cape May
  • Hours of operation
    Bar Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    American, Mediterranean, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    We offer Complimentary Valet Parking - simply drive up to the front of the restaurant on Washington Street and our valet will happily park your car, free of charge!
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Miriam Wood
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    The Washington Inn provides off-premise catering at whatever location you desire. We are expert at arranging details, creating just the right look, and, of course, offering your guests the highest quality food & attention available. Our catering staff will help you plan an outstanding event, customized to your needs and budget. The Inn caters early- afternoon wedding receptions for up to 125 people on premises. If your guest list is longer, we can help to arrange a reception at the Cape May Beach Club, the Isaac Smith Vineyard, Cape May Winery, your home or wherever you prefer.
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