1. Vineyard Square Hotel
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (508) 627-4711
Address: 38 North Water St.
Description: Located in the heart of Edgartown, this beautifully run 34-room hotel dates from 1911. In honor of the hotel’s 100th anniversary, the hotel’s spacious rooms and suites were totally renovated in a modern beach style, and they feature exceptionally comfortable beds. Lots of little extras including free Wi-Fi, free parking (reserve in advance), complimentary bike rentals, a generous continental breakfast, and afternoon sweet treats make this a great value.
2. Grill On Main
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (508) 627-8344
Address: 227 Upper Main St.
Description: A little off the beaten path, Grill on Main doesn’t get caught up in the island’s dining scene but focuses on consistently excellent and creative American bistro fare. Make a reservation and you will still have to wait, but enjoy a cocktail at the bar. Once seated you’ll relish offerings like baked codfish with a citrus beurre blanc and grilled lamb chops with a minted raspberry glaze—all aided by delightful service (with no attitude). Above all, Grill on Main is a good value compared to other Vineyard restaurants.
3. Water Street
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (508) 627-3761
Address: 131 North Water St.
Description: Lovely Water Street is the main dining room of the Harbor View Hotel. It boasts lots of windows with views of Edgartown Harbor and the lighthouse, which provide the backdrop for a leisurely meal of New American fare. The menu selections showcase fresh local seafood (although, the Good Farm chicken, a half bird with pan jus, is the dish to get), and are complemented by extraordinary wines. Open year-round for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
4. Wharf Pub & Restaurant
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (508) 627-9966
Address: 5 Lower Main Rd.
Description: Offering refuge from the Vineyard crowds, this is a great place to pop in for a pint and hearty eats. The traditional American menu travels from classic bar snacks like house-made onion rings and steamed mussels to burgers and pastas and fried seafood. If in doubt, the clam chowder and fish and chips are reliably excellent.
5. Morning Glory Farm
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 627-9674
Address: 120 Meshacket Rd.
Description: What makes it so convenient for food-loving Vineyarders who come to Morning Glory Farm for the selection of homegrown seasonal produce, farm-raised grass-fed beef, fresh eggs, and fresh-baked cranberry-blueberry pie is that they can also check off an entire grocery list in the process. In the back there are made-to-order sandwiches, homemade soups, and a wonderful salad bar. Closed in the winter.
6. Winnetu Inn And Resort
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 310-1733, (866) 335-1133
Address: 31 Dunes Rd.
Description: The rare resort that not only allows but encourages children, Winnetu occupies 11 acres just off Katama’s South Beach. Built in 2000, it is one of the Vineyard’s newer accommodations, yet in style it hearkens back to the days when sprawling, service-oriented lodgings were all the rage in seaside communities. All the units are suites (kitchenettes included), and many overlook the water from private decks or patios. With a heated outdoor pool, a putting green, a fitness room, and 10 tennis courts (a pro is on-site in season), you’ll have your hands full without ever leaving the grounds. A complimentary children’s program gives parents a break on summer mornings (June to Sept), and the in-house restaurant has made quite a splash among local gourmets. The inn is open from mid-Apr through late Oct. Several wheelchair-accessible rooms are offered.
7. Alchemy Bistro And Bar
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 627-9999
Address: 71 Main St.
Description: You’ll see few signs of the humble grocery shop that once occupied Alchemy’s spot on Edgartown’s main drag, so thoroughly have the owners effected the transformation from dross to gold. With its aged wooden floors and papered white tablecloths, Alchemy is every inch the Parisian bistro it aims to be. It’s a great place to emulate Hemingway as you peruse the exhaustive menu of wines, beers, and spirits ranging from cognac to grappa, but the real attraction lies in edible offerings like oyster brie soup and lobster shepherd’s pie.
8. Among The Flowers
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 627-3233
Address: 17 Mayhew Lane
Description: Friendly service and reasonable prices form the philosophy behind this dockside cafe, where you can watch boats come and go over comfort food creations like cinnamon and walnut waffles (at breakfast), lobster salad rolls (at lunch) and shellfish bouillabaisse (at dinner).
9. Atria
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 627-5850
Address: 137 Main St.
Description: Named for a navigational star in the Southern Triangle constellation, Atria has become something of a star in the Vineyard dining scene. Set in an 18th-century sea captain’s house, its wraparound porch and candlelit interior have served as the setting for many a special occasion. Fusion-oriented regional cuisine fuels the seasonal menu, which exploits the freshest local ingredients for dishes like island lobster mac ’n’ cheese, grilled swordfish with watercress and preserved lemon, and an innovative spin on surf and turf featuring seared Georges Bank scallops and red wine–braised short ribs. The downstairs Brick Cellar Bar is a big draw for singles.
10. Coop’S Bait And Tackle
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 627-3909
Address: 147 West Tisbury Rd.
11. Larry’S Tackle Shop
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 258 Upper Main St.
Description: Looking for tuna, shark, and white marlin? Consider taking a fishing expedition; you’ll find them offered at all of the island’s harbors. Here are several of the local tried-and-true charter services. Banjo’s Captain Robert Plante (508-693– 3154, www.banjocharters.com) offers half- and full-day charters out of Oak Bluffs. The party boat Skipper (508-693-1238, www.mvskipper.com) leaves from Oak Bluffs for fluke and scup.Great Harbour Sport Fishing Charters (508-627-3122, www.vineyardfishing.com) leaves from Edgartown Harbor. Conomo Charters (508-645-9278) out of Aquinnah, offers half- and full-day charters. Captain Brian Vanderhoop offers spin or fly fishing.
12. Vineyard Gazette
City: Edgartown, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (508) 627-4311, (877) 850-0409
Address: 34 South Summer St.