The Bars of the Upper Cape – Part II: Mashpee and Sandwich

Last time, we started looking at bars on the Upper Cape, focusing on the towns of Bourne and Falmouth. There are some great venues in those locations, but if you're buying a home in Mashpee or Sandwich, you might want something a little closer to your residence.

The good news is that both of those towns have multiple options, whether you want to stop somewhere for a quick drink after work or are looking for a pub where you can enjoy a top-notch meal with friends.

Some of these venues focus on beer, while others have extensive wine or cocktail menus, but the common theme is that they're all fun, welcoming, and excellent places to turn into your Cape Cod watering hole.

Bars in Mashpee, MA

Mashpee enjoys a beautiful location on Nantucket Sound and features a commercial zone along Route 28 that runs through the heart of town. You'll find Mashpee Commons on this strip, which is a major shopping mall with a little of everything.

One of the vendors at the mall is Bobby Byrne's, a pub with three Cape Cod locations. Once you enter Bobby Byrne's, you'll immediately notice the daily drink specials that they put on a big board in the middle of the room. You'll also soon see the pub's extensive menu, featuring a mix of pub-style favorites and local delicacies, giving you all kinds of possibilities when choosing a meal.

As for the atmosphere, Bobby Byrne's offers a different experience depending on when you arrive. When there's a Bruins, Patriots, or Celtics game on TV or a live band, it might be a bit more lively than a weekday when there's nothing going on. The seasonal outdoor patio also makes for a festival environment, as it has a bar and is a great place to meet with friends.

Also at Mashpee Commons is Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar, a restaurant serving Mediterranean fare and featuring one of the Cape's most extensive wine lists. The great thing about Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar is that it's a low-key venue, so you don't have to get dressed up to visit, despite its classy decor.

Photo courtesy of https://www.trevicafe.com/

In addition to the restaurant, Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar has both a bar area and a covered outdoor patio. If you just want to sit at the bar for a quick glass of wine or beer, that's perfectly fine. Or, you can have an appetizer with a drink on the patio. The choice is up to you.

Just north of Mashpee Commons on Great Neck Road North is 99 Restaurant and Pub, which has over 100 locations throughout the northeastern United States, including four on Cape Cod. Many people love 99 Restaurant and Pub because they know what they're going to get every time, and it's a family-friendly venue where they can bring the kids.

The menu at 99 Restaurant and Pub features a wide variety of pub-style favorites like burgers, chicken wings, soups, and salads, plus local seafood dishes. There's also a full bar with local and regional options and enough TVs that you won't miss a second of the action if you go there for the game.

Finally, there's Dino's Sports Bar, which sits west of Mashpee Commons on the Nathan Ellis Highway. Everything about Dino's is local, as it's a one-of-a-kind venue that is incredibly popular with Cape Cod residents all year round. The menu at Dino's has everything you'd expect to find at a sports bar. It also has a raw bar and some of the Cape's best pizza, which kicks everything up a notch.

Dino's gets busy whenever there's a game on, but has more than enough televisions to accommodate everyone. There's also live music on many weekends, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and sofa-style seating, creating a relaxing and comfortable environment.

Sandwich, Massachusetts Bars

On the north side of the Cape in Sandwich, the bar scene continues. There are many pubs on this part of the Cape, each providing a unique experience. 

Industry Ale House is in Sandwich's Forestdale neighborhood and is the type of place that attracts workers from all kinds of industries. The pub is perhaps the best option in Sandwich if you're looking for a place to stop for a pint of craft beer on your way home from work.

On any given day, Industry Ale House has 20 different beers on tap, many of which are brewed in Massachusetts, or elsewhere in the Northeast, using local ingredients. There's also an upscale menu at this pub, featuring items like steak, chicken, risotto, and pork, in addition to burgers.

Too's Tavern is a simple pub located a few blocks north of Industry Ale House on Cotuit Road, right beside the Canterbury Market. There's nothing fancy about Too's Tavern, as it's a basic bar with beer, wine, and cocktails, and a friendly atmosphere that will make you feel right at home.

Despite the pub's modest appearance, there's a decent menu at Too's. That's because, in addition to its traditional pub fare, Too's Tavern has seafood options like lobster rolls, clam chowder, fish and chips, and clam strips. And if you're not in the mood for sitting in a pub, or you've brought your children with you, there's an attached restaurant called Marshland Too with the same menu.

The British Beer Company is a chain with three pubs on Cape Cod and three more elsewhere in Massachusetts. Despite being a British-style pub, you can get a local or domestic beer at the bar. However, they also carry a wide variety of beers from across the Atlantic that you probably won't find anywhere else on the Cape.

The menu, much as you'd expect, includes fish and chips, but you can also decide between pizzas, burgers, soups, salads, and other choices from around the globe. Whether you want to pop in for a quick pint or spend an evening enjoying drinks with friends, the British Beer Company can accommodate you.

Sandie's Outdoor Bar is a seasonal establishment that overlooks the Sandwich Marina and the Cape Cod Canal, making it the most scenic location on this list. The bar is entirely outdoors and features long picnic tables like you'd find in a beer hall, creating an inclusive environment where everyone gets to know each other.

For the most part, the outdoor bar is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and there's live music almost every night in the summer. There's also an indoor bar on the premises that is part of the Fishermen's View restaurant.

Photograph of a view from Fishermen's View restaurant. Photo courtesy of https://www.fishermensview.com/views/peqn623ey71k1qoja9rgbh7f5nsnb4

The menu at Sandie's features some of the appetizers that are available inside the restaurant. It also has an extensive wine list, beers on tap, and some great frozen drinks available. If you're looking for a place to cool off on the weekend, Sandie's Outdoor Bar is an outstanding prospect.

Getting a Drink on the Upper Cape

As you can see, there are all kinds of places to enjoy a drink on the Upper Cape, and there's likely one close to your new home. 

Being able to head down the street to your new watering hole makes life more convenient and is yet another aspect of living on the Cape that you're sure to love.