Washington Inn

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Historic Estate, Four Decades of Family Hospitality

Built in 1840, the property at 801 Washington Street has been home to the Washington Inn & Wine Bar since 1978, when the Craig Family took stewardship of this Cape May landmark. For over four decades they have carefully preserved the estate's original character — its welcoming facade overlooking the tree-lined streets of the Historic District remains essentially unchanged. "Always classically cool" is how the restaurant describes itself, and it's an honest self-portrait.

Six Spaces, One Consistent Standard

The Inn offers six distinct dining areas, from a summer patio open to the Cape May air to intimate tables set beside a fireplace. The Wine Bar — first-come, first-served — is the place to settle in with a glass and watch the passing seaside scene. The atmosphere is often described as romantic, but the dress code is "elevated casual," which keeps things genuinely relaxed without sacrificing the sense of occasion.

Running the room is a tight-knit team: Executive Chef Vincent leads the kitchen, Pastry Chef Maria handles desserts, and Tyler serves as both Manager and Sommelier — a combination that signals how seriously wine is taken here. That seriousness is backed by Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence, recognition that reflects the depth and curation of the cellar rather than mere quantity.

American Cuisine with an Inventive Edge

The menu is rooted in American cuisine but, as the restaurant puts it, with "an inventive, upscale edge." Beyond dinner service, the Wine Cellar hosts regular retail wine tastings — walk-around events guided by in-house experts, where guests can explore a broad range of bottles and purchase at a discount. Wine dinners, such as themed Napa Valley evenings, round out a calendar that treats wine as integral to the experience rather than incidental to it.

Complimentary valet parking, a BYOB option (with corkage fee waived on Sundays through mid-May), and sister properties that include a winery and a roastery all speak to a family operation that has grown thoughtfully around its original mission: warm hospitality and outstanding American cuisine, served in one of New Jersey's most distinctive historic settings.