The complete guide to Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard's year-round port town. Main Street shopping, Black Dog Tavern, Owen Park, and ferry terminal.
Vineyard Haven is Martha's Vineyard's year-round heartbeat: the primary ferry port, a working town with an artsy sensibility, and the place where locals actually live and shop twelve months a year. Three major new restaurants opened in 2025, the new Woods Hole terminal opened in June 2026 after a multi-year rebuild, and the dry-town era is officially over. Here's everything you need for 2026.
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Opened August 27, 2025 inside the former Martha's Vineyard National Bank, a grand stone building with a domed ceiling and stained-glass arches. Chef Marc Orfaly (seven-time James Beard nominee) runs coastal Mediterranean cuisine. The 9,000-pound bank vault door is now an eight-seat dining table; the vault itself serves as a wine cellar. Wed–Sun 4–11 PM. Fine dining ($$$$). Reservations via OpenTable; $50/guest cancellation fee.
The happy hour board at The Ocean Club door, framed by the old bank building's stone arches.
Opened May 2024 in the former Copper Anchor space, adjacent to Mansion House Hotel. "New World cuisine" blending Asian, Peruvian, and Italian influences: cast-iron swordfish, lobster pappardelle. 130 seats. Entrées ~$25–50+. Off-season: Wed–Sat 4–9 PM. Phone: (508) 338-7431.
Opened May 22, 2025, replacing the beloved Little House Café. CIA-trained Chef Carlos Montoya, who formerly cooked for Presidents Obama and Clinton, crafts seasonal handmade pasta. Lunch Tue–Sat 11 AM–3 PM; dinner Tue–Sat 5–9 PM. Retail shop sells pasta by the pound.
Opened summer 2025 at Five Corners in the former Golden Bull space. Casual sports pub with Brazilian-inspired breakfast/lunch and burgers at night. 52 seats, full bar, patio with meat smoker.
Mocha Mott's VH (15 Main St): permanently closed January 18, 2026 after 20+ years. Co-owner Tim Dobel (76) retired. A customer appreciation day featured free coffee and an emotional farewell. The building has been sold to Toccopuro, an island coffee chain with cafes in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, which plans to open a new coffee shop in the space. Oak Bluffs location continues. Copper Anchor, Little House Café, Model Deli: all closed, replaced by new concepts above.
Founded 1971 by Captain Robert Douglas, a retired jet fighter pilot who sketched the building on a napkin. Named for his black Lab. Year-round. In season daily 7 AM–9 PM (breakfast until 3, raw bar 3–5, dinner from 5); off-season hours shrink to breakfast and lunch most days. Lobster roll, signature quahog chowder, Prime Rib Night (Thursdays, $29.95). Full bar.
Year-round since 2008. Daily 7 AM–5 PM. Clam chowder $9, sandwiches $9.75–20, lobster Benedict. Breakfast all day. Online ordering via Toast with curbside pickup.
Above Waterside Market (NOT at Mansion House). Prohibition-era speakeasy vibe. Daily 3:30–10 PM. Smash Burger $21, Tuna Tartare $20, Crispy Brussels $16. Houses the largest bourbon collection on Martha's Vineyard.
Waterside Market with The Attic glowing upstairs: Main Street after dark, striped awning and all.
Operating since 1943. MV Magazine "Best Breakfast" perennial winner. The Old Faithful (2 eggs, meat, home fries, toast) $15. Three-egg omelettes $16–18.50. Creative daily specials. Mon/Thu–Sun 7 AM–2 PM. Year-round.
Family-owned 75+ years. Seasonal: opens late April. Fish and chips, lobster roll, the "Obama Burger." Budget-friendly by MV standards. Mon–Sat 11 AM–7 PM.
Fish market + takeout + sushi bar since 1986. BYOB. Daily ~9 AM–7 PM. Ships seafood nationwide. Lobster roll ~$25–35.
Founded 1961 from Scotland. Famous shortbread, Key lime pie ("best on island"), breakfast burritos, smash burgers. Mon–Sat 6 AM–6 PM; Sun 7 AM–3 PM. Has an on-site farm.
New for 2026: The Wave has taken over the marina waterfront spot that was Garde East, opening in mid-May. Same front-row harbor views, new name and new kitchen. It stepped straight into the island's event calendar too, hosting the closing-night party of the September film festival. Seasonal; check current hours before you go.
Vineyard Haven's Asian bistro standby on upper Main Street. Its former Oak Bluffs outpost at 6 Circuit Avenue has become The Black Dog Pub (opened summer 2026, daily 7 AM to 10 PM), so Main Street is where you will find Mikado now.
Inside Mikado on Main Street, where a mounted sailfish keeps watch over the dining room.
Opened summer 2024 with outdoor Mexican street food overlooking the SSA terminal. 70 seats, tacos, burritos, and tequilas. A welcome casual option steps from the ferry.
All-vegan organic café serving açaí bowls, smoothies, and plant-based dishes. Year-round. The go-to for health-conscious visitors and island residents who eat clean.
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Bunch of Grapes Bookstore (23 Main St): Founded in 1964, one of the most celebrated independent bookstores in the country. In 2008, a devastating fire at neighboring Café Moxie destroyed the store's interior. Historian David McCullough said: "If there should be no Bunch of Grapes, where would Vineyard Haven's Main Street be?" The store rebuilt and reopened across the street. In September 2022, Molly and Brendan Coogan purchased the store. President Obama visits for his summer reading list. The store is also a stop on the Jaws filming locations tour. Year-round with author events.
Brickman's (south end of Main St): A Vineyard institution since 1913. Clothing, footwear, sporting goods, and toys in a "Tardis of a store" that is far larger inside than it appears.
C.B. Stark Jewelers (53A Main St): The island's go-to for Martha's Vineyard charms, custom work, sea glass jewelry, and wampum. Over 40 years in business.
Rainy Day (66 Main St): Boutique gift shop founded in 1973, now owned by Melissa and Bob Scammell. Cards, home decor, jewelry, candles, toys, and MV-themed items. Celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. Also has an Edgartown location.
LeRoux at Home (62 Main St): Three floors of kitchen goods, tableware, and home decor, with companion shop LeRoux Gourmet across the street.
The Seven Sisters (19 Main St): Recognized by Boston Magazine's "Best of Boston" for clean/green shopping and independent artisan goods.
Martha's Vineyard Made (29 Main St): A collaborative shop for local artisans selling pottery, prints, jewelry, and pantry items.
Lennox and Harvey General Goods: Opened in 2024 with curated home goods and furniture, founded by Mark Chung and Eric Coles from Brooklyn.
Nearly every shop on Main Street is independently owned; the island has actively fought to exclude chain stores.
On August 11, 1883, fire started at a harness factory on Main Street. With no fire department, no fire engine, and only a few antiquated buckets, the town watched as 60+ buildings burned in six hours: 32 houses, 26 stores, the Baptist Meeting House, and the Mansion House hotel. A 30 mph northeaster drove flames through tinder-dry wooden buildings. Total losses: $200,000 (~$6.5 million today). Remarkably, no deaths. The Tisbury Fire Department was established in 1885 as a direct result.
One block west of Main Street, this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and contains 56 contiguous properties along William, Spring, Church, Franklin, and Main Streets. Most houses were built 1830–1860 in Greek Revival style by sea captains, merchants, and builders. The district survived the 1883 fire, making it the town's oldest surviving neighborhood. It includes the Playhouse, Tisbury Town Hall, the Proprietor's Burying Ground (dating to 1770), and several historic churches. A peaceful walking tour through stately homes with mature shade trees.
Tisbury was dry since 1834. In 2008, a vote to allow beer/wine tied exactly 690–690 and failed (made national news). Voters approved beer/wine in 2009, full liquor in 2017, and drinks without food in 2022 (68% support). Today restaurants serve full liquor, but still no liquor stores or standalone bars. Chilmark is now the only dry town.
First Friday. 2026 dates: June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, December 4. Art market with 30+ makers, live music, food trucks, beach bonfire, silent disco (9–11 PM). Free. 4–11 PM at Owen Park and Main Street.
Vineyard Haven Band: Founded 1868 by 18 returning Civil War veterans. Originally called the "Vineyard Haven Silver Cornet Brass Band," the band performed for President Ulysses S. Grant during an 1874 visit and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018. Today, 15 core musicians and 20+ seasonal players (ages 7 to 84) perform free Sunday evening concerts at 8:00 PM in July and August at Owen Park, alternating with Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. Believed to be America's second-oldest continuously performing concert band.
Built in 1833 as a Methodist Meeting House, this building has served as a town hall, Masonic lodge, and since 1982, a working theater. A complete renovation in 2011–2014 added a new lobby and full accessibility. Now a professional nonprofit working theater operating year-round with an intimate ~112–150 seat black-box space (the Patricia Neal Stage). Monday Night at the Movies screens classics at $5 cash at the door. Military get free tickets; EBT/WIC holders pay $15. Phone: (508) 696-6300.
Opened in March 1913 as the Vineyard Theatre, renamed Capawock in 1932. The oldest continually operating movie theater in Massachusetts, when it was operating. Renovated with over $1 million and reopened May 29, 2015 with a ceremony featuring Carly Simon. The MV Film Society ran it, showing 200+ films to 35,000+ patrons annually. Dark for most of the 2020s after COVID and streaming shifts ended regular operations, the building was sold to new owners in February 2026 and has started hosting screenings again (the spring film festival used it in March 2026); check locally for the current schedule. The MV Film Society now operates from its own Film Center at Tisbury Marketplace.
Louisa Gould Gallery (54 Main St) is the anchor, established in 2003 and voted "Best MV Gallery." The annual Small Wonders Holiday Show is a highlight. Kennedy Studios / Island Art Gallery (66 Main St) offers photographs, original art, and custom framing. Blue Fathom Gallery features work by several island artists. Most galleries operate seasonally with expanded summer hours, all within the designated Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District.
After a year-plus renovation that added a new meeting room, the library reopened at its permanent 200 Main Street home in July 2026. The library holds 42,680 volumes and circulates 134,790 items per year. Programs include Storytime with Weezie (Mondays 10:30am), Lego Build Club, book groups, and author talks. Director: Amy Ryan. Phone: (508) 696-4210.
Owen Park Beach: Calm harbor water, playground, lifeguards in summer, ADA accessible, swimming float, free. Steps from the ferry. The park has public restrooms, open-air showers, and a playground with swings. In December 2024, Tisbury secured a $1 million state grant for a complete pier replacement. The existing pier, never fully rebuilt in nearly a century, was "crumbling underfoot." The rebuilt Owen Park Dock with ADA-accessible ramps is confirmed for the 2026 boating season. Lake Tashmoo Beach (see our complete beaches guide). Dual swimming: freshwater lake + Vineyard Sound saltwater. 1 mile down a dirt road. Lifeguards in summer. Lake Tashmoo was freshwater until the 1938 hurricane opened a permanent channel to the ocean.
The West Chop Lighthouse marks the northern tip of the West Chop peninsula, roughly 2 miles from downtown, about a 35-minute walk or a short bike ride north along Main Street. The current 45-foot brick tower dates to 1891, built 17 feet taller than its predecessor because large summer "cottages" had begun to obscure the light. The original fourth-order Fresnel lens still operates, flashing white visible for 15 miles. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
West Chop is the only Martha's Vineyard lighthouse not open to the public: the property serves as Coast Guard quarters. You can view and photograph from the road. Parking is limited to street-side spots near the West Chop tennis courts on Franklin Street.
The West Chop Woods, a 90-acre conservation property managed by Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, offers 1.5+ miles of marked walking trails through some of the oldest forest on the island. The Red Trail follows an old cart path that once connected Vineyard Haven to the lighthouse. Trailhead parking is off Franklin Street, about 1¼ miles toward West Chop from downtown.
The West Chop neighborhood features rambling waterfront mansions from the 1890s–1900s with sweeping views of Vineyard Sound. Properties routinely list at $3–$11 million+.
Founded in 1917 by four Lithuanian Jewish immigrant brothers: Sam, Ed, Henry, and Tebby Cronig. Sam arrived around 1905, reportedly the first Jewish person to settle on the island. In 2022, longtime manager Steve Bernier sold the business to Andrea Donnelly, the company's bookkeeper who started as a 15-year-old cashier, preserving island ownership. Cronig's was the first grocer on the East Coast to accept credit cards and one of the first to install solar panels with EV charging. Hours: Mon–Sat 7am–7pm, Sun 9am–6pm. Deli with prepared foods, organic and local products. Also operates a location in West Tisbury. Does not sell beer or wine. For packaged alcohol, go to Oak Bluffs (Tony's Market) or Edgartown.
Directly across from the SSA ferry terminal: the most convenient grocery stop upon arrival. Full-service supermarket with produce, dairy, meat, deli and prepared foods (note: no pharmacy counter here; the Stop and Shop pharmacy is at the Edgartown store). Also operates a gas station at 86 Beach Road. Hours: Mon–Sat 6am–11pm, Sun 6am–10pm.
Ackee Tree Caribbean American Grocer (25 Beach Rd): a small yellow-doored shop stocked with Jamaican and Caribbean staples, salt fish, plantains and hard dough bread, plus hot patties and home-cooked food to go. There is a Western Union counter inside, a quiet reminder of how international this harbor town's year-round community really is.
The Ackee Tree Caribbean American Grocer on Beach Road: patties, plantains and island staples of a different island.
30+ years in operation, offering fresh organic foods, daily-made meals, and Brazilian specialties alongside gourmet products. A locals' favorite.
Tisbury Park and Ride (High Point Lane): Free for 3 days or less, then $2/day. Free VTA shuttle to ferry (~5 min, every 20 min). Old Fire Station Lot (Beach Street): $2/hour, 4-hour max. Main Street: 2-hour limits. Best advice: don't bring a car.
The island's most confounding intersection: five roads converge with no traffic light and no rotary. Two blocks from the ferry terminal. Beach Road has right-of-way. Police direct traffic only when ferries arrive. Locals depend on "politeness and whatever mood you're in." MassDOT is studying a redesign including a possible roundabout.
The original name "Homses Hole" (from Wampanoag "homes" meaning "old man") was used for 225 years. On February 21, 1871, the post office officially changed to Vineyard Haven, credited to Sarah Crocker. Tisbury is the town; Vineyard Haven is the village. Both names refer to the same place.
Vineyard Haven’s lodging is small and personal: boutique inns rather than big hotels. The Mansion House Inn on Main Street stays open year-round, with a spa, gym and indoor pool (check rates). The Crocker House Inn sits in the lanes just off the harbor (check rates), and Charles and Charles is the bed-and-breakfast pick (check rates). For every option island-wide, with real prices by season, our complete Where to Stay guide covers 38 fact-checked properties.
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The SSA ferry terminal (1 Water Street) is the only year-round port on Martha's Vineyard. Walk-on $11 one-way / $22 round-trip. Children 5–12 pay $5.75. Bikes $5.25 each way. Vehicles from $73.50. The 45-minute crossing from Woods Hole runs roughly 14 daily departures. Major $32 million terminal reconstruction targets completion 2026. During construction, no standby vehicle service: all vehicles need advance reservations. Walk-on passengers are unaffected. The VTA bus hub is at the terminal; all routes connect here, currently fare-free. Bike rentals: Martha's Bike (4 Lagoon Pond Rd), All Star MV (Beach Rd), Vineyard Bike Rental (delivers island-wide).
For the complete ferry options and fares, see our Ferry Guide. Planning a one-day itinerary? Vineyard Haven is the natural starting point.
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Island tip of the dayTimingNo. 70 of 86
Polly Hill Arboretum is best visited early morning on a weekday: Explorer Backpacks at the Visitor Center, perfect tree light, possible deer. $10 suggested admission. Busier by 11 AM on weekends.
The Hallmark Martha's Vineyard Mysteries are not filmed on Martha's Vineyard: Victoria, British Columbia plays the island on screen. But the books behind the movies are pure Vineyard, and the real places are better than the set.
Lake Tashmoo in Vineyard Haven hides a century of stories: the 1887 waterworks that watered the town, a golf course where a bull was a hazard, town baseball and the frozen winters when islanders raced ice boats.
Dates, the lighthouse lighting, the Main Street parade, winter ferries and who is open: a fact-checked local guide to the island's biggest December weekend (Dec 10-13, 2026).
A reader planning a trip for May 2027 asked us what would actually be open. The honest year-round map: restaurants, cafes, trails, museums and services that never close, town by town, plus the calendar of when everything else reopens.
The Gay Head Cliffs are sacred Wampanoag land, not just a viewpoint. What visitors are welcome to in Aquinnah, what the rules protect, and how to be a good guest.
Shearer Cottage, Dorothy West, the Inkwell and 30 marked sites across the island: how to walk or tour the African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard.
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