What to eat in Salem Massachusetts
Updated 8/23/26
Since I’ve worked in tourism in Salem Massachusetts for years, I get asked for my restaurant recommendations a lot. It’s just so hard! There’s really no such thing as bad food in Salem (with the exception of one place) It really just depends on what type of food you’re in the mood for, and what your budget is. So I decided to blog about it so next time I’m asked “Where should we eat?” I can send them to read this!
First off, disclaimer: This is only my opinion. I have been to almost every restaurant downtown, but I’m not a food critic or anything. I do think I have a unique perspective with all of the traveling I have done. I know what it’s like to want to eat the best food when you only have a short amount of time in the place you’re visiting. There’s only so many meals in a day- I’d want to know what restaurants are not to be missed.
I’m putting stars ⭐️ next to my favorite restaurants as follows:
⭐️ = A place I frequent and I like a lot.
⭐️⭐️ = A place I frequent and I love.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ = One of my absolute favorite places and you should not miss it.
❌ = The one and only place you should NOT eat in Salem (You’re really curious now, huh?) Update: I added one more. 😢
So here we go…
Washington Street. (I’m going to start with the closest place to the train station, and work my way down.)
⭐️ Odd Meter Coffee: Really good coffee (and I’m from Seattle, I’m picky). Really friendly staff. They recently expanded and now offer food, haven’t tried it yet though.
⭐️ Melt Ice Cream: Homemade and so good. They have the best Butter Pecan ice cream I’ve ever had outside of La Paz Mexico, and they make their own waffle cones.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Settler: OMG. This has some of the best food I’ve ever had. It’s all farm fresh, kind of an American-French mix I think. It’s one of those places where you go, “mmmmm” with every single bite. The staff is amazing and friendly. It’s pricey so I don’t go too often, but if you’re only here for a few days, and you want the best food, definitely go here. It’s a very small place so make reservations.
Bernadette: This is new and owned by Settler so I’m sure it’s amazing. I’ll update when I visit.
⭐️ Koto: Really delicious sushi and Chinese food. It’s great for delivery too. The owner is super nice and owns Annie’s Asian Mart next door. They also have a pretty cool night scene.
Dire Wolf Tavern: Their food is decent. I haven’t had anything bad here but nothing has been deliciously unforgettable either. “Hallowed Ground” downstairs is a great bar with a really cool vibe though. I’d definitely recommend the bar.
Fountain Place: Basic breakfast place. I think they have lunch too but I haven’t been for lunch. It’s good but there are other way better breakfast places that shouldn’t be missed.
Rockafellas: People rave about this place, but just like Dire Wolf, I haven’t had anything bad here but I also haven’t had anything that I’m dying to come back for. The atmosphere is nice, the staff is nice. Good beer selection.
⭐️⭐️ Gulu Gulu Cafe: A really cool place to hang out, drink coffee, and play board games. Or, a good place for a cocktail in the evening- they have bands, open mic nights, bingo, etc. They also host a drag brunch every weekend which is so fun. All of their food is great but the goulash is particularly fantastic.
Flying Saucer Pizza: Good pizza, good vibe. Mars attacks pizza is my favorite here so far. And the space balls bread bite things are really good too.
Blue Fez: This is a Moroccan restaurant and I think it’s really good. The staff here is very friendly and happy to see you. The portion of the paella was so big that I ate the leftovers for two more meals. I think their vegetarian meals are better than their meals with meat.
Ginger: This is a cajun asian mix? So… they have gumbo and po’boys, and also sesame chicken and ramen. The gumbo was fantastic (and I had just gotten back from New Orleans when I tried it). I had a “Seafood Bag”. You pick the seafood and the seasoning and it’s all tossed together in a bag with corn and potatoes. I picked cajun seasoning. It was good. I’ve also had ramen here which was pretty good as well. They have karaoke on the weekends and the bartender is nice.
⭐️ Ledger: This used to be a bank so the inside is really pretty. Neat ceiling, and walls made out of old safe deposit boxes and stuff. It’s pricey and upscale. I’d give it second place after Settler for amazing fine dining. Get the popovers and squash bisque for sure. Brunch is my favorite. Delicious.
⭐️ Ugly Mug Diner: Probably my favorite breakfast place in town. Everything on their menu is delicious. I love the cinnamon butter on the french toast. I’ve had many of their breakfast and lunch items and they’ve all been really good.
⭐️ O’Neill’s Irish Pub: When I lived in Salem before my sailing travels, we would go to O’Neills every Friday night for live Irish music. It was super kid friendly before 8pm and we’d dance, have a beer or two, and try everything on their menu. It was our go-to place. Everything on the menu is really great. They have the best fish and chips outside of England in my opinion. Steak tips are good, Irish curry is good, cobb salad is good, everything is good. Since I’ve been living in Salem again though, I don’t visit too often. The staff just isn’t as friendly as they used to be and it doesn’t have the same fun family-friendly vibe. They have $5 burgers on Wednesday nights so I take the kids there sometimes. I always tell people to visit here even though it isn’t what it used to be. The food hasn’t changed even though the vibe has.
Ba Bahn Mi: They’re new and so good. I have high standards for a Bahn Mi sandwich and they win. Good prices too for a huge sandwich. Their Vietnamese iced coffee was strong and tasty too.
New England Soup Factory: It’s soup. All kinds of soup. If you go to their website, there’s a phone number for the “Soup Line” and it’ll give you a recorded message of today’s soup. I haven’t been here in years. I should probably visit again.
Boston Burger Company: Giant burgers with weird, wonderful ingredients piled on high. Delicious fries with all kinds of toppings. And these gigantic milkshakes (Or I guess in New England they’re called frapps) that are piled high with things like candy and cake on top. I think everything is too expensive here, but most of it is so big that it’s good for sharing.
Adriatic: This is a Mediterranean restaurant. I’ve only been here once. Everything was good… I think. I don’t remember what I ordered so I guess it wasn’t very memorable. I remember thinking I should come back though, so I guess I should!
Passage to India: Good Indian food. Nice staff. This is also a great place to order delivery if you don’t feel like venturing out of your hotel room.
The Neighborhood Tavern: This is a new restaurant and I thought it was pretty good. They have burgers, salads, tacos, etc. I appreciate that their salads include the protein. It drives me crazy when you’re paying $18 for some lettuce and veggies and have to pay an extra 5 or 6 bucks to add chicken. Their cobb salad was great and had chicken, bacon, and egg. Oh and feta. I’m not a blue cheese fan so the feta was great.
Tipsy Cowboy- Closed. Will update when something new opens here.
Church Street: (Starting at Washington)
⭐️⭐️ Turner’s Seafood: Love Turner’s. It looks like it’s really upscale but the prices are less expensive than you’d think. They’re also more kid-friendly than I would expect too. Everything I have had on their menu is delicious- From brunch, lunch, and dinner. Also, it is one of the most historic places in Salem. It was built on land that used to be owned by Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the witch trials. And the building itself was built as a meeting house called Lyceum Hall. The first telephone call was received here. Alexander Graham Bell was in Boston and his colleague Thomas Watson picked up the phone here. Also so many famous people have been here. Edgar Allen Poe, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Ralph Waldo Emerson, etc. It’s just a really cool place (and it’s totally haunted.)
⭐️ East Regiment Beer Co: They have a great beer selection. They rent their kitchen to Crazy Good Kitchen (CGK) and have chicken sandwiches, etc. I’ve had some of their fries- BBQ ranch chicken fries I think? It was really good. Their basement is where I used to take tourists at the end of my tours when I owned Paranormal Salem because my office used to be right upstairs. So, if you’ve read my book, the first chapter takes place in the area that now holds tanks of fermenting beer. And the story about hearing a chair being dragged across the floor would have happened in what is now East Regiment.
⭐️ Essex Pizza (Inside Witch City Mall): Our teenager and his friends used to go here at least 3x a week (before they all left for college). It’s their favorite pizza place in Salem. I can always get in and out quick during peak tourist season between walking tours. Their pizza is great, salads are great (I love their greek salad that comes with a squishy-soft pita bread), and their calzones are great. Everything is great.
Thai Place: This Thai food is the closest I’ve found to west coast Thai food. It’s also somewhere I can usually get into quickly during October in between tours. However, they’ve raised their prices A LOT the past couple years. I don’t visit here much anymore. During peak season for dinner, veggie pad thai is like $18?! That’s crazy.
Not Ya Mama’s Vegan Cafe– This is a new cafe with new owners. The space used to be Rosadellas. I haven’t tried it yet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Goodnight Fatty: They make late-night cookies, and they also have some breakfast items. You have to continue all the way down Church Street as it turns into Brown Street and meets Hawthorne Blvd to get here. (Right next to the Salem Witch Museum) GO HERE. They’re only open Thu-Sun nights and their cookie selection changes every weekend. 3 flavors, warm right out of the oven. Always the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted. I tell every tourist I meet to make sure you get fatties. They deliver, you can pick up, or you can eat there. They also have bottomless milk. And soft serve ice cream too.
Essex Street (Starting at Summer Street- near the Witch House)
Bonchon Chicken: Korean fried chicken and fries. Sandwiches and sides. Good for lunch.
⭐️ Life Alive: Fresh, organic, vegetarian cafe with really flavorful bowls and salads. They have wraps and smoothies too but I really love their bowls. It’s colorful, healthy, and filling, and the prices are good. It’s a great lunch spot as my office is close by.
The Counter/The Roof (at the Salem Hotel): The Roof is a roof-top bar and you should go for the view alone. The food isn’t great but the drinks are good. Kind of expensive, but good. The Counter has great burgers and great fries. And actually, their “chips” aren’t really chips. They’re more like fries that are cut into the shape of chips. So, don’t bother paying extra for fries when the chips are really fries. I think The Counter is open during the winter months, and the Roof is open during the summer months.
⭐️ Red Line Cafe: This is one of my go-to place for coffee. They have homemade chocolate croissants and their sandwiches and salads are really fresh and delicious. AND it has the best spot for people watching. Sit at the bar at the window and watch people walk down Essex Street. It’s fun.
Village Tavern: American Fare: Burgers, Salads, Pasta, etc. Good food, great desserts. I don’t like that they charge you $5 to upgrade regular fries to sweet potato fries, or onion rings, salad, etc. (Edit: They stopped offering this. Gee, I wonder why… Oh, I know why… it’s too expensive and didn’t sell. I think regular fries are your only option now.) This place is always still hopping with loud music if I walk by after a night of tours and ghost hunts in October. Salem’s only spot for night life, if you can call it that.
Brew Box: Decent coffee. They have “cereal milk” that’s fun for the kids. It changes flavors every… day? week? It’s just like it sounds. Milk that’s flavored like it’s been sitting in cereal. They also have pretty good breakfast biscuits.
Olde Main Street Pub: This place is kind of weird when you walk in. When I first went, I didn’t really know if I was supposed to wait to be seated, or if I went in the wrong door, or what to do. It still feels like that when I walk in but I usually just flag someone down and tell them if I want to sit at the bar or a table. They have decent American pub fare. Good vibes at the bar.
Tavern on the Green (Or just “The Tavern” if you’re looking on GPS. It’s inside the Hawthorne Hotel): The Hawthorne is a cozy historic hotel and the restaurant has a crackling fireplace. The staff is so friendly and the food is very good. I have been for dinner and also weekend brunch. All was delicious.
Bella Verona: I hear a lot of tour guides recommending Bella Verona as their go-to restaurant in Salem. It’s a really authentic, quaint little Italian place with a great staff. I’ve only been once and it was good. I hear they’ve raised their prices significantly lately.
Side Streets (Most of these are between Essex and Derby, and a few off Lafayette on the other side of Derby)
Whimsy’s: Ice cream and candy. Can’t go wrong with ice cream and candy.
Front Street Coffee House: They have great coffee and sandwiches and I go often for lunch.
⭐️ Lobster Shanty: Great food, strong drinks, good prices. They’ve even been on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. They close for a few months in the off-season and I sort of forget about them when they’re tucked in artist row. I do really love the vibe of the place, and their outdoor patio is a great place to hang out in the summer or nice nights.
❌ 😢 Reds Sandwich Shop: Updated. This was the best breakfast in Salem and I had this marked as ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and it was the restaurant I frequented the most in town. We were regulars and the servers knew what drinks we wanted before we sat down. Well, now it was purchased by a total right-wing whack job. I don’t like to get political, and I know there are restaurants in town that I frequent who have different political beliefs than I do, and I go there anyway… but this guy is really, really bad. I immediately stopped going, and I hear most of their staff quit and the food is terrible now. So, so sad.
⭐️ Barrio Tacos: They serve food until 1am so sometimes when we’re out late, this is the only option. You order tacos and nachos using an order sheet at your table and put whatever ingredients you want on them. Beware… don’t add too many sauces and salsas. Everything is very salty and a little of each option goes a long way. Keep your order simple and it’s delicious. They have great queso and really good margaritas.
Crave– They make delicious breakfast sandwiches. And my favorite part… you can order them as a bowl with an arugula salad instead of bread. They also make amazing pastries, but their coffee is just so-so.
Witch City Hibachi: Your basic hibachi place… you know the type where they grill the food in front of you and tell a lot of jokes and throw food at you. It’s really good though. Their sushi and bento boxes are great too.
AJ King: I don’t go here often. I’ve had their breads and baked goods all over town though and they’re delicious. They have sandwiches but I’ve never tried one. I’m sure they’re great. Will update when I do.
Paprika Grill: Middle Eastern Doner wraps, falafel and greek-style plates. It’s a take-out window next to the Salem Wax Museum just off Derby Street. They have a few small tables outside. Fresh and really good.
Derby Street (Starting at Washington after The Derby)
⭐️⭐️ Howling Wolf Taqueria: I think Howling Wolf hands-down has the best nachos, like, ever on the whole planet (and I’ve had a lot of nachos in a lot of places, so this is saying a lot.) And their margaritas are strong and decently priced.
Engine House Pizza: It’s pizza. Your basic decent pizza.
Jolie Tea Company: I have not been in for high tea yet with the little sandwiches, but their tea is great, their scones are good, the decor is adorable, and they have great macaroons.
Gargon Super Slice: Very good pizza and I recommend.
Casa Tequila: They have closed and the building is for sale or rent. Will update.
Flatbread: They have also closed. Something called GOAT is going in? I’ll update.
⭐️ Bambolina: Super amazing fancy pizza. (You know, like, not delivery-style pizza but up-scale Italian wood-fired pizza) Awesome all around. The owner also owned a ramen noodle place called Kokeshi, and during the pandemic, they closed it and shared one kitchen and would only offer Kokeshi for take-out. I guess they decided to close Kokeshi for good and just add all of their asian meals to Bambolina’s menu permanently. So, it’s a little different to blend Italian and Asian together, but… why not? Their Colonel Sanders Ramen is so good and enough to take home for leftovers.
⭐️⭐️ Lulu’s Bakery and Pantry: I meet friends for coffee here a few times a week. The owners are great, the food is great (try the Ham Jam breakfast sandwich) and their coffee is great.
Witchside Tavern: When I lived in Salem previously, this place was called Brothers and it was an inexpensive cafeteria-style restaurant. And then they made ita sit-down restaurant called Brothers Taverna. Now they’ve renamed it again but their food hasn’t changed. They have good breakfast and are the only place in Salem that has hashbrowns in addition to homefries. (I don’t know why hashbrowns are not popular in New England.) But my favorite thing so far on their menu is the chicken kabob dinner. The chicken is so tender it melts in your mouth and it comes with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Writing this makes me want to walk over there and order that right now.
Notch Brewing: Notch has a great beer selection. It’s popular in restaurants throughout MA, and it’s available in cans in the grocery stores. When you get it at the tap house, it just tastes even better. They have appetizers that change each.. month? I think? They’ll have Czech style apps, then change to German apps, etc. It’s a cool spot to hang out, especially in the summer when they have tables outside.
⭐️ ⭐️ All Souls’ Lounge: Really cool vibe, great drinks. Delicious, amazing, unique grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot dogs at a decent price. My go-to grown-up bar. It’s small though and can get pretty crowded.
Fun House Donuts- They just closed. Will update if something else goes in here.
❌ Bit Bar: This is the one and only place in Salem that I tell people NOT to eat. (Well, besides Red’s now. 😢 ) Their food is awful. It’s always cold and too salty. I’m pretty sure all their food just comes frozen from some food service company and they fry it up and add salt… and then leave it back there to get soggy and cold. Their staff always seems overwhelmed. The only thing I’ve ever had that was halfway decent was their guacamole. I think it’s made in-house. That being said, it’s a cool place. Go for the drinks and go for the games. Don’t eat there. Update I saw on their facebook page that they want to hire a new chef to create a new menu. Crossing my fingers that the food gets better soon. I’ll update when I hear more.
Brodies Seaport: I’ve only been here twice. I had a burger once and did not like it. It’s really thick and dry. And the other time I had a chicken sandwich that had pesto I think? I don’t remember what was all on it but it was delicious. I just hopped on their website to find out the name of it and I don’t see it on the menu. So, I guess I’m not sure what’s good here. I have had a 50/50 experience.
Jaho: My least favorite coffee shop in Salem (It’s crazy to me how many people think it’s great!?!) Every time I order a hot coffee here, it’s cold. I order it extra hot, and it’s still cold. Iced coffee is fine. An iced hanoi is pretty good.. that’s really the only thing I order here. Sandwiches are okay. I think they up their prices during tourist season, or maybe just whenever they feel like it. You never know how much you’ll be paying.
⭐️ Wolf Next Door Coffee: Cute little neighborhood coffee shop. I like their chai lattes, and their “Bees Knees” is amazing! So, so good. It’s 4 shots of espresso with milk and honey. Their coffee is never bitter. Also, they make delicious breakfast sandwiches. Super fluffy eggs and crunchy bacon.
Trade House: I’ve been once for brunch and it was freaking fantastic.
⭐️ ⭐️ Mercy Tavern: Another of my favorite places. The BEST burgers and they’re half price on Tuesdays. They also have amazing mac n’ cheese (like, maybe the best ever.) and really good salads. Amazing drinks and super nice staff. Love Mercy Tavern. And they’re kid friendly too. There is no bad food here.
Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie: I know I left out all the other candy places around town (but noted the ice cream and coffee places!) but I’m putting this one on the list because it’s America’s oldest candy company and that’s really cool. Check it out. It’s right across the street from the House of the Seven Gables.
VFW: The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) is open to the public (I think?? Double check. They opened to the public during covid but I heard they might have made it members-only again) and they have a great menu and cheap food. Not many tourists venture this far down the road or even think to go inside, but it’s decent bar food and good appetizers.
The Landing: This is a tiny little outdoor bar only open in the summer at the Salem Ferry dock. Drinks and appetizers with a view of the ferry coming and going. It’s kind of cool.
Pickering Wharf (and Congress Street)
Antique Table: Closed. Will update.
Lil’ Devils- Closed. Will update.
Mainstay Social: (inside the Waterfront Hotel): (They just changed the name to Mainstay Social. I haven’t been since the change so I’m not sure if their food is different. Will update.) I honestly wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this place and it was one of the last restaurants I visited in Salem. I was pleasantly surprised. The staff is super friendly and the food is really good. I like their fried fish sandwich. Their tartar sauce is amazing. Really good inexpensive breakfast. Their eggs benedict and potatoes are great and only $12 and includes coffee.
Longboards: I used to come here a lot when I lived on the wharf. One of my good friends works here and it has the best prices on the waterfront. Flatbreads are good, burgers are good, sandwiches are good. Bar food, bar games, tv’s, patio tables and chairs on nice days. Family and pet friendly.
Popped Popcorn: This place is owned by Longboards, and if you eat at Longboards first, your receipt will give you a discount at Popped. It’s yummy-flavored kinds of popcorn, and also ice cream.
⭐️ Finz and Sea Level: These restaurants are right on the water. They are owned by the same person so I’m just grouping them as one restaurant. Everything on the menu at both places is good. It’s mostly seafood but they also have burgers and salads, etc. I believe Sea Level is a bit less expensive and slightly less upscale than Finz. I visit both restaurants pretty frequently but visit Sea Level more often.
Amazing Pizza: It’s actually pretty amazing. Friendly staff too.
Outside of Downtown (A few places worth mentioning within a quick drive or a long walk)
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Salem Willows: The Willows isn’t far from downtown. If you wanted to get a good walk in, you can get there on foot. It’s a park on the water with a whole bunch of tiny restaurants that are only open in the summer. Most famously, Hobbs Popcorn (the best popcorn in the whole world and anyone who comes to Salem should not miss stopping by for a bag) There’s also seafood, pizza, tacos, ice cream, an arcade, and a beautiful view.
⭐️ Deacon Giles Distillery: Really cool place to get a craft cocktail.
Salem’s Retreat: Decent breakfast place with a parking lot out back off of North Street. I like their garden omelet, they use american cheese. Melty goodness. (It used to be called Leslie’s Retreat after the story about how the Revolutionary War almost started… I think it’s dumb the new owners changed the name. Google the history of the bridge.)
Maria’s Place: Another great breakfast place just slightly out of downtown.
The Babe: You can definitely walk here. It’s just barely out of downtown. They have great food, great drinks, and great bartenders. My second go-to bar after All Souls.
Phew… well, I hope that’s it. I bet I’ll be walking down the street and realize I completely forgot somewhere. I’ll update this list the more we try new things!
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