Menemsha Public Beach
Attraction Outdoor Recreation Park Adjacent To Dutcher'S Dock, Menemsha, Massachusetts, Estats Units
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About Menemsha Public Beach
This calm surf beach, next to Menemsha Harbor, has food and restrooms nearby making it a hot spot for families, especially with young children. The beach is thought to have the best sunset on Martha's Vineyard.
Contact & Hours
Adjacent To Dutcher'S Dock, Menemsha, Martha'S Vineyard, MA
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Reviews (170)
Lovely day at the beach
Lovely harbor Beach. Get there early. Parking is for 5 hours only and they do keep track and ticket you. You can use the bus which is very convenient. Bathrooms available with showers. Both areas were clean with lots of use. The day we went it was very windy but soon died down and ended up being a lovely beach day. Family oriented beach, good for small kids as the water is very calm. Several families enjoyed fresh fish from the several fish markets. We did not purchase any fish as we had packed lunch and snacks. We were at the beach for only 2 hours and our car had been marked with a marker on the front tire for timing! We enjoyed our day and will go back.
Try again
We went to watch the sunset and eat seafiod, but it was overcast and cloudy. It ended up raining so we went home. We didn't get a chance to go back to visit the beach a second time, but when I'm back in the area, I'll return.
Must visit
Stunning sunset! Too cold for a swim but the view and the beach are fabulous. Definitely quiet in April and it was great going when there aren't crowds.
Public Beach
We travelled to MV during the off-season in October, and found this location surprisingly crowded. The beach is well-known for beautiful sunsets, but beware - there is the limited parking and narrow shorelines, making the area more congested than other locations on the island.
Outstanding sunsets
We spent our last night of our week on Martha's Vineyard in Menemsha. It is a sleepy fishing town with a pretty beach that showcases an outstanding sunset view. We spent the day on the public beach and walked over to one of the seafood shacks for takeout lunch to eat on the beach. We placed our lobster dinner order for our sunset meal. The perfect way to end our vacation.
Cute beach
When we went on a Friday and it was very busy. The beach was very cute and a decent size. There was a place to get lunch and gas. We didn't have time to try.
If you don't have a car, book your Lyft / Uber / Taxi back EARLY
We just biked and used ride-hailing all over the island which was fine in the eastern parts. We took a Lyft here for the supposedly " best sunset beaches " (what our Airbnb host said). Everyone was out on blanket with picnic and wine. Cloud cover was too heavy, no sunset. So we decided to stroll around. Nothing to see really so we got on our phones to get an Uber or Lyft. No reception. We walked around and around to find a good spot. Finally the app loaded and after searching for an eternity a car picked up our request. We watched it come toward us to drop off passengers first. Midway to us after dropping off their passengers, they turned and dropped our request! At this point it was dark and everyone had left and everything was closed. We started panicking. We tried googling and calling several taxi companies but they told us too many weddings were happening that night and all their cars were booked. We tried Uber again hoping for a miracle. After it searched and searched a car finally answered but it was the same deal -- they were dropping off passengers first. We watched on the app as it came midway, stopped dropped off passengers and started turning. I just knew he was going to give up on us again so I frantically called him and begged him to come and promised a big tip. He turned around and came. He was shocked that we were real people. He says nobody ever comes here this late and that he thought it was some kind of trick. Lesson learned, never come here late again.
Amazing sunset
With storm clouds on the horizon, we thought our desire for a nice sunset was not to happen. Suddenly the pink / red rays burst from behind the cloud for a most amazing show.
Great beach
This is a great up-island beach! Lots of parking, lots of sand and surf. A couple of restaurants within walking distance for lunch. A great stop!
Great beach near the pier
Great little beach near the fishing pier. There are a few great restaurants nearby for takeout. Good swimming area, though there was a band of rocks you had to walk through. Great view of the Elizabeth Islands and Falmouth.
Crappy directions and tiny parking
Google maps directions are wrong. We ended up in dirt trails peppered with " no beach access " signs. Eventually a kind soul pointed out the right way. We eventually ended up at the right location only to be thwarted by lack of parking. We were not alone in our predicament, which made egress.... interesting. Never even saw the beach!
Fabulous Menemsha sunsets
Greatest place to watch the sunset. Parking is limited due to Covid. Bring a bottle of wine and sit back and enjoy God's artwork. Stunning!
Pittoresque
Boats. Lobster traps. Fresh fish sandwiches. Lobster bisque. Creamy clam chowder. Be sure to stop here for lunch!
Gorgeous area
So picturesque here with the seafood market, craft shop, boat shop etc. Restrooms are provided and lobster and picnic tables too. Great area for fishing. Bring your chair.
Very scenic
Stopped by the beach while in menemsha. Very nice and clean. No lifeguard on duty here. Parking is a little tough.
Sunset gathering
Stunning sunset Energetic crowd Beautiful sky colors Worth the drive.... bus 4 also will bring you there Bring your dinner or pick up at the seafood markets nearby
A must
A must for the sunset. Go eat at the restaurants, stroll the quaint fishing village, then park and watch all the phases of the sunset.
Great Spot
Great spot to watch the Sunset away from the crowds on the other side of the island. Get there around 6, grab a lobster roll at Larsen's & relax.
Stay for Awhile
Marked by a harpoon statue toward the entrance, this beach is enjoyable to stay for the day. It's a public beach and was a bit crowded more than other place we went, but the sand was nice, a little rocky toward the ocean, and the view was beautiful. There was a cute ice cream shack across from the bus stop that is located just a few yards from the beach.
time out
This little place looks as if it is lost in time, which is one of its charms. With rustic shacks and a sandy beach complete with lifeguard and beach umberella it looks idyllic. There is a little shack on the side of the road from which two sisters sell fried clams and have for years and years. The restaurants do not sell alcohol but if you bring your own they will cork it for you for a cost. I can imagine watching the fishermen bringing in the catch in the morning.
Great Sunset
Perfect spot for the sunset. Parking is tough so best to take the shuttle from a parking lot 5 minutes away rather than stressing to find a spot. Shuttle was perfect, ran every 10 minutes, no stress getting in and out of a very tight area. Beach typical cape " codish " small town feel.
Rustic and traditional
Out of all the beaches on the island Menemsha is our favourite. Family friendly, quiet and small it's a perfect little getaway to avoid the crowds and noise of some other beaches. There is a lifeguard and the beach stretches for about a mile. It's a little pebbly as you get to the water but just keep your sandals on hand. Couple of local shops and the gas station sells water and provisions if you run out (decent prices as well!) local fish on sale and it is still a working fishing village. We love the working vibe it has as you can see the fisherman coming in and out of the harbour. Great place to watch the sun go down.
Keep this place as-is
The Town of Menemsha dredged the harbor entrance recently and added much sand to the beach. I hope that it will stay in place so we can again enjoy the peaceful natural beauty so rare on the coast.
Great Beach with a Fantastic View of MV Sound
We made a cruise to Menemsha Harbor, had lunch at the Galley and took a walk on the beach. It wasn't swimming weather, but we still enjoyed the view of the sound. In season, this is a very nice beach to relax at.
Great view!
After our fabulously satisfying lunch at Menemsha Fish Market, we had a nice stroll along the Dutcher's Dock towards the beach. It was a chilly morning therefore we have the whole beah to ourselves! Great view!
There's a trick to parking.
Yes, it's a nice beach, especially with young children and if you're already staying upisland, or don't want to go to State beach all the time. Get there early-ish in the morning for parking. The crowd at sunset helps make the sunset an event to go to! If you go just before sunset, in the summer, you won't find parking (and don't risk parking if there are signs telling you not to, even if others are doing it - you will all get ticketed, or even towed!) For sunset, you have to get there when the beach crowd is going home and plan to spend a few hours late afternoon.
Beautiful beachfront
Pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the beach and the water is here. Nice swimming area. Lots of fisherman nearby. Lots of boats to watch coming in and out of harbor. Fun old school fishing village. Limited parking.
Too crowded
Limited parking. Associated boat fumes and traffic. Nothing great. Go to South Beach, it is exceptional.
Best sunset on the Island
We come annually to site on the pebble beach and see the incredible sunsets here. Combine with some food from Larsen's and you're good!
Lots of rocks and can get crowded, but nice beach with a great atmosphere
This beach is relatively small and it can get crowded, but we still come here every year that we visit MV and we always enjoy ourselves at this beach. I would absolutely advise people to wear water shoes here because there are tons - and I mean tons - of pebbles and rocks in the water. But the water is gentle and refreshing and the area is interesting and has a great vibe.
Cute little beach near the fish markets
This is a small little beach near the fish market. There is a small parking lot. The beach water is clear and the beach is sandy. There are great sunsets in this area on a clear sunny day.
Beautiful, small Beach
We were on a " road trip " on this beautiful island and this is a wonderful place to stop and stretch your legs and get some sand between your toes. Even mid summer it wasn't crowded at all. There are public restrooms available, and several tiny fish shacks with great food. Also, check out the connection between this beach and the movie Jaws.
Beautiful-with great food
We spent 2 days on Menemsha's Public Beach. Get there early for parking. The beach is small-but very pretty. Larson's Fish Market has the best, most reasonably priced lobster rolls. Half the price of in-town restaurants. We will be back.
Best lobster picnic sunset I ever had!
Highlight of my first Martha's Vineyard trip. The sunset on the public beach and $25 lobster dinner at Larson's should be on everyone's bucket list. Fiance and I brought a blanket and ate right on the beach. The only thing I would warn newbies like us is it gets crowded so get there 1-2 hours before sunset, and also have a ride home. We took the bus which took about hour to get home. It was all an adventure though and is a must see for anyone traveling to the island!
Sunset is a madhouse - otherwise go early!
A great beach for families. Free parking public toilets, foid, sundries snd a great sunset! Bring you sunscreen, pack up the kuds and go!
Beautiful
Beautiful, uncrowded beach with nice public restrooms and showers. There are lots of fish markets literally within steps of the beach to buy food and drink at.
Beautiful Area to Stretch Your Legs
This beach was beautiful and quiet at this time of the year. Our tour guide said that locals don't come here in the summer because it is so busy. It is supposed to be the best place in Mass. to see the sunset. Very picturesque. There is some take-out food here too. If it isn't too busy, you can take in the scenery while stretching your legs.
Calm place off season
Nice place to walk picnic or just take a stroll. Peaceful beach with many great shells to take home for souvenirs
beautiful beach
Traveled there in April and had beautiful weather. Not many people. Sand is soft and white. Spectacular views.
Quiet beach, even for a public beach - I love this beach
I love this beach - I had the opportunity to spend some time with friends on Martha's Vineyard in late summer and loved spending it on this beach. It's quiet, peaceful, simply beautiful and a must-see at sunset, as is most of the Vineyard. Have fun! Parking can be tricky, but worth the walk if you have to park aways-away.
Drive up to the Beach
Great beach to park quickly and hang out and have lunch. Nice place to watch the sun set. Free entry. A popular local spot.
Beautiful sunset
Head to the fish market for a lobster roll or even a whole lobster and join the locals as they eat on the beach watching the sunset - wonderful.
Best sunset in Massachusetts!
Forget the fact the travel and leisure identified this place as having the best sunset in Massachusetts. The lobster bisque, clam chowder and hot lobster rolls at the Menemsha fishmarket make you forget about the sun. But once you finish your food, the sun will be waiting and you will witness the best sunset you may have ever seen in your life. Enjoy!
Lovely Small Beach
Nice place to take little ones. Safe, small beach with no waves. You can sit on a blanket and watch the fishing boats come in.
Menemsha
The Menemsha beach is a small beach in a sleepy New England Town. The area has fresh fish seafood joints. There are public showers and bathrooms.
Town of Amity (Jaws) was filmed here at Menmsha Beach - Very cool to see
We rented our jeep in Oak Bluff. The owner was giving us the lowdown on where to visit on the island. He directed us to Menemsha where jaws was filmed. Many scenes of the town Amity came from here. It was so cool to look at the harbor and then remember the scenes from the movie. The jetty we walked was the same in many of the shots. The fishing boats looked like the ones in the movie. I loved seeing this place. I'm glad we visited.
Menemsha Sunset
Singular in its appeal, treat yourself to a sunset here. An out of the way place, to be sure, but that's the point sometimes, isn't it?
Absolutely Gorgeous - Go for the sunset!
I have only been to Menemsha once but it was spectacular. My friends and I brought a picnic and blanket to the beach and watched the sunset. Definitely a must do while in MV! It's very casual and it gets crowded as a lot of people have the same idea. There are a couple lobster stands nearby also if you would like to pick up a lobster roll for the beach!
A Picnic Beach
Perhaps only notable due to it's proximity of the take-out fish markets in the village and great spot for a sunset- but isn't that good enough? No spectacular rock formations, cliffs, or crashing waves, but worthy for a picnic all the same.
Pretty, clean and rocky
Beautiful Menemsha beach has easy access, is free and really relaxing. Wear your water shoes when going in the water as there are pebbles throughout. Calm waters round out this memorable beach
Nice view
Nice view, smells like fish, not much to do. Long bus ride there, but was a scenic ride across the island.
Great Views of the Sunset
My family decided to have dinner at the Menemsha fishing village in Chilmark. We had cod fish, salad, nachos, lobster bisque and wine. The food was fresh and delicious. We enjoyed our dinner at the beach watching the sunset. It was very relaxing. Highly recommended.
Great place for food and scenery
While at the beach don't forget to take a stroll along the shore. Also get a bite to eat at any of the fish shops. Lobster in all it's forms and delicious chowders can be found here. Walk along the docks and check out the boats, commercial and private. Get some great photos of the shanties to remember your stay.
Quint Fishing Village, off the beaten track
We first took the bus from Vineyard Haven to Aquinnah to Gay Head Lighthouse, then we caught the 5 bus to the local 12 bus which brought us directly to Menemsha Beach. This is a quaint little fishing village. There's four restaurants here: The Bite, one restaurant where you can purchase seafood and they'll cook it for you, and I think a sister establishment which is more of a sit down dining restaurant, and a very small sushimi booth. There's also a gas station at the local pier with a very small convenience store. That's it!! Oh, and the restroom. The rock pier was very nice and my husband and I enjoyed taking a walk along the pier. We had purchased lunch from the Bite and decided to sit on the rocks and enjoy our meal. We left before sunset but this beach is raved to have the most beautiful sunsets on all of the Island.
Nice sunset and great food only seconds away
I enjoyed walking along the rocks and sitting as the sun set. The area is very clean and very safe. A strong police presence so I wouldn't recommend bringing any alcohol or dogs. The area has public restrooms. They have Larsens and Menemsha Fish markets next to the beach. I would recommend grabbing a bite to eat and watching the sunset.
Small beach and rocky
The town is like Mayberry and its beach is small. Beautiful views though. The people are very nice! They have at least one building for bathrooms unlike South beach which had 0!
Beautiful
So pristine and great parking. There a couple great seafood shacks nearby. Just a really great spot!
Great little beach perfect for beach combing and sunset views
This beach is part of the Menemsha Village area and because it faces west is perfect for viewing the sunset. A delightful place for a beach lunch or a casual stroll. The surf is relatively calm, making it a great spot for families with children. Free parking open to all: not just residents. Shops, fish market / restaurants, and ice cream shop nearby. Public restrooms available.
Poco invitante
Una delle spiagge di Martha's Vineyard che abbiamo visitato; spiaggia stretta e parzialmente ghiaiosa. Non mi ha affascinato. Mi risulta comunque che il bagno è quasi impossibile per la temperatura dell'acqua 7-11°.
Best sunset on east coast
Beach is rocky and not the greatest swimming beach. But fun for kids to explore to catch crabs and small fish with their nets. The sunsets are breath taking.
Great beach to see a beautiful sunset
Come very early when coming over to see the sunset. There is limited parking, and very often it is impossible to find a parking spot.
Road teip
A bit chilly and windy but a beautiful clear day to view the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is quite clean and spacious enough. Plenty of parking and a public restroom are near by. Not sure how many shops have take out because some were closing for the season. Also not sure how deep the water is for wading or swimming but there is a lifeguard stand there. There were several people fishing
Pretty Beach
We usually go to Menemsha to watch the sunset with the rest of the massive crowd of sunset watchers. This trip we went in the morning just as a beach walk and had a lovely time as we had the beach almost completely to ourselves. It was a beautiful morning and as an extra treat there was all sorts of action with the fishing boats coming in and out.
Gorgeous Sunsets!
The Menemsha Beach is the place to be for the beautiful sunsets. The sands are very hot but very enjoyable.
Drop dead gorgeous Sunsets with a warm crowd.
It's a real thing here... sunset. People gather and mill around waiting for the moment to come. Loads of chairs and blankets and we opted to grab grub (outstanding grub) from Larsen's just prior. I have seen sunsets at sea (we live on a boat in the summer) and in the Caribbean but this was truly special... don't forget to clap with everyone when its down. Enjoy the moment!
Nice views
We didn't go to the beach here but we enjoyed walking on the rocky breakwater. Pretty views of the fishing village. Public bathrooms are located in a short walk down the road from the beach.
Beautiful Shoreline with beautiful little stones
Took a walk on the beach today in Menemsha, a cool and breezy day in May but it was lovely. It is quite different in the summer but it's wonderful no matter when you come. The sand is covered by rocks and stones of all sizes, shapes and colors The Menemsha beach is far from Everything and a great place to escape to while visiting Marthas Vineyard. It's truly magical.
Great little Beach
Parking is free (you may have to circle a few times) location is great a few pebbles but sea is clean and warm in August. Great fresh fish available at Larsen;s Fish Store just down from the beach..... not sure why they have to tell you not to sunbathe in the nude ! Would go back to this beach in future
Don't forget early beach time!
Sweet little beach with a real fishing harbor and fish shops with retail and prepared meals and bathrooms! Gave it a 4 because of lack of surf and small rocks that are tuff on tenderfoot vacationers. Watched my wife with help from lifeguard and police officer lend assistance to an elderly woman trying to get to and from water. Not an unusual act for my wife but the gentleness and patience of the policeman didn't escape my eye. Tough few weeks for law enforcement countrywide and it was a simple act of kindness and humanity without agenda that I'm glad witnessed.
great place to watch the sunset
grab a lobster from larsen's fish market, bring a bottle of champagne and enjoy the sunset
Small beach, clear water
This was a really nice little beach with a very pebbly bottom and incredibly clear water. There's a rock jetty that you can walk out to sit, look, or fish. There are TONS of crabs in the water around the rocks--I watched three kids catch probably 20 of them in 5-10 minutes. The area on the beach was a little cramped since it's such a small beach, but it wasn't terrible. There's a lifeguard there until 5 pm. There are several seafood markets along the road right by the beach. In the evening, tons of people pour onto the beach with tables, chairs, and coolers to have dinner and drinks as they sit and watch the sunset. Parking around 4:30-7pm is nearly impossible, I can imagine. We left around 4:30, and there were already 15 cars circling the small parking area looking for spots. As we drove out of the area, there were cars lined up for nearly a mile along the road. If you want to go for sunset, make sure you get there early!
Quaint family orientated Beach where you can watch a Sunset
You can park right at the sandy beach, no big waves, lifeguard on duty, gradual drop off, fresh fish and hot seafood at walk to fish market. Fabulous views and very friendly to families. Parking can be sparse at sunset. Absolutely a great place to sit in the sand, have a snack and watch the most beautiful sunsets as you are facing West.
Love this Place
A charming small beach. Lots of rocks so not the best for your feet but everything else overcomes it. The people there are having a great time in a very laid back MV way. Everyone comes for the day and brings lots of chairs and umbrellas for a long day of lounging, reading and watching the boats. Very multi-generational, too. I've seen families with little ones, three generations all together and elderly couples just there on their own. In the evening, out come the portable (and casual) dinner tables, bottles of wine and sweaters to extend into the sunset. One of my sons loves to fish on the jetties and the other loves to climb on them. I love to sit and read and enjoy the breeze. The jetties and the space between the jetties and the dock are covered in kids collecting crabs and fish. Nothing better than an afternoon at this beach with a lobster from Larsen's or fried clams from The Bite and some chocolates from Chillmark Chocolates!
DO NOT MISS THE SUNSET
We were told by 3 people not to miss the sunset at Menemsha Beach and they were so right! This is a party ritual like no other I have seen to watch a sunset. Memensha is dry but you can BYO. We went out by bus and brought along 2 bottles of wine. When you get off the bus we went into the Menemsha Fish market. Free samples of lobster Bisque and Clam Chowder. We bought 2 cups of lobster bisque. I then picked out a piece of filet of sole that they steamed for me with lemon and cheese and put on a role for a fish sandwich. We headed out of the fish market to the beach about a 3 minute walk and joined the rest of the party goers setting up tables, chairs, lobster dinners, coolers of beer and wine. It was the most beautiful sunset ever. everyone is taking pictures and in a good mood as they are eating and drinking. When the sunset dropped everyone clapped. Then amazingly 2 minutes later the moon rose on the opposite side of the beach. BREATHTAKING! The bus ride from Oak Bluffs was probably 45 minutes long but well worth it.
Beautiful sunsets!
Bring your beach chairs, your dinner and beverage of choice... sit and watch the sunset... low key, lots of people. Get there early, parking is limited!
Pretty sunset
I spent the day at Aquinnah Beach & then came here for the sunset (& a lobster roll from Larsen's Fish Market). The sunset was very pretty & I loved that a crowd gathered to watch it & enjoy picnics on the beach. There was even an shockingly good a cappella group that really added to the ambiance. Truly a lovely experience. You can purchase food & ice cream from several cafes along the road to bring to the beach. There are also well maintained public restrooms along the road.
Sunset Magnificence
What can you say when the whole beach crowd cheers the sunset on Menemsha? Great place for a clam-bake with alcoholic beverages allowed. Just amazing.
Relaxing and clean
I spent a day on this beach just soaking up the rays and listening to the ocean. The sand was very clean. I observed a family of five cleaning up - picking up trash along the beach very early in the morning. I guess that's one way to keep it in good shape. The water was very cold (June) so I didn't fully go in. I saw a few people brave what seemed like icy water. Water shoes are MUST here - the rocks are not friendly to the bottoms of your feet. The bathrooms were clean and there are lots of different places to eat nearby.
Amazing Sunsets
This is MUST SEE place... you can get there by car or bus... Cabs travel to there but it may cost you $50... and the bus is more entertaining and serves as an informal tour guide. :) The cuisine is fresh out of the water shellfish, lobsters, clams, oysters etc... Bringing your own alcohol is welcomed and recommended as the only sell water there.. most families set up a picnic area on the beach and eat dinner and play board games until the sunsets... Very relaxing and beautiful :)
Small beach, free, restrooms, gentle water
If you can find parking in the small lot, you have to get there early There is a full restroom across the lot. There are lifeguards. There is a gas station with a little store in it where you can get cold cans of soda for one dollar. There are several fish markets that cook for take out meals with very fresh seafood. The beach itself is very good for people who don't want to walk far to the water. As a handicapped patron, it was not easy to get onto the beach because there is no clear pathway. I had to transfer myself over the low wooden wall behind the lifeguards onto the sand. From there, the water is only 40 feet away The water is fairly calm and on the cool to warm side. This was a good place for me to swim. The beach was busy but not overcrowded. it is actually a small beach. I spent the day and enjoyed myself quite a bit. There were many families with young children who also found this beach attractive
Great Sunset
Get here early as parking is very limited and the police are in no mood for shenanigans! Its a small rocky beach but the sunsets are great. Grab some dinner, bring your chairs, a sweater, and some wine and be prepared for an amazing sunset!
Free beach, free parking, kid friendly
There are very few beaches on Martha's Vineyard that are completely free. No permits, no parking fees, no town resident requirements. This is one of those rare beaches. Kid friendly, places to purchase food and beach toys, and access to free restrooms. What's the catch? Once the parking lot at Dutcher Dock is full, it's full. Get there early and get a good spot on the beach for the morning. Good walking beach and good fishing on the nearby jetty, plus plenty of boats in the harbor for sightseeing, both pleasure boats and working fishing boats.
Love this beach.
While staying in W. Tisbury we spent several hours over a couple of days at Menemsha Beach. Labor Day was busy but after that there was plenty of space. It was nice to be able to walk and get food at The Bite or Larsens. There is a descent restroom. There is also a couple of shops and an antique shop. The whole atmosphere of the dock and beach was enjoyable and a lot of fun. Would highly recommend. We did not stay for the sunsets... but many did. We wanted to avoid the crowds but could certainly appreciate the party mood.
Good, but a little crowded at times
That pretty much sums it up. This is an OK beach that is hard by a working waterfront so you can see the fishing boats coming and going as you laze in the sand and swim in the light surf. Nice and clear water most of the time, and it is close enough to food and ice cream to make it very family friendly.
Best Sunsets Ever
We never miss this when we visit the Vineyard. Go early because parking is increasingly difficult. All of the local restaurants are good. Buy your meal at one of the fish markets and eat on the beach.
Favorite place on the island
Grab some food and BYOB to watch the most beautiful sunset in the world!!! No open container law so fell free to drink on the beach or dock.. grab a lobster from larsens and hangout
Sunset celebrations
Watching the sunset on the small beach of Menemsha is like a simple community celebration. People sit on their beach chairs, wrapped in blankets, eating a light dinner (some complete with a foldable table and tablecloth).. the ambiance is really cheerful. We usually take out the fresh lobster rolls from the restaurant down the street and enjoy it on the beach while waiting for the sunset. Totally worth mentioning too are the excellent fish stores near the beach, with great locally caught selections! Larsen's has been our favorite through the years. The beach is stony and pebbly while the water is oftentimes cold-- although the water is calm, it's not my favorite place to swim on the island.
Incredible sunset
Incredible sunset.
Water shoes a must!
We love visiting Menemsha for the small fishing village atmosphere. You can get some great seafood to eat there or take home, and visit a few shops. The view of the water and boats from the beach is amazing and relaxing on a perfect summer day. But beware of the rocks! They make it painful to go in the water, so water shoes are highly recommended in order to enjoy it.
Perfect Vineyard spot for a full day outing
Pack up your beach stuff and head up Island to Menemsha. There is a beautiful public beach. The little general store has soft drinks, ice cream or the local paper. Just a short walk is Beetlebung for a great coffee. There is a very nice stroll along the boat pier and Jaws fans will notice many sites from the movie. Many head out there to view the spectacular sunset. It is a great spot to fish off the jetty. The fish markets there will prepare meals that you can eat on the beach or the pier. With so much to do and see, plan to be there for a relaxing day.
Beautiful public beach
Lovely public beach, no beach sticker needed. You can settle on or walk along the sandy beach, or climb around on the rocks that form a jetty out into the waves. There are public restrooms. The problem here is parking, so walk or ride if you can.
Great way to end your day!
Menemsha beach has become a must see attrition. Years ago there where a handful of families now, everyone seems to be flocking to view one of God's magnificent blessings. GO EARLY, before 4:00, pack everything, food, frisbee, fishing pools (off the jetty) wine.... You can order dinner from the local restaurants but this should be done early as well. Larson's couldn't accommodate our order for 4 people at 5:00. We ordered from the Home Port which was fine, no bells and whistles but the Blueberry pie was yummy, dinner was $100.
Worth seeing
Menemsha is a small beach area. Walk down the beach then eat at The Bite. Try the fried calms and fried mac n cheese. Few shops. Cute.....
A surprise awaits you
My favourite part of the island is menemsha because it's less touristy and places tend to have better food and service. THE FUN PART is that the scene on the beach at the beginning of the first Jaws Movie was shot there. Where the fishery is (next to parking Lot) is where in the movie the fishermen went out on a craze to fish, dynamite or whatever; the shark. The rest of the scenes including the ocean crossing on a tug boat where all shot in this beautiful Island.
Quaint
Small, one way in and out..... has a small.... antique gas station at the end. If the tour bus pulls in, look out! Not much more room. The parking lot is small. There are a couple of shops on the top of the road. A small fishing pier, and a hut where you can buy (to go) fresh seafood. Its so peaceful there, my twin girls and I even made a song about it as we were driving away.. " LEAVING MENEMSHA " =)
Very Clean Beach
Very clean beach with calm waters. Sits next to a working fishing harbor and with boat coming and going. Nice spot for picnic lunch. Just kick back and relax.
Nice Afternoon Spent Here
Has bathrooms which is important! Nice beach but a little rocky. Has a few places to eat. All in all a nice place for a few hours in the sun
Absolutely awe inspiring, wonderful, wonderful experience
We were recommended to go and watch the sunset on Menemsha beach. We got there about 6.30 with a bottle of wine and brought hot lobster buttered rolls from the fish market which were the best I've ever tasted. We had a couple of low chairs to sit on and we joined everyone on the beach to watch the sun set. Well what can I say it was absolutely beautiful, I can't think of enough words to describe it. When it set everyone got to their feet and clapped, it took your breath away. Stay for an hour or so after the sun has set because the different colours and shapes are remarkable. If you're visiting Martha's Vineyard this is a must, you would be foolish to miss it.
Shoulda Got the Lobster Special
The beach is best known for its glorious sunsets. So of course we only went for a lunchtime picnic. Thinking perhaps the fish markets might not be open at that time, we stopped at a grocery store in Oak Bluffs and stocked up on bread, cheese and salami to have a picnic lunch. We should have gotten the lobster special that was available from any one of three fish markets just off the beach. It is a sandy beach with some dunes off to one side. There is adequate parking at the end of the road, just off the small harbor where the small fishing fleet moors. There is a public bathroom across the street from the fish markets, and at the end of the parking lot to the actual beach. My only regret is that we never made time to come back for the sunset, or ordered the lobster special. It is worth the trip to get out here.
A Rocky Sunset
At Mememsha Beach the sunset is a celebration. If you ever go to Martha's Vineyard be sure to set one evening aside to capture one of the greatest sunsets you will ever see. Make sure to bring shoes or sandals though as the beach is rocky.
Disappointing
The guidebooks said this was a cute fishing village with good places to eat where they filmed some scenes from Jaws. But we went in early June and the place was a ghost town. No fishermen, everything was closed.
Best sunsets!
I spent three nights there and loved it. It's worth the drive and in June there is parking. Many eat their meal on the beach nd open a bottle of wine.
Wear water shoes! Painful rocks everywhere!
This is a beautiful beach. Calm waves, which was great for my kids. They did have restrooms and showers, but you had to pay for the showers. Four quarters gave you 3 minutes of water for a shower. I was really just interested in rinsing our feet, but there was nothing like that available. At least the bathroom was free. It did give us somewhere to change into our suits. My kids loved looking at the rocks that had been tumbling in the surf. Very few shells, but interesting to see something different. Crystal clear water.
You have not been to a sunset
If you have not come to the Menemsha Beach for Sunset you have not seen one everyone claps there hands at the end of the day like a great film is closing it is the day closing into the night at Menemsha Beach
Sunset
There is nothing better than watching the sunset over Menemsha Beach. Add to that a lobster, steamers and mussels from Landers and you have the perfect evening on Martha's Vineyard. It was so great, we did it twice !
Bring your camera
By far the best view I have had of the sunset so far. I wonder how it looks from Aquinnah cliffs. Buy a drink and some food, take a seat and watch the sun set. People gather and celebrate it. On group sang " God bless America " when it was over and no one got offended by the mentioning god! Bring friends and make it an event. God hit a homer on this natural attraction.