Welcome to Vineyard Haven
Creative and diverse island town.
This quiet, year-round, harbor hamlet certainly does seem to be a haven. Voted the number one place to raise a family in all of Dukes County, Vineyard Haven evokes the feel of an old-fashioned small town while still retaining its elegance, artistry, and excitement.
Like its Island neighbors, Vineyard Haven was originally a fishing village and a busy seaport during the whaling industry era. Today Vineyard Haven is home to charming shops, popular restaurants, and a picturesque harbor. The town is nestled in a cove between two points of land, East Chop and West Chop, lending it a romantic, Gatsby-esque air. While it happily lacks the drama of Fitzgerald’s novel, it certainly shares the elegance and monied stature of the fictional East Egg. Many residents keep private yachts in the harbor, the houses are stunning and the views are even better.
What to Love
- Philanthropic community
- Vibrant festival scene
- Topnotch cuisine
- Stunning estates
- Maritime culture
People and Lifestyle
Residents of the tight-knit community cherish the town’s rural tranquility and peaceful atmosphere. It’s perhaps the one remaining neighborhood where people don’t lock their doors, and the attitude here is friendly and warm. In this quaint, village-like community, residents truly feel a world away from all those stories on the news. People in Vineyard Haven live well and make sure to give back to the community that takes such good care of them.
Dining, Entertainment and Shopping
As a year-round community, Vineyard Haven has to provide residents with restaurants and shops to outfit all four seasons, and it succeeds with flying colors. The casual taqueria-inspired eatery Fish offers the freshest locally caught seafood and a raw bar, while Mocha Mott's delivers with organic, fair-trade coffee, espresso drinks, homemade baked goods, and bagels, plus the groovy coffee shop atmosphere to match.
Waterside Market is the go-to cafe for all-day breakfast, incredible salads, and that New England special: lobster rolls. For those nights when you play chef, LeRoux at Home offers a wide selection of kitchen products, including gourmet, small-batch olive oils, and vinegars.
The luxury fabric and sophisticated styles at the Bryn Walker boutique are both comfortable and chic, while Bespoke Abode is a seasonal lifestyle shop offering upscale coastal furnishings.
The Larder is a self proclaimed “portal to delicious, local foods and a selection of far-flung delicacies” to savor and share. Top off your day of shopping with a sweet treat from the Scottish Bakehouse.
Things to Do
Vineyard Haven is aptly named, considering all it offers to its residents. There is always something going on, whether it’s winter or spring, summer or fall. The annual Beach Road Weekend is a three-day music festival attracting big-name performers to the Island, while the Martha's Vineyard Oyster Fest is a high-end community event held to raise awareness for Martha's Vineyard oysters and local fishers and supports sustainably harvested catches and habitat restoration.
Benefitting sailing programs, schools, maritime study programs, and the rowing team, the Vineyard Cup Regatta works to preserve the maritime heritage of the Vineyard. Celebrate the town's 1671 founding at the Tisbury Street Fair, featuring the island’s best eats and mementos from local vendors. And on those days between festivals, bring a bottle of wine for an evening at Lambert’s Cove Beach and catch the gorgeous sunset.
Schools
Consider lending your support to Camp Jabberwocky, a camp organization whose mission is to foster friendships, promote independence, and empower the building of communities through inclusion and celebrating the diversity of abilities.
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