Creating a Martha’s Vineyard Beach Picnic

Summer is all about outdoor dining and there’s nothing better than a picnic on the beach to make us smile! With about 19 beaches all over the island, you have your pick of dining settings - but we’re here to help you with ideas on what to pack on a Martha’s Vineyard beach picnic!
 
Start with the basics - you’re going to need a beach blanket, cooler, and basket to carry everything in. Stop by Rainy Day for the beach blanket, Green Room for an awesome YETI cooler, and Chappy Happy if you’re looking for the perfect picnic basket. That’s the start to your picnic - the essentials.
 
Now, moving on to the beverages, you’re going to need a variety of things, and we always suggest fun non-alcoholic drinks, along with water. To cut down on plastic waste, have everyone bring their own water bottle. For drinks like specialty sodas and sparkling waters, Waterside Market, Reliable Market, and Cronig's Market are all great stops to keep hydrated.
 
So you’ve got some essentials ready to go, it’s now time to discuss the food. Beach picnic food on Martha’s Vineyard is special, as we have some unique shops and markets to choose from, so below we’ve made a list of places and what to get at each one as part of your menu, to create the ultimate beach picnic.
 

• Tony’s Market for subs and snack packs that are varied (some are cheese/charcuterie, others are vegetable based)
• Not Your Sugar Mamas for the plant-based crew
• Black Sheep for housemade cold salads and hot sandwiches
• Edgartown Meat and Fish for marinated scallops — if you’re bringing a small grill — to throw on the fire
• Soigne for chicken salad sandwiches, salads, brownies, and the best buttercream cupcakes
• 7A Foods for the Liz Lemon Sandwich
• Waterside Market for lobster rolls and potato chips
• Sea Smoke Barbecue for the meat lovers, a rack of ribs and a few sides
• John’s Fish Market for their bluefish pate and crackers
• Morning Glory Farm for kombucha on tap and a variety of New England cheeses
• Cliffhangers for lobster rolls and fish tacos

 
Remember to also bring a trash bag to carry out everything you brought in because it's the law but also because we love to keep our beaches clean!