A Sweet Escape: Dining at The Sweet Life Café | Martha’s Vineyard

Nestled quietly at the end of Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, The Sweet Life Café feels like stumbling across the perfect secret. Approaching the porch, you’re immediately welcomed by friendly staff, and then shown to a beautiful and serene garden patio that is ideal for a solo date, a romantic dinner for two, or a large family.

What I loved most was the seasonality of the menu, because you’re getting the best of what the Vineyard has to offer in that moment. The dishes are fresh, and each meal is plated beautifully with vibrant colors and thoughtful attention to detail.

I love to eat fruit, and it plays a starring role at this restaurant in ways that both surprised and delighted me. My waitress convinced me to try the peach salad that wasn’t on the menu and wasn’t going to be available much longer, and I’ve never been happier to have listened to a recommendation. I assumed salad with some kind of leafy green would be brought out; however, this particular salad was made of fresh California peaches, tomatoes and stracciatella. This is not a menu item I would have gone for on my own, but it was quite indulgent.

I also had the housemade focaccia as a starter, which was just phenomenal. I’m certainly always going to order bread, and this was a lovely take on focaccia, as it’s grilled and drizzled in a nice, light olive oil. There was an option to add stracciatella, but since I had already tasted the stracciatella with the peach salad, I added prosciutto, which I think would take any bread service up a notch.

Roasted plums lent a subtle sweetness to a perfectly cooked steak, accompanied by crispy and fresh potato wedges and juicy scallops were topped with bursts of pomegranate arils that added a nice brightness and texture to the meal. To me, every plate struck a beautiful balance between savory and sweet, and that’s what The Sweet Life Café gets right—the “sweet” is always present, but never overpowering.

I don’t have alcohol often, but since I was on vacation, I figured why not? I typically lean toward sweet drinks, so the waitress suggested the tiki tiki punch, which was a refreshing take on rum punch.

It’s worth noting the seasonality of the menu again, as when you decide to visit The Sweet Life Café for yourself, everything I’ve mentioned, including drinks, may or may not be on the menu. Having said that, I always encourage a spirit of adventure and openness when you travel, particularly when it comes to food, and the evolving menu at this restaurant is a fun opportunity to explore.

For anyone looking for dinner in Martha’s Vineyard that feels thoughtful, intimate, and of-the-moment, The Sweet Life Café is exactly that. For me as a solo traveler, it was a nice reminder that a slow, satisfying and delicious life is right at our fingertips always.