We drove through downtown Cape May on a Friday night and as expected, it was quite crowded. We traveled just half a mile into West Cape May where it was suddenly peaceful. Bella Vida is one of my favorite restaurants in West Cape May. Their quiet garden is especially lovely for brunch or dinner. We brought our own wine and enjoyed their pastas. My husband said his linguini bolognese was good especially with the two meatballs on top. I loved Anela's Angel of a Dish with shrimp, scallops, goat cheese, and capers piled on top of angel hair pasta. It was garlicky and delicious. True comfort food! Everyone there was just really nice. We'll be back! read more

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I have found meals here to be hit or miss. I used to love Bella Vida but the last time I went I had over cooked salmon and found the whole expereince to be lackluster. read more

Love this restaurant. This is a repeat for us always. There's never a time where I come here and the food isn't great. We got our meals quickly and could tell they were made with love. Our waiter was great, very attentive and kind. Love to look around and see the beautiful art on the walls and photos. The environment is so welcoming and cozy. Will continue to return again and again! read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Breakfast Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

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My favorite breakfast in Cape May! Sweet potato pancake breakfast & I love the red skin potato home fries & Costa Rican coffee. Perfect pre beach breakfast read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Sweet potato pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

I went here with a group of four (two adults and two teen boys). The atmosphere was cozy and we loved the colorful art on the walls. I got a dirty chai and avocado toast with arugula, cherry tomatoes and two over easy eggs on GF bread. It was all delicious. The other adult got a vanilla chai latte, scrambled eggs and vegan sausage with chunky monkey banana pancakes. He loved it all lots of chocolate on the pancakes One teen got avocado, cheese and tomorrow on a bagel and fries. They were very happy. The other teen got eggs and pancakes. Everyone was very satisfied. The service was friendly and fast. We loved this place and all agreed we would return if the chance presents itself. read more

Very comfortable.Seated in a nice booth. (Might be to low for shorter folks aka my wife lol) I had the Double Header which is two eggs, 2 Flapjacks and ,Home fries and I added bacon.. The wife had her usual egg white omelet called as Jersey Jim! Service was great, food was terrific and we left feeling full and happy. Added plus for me was the Restrooms were also in good shape! read more

I loved their French toast. So much so that me and my family went back three times during our visit. Will definitely be coming back to try different items on the menu! Every time we went our servers were extremely nice, and did a great job. read more

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This is a cute and down to earth restaurant. We were seated fairly quickly, and the service was professionally friendly. My husband got H.H.I Shrimp Hash and regular hot coffee, and I got Mario's Marvel and iced decaf Americano. My husband really enjoyed his dish, except for the potatoes which were dry and kind of burned. My dish was just okay. I felt like there was nothing special about it (lacked flavour, and underwhelming), and the potatoes were dry and burned as well. My iced Americano was more diluted than I am used to. I am wondering if it depends on what you order. They are too large of a menu selection. If I ever go back maybe I will order something a bit more mainstream. read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Mario's Marvel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

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Have been here many times when staying in Cape May, lots of great tasting vegetarian options, casual relaxed setting.

Another delicious dinner in Cape May. The atmosphere was fun and the food matched the vibe. Our server was very attentive and everyone had a good time.... read more

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Lovely little cafe with delicious coffee and food. It is exactly the type of place one expects to find in Cape May: quaint with its own unique atmosphere and menu. The menu is mindful of the more contemporary Vegan wants and needs without abandoning the old school meat crowd. There is something for everyone. Service is attentive and friendly. I had the Taylor Pork Roll with Cheese Breakfast. I opted to add: tomato (they put two thick slices!) lettuce and red onion. So tasty! Hubby went for the Make Your Own Omelet: mushroom, tomatoes, spinach, American cheese and scrapple. He said it was delicious and chef was generous with the ingredients. Parking lot is smallish, but street parking is available and easy as it is off of the busy Broadway... Check it out! read more

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Love this place for breakfast outdoor seating is very nice the food is VG with a Mexican flare I would recommend

The service was lovely but the food was subpar. My one daughter loved her Nutella French toast (who wouldn't) but I had the vegan breakfast and it was just ok. The pancakes were good but the texture felt a touch underdone. The vegan sausage was good but the tempeh bacon was undercooked. The sautéed veggies were inedible though. I took one but of the asparagus and I can only describe it as tasting like the smell of wet dog. I had a side of spicy potatoes too, which were tasty but very unevenly cooked. The table was sticky and the place had at least a dozen flies all over. It wasn't terrible but certainly not worth the price. read more

Food was great. You can build your own pasta. Service was great. Outdoor seating was cozy and felt like a getaway. read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Chicken tenders - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

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Love the small town feels. Staff was friendly and our waitress was amazing! Loved how the location was nestled in the neighborhood away from the crowds. Food was excellent! read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

We have been coming here for many years. It's still a great spot for breakfast. The cool surfer vibe is gone, but the garden outside is lovely. This time I had a Costa Rican bowl and it was ok, ingredients were not fresh, rice was dry. Coffee (if ypu order the premium Costa Rican) is still good. read more

We've been going to Bella Vida for years. We had skipped a few years as it didn't fit into our schedule on those trips. We were happy to see the beautiful outdoor dining area in the back was open. Umbrellas. Shade. Lights. Landscaping. Just the place to be on a summer day. The menu was extensive. We ordered the huevos rancheros and hash with sausage and shrimp. The "pico de gallo" was the only negative to our breakfast here. It wasn't close to Pico but tasted more like canned diced tomatoes with chilis. This was the only negative and wouldn't stop me from going. I'd just not recommend ordering that item. Everything else we had was delicious. Servers and staff were friendly. I'd recommend Bella Vida if you're looking for a great menu and beautiful atmosphere. (parking for cars and bikes is on side street). read more

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We stopped by here after our bike ride to the light house. We got a lovely seat on the patio. I had a very delightful ABLT with amazing coleslaw. Great spot for breakfast/ lunch/ families/ groups/ and pets! Our server was great. read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - ABLT Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

My husband and I came here for lunch, so my review will be based on that experience. We were seated right away, which was great. The restaurant itself is rustic (read between the lines there) and and the bathroom situation was bizarre (there were two doors to one bathroom, which resulted in someone walking in on me as I was walking out). In terms of food: The crab soup was devoid of crab and heavy on the cream. The chicken tenders were extremely dark brown, I think cooked for too long. The bang bang shrimp was not bangy. The crab cake was OK, but the fries were DELICIOUS and CRISPY, as promised. I get the sense that this place gets a lot of traffic because of the location and hours, and not so much because of their amazing food. I also listened to the waitresses complain to each other about a variety of things, so the ambiance left a lot to be desired. I'd say this is a 2.5 star establishment, in my opinion. read more

Such a cute place! Wasn't too busy, came in the beginning of September so we had no wait and were seated right away. We were seated outside on the back patio and it was really nice out there. I got Jims chicken wrap and my boyfriend got the cream chipped beef. We both really enjoyed our food! Our server was nice and attentive. Theres lots to pick from off the menu so we will be back. read more

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Still excellent food. So consistent and food is beyond delicious. One of my go to places for years. It's very cute inside and has an adorable outside area. Dogs are welcome. I love the house salad, house dressing and grilled salmon. But I have many favourites. I have never had a meal her that wasn't excellent. They do have many GF options and vegetarian. read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Shrimp, Arugula, Goat Cheese Omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

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Sad to say but this place was disappointing. Guessing it gets it solid ratings from breakfast and lunch. We went for dinner and the food was very average. The salmon was good, shrimp and grits were not good, fish and chips was all breading and the Cole slaw was stale and not good. Lastly the chicken parm was as good as a frozen dinner. The service was not great but I don't ding places for bad service unless they are rude. May want to stick to breakfast and lunch read more

Fantastic spot for breakfast, nice variety of menu choices, delicious food cooked to perfection and outstanding service (Thank you Joe). They have cozy and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating a parking lot and bike rack for customers. They are a pup friendly business so bring you four legged family member. Will definitely be back again. read more

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Beach towns need more breakfast places like this! Bella Vida Garden Cafe has a large diner-style menu with plenty of seating inside and out. I got an omelet, home fries, toast, and coffee. My wife got french toast and chocolate milk. Both hit the spot and were exactly what we were looking for. read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

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The food was pretty awful. The fish I had was not well prepared. The fish was rubbery as it was defrosted in a microwave and tasted fishy. The vegetables were boiled instead of being sautéed. The angel hair pasta was overcooked by a lot. The pasta with crabmeat had a sparse amount of canned crabmeat and canned mushrooms. The service was good. The ambiance was okay. I could have done without the proselytizing decorations. It was expensive and they only gave me a half refund for my terrible meal. read more

Great place for breakfast only was here once for dinner it was okay I would try again for dinner n lunch too they have vegan options too that a great thing read more

I'm really tempted to give Bella Vida Garden Cafe 5 stars instead of 4, because it is honestly my favorite restaurant I've tried in Cape May. Is it the fanciest? No. It's not the kind of place you typically see rated five stars. The vibe is more beach diner than fine dining. Service is friendly and quick, diner-style. BUT, if you are looking for: - A sit down meal - Super friendly service - Many healthy options to suit any taste - Fresh veggies and properly cooked seafood - Very reasonable prices - Easy free parking - Takes reservations - Outdoor seating options ... YES, Bella Vida Garden Cafe checks every box! They do tend to over-sauce and over-dress, but that's remedied easily enough. Just ask for dressing on the side. What's much more important is that veggies and proteins aren't overcooked. I can't say that about many of the more expensive restaurants down the shore. Highly recommended! PS - Lots of options for vegetarians. read more

Great little local place for reasonably priced breakfast. There are some unique choices including sweet potato pancakes and waffles at no upcharge. Portion sizes are generous. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is clean as is the large individual bathroom. read more

Great service and excellent quality food. We were all impressed with Bella Vida. On site parking was a nice bonus..

Stopped in here for Sunday brunch. There were three of us. They have a pretty wide selection of breakfast options , omelets, waffles etc. they have some named specials. We ordered the country fried steak with the cream chipped beef and home fries. One of us ordered the waffle , eggs , and meat special and the third ordered cheesy grits and bacon. All in all the breakfast was unremarkable. It was a standard breakfast nothing special. The food was not hot which is a peeve. The country fried steak was tasteless the cream small serving of cream chipped beef didn't enhance in any way. The eggs were especially darker yellow than normal. The service was slow considering there were only two waitresses they were hustling and doing the best that they can do. I think this might have been an off day reading other reviews. There was a pretty good amount of people waiting to sit. This seems to be a popular spot . Perhaps the only gig on the island in the winter. All in for 3 people breakfast was 57.00 including gratuity. read more

We enjoyed acquaint lunch and breakfast in their garden outback. The service was good and the food was excellent.

Great place. In west Cape May, quaint restaurant. Look for it off of Broadway. Breakfast has your usual but for anyone looking to eat healthier this is the place. Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or want a change this is your place. Service is very pleasant. Oh dinner! Excellent and very reasonable prices. read more

we were here Saturday for lunch. Restaurant was not busy. Our server greeted us fairly quickly with water. He left while we reviewed the menu, he said to go deliver meals out to their patio area. We were seated inside. He took way too long to return and take our order. Then getting the order also took too long. Fortunately, the food was good. Then waiting for the server to return with our bill took way long again. We had to ask another server to find us our server. Bottom line, nice environment, good food, reasonably priced, but absolutely awful service. read more

Bella Vida Cafe in Cape May is the Worst. I went to a Bella Vida Cafe on Saturday July 5, 2025. Upon walking in we were seated at a small table by the entrance to connecting rooms, once seated we were totally ignored for the next 25 minutes. Waiters and waitresses walked past us as if we were not there. We were never offered a glass of water. After 25 minutes we got up to leave and the waiter looked at us and never said a thing to us, he just looked at us leave. As we left this restaurant, one of the hostess looked at us and said we are busy , which was not true!! There were plenty of empty tables. From what I experience I feel this place is racist. As to your response on your business site, I stand by every word in that review. Your restaurant was not busy there were plenty of empty tables. Instead of writing a generic apology correct the problem!. People should never feel like they are not wanted because of their ethnicity. read more

Excellent, delicious & fresh vegetarian food. Cannot wait to head back to this yummy place! Worth the wait. Great service, good for brunch, very fresh. read more

I'm a local who brings many friends to Bella Vida (over the past 10+ years). Every visit is a a great experience, with delicious food crafted with care and served with kindness. Breakfast omelets, lunch sandwiches, and the coffee are all terrific! I've not had the pleasure of dinner yet but hope too soon! The owner is a very gracious lady who pours her heart into this business. Her waitstaff are excellent, very capable, and do a great job, even in the busy summers when tourists are hot, tired, and a bit grumpy!. I've witnessed their patience and grace when under pressure! It's a laid-back, fun environment you should really experience!! They offer outdoor dining where your pooch can join you too! read more

Been here many times over the years but have never been here for dinner but we always eat well here. First it's quiet even sitting outdoors- this is off the main drag of Cape May but only a few minutes drive or bike away from the city. It's open year round (though dinner service lowers to just weekends as the crowds lower) which is important since Cape May has become a year round resort! Fast good food with rarely a wait-in September at least . Vegan and delicious healthful choices are offered. Now off to the Hawk watch... read more

Bella Vida Garden Cafe - Finished yogurt bowl and the huevos rancheros following suit. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - West Cape May, New Jersey

We decided on a new coffee shop for breakfast here in West Cape May, glad we did. The staff is great and our waitress Aksana was very friendly and attentive. We settled on orders of Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce and Canadian ham. And an order of breakfast quesadillas that had scrambled eggs, peppers, and diced ham. Some fresh coffee to wash it all down. I can say that breakfast was eggscellent! read more

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Need to update this review as I order from here regularly and the food is excellent. Have not eaten in person yet but hoping to very soon! Will update again if I do. read more

Lovely location. Plenty of seating- indoor and out. Our server was nice, but we found service to be a bit slow for a breakfast spot. I enjoyed my breakfast sandwich. I would return. read more

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