Old Colony Tap

Bar · Provincetown

Old Colony Tap

Bar · Provincetown

3

323 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657

Photos

Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by PARTS UNKNOWN
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null
Old Colony Tap by null

Highlights

Nestled on Commercial Street, Old Colony Tap is a charming dive bar with slanted floors, quirky decor, and strong drinks that echo Provincetown's maritime legacy.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

323 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657 Get directions

$10–20

Information

Static Map

323 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657 Get directions

+1 508 487 2361

$10–20

Features

wifi
payment cash only
reservations

Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@atlasobscura

"Old Colony Tap has all the trappings of a nautical, nostalgia-inducing dive bar, and that’s because it is one. Exactly as grungy and historic as it looks, Old Colony has been called a “true surviving vestige of hardscrabble Provincetown.” In an episode of Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain popped in for some Wellfleet oysters, describing the haunt as a place “where fishermen eat.” Prior to its tenure as the diviest of dives, the building itself was home to a restaurant called the Ocean Breeze. Manuel G. Cook established Old Colony Tap in 1937, which was bought by the Enos family in 1954. Over the decades, local artists added their own aesthetic touches to the space, often practically on top of one another. James Wingate Parr “painted the walls that weren’t covered with driftwood” claimed one account in 2002, while an artist named Ernesto left his mark with a blowtorch. The bar’s collection of decorative oddities on the walls continued to grow, courtesy of donations by local fisherman. Today, the deliberately weird blend of bric-a-brac, which ranges from tchotchkes to old life preservers salvaged from a World War II merchant ship, is very much part of the charm. Old Colony Tap remains in the Enos family to this day. Whether it’s Tuesday at 11 a.m. or Saturday at midnight, you can find a stragglers sidled up to the bar. Admittedly, it’s pretty easy to lose track of time once you’ve spent an hour inside this maximalist time warp of a drinking hole. Know Before You Go The bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m." - rachelrummel, linkogecko

The Old Colony Tap – Provincetown, Massachusetts - Gastro Obscura
View Postcard for Old Colony Tap
@partsunknown

Bourdain had: fried scallops, Wellfleet oysters, beer, whiskey Dinner dates: Scott Rorro, Beau Gribbin, and other Provincetown fishermen

Massachusetts
View Postcard for Old Colony Tap
@eater

"Hang a left out of the Squealing Pig and head to the Old Colony Tap. It’s the perfect dive bar — it looks like the bowels of an old ship (and smells like the bowels of an old ship probably smelled like), and being there always feels a little dicey. Order a cheap domestic beer, and play something classic on the jukebox." - Terrence Doyle

Go to Provincetown and Drink at these Bars - Eater Boston
View Postcard for Old Colony Tap

Amanda Cropper

Google
This place is all atmosphere. You can imagine sea captains rolling in to drink away their woes, celebrate a great catch, etc. You can also imagine this place getting VERY messy in the busy season in all the right ways. Be forewarned that this is cash only and there is no food to speak of unless you want a bag of chips. You will get very stiff drinks for reasonable prices and the uneven floors, slanting tables, etc., could prove interesting depending on how much you take advantage of their reasonable prices. Have a plan in place for what you're going to eat to soak all that alcohol up. We were there on a quiet day in the off season and we loved it. Not sure I would be as into it in high season, but I hate high season anywhere. 😆

Michailah Williams

Google
CASH ONLY!! Fun little spot. This was my first time there. My bestie has been here several times over the years and there is a bench for you to carve your name and I took a picture of her with her name carved in it. We had a couple of beers, nothing special. It's a quirky little place with a lot of the locals/regulars. The floors are wonky and tilted. The tables are slanted, but it made for an interesting part of the visit.

Voodoo Trucker

Google
The Old Colony Tap is one of the oldest bars in New England. With an outstanding selection of whiskey, scotch, bourbon, and rum, you are sure to find what you're looking for. I've been coming here since the early 1990s and would easily recommend this bar to anyone wanting to step back in time and getting a perspective on what it must have been like bak in the day. Getting off of your fishing boat after a long day and putting a few whiskey shots back. Enjoy and safe travels!!!

Shannon Baz-Casper

Google
ATTN: OLD COLONY TAP IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON TIL 4/1/25. Google refuses to publish the edit I submitted.

Zeynep Dalkilic

Google
It was amazing experience. You can’t find any open restaurant, bar or pub that much. And there is a karaoke bar and it was very funny.

Ben Roth

Google
My kinda dive bar right in the heart of Provincetown on Commercial St. It caught my eye while I was wandering around and I knew I had to come back and grab a beer at some point. When I did, it didn’t disappoint. It is cash only, and while there is an ATM available I’d recommend bringing cash to avoid any fees. Classic dive experience, made all the better since it’s in a tourist destination and I got to talk with several interesting people from around the world. Service was great, and prices were good considering the location. Best spot to grab a drink in Provincetown if you like a good dive.

Jessica Dawes

Google
Brandon was a awesome bartender. We we there thanksgiving nite.

Lisa King

Google
That’s Capt. Buddy Johnson rolling out of the Old Colony Tap which is the best dive bar on Cape Cod. This is a rare time when he was wearing shoes. This bar is in the center of Provincetown. It has 2 big window seats where I loved to sit and watch the sights go by on Commercial Street. Never a dull moment and hands down the best seat in town. The artwork on the bathroom walls are something to behold and the uneven and warped wide-plank floors turn into a sobriety test as you attempt to walk to your table with drinks in your hands. People dancing in the aisle with no worries of judgment because we were all just having a good time. I have some wonderful memories in that dive bar.

Jillian G.

Yelp
You have to love the simple life! Cheap beers, cold drafts and amazingly friendly staff

Celina D.

Yelp
This is the perfect beach town dive bar. It feels like you have stepped into an old ship when you go in. It's usually not busy and a nice escape from bustling commercial street. This is my husband's favorite spot to have a bud light and a shot of Jameson. We stopped in for the live music one night and it was awesome! There was a really nice guy who encouraged us to go in that worked there- totally jolly guy

Elaine H.

Yelp
Great Bloody Mary.its an experience. No frills. No credit cards. But lots of historical character.

Michael M.

Yelp
If you love a cool little dive bar this is a must stop when in Provincetown. The dark cozy atmosphere, slanted floors and old saloon style feel make this place a must stop, along with music several nights a week !! Love this place and always stop here when in Ptown.

Sean Q.

Yelp
$9 for a well vodka & soda. Enough said. This is a dive bar with high end prices. Avoid BIG TIME!!

Scott H.

Yelp
This place is outstanding. Popped in for a few drinks and had a blast before my ferry left for Boston.

Elkins T.

Yelp
This bar is a fun little place to duck into, grab a strong drink, listen to the jukebox and chill. Love the vibe and the old memorabilia on the walls. Feels like many of folks have enjoyed a good time together here. I'll be back soon with good friends.

Brenda F.

Yelp
There are a lot of barefoot people and escaped prisoners. If you push the arcade game out of the way, there is a trapdoor into the underworld. Someone might have died in the bathroom. Overall great vibes with even better drinks!

Fred B.

Yelp
No food. Cash only. B*itchy bartender. But, it's a straight-haven dive bar in Provincetown, so I guess they can serve all the attitude they want to.

Leann D.

Yelp
Exactly what a dive bar should be. Unapologetic, cash only, shots in actual glass shot glasses. Full of character and characters. Historic. Debauched. Warm and fuzzy. Dark with beautiful lighting. Plenty to look at, nothing to eat. It's either your type of place, or it isn't, and you're either it's type of person, or you aren't.

R. R.

Yelp
Biggest issue: cash only!!! I feel like it wasn't noted anywhere, and the bartender was not very friendly. It was cool to just grab a drink, but wasn't exactly our kind of place.

Randal P.

Yelp
Dark, friendly and the crookedest tables I've seen on dry land. We sit and watch passers by peer in, waiting for their eyes to adjust to the cave lighting, then continue on. I'll never understand it. For us it was love at first sight and the affection has grown stronger each year. A beer for me and a whisky for my girl. Chips if we're feeling flush. Generally around four. The place is mostly empty. It's heaven. We've noticed crowds at night, but have never gone in then. I'll bet it's swell but 1/2 empty is the way we like it. You will too, but you've got to first step over the threshold. Incidentally, I'm not a fan of the term dive bar. It's disrespectful. Someone owns the joint and made it just the way they like it. It's patina, ok?

Chad S.

Yelp
Dark,dirty and full of dive bar charm. Tables and chairs all crooked with the shape of the building. Super cheap drinks, but CASH ONLY. Have fun and enjoy!

Elton W.

Yelp
Great dive bar...one of the best. With as much as I go out and as much as I know about cocktails and wine, it's nice to learn a thing or two from an old-tyme bartender...like, the drink anyone outside of Cape Cod calls the "vodka soda with a splash of cran" is actually called a "Rose Kennedy"...nice to know that I'm still learning new things even though I'm in a dive bar pounding drinks. And, as much as I love listening to and watching the gay guys dance to Madonna, Erasure, etc at Atlantic House, and as much as I find it funny (and sometimes screeching-ly painful) to listen to the Bachelorette parties, Drag Queens and South Boston Bro's sing karaoke at Governor Bradford, it's nice to know that I have a place to retreat to, where I can get away from it all and grab a strong drink without all the annoyances and distractions. Only distractions here are cheap, strong drinks, bartenders who've seen it all, old school fisherman sometimes still smelly with their waders on, and the occasional tourist who can't take his alcohol and falls off his barstool (as happened when I was there). The Old Colony Tap is a dying breed, although it shouldn't be, so make sure you stop by and grab a drink before it's replaced by another run-of-the-mill college/bachelorette/gay/wine bar blaring Gangman Style/Bieber/Wobble Song out of it's windows.

Judith M.

Yelp
As has been noted: great dive bar. As in, dive bar for whalers at the turn of the century and updated with electricity and not much else. Don't miss the art collection done by a regular (now MIA I hear) who painted just about every body in town. Pretty good stuff in a VanGough kind of way. This is where I'd go to drink w/ a pal or 4 after a day at the beach if they weren't all going to the Tea Dance. Also- order beer in bottles. The Taps are a tad unpredictable in quality...

S R.

Yelp
My favorite spot in P - Town. Dive bar. No food. Great people. Love the decor, the slanted floor, etc. There is not much else to say

Astra G.

Yelp
The diveist of dive bars with a p-town nautical theme of course. Uneven floors, very dark lighting, phone book on a shelf from 10 years ago, old-timey metal scuba diving headgear, some whale bones, and of course decades worth of scrambled graffiti on the tables and walls make up the decor here. And I love it. Couple of beers on tap- the usual gansett, coors, a seasonal Sam Adams, and some others. Seems to have a full bar but I've never ordered other drinks. Plus one star for them staying open later than most other places in town.

J M.

Yelp
Best bar in p town. As you drink the floor flattens. PBR on tap. Has a real jukebox that plays all the classics

Drew H.

Yelp
Awesome spot. The slanted floors that have been there forever were my favorite part. A good salty hole in the wall.

Navi B.

Yelp
My favorite place in P-town. It's dark, it's old, the floor is crooked, it's got some... "colorful" people that hang out in here. It's almost perfect! Honestly if we were staying in town I probably would have been here daily. It's a dive and I'm perfectly ok with that. The bartenders were good guys and the locals I met were friendly. The beer selection was basic but adequate. If limited beer selection is a problem then buck up and get some liquor. Go in, get drunk, enjoy.

M M.

Yelp
Really enjoyed this place -- extremely mellow atmosphere, very low key bartender and patrons. Watched some baseball on the TV, heard some of what was in the jukebox and enjoyed some beer. Very cool old feel inside.

Bob B.

Yelp
Love this place. Dripping with character. Careful of the floor. Good cheap beer and great jukebox. Most tourists look in, get nervous and scamper off. C'mon in!!

Melissa A.

Yelp
When we were walking down the street during the day, we passed this place and just outside there was a biker woman in her 40s wearing a leather vest and chaps with a raspy voice talking to some guy about parking and it was retardedly heated. I thought we had to go into this place at night cause maybe we'd see a knife fight. I guess this place is one of the "straight" bars in the area and probably the closest thing to a "dive" there. The walls are sort of TGI Fridays-ish with seemingly random stuff tacked on and stupid country-esque, Americana, mom-buying, attempting-to-be-witty "A penny saved is a penny I didn't spend yet!" placards littered about. Ugh. I bet whoever made that relaxes at home with some "Mad About You" and their two boyfriends, Ben and Jerry! Teehee! If you're sitting at the tables, you feel like you're going to fall sideways right off your chair because everything sort of tilts to the side on the edges. Made me feel drunker than I was. There were three 50s-ish guys who looked like the business type, but were in their weekend/vacation gear of polos, shorts and sockless loafers seated at the bar, but swiveled around on their chairs to scope out the scene. Then some floozys came over and they all started necking and ear nibbling. Ew. Then some drunk party girls showed up in their short dresses and HUGE platform sandals to pound a quick one and started going crazy when Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" came on and danced with one of the guys while his lady friend plastered a fake smile on her face to show that she's hip and she's okay with that. Whatta gal! The dancing guy got up on the table and was yelled at by the bartender. The party girls left and we all felt like we just experienced the quickest, lamest, Aqua Net-iest hurricane swirl right on by. I went back to drinking my weak vodka tonic and folded my arms for the rest of the song. I'm just not a fan of Johnny Cash.

Rachel D.

Yelp
Perfection in the field of dive bars. We stopped in here after Art's Dune Tour (the sunset edition, with dinner) for a couple of drinks. This is a dark, old, scarred dive bar with ship wood and paintings of sailors and harpoons adorning the walls and ceilings. No AC, but plentiful box fans to keep you cool until you're too drunk to care. The bartender was a complete space-cadet of an older woman, floating around behind the bar and serving strong long drinks, draft beer, and wine. Jukebox, loud music, crooked tables full of carvings, and a fake leg sticking out of the second-story window on the alleyway. Plus a great view of the Governor Bradford karaoke across the street, and the traffic on Commercial. 10/10 would return.

Deb K.

Yelp
The Old Colony Tap was the first place that I experienced the wonder that is "The Provincetown Pour" - cheap and stiff as heck (or just freaking huge, if it was a glass of wine). Fill that glass up with some ice and my vodka, and feel free to save some room for a splash of soda and the lime. I loved it. The space was dark and I swear only lit by 2 small bulbs and enough light at the bar to conduct transactions and it was awesome (until I stepped outside and felt like I had to put my sunglasses on at 8pm after the combo of the lighting and 2 of "The Provincetown Pour" drinks). Right on the main strip of P Town stuff, ample seating and tables, a bunch of stools at the bar, a jukebox, a clean bathroom, and I feel like there may have been a video game machine too. Will I be back? F yeah! If I lived here would this be in my top rotation of dive bars? No question!

John H.

Yelp
The place is awesome I can't believe the crisy works there she's so beautiful and such a nice person

Ed G.

Yelp
I've been to a few dive bars in my life and this one takes the cake. There's an interesting cast of characters when you walk in. You're not going to be greeted with smiles and open arms. You'll be lucky if you get a head nod. There a 3-4 beers on tap, some bottled beer, and a great selection of low quality booze. I opted for a few drafts and they were reasonably priced for Provincetown. The juke box in this place is to die for. A great selection of old school hits with some 90's music mixed in. No Justin Bieber here.. The floors are all over the place here. I don't think there's a right angle in the joint and nothing is level. That just adds to the atmosphere. Bathrooms are semi clean and open. If you need to go for 2 it's not the best place. If your a pretentious douche you're not going to enjoy this place. If you want a cold beer at a decent price without any hassle this is a great choice enjoy!

L M.

Yelp
My favorite bar in Ptown. I remember when I first came here about a decade ago and asked the bartender if there was a wine list I could look at before I ordered. She looked me up and down, sneered, and said, "No. We have red or white. Which one do you want?" Such warmth, I knew then that this was the bar for me. One summer, my sister was slowly riding her bike down Commercial Street when some jackass slammed into her knocking her to the ground. He picks himself and his bike up, barely mutters an apology, and speeds away. Classy. So there she is down in the street with a gash in her leg when..... she realizes that half the patrons from this bar have rushed outside to help her. Great bar with great people!

Giovanni M.

Yelp
This place was awesome! I shot a travel show segment there, and damn we had a blast. My kind of local institution, if I lived in town, I'd definitely be a regular. If you love a fun, unpretentious dive---this is your spot! If you're a fun-hater, and only satisfied by waxed-mustache-farm-to-table-pre-prohibition-era-concept-10min-cocktail-bars, well... I'm apologize for your shortcomings. They make it real damn easy to have a damn good time!

Jason H.

Yelp
Nice little dive bar, great atmosphere and I love the nautical theme. Cash only though, and I'm not sure there's an ATM!

Susan O.

Yelp
This is one of the last true establishments cape cod has to offer, another one was Cookies Tap, sad to say that is gone(best fish chowder in the world!), now back to the OC, I may be dating my self, who cares, this bar was frequented by some incredible people, Howard Mitchem, the chef, Norman Mailer, the writer not to mention Ryan O'Neal, Isabella Rossolini and many others. The movie Tough guys don't dance was filmed in P-Town a lot of scenes filmed at the OC. For this writer, the OC is old cape cod, and at the OC,tough guys do dance. Should the OC close(God forbid) Provincetown will fall off the map!

Sara J.

Yelp
I really like drinking at this bar. I love the jukebox. I love how the floor slopes down, as if the whole place is rocking to one side. I feel like I'm drinking on a rickety ship. However, for a dive bar, the drinks aren't really cheap enough....

Amy P.

Yelp
It's like taking a slanted step back in time! You can feel the history when you walk to the bar and order a beer. The bar, tables, floor is tilting one way or the other, after a few drinks you may start to feel as if you are in a boat. The time warn nautical decor adds to that feel. We made friends fast with a few locals and the bartender was great. The jukebox was not working for a bit so one lady began to sing and sway, then we all were swaying and cheering her on. Then when the jukebox came back to life it is filled with all sort of great music. Bring cash for beer and jukebox, try your best to not fall out of your chair and enjoy!

Daniel D.

Yelp
Something you'd probably never expect in Provincetown: a dive bar that seemed mostly straight! The drinks were cheap, but of such low caliber that a fraternity would be embarrassed to serve them. I actually did enjoy the seafaring decorations. Not a great place to bring a date, but not the worst place to grab a drink with your buddy; I'd suggest ordering a beer, though.

Michiru K.

Yelp
It's obvious that everyone here hates tourists, which is great, because I like to be left alone while I drink. They got PBR on tap (the People's beer!) and nice cheap drinks. The men's bathroom has no door so you can really give someone a surprise if you're taking a dump. Grungy and gross atmosphere. The only thing that would make this bar better would be to kick out all the bourgeoisie and bring some radical leftists in, making it an extra safe space for the LGBT+ community. Great place!

Max A.

Yelp
Very old school dive bar where everybody is welcomed. Great atmosphere and cheaper drinks. Live music on Sunday night

Sean L.

Yelp
This is the hangout of punks, fishermen, and heroin dealers. The best bar on the Cape or anywhere else. Genuine sailors congregate here.

Robert P.

Yelp
Working class pub from a time gone by. Nice to see they are still lingering and something's don't change. No frills and as said good jukebox.

Elizabeth V.

Yelp
Best dive bar in Ptown. You can't make up this kind of character. It is earned over years and years.

Tom M.

Yelp
Great spot and service . Very unique interior. Floor and tables well used and unusual

Michael D.

Yelp
do you ever feel like life is a movie? this is one of those places, it either feels like a movie set or a place you just time traveled to. From the heavily uneven/squeaky floor to the graffitied bathroom to the shipwreck (raw but real) overall appearance. My favorite bar in Provincetown, hell i'll even say Cape Cod!

Arthur M.

Yelp
Spend more than a half hour in this place and become your own character in a strange cartoon. Be careful, the freaks will bite... I met my girlfriend here.

ANdrew J.

Yelp
A true New England treasure. Cold beer & a great juke box. What more do you want from a genuine bar not trying to be anything but what it is. Think Mos Eisley on Cape Cod.

Charlotte S.

Yelp
If my grandfather was a sea captain, this would be his shanty/bar. Clean bathrooms, fucked up floors. A+

Zachary G.

Yelp
I love this place. Walking into the OC is a whole other dark world. Low ceilings, buoys, seafaring memorabilia, all add to the small town dive bar ambiance. You'll find townie regulars, hardcore drunks, summer party girls, and probably your parents or teachers if you grew up here. One of the only places in town you won't really find the gay or tourist crowd. Grab a drink, crank up a song on the jukebox that looks like it hasn't been touched since the mid 70's and watch the characters come to life. For the real drinkers only.

Michael B.

Yelp
Best Dive Bar bar none. Great jukebox, friendly crowd, and cheap drinks (for P-Town).

Catrina S.

Yelp
Yes, this place is a dark, dive bar that makes you think of sailors & deckhands. In the middle of everything & they have a good selection for drinks plus a jukebox and plenty of character. Definitely stop here!

Leah M.

Yelp
Stopped in here for a couple of beers before catching the ferry back to Boston. This place is the perfect dive bar. It's filled with locals, and the decor is on point. The beers are reasonably priced, and though it was a Thursday afternoon it was still pretty busy. I'll definitely make my way back here again! Oh & the bartender that was working was really cute

Leah F.

Yelp
Best dive in P-town. No frills. I love it. Don't be turned off by unfriendly staff and the dark atmosphere.....just drink your beer.