Provincetown’s Iconic Lobster Pot Restaurant Goes Up for Sale

One of Cape Cod’s most iconic restaurants is on the market, as the Lobster Pot in Provincetown has been listed for sale.

The two-level waterfront property, with its spectacular view of Provincetown Harbor, is where celebrity chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain got his start as a dishwasher.

The land, buildings, business, equipment and Lobster Pot brand are all for sale as part of the deal, listed with Weichert for the price of $14 million.

The restaurant, located at 321 Commercial Street, sits on a .07-acre lot in the center of Provincetown, with 8,293 square feet over the two levels. Anyone who has ever visited Provincetown must be familiar with its famous neon sign, welcoming visitors to one of the nation’s premier seafood restaurants.

According to the real estate listing, it is in the top 0.5 percent of restaurants in the United States.

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The building itself is over 100 years old, built in 1900. According to CapeCod.com, it was first known as the Colonial Tap (which eventually became the Old Colony Tap and moved next door) and later became the Lobster Pot in 1943.

In 1979, the business was sold to the McNulty family. Tim McNulty became executive chef in 1982 and later took over as owner.

The Lobster Pot became famous not only for its lobster and seafood options, but also for its char-broiled steaks (which are also prominently advertised in neon). Expansions over the years have led to multiple dining rooms and bars across the property, belying what appears to be just a tiny spot when approaching from the Commercial Street entrance.

In 2014, Bourdain visited Lobster Pot as he re-traced his Provincetown restaurant roots on an episode of his series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, in which he also discussed overcoming his heroin addiction. Bourdain died from suicide in 2018.