Cape Cod Travel
It will feature live music, food trucks, and lawn games.
J.J. Foley’s in Boston. Laurie Swope/The Boston Globe
The family behind an iconic bar in Boston is opening a sprawling family-friendly entertainment venue on Cape Cod this summer.
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The Foley family, of J.J. Foley’s Cafe in the South End — which opened in 1909 and is the oldest Irish bar in Boston — recently announced on social media that it will open The Backyard by Foley’s in Dennis Port in “summer 2026.” An opening date has not been released.
The Backyard by Foley’s is billed as Cape Cod’s largest outdoor family-friendly venue.
The 33,650 square-foot space will feature a nearly 5,000 square-foot sail-covered main bar as well as picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, high tops, and couches, Michael Foley told the Dennis selectboard during a meeting on April 7. The bar will serve beer, wine, cocktails, frozen drinks, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Visitors of all ages will enjoy rotating food trucks, classic lawn games, live music, and shaded areas, all wrapped in classic string lights.
It’s a space built for families during the summer, Foley said, noting that his team is comprised of parents of all ages who know exactly what young families are looking for.
“Long waits in restaurants can be really difficult, especially with young kids,” Foley said. “We kind of brainstormed this idea over a year or so and are really, really passionate about this idea.”
There will be dedicated activity zones for kids, lawn games scaled for younger players, open play areas, rotating interactive games, outdoor movie nights, and other special programming, he said.
“We’re really trying to create and curate this backyard family-friendly vibe,” Foley said.
The Foleys also want to help make Dennis Port more of a destination, he said.
“Dennis Port needs more foot traffic,” Foley said, and The Backyard by Foley’s will help create “an environment in Dennis Port that is missing right now.”
Collaborations with area businesses may include pop-up ice cream, retail, and breakfast events, outdoor yoga, farmers markets, and more, he said.
“It’s a huge space. Our intent here is for this to be used by the community as a whole,” Foley said.
There will be a few smaller bars as well, and the music will be acoustic.
“There’s no big bands or DJ sets or anything like that,” Foley said. “It’s supposed to feel like summer in the backyard, that’s the environment we’re going for.”
The announcement on the venue’s new Instagram account on Thursday drew more than 2,000 likes, more than 2,500 shares, and nearly 200 comments.
“I just want to stress 117 years in business as the same family isn’t a mistake,” said Patrick Foley during the selectboard meeting. “It’s hard work, it’s being on site, it’s being good to your customers, and that’s the same passion we’re going to bring down here.”
The venue will be located at 645 Main Street in Dennis Port. Heading to the Cape this summer? Check out our list of 5 things to do when visiting Dennis.
Kristi Palma
Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.
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