Escapes: Going Dutch in Lewes, Del.

(Christina Barron Rogers/ For The Washington Post ) - The Ryves Holt House in Lewes is the oldest house in Delaware. It's now home to the Lewes Historical Society.

(Christina Barron Rogers/ For The Washington Post ) - The Ryves Holt House in Lewes is the oldest house in Delaware. It's now home to the Lewes Historical Society.

  • (Christina Barron Rogers/ For The Washington Post ) - The Ryves Holt House in Lewes is the oldest house in Delaware. It's now home to the Lewes Historical Society.
  • (Christina Barron Rogers/ For The Washington Post ) - The garden at The Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delware.
  • (Christina Barron Rogers/ For The Washington Post ) - The garden at The Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delware.

The nearby Hiram Rodney Burton House, also owned by the historical society, was built at least in part by Dutch descendant Helmanus Wiltbank in the late 17th century. It stayed in the family until 1809. The Holt House can be visited year-round, but the Burton House and several other historic buildings on the same property are open only during summer months.

Although Dutch cuisine isn’t among the offerings, the tiny downtown features two culinary staples in the Netherlands: seafood and coffee. Jerry’s Seafood, which specializes in an oversize crab cake called a bomb, offers fish and chips, shrimp scampi and other traditional seafood choices. Striper Bites has a more casual atmosphere with equally good seafood.

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The coffee lover who knows his Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from his Mexican Cesmanch must stop at Notting Hill Coffee Roastery. The coffee comes by the bag or by the cup, and when accompanied by a blueberry muffin/turnover hybrid is a giant step up from your chain-store morning mug.

Other dining options include Kindle, a cozy new earth-toned restaurant with a modern American menu; the French-inspired Buttery; and a popular new Mexican restaurant, Agave.

Save room for a scoop or two at King’s Ice Cream, a fixture in town for 30 years. If you miss the orange sherbet at the Zwaanendael Museum, King’s has it along with a decadent Dutch chocolate, creamy coffee and a knockout black raspberry. After a day of feting a faraway queen, a visit to Lewes wouldn’t be complete without culinary homage to the local King.

STAYING THERE

Hotel Rodney

142 Second St.

302-645-6466

www.hotelrodneydelaware.com

A renovated 1926 boutique hotel on Lewes’s main street. Modern amenities amid art deco decor. From $90 through May 26.

The Inn at Canal Square

122 Market St.

888-644-1911

www.theinnatcanalsquare.com

Spacious rooms in the heart of town. Breakfast included. From $195 through May 26.

EATING THERE

Jerry’s Seafood

108 Second St.

302-645-6611

www.jerrys-seafood.com

Dinner entrees from $19.

Kindle Restaurant
& Lounge

111 Bank St.

302-645-7887

www.kindlerestaurant.com

Dinner entrees from $18.

Notting Hill Coffee Roastery

124 Second St.

302-645-0733

www.nottinghillcoffee.com

Coffees, pastries, waffles and sandwiches. Sandwiches from $4.

King’s Ice Cream

201 Second St.

302-645-9425

www.kings-icecream.com

Scoops from $3.

PLAYING THERE

Zwaanendael Museum

102 Kings Hwy.

302-645-1148

Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free. Queen’s Day is Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Lewes Historical Society

110 Shipcarpenter St.

302-645-7670

www.historiclewes.org

Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m to 1 p.m.

INFORMATION

www.leweschamber.com

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