Provincetown, perched at the far tip of Cape Cod, is beautiful, quaint, even twee, yet undeniable seductive. A huge gay and lesbian following may fairly characterize Provincetown, though there are volumes of young families headed by opposite-sex parents strolling the streets, too, as well as an apparently heterosexual gray panther set.

Here are three places-one restaurant, one wine shop, and one clothing spot-that shouldn't be missed. Each provides a window into a piece of Provincetown's character, and each achieves its mission well and seemingly effortlessly.

1. Tinys. 336 Commercial Street. 508-347-6237.

First, grub. Owner Kristyn Samok runs Tinys according to local food principles. Tinys partners with the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) to bring local edibles to its kitchen. There are farm-fresh eggs, cheeses, and meats from local providers and croissants from Cape Cod's PB Boulangerie down the Cape in Wellfleet. Tinys first opened last summer for dinner. The restaurant, with a outdoor deck dining area, now serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in season, closing up shop around Columbus Day. The Dutch Baby with a side of bacon may just be the best breakfast on offer in Provincetown.

2. Perry's Wine and Liquors. 1 Tremont Street. 508-487-0140.

Second, picnic preparation. At some point you'll want to head to the beach and you'll want to be completely prepared. Proprietors Tom Fielding and Scott O'Connor opened Perry's in Provincetown's West End in 2007. They stock their shop with approachable wines, specializing in bottles priced at $16 and under. Signature items at Perry's include the shop's in-house goods: infused olive oil, olive tapenade, and Moroccan roasted nuts. But these aren't the whole story. The shop also sells some beautiful small production cheeses, salami, and Tunisian tasties by Les Moulins Mahjoub. Perry's offers wine-tastings every Saturday.

3. Map. 141 Commercial Street. 508-487-4900.

For stylish apparel, a local spot called Map is the real stunner in town. Pauline Fisher opened Map back in 1994. The shop's artfully curated collection of fine denim, accessories, books, and cute gifts (skateboards! notebooks!) is very inviting. The jeans selection is dizzyingly deep for such a small shop. There are also lots of classic Western shirts, cute engineer-style caps from a Japanese label called Basiquent, and t-shirts by Bandit. Classic album covers line the walls of Map's back room, bequeathing the shop a timeless yet contemporary feel.

(Image: Flickr/Narith5)

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