“Shore” and “bars” go together like “Parkway” and “traffic,” only the first two are so much more pleasant. There’s nothing quite like kicking back with a cold one after a long day on the beach (or dealing with the Parkway).
Here are the Jersey Shore’s 35 best bars, ranked, drawn from my not-inconsiderable Shore bar experience (I’m not proud of that, neither am I ashamed). They cover the entire coastline, from Highlands to Cape May. There were hundreds of bars to choose from; these are the standouts. Some are noisy bars, some are laid-back hangouts. There are neighborhood bars, dive bars, co*cktail bars and more on the list.
It’s not a list of the most popular bars or the ones with the most Facebook likes, just the best, in my opinion. And trust me, I get around. Factors considered: atmosphere, tradition, history, service, and food, among others.
35. Nardi’s Tavern, Long Beach Township
Let’s hear it for the Party Bus! Nardi’s pinkish school bus, which operates from 9 p.m. until closing, will drive you home if you’ve had one too many, anywhere from Holgate to Division Street in Surf City. And you can leave your car in the lot overnight. The bar itself is one of LBI’s liveliest, with bands every night in the summer. Hungry? Wings, salads, cheesesteaks, reubens, pizza and seafood are among the food options.
34. St. Stephen’s Green Publick House, Spring Lake Heights
Not all great Shore bars need to be noisy and rowdy — or boast waterfront views. St. Stephen’s Green, named after a park in Dublin, features several dining rooms, plus a handsome, dark wood bar. Irish kettle chips (topped with crispy Irish bacon and melted Irish cheddar); Dublin rolls (pulled corned beef, braised cabbage and vegetables wrapped in egg roll skins with Guinness mustard dipping sauce) and baked Irish onion soup are among the menu items.
33. The Miracle Pub, Toms River
Classic neighborhood bar with ten times more atmosphere than your favorite bar. Chock-a-block with beer signs, Giants jerseys and vintage photos, the Miracle Pub is not someplace you just stumble on; it’s just off Route 37, between a Cluck-U Chicken and orthopedic clinic. Breakfast is served from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in case you need to conquer that hangover. Burgers, pizza, pastas, wings and homemade rice pudding re also on the menu.
32. The Sawmill Cafe, Seaside Park
“Legendary” doesn’t quite do the Sawmill justice. “Cafe,” either. It’s hard to imagine the Seaside boardwalk without this bar and restaurant, which started as a hot dog stand outside the entrance to Funtown Pier in 1977. Today, it serves up what is probably the Shore’s biggest slice. The Sawmill — the only building on the Seaside Park boardwalk to survive both Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the disastrous fire in 2013 — once advertised the world’s biggest pizza. It now says it’s home to the “world famous jumbo Sawmill pizza.” Whatever. It’s a behemoth — a whole pizza is 27 inches in diameter. No matter how big your mouth is, it will not easily contain a slice.
31. Bar Anticipation, Lake Como
How can you not have Bar A on a list of the Shore’s best bars? “Where Summer Never Ends” is the slogan at this sprawling bar/restaurant complex, a party destination and throbbing nightclub rolled into one ever-amazing package. There’s a restaurant — the Mahogany Room — in there somewhere, and you can even rent one of nine VIP cabanas. Bands, booze, country line dancing, nonstop partying; Bar A is an essential Shore experience. It’s open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days all year long.
30. Ship’N Shore Bar, Wildwood
Wildwood and North Wildwood are packed with bars, but the Ship’N Shore, which from the outside looks like just another house on the block, stands out for its cozy, pleasantly divey atmosphere. Good food here — hand cut fries, turkey clubs, cheesesteaks, plus homemade pot pies on Saturdays and Sundays.
29. Wonder Bar, Asbury Park
While the Wonder Bar doesn’t attract the big band names (beyond a rare Springsteen appearance) like the Stone Pony, it oozes considerable history and low-rent charm. It opened in the 1950s, and once boasted the longest bar in the world. Then there’s Yappy Hour, where dogs of all shapes, sizes and temperaments hang out with their owners on the outside deck in warmer weather. But it may be replaced by a waterfront condominium complex. Here’s my feature story on Yappy Hour.
28. Robert’s Place, Margate
“Laid back since way back” is the slogan at Robert’s Place, a cash-only locals hangout with atmosphere and great wings going for it. The menu goes beyond wings and burgers — grilled mahi, NY strip, blackened shrimp, and more.
27. Leggett’s Sand Bar, Manasquan
“The Jersey Shore’s No. 1 destination location for a great time!” is the slogan at Leggett’s. This was my second home when I lived in Manasquan. They’ve redone the place since and it’s lost its divey soul, but Leggett’s is even more popular today. There are dart and shuffleboard leagues, an outdoor garden dining area, and the expansive menu even includes brick oven pizza. I don’t recognize the place these days, but that’s okay. “Manasquan” and “Leggett’s” are synonymous.
26. Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant, Somers Point
“At the Shore since ‘44′’ is the motto at Charlie’s, opened by Charlie and Helen Thomas in 1944. Before that, the building served as a post office, general store, ice cream parlor and market. The wings are a must. The menu also includes burgers, pasta, ribs, seafood, and more. It’s cash only.
25. The Irish Pub, Atlantic City
No other Shore bar is as steeped in history as the Irish Pub. A speakeasy during Prohibition, later a favorite haunt of Joe DiMaggio and other celebs, the Irish Pub is an A.C. icon. The red hotels used in Monopoly are based on the pub’s architecture. The rooms upstairs, which start at $50 a night, are one of Atlantic City’s great hidden bargains. “I would like to spend my last hours on earth at the Irish Pub,” Budd Schulberg, screenwriter of “On the Waterfront,” once said.
24. The Beachcomber, Seaside Heights
Live music on weekends all year long is one of the draws of “the home of rock and roll on the boardwalk.” The Beachcomber boasts two levels of entertainment, restaurant, and raw bar. The menu includes sandwiches, seafood, pasta — and pizza. Shorty Long and The Jersey Horns perform every Thursday during the summer.
23. The Columns, Avon-by-the Sea
For a more refined Jersey Shore bar experience, cruise over to The Columns. The restaurant and bar is set in a grand Colonial Revival mansion, with a wrap-around porch and great views; the ocean’s across the street. Recommended: the wings, with a roasted garlic sriracha sauce; The Columns BLT; or the pan-seared sea scallops. You can even book a room here from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
22. Bond Street Bar, Asbury Park
A dive bar seems all out of sorts for hip, happening Asbury — which is why the Bond Street Bar is on this list. “It’s been a bar since the ‘30s,” staffer Matt Kramer told me. Charmingly low-rent, the bar is cash-only. Inside, it’s pleasantly dark and gloomy (there is an outside patio). “One person at a time in bathroom” reads a message. Drinks include the Dennis Hopper — PBR and a shot of house whiskey. The jalapeño cheddar burger is, like the bar, different, and the wings are nice and plump, with an appropriately punkish hot sauce. The grilled cheese sandwiches are among the Shore’s best.
21. The Rusty Nail, Cape May
The Rusty Nail, which began as a famed surf bar dating to the ‘70s, is now a family-friendly oasis with sand, umbrella-topped tables and fire pits. Kids’ meals are served on a souvenir Beach Shack Frisbee you can toss around later. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available; dishes include lobster rolls, crab cakes sandwiches and fish tacos.
20. Nip-n-Tuck Bar & Grill, Long Branch
Female-owned dive bar with the best grilled cheese sandwiches at any Shore bar. The Nip-n-Tuck’s name comes from a Prohibition custom where men would discretely remove a flask from the breast pocket of their coats, take a quick sip and tuck it back in; the act was called a “nip ‘n’ tuck.’’ Beside those standout grilled cheese, you can get burgers, cheesesteaks, pork chops and more.
19. The Ugly Mug, Cape May
Any bar that hosts the United States Frothing Championships deserves to be on this list. The annual event is held in September at the Ugly Mug. Whoever blows the most foam out of his/her glass becomes the United States National Froth Blowing Champion. There’s also an Ugly Mug Club; each member has his/her own mug; deceased members are honored by having their mugs hung facing the ocean. The menu includes burgers, seafood and pizza.
18. Back Bay Ale House, Atlantic City
The story of the Back Bay Ale House begins at the Hard Rock Cafe, where Kyle Williams and Peter McDonald worked. Williams opened the Back Bay Ale House in 2003, with McDonald as general manager. “It was scary,” McDonald recalls not-too-fondly of the building they inherited. “Everything had to be re-built.” The two-story restaurant/bar, with its views of Absecon Inlet, remains a relative secret outside AC. “There’s people in Brigantine who’ve lived all their lives there, come over here, didn’t know this was here,” McDonald says. There’s a cozy indoor bar, an upstairs dining room, a spacious outdoor patio, plus a tiki bar. co*cktails are served in Mason jars. Order a Georgia Peach, with Tito’s Vodka, peach schnapps, fresh muddled peaches and mint, Sprite and club soda. Their jerk wings made my N.J.’s best wings list.
17. Bird and Betty’s, Beach Haven
Bird and Betty’s is named after Bird and Betty Clutter — great names, right? - who bought the former Acme Hotel in 1956. It later became the Ketch; it was recently purchased by the Tide Table Group, which also owns Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House and Mud City Crab House, both in Manahawkin; Parker’s Garage & Oyster Saloon in Beach Haven; and Ship Bottom Shellfish. At Bird and Betty’s, fresh seafood and crafted co*cktails form the foundation. Try the lamb and ricotta (with fava beans!), or the oven-roasted split lobster. “We believe in late nights and early mornings,” the web site proclaims. “You can sleep when you’re dead.” Amen.
16. Off the Hook, Highlands
The views don’t get any more spectacular than the ones at Off the Hook — Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, NYC in the distance. The beer selection could be better, but you come here for the food and views. Dishes include Voo Doo Shrimp & Scallops, chili, Sun Burnt Pasta, and short rib sandwich.
15. Donovan’s Reef, Sea Bright
Donovan’s Reef, which bills itself as the only beach bar in Monmouth County, is named after the 1963 John Wayne comedy (but of course you knew that). Oceanfront location, live music, volleyball, TVs, seven separate bars, even co*cktails in the sand. It was voted one of the nation’s top 21 beach bars by Thrillist, which said “there’s no better place to sip an Orange Crush on the Jersey Shore than Donovan’s Reef.” Wings, tacos, seafood platters, burgers and wraps are among the menu items.
14. Martell’s Tiki Bar, Point Peasant Beach
Martell’s is New Jersey’s — maybe the world’s — best-known tiki bar. Only one bar in the world owns the tikibar.com domain, and it’s Martell’s. A sprawling complex of bars, decks and dining space, Martell’s is far from cozy or intimate but it sure is fun, with tons of drink and food options, plus bands and a dance floor. And don’t forget the fresh-squeezed orange juice; a manager once told me, “We go through more oranges than anyone in the world.”
13. The Vue, Claridge Hotel, Atlantic City
It’s all about the view at the Vue, Atlantic City’s only rooftop bar and restaurant. It’s on the 23rd floor of the Claridge, probably the most famous AC hotel in the 1940s and ‘50s. Guests over the years included Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Princess Grace of Monaco. Mickey Mantle even worked here at one time, as director of sports promotions. The Vue’s menu includes flatbread pizzas, burgers and fish tacos. Signature co*cktails include Lucky Juice (lemon vodka, blue Curacao, Peachtree liqueur, pineapple juice), named after mobster Lucky Luciano. But you’ll want to drink in those views first.
12. JakeaBob’s Bay, Union Beach
How ‘bout some love for that “other” Jersey Shore, the Raritan bayfront? JakeaBob’s Bay — and much of Union Beach — was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, but the bar re-opened in June 2016, and it’s better than ever. It’s named after owner Angelita Liaguno-Dorr’s two sons, Jake and Bobby. There’s a new tiki bar and an outdoor deck (dig the views of NYC). Food? Try Ama’s chicken, the Spinney Creek steamers, the 1999 wings, or the Hawaiian tuna poke tower.
11. Crabby Jack’s, Somers Point
The Crab Trap in Somers Point is an enormously popular Shore restaurant, where waits for a table are often common. Avoid the crowds and get a spectacular view in the process by heading to Crabby Jack’s, a tiki bar behind the Crab Trap. You can order from a scaled-down menu from the Crab Trap, and the waterfront setting is marvelous. That’s Ocean City in the shimmering distance.
10. Ducktown Tavern, Atlantic City
The Ducktown Tavern was one of the highlights on day two of our search for N.J.’s best burger. The Heart Attack burger, one of 11 burgers on the bar’s menu, is not for the faint of heart, stomach, or anything else. It is a teetering tower of cholesterol craziness — mozzarella sticks, corn nuggets, onion rings, fries, poppers, melted cheese, bacon, burger, and one “potato boat” artfully squeezed inside a toasted brioche-type bun. Tip: Go with the ACPD, a mere double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and fried onions. Much healthier.
9. Mott’s Creek Inn, Galloway
“Beware of the locals” reads a sign at Mott’s Creek Inn. No, not the human but the buggy variety: nasty greenheads, the bane of this part of the Shore. The rustic, rambling bar is a happy haven for locals, fishermen, bikers and folks just aiming to get away from it all. The view is of grass, water and sky, the kind of beautiful, spare emptiness typical of bayfront towns from New Gretna south. The menu includes gator bites, poke bowl salad, wings, burgers, and clams and oysters on the half shell. Minutes away is the Oyster Creek Inn in Leeds Point, another scenic waterfront retreat, also on this list.
8. C-View Inn, Cape May
There are “nicer” bars in Cape May, but my favorite is the C-View Inn, a true locals hangout. The building dates to the mid-1800s, and was once known as the Harbor House. Marilyn Pharo, the ten-year-old daughter of a previous owner, used to dance happily on the tables to the delight of customers. Current owner Greg Coffey bought the bar in 2007. There are about a dozen drafts, and frosted mugs, but the food’s the standout here. Get the juicy prime rib sandwich, or the garlic wings, with the special sauce, kept behind the bar.
7. Georgie’s Bar, Asbury Park
For 20-plus years, Georgie’s has been a bastion for Asbury’s LGBTQ community. “We’re all a family here,” Dave, one of the staffers, says on the website. “Georgie’s is such a great part of the community, we hold yearly fundraisers for various city and state organizations.” The Asbury Park Toy Drive started here. “Georgie’s will always be just your regular neighborhood bar, we are the ‘Gay Cheers’ of Asbury Park,” Dave adds.
6. Sirens Bar & Grill, Atlantic City
The well-under-the-radar Sirens is located at Kammermans Marina, on the other side of Gardners Basin from Back Bay Ale House. ”If you’re lost, you’ve found us!” the website helpfully says. Waterfront view, chill vibe, a seeming planet away from Atlantic City. The marina owners, Chris and Stacey Kammerman, live on the property. They never advertise, so you learn about Sirens by word-of-mouth. Sandwiches include marina meatball and provolone, beyond spicy sausage, and the signature adult grilled cheese. Sirens made my list of 22 Secret Down the Shore Spots.
5. Twisties on the Bay, Strathmere
Al Capone used to hang out here — what more do you need to know? Twisties was once known as the Strathmere Inn Cafe and may have operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition. A previous owner, Harold Charleston, was responsible for the weird and wonderful collection of coconut heads, carved by Seminole Indians, above the bar. The bar, named after former owners Jimmy and Rose Twist, is now owned by Gary and Denise Riordan. The Twists’ nephew was named — what else? — Oliver. The Hibiscus Lemonade is a summery sensation. The char-grilled pork chops, maple cinnamon French fries and twisted scallops are all highly recommended. Twisties was one of ten finalists in our N.J.’s best bar showdown.
4. Murphy’s Tavern, Rumson
Murphy’s Tavern — the Shore’s most singular bar — is in a house, which looks like every other house on the block. There’s no glowing neon sign, no parking lot, and the bar is in the basem*nt. But a basem*nt with style — black-and-white checked floors, tables set atop wine barrels, dartboard, and subdued lighting. The Ward Lane bar opened in the midst of Prohibition, and quickly became known to rumrunners and smugglers navigating the nearby Navesink River. One must-try: the pork roll fries.
3. The Boat Bar, Oyster Creek Inn, Leeds Point
Locals know the Oyster Creek Inn. The rest of the world? Not so much. Located minutes from Smithville, the inn offers a breathtaking panorama of marsh, water and sky. Have your first drink on the outside deck, then grab a seat at the boat bar. Yes, it’s a real boat. Good seafood here, too. Try the Mediterranean marinated grilled octopus as an app, then Chef Scott’s stuffed salmon for the main course. They even have snapper turtle soup, a Jersey rarity
2. The Brown Room, Cape May
The Brown Room, in Congress Hall, bills itself as Cape May’s “most refined lounge.’' Heck, it may be New Jersey’s most refined lounge. Lavish artwork, formidable fireplace, and magnificent bar add up to unparalleled seashore style. Try a Congress Hall Perfect Manhattan, or Blackberry Ramble, with Blue elderflower gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and blackberry syrup. The bar menu includes shucked oysters, bang bang shrimp, hummus and a burger.
1. The Hudson House, North Beach Haven
No credit cards. No blender or frozen drinks. No food, unless you count bagged snacks. No website or official Facebook page. The main attraction is a shuffleboard table that dates to the ‘50s. The Hudson House is a quintessential dive bar, a cozy, convivial retreat that’s been there for decades, but is still relatively unknown on the island. The building dates to 1880 and was once known as the Waverly Hotel. There are about 15 beers on tap — check out the beer cases for more choices. The “Hud” is one of the state’s great dive bars, not as scruffy as some others, but with a friendly, no-frills atmosphere. The bar was one of ten finalists in our N.J.’s best bar showdown in 2019. And it’s the best Jersey Shore bar.
Peter Genovese’s new book, “The Ultimate Guide to the Jersey Shore,” is available at Amazon and at bookstores. His previous book was “New Jersey State of Mind,” also from Rutgers University Press.
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Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. On X (Twitter), @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.
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