New Jersey’s identity lives in its small towns. Main streets here are where people get coffee, browse shops or spend a Saturday without plans. WorldAtlas recently named six that they believe show what New Jersey feels like. Each one offers something different, but all are easy to explore on foot. These are the six main streets that standout in New Jersey.
Red Bank
Broad Street is the heart of downtown. The Count Basie Center for the Arts sits along the stretch and brings people in for concerts, comedy and touring shows throughout the year. Two River Theater adds to the arts presence with regular productions and a steady flow of visitors. Birravino handles much of the dinner rush with Italian plates and a lively room, and Semolina stays popular for seasonal menus and smaller dining. Buona Sera sits nearby as another well-known option for pasta and seafood. Shops and boutiques fill the blocks between them and the area is easy to walk without planning.
Montclair
Bloomfield Avenue is the center of town. Restaurants, shops and galleries keep it active most days. The Montclair Art Museum attracts daytime traffic, and the Wellmont Theater fills seats at night with concerts and touring acts. Laboratorio Kitchen, Ani Ramen and Gioia Mia handle most mealtime traffic. Paper Plane Coffee covers the morning with espresso and pastry, and the area stays active through the day. It’s busy, but not difficult to navigate, and works well for visitors who want variety without driving.
Collingswood
Haddon Avenue is central and easy to explore. The street has brunch spots, bakeries and small shops that stay busy on weekends. Sabrina’s Cafe handles mornings with breakfast and coffee. Hearthside fills the dinner hours with wood-fired plates, and June BYOB offers a quieter sit-down meal. Haddon Culinary works for groceries or takeaway, and boutiques fill the blocks between. Most of the avenue can be covered in a single pass, which keeps it simple for first-time visitors.
Ocean City
Asbury Avenue offers a calmer downtown away from the beach crowds. Cafes, boutiques and small shops line the street, and Mark Soifer Park sits in the center for anyone who wants a break. Ocean City Coffee Company and Asbury Kitchen are common morning stops. Stainton’s Gallery of Shops and The Shoppes at Asbury fill two historic buildings with vendors, gifts and art, and they work well for browsing in any season. Small shops and seasonal boutiques round out the Avenue, creating a slower main street experience than the boardwalk. The downtown is easy to walk and most stops sit within a few blocks.
Morristown
South Street is where most people start. Restaurants, cafes, dessert shops and small stops line the strip. Lokl Cafe works well in the morning with coffee, breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Coniglio’s handles lunch and dinner with its saucy pies by the slice. Taro Frozen Yogurt sits a short walk away for something sweet, and their milk teas are worth trying. The Mayo Performing Arts Center brings touring shows, concerts and comedy throughout the year. Iron Bar picks up once the sun goes down with DJs on weekends and a crowd that fills both floors. After a few drinks, Coniglio’s and the Colonial Grill food truck stay open late for cravings.
Millburn
Millburn Avenue is small but easy to navigate. Taylor Park connects directly to the street and the Rahway River runs through the green space beside it. Millburn Deli is the staple here, known for big sandwiches and its New Jersey-style Sloppy Joe layered on rye with coleslaw and Russian dressing. Basilico, La Pergola, MoonShine, Millburn Standard, Cara Mia and Saigon Cafe sit close together, which makes dining decisions simple for visitors.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.