Asbury Park, NJ, is often associated with two things: its deep connection to music and, of course, the gorgeous coastlines of The Jersey Shore. While many New Jerseyans reserve their visits for day trips to the beach or concerts at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park is actually one of the best towns for a NJ staycation. And when looking for a place to stay in Asbury, there’s no better option than The Asbury Hotel.
A Community-Driven Experience
The Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ, is a modern, boutique establishment located near the Jersey Shore. Opened in 2016, the hotel is part of a broader effort to revitalize Asbury Park.
The hotel offers 110 rooms, including bunk rooms for groups. Designed to be a social hub, The Asbury Hotel features communal spaces such as a rooftop lounge, a pool, and event spaces. The Soundbooth bar and The Asbury Hall are central to the hotel’s nightlife, hosting live music and DJ performances.
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The Asbury Hotel is also a short walk from Asbury Park’s boardwalk and beach, appealing to both leisure and business travelers. The hotel’s design and amenities reflect the eclectic, artistic spirit of Asbury Park, with a focus on casual, modern hospitality.
Staying At The Asbury Hotel
I stayed at The Asbury Hotel recently to get away from the bustle and stagnance of North Jersey for just a weekend, and I could not be happier with my experience. When you first walk into The Asbury, you are greeted with a wide-open lobby complete with a wall of vinyl records, pool table, a cocktail bar, coffee and plenty of comfortable seating. Often, artists will be performing live music right in the lobby.
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The Asbury centers around music, but they don’t just use this as another design choice—the pulse of Asbury Park’s connection to music is infused into every portion of your stay at the hotel. The wall of records in the lobby (that you can actually peruse), DJs on the rooftop, live music in the lobby, record players in each room—and this isn’t to mention the direct connection to The Asbury Lanes, a legendary music venue set in a bowling alley that lives directly next door to the hotel.
Upcoming concerts are plastered around the hotel, making it easy to to know exactly what’s going on around town.
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This central theme is the starting point for your stay, and everything else builds off of it. The rooms (I stayed in a Deluxe King) are beautifully designed with Scandinavian inspiration. Light wood accents, checkered floors, pops of color, and a large, comfy bed. The bathrooms come complete with French doors and a spacious rainfall shower.
The rooms are beautiful—and functional—to say the least. However, when in Asbury Park, you want to maximize your time out on the town. The Asbury Hotel’s central location makes this easy as ever. We walked over to Wonder Bar, the timeless institution that (get this) also centers around music. Catch a live band and enjoy classic bar grub. The boardwalk is a short walk past there, where you can enjoy frozen treats and an array of fun restaurants.
I’m a restaurant writer after all, so much of my time staying in the city was spent, well, eating. Cookman Ave nearby is a melting pot of great restaurants, bars, breweries and more. Other great eateries are dispersed throughout the city and in surrounding towns, too.
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The food and drink at the hotel is no joke either. Soundbooth is the lobby bar, which boasts a full cocktail, wine and beer list. The Counter is across the way in the lobby, which is perfect for quick bites or a latte. Nextdoor, The Diner (located inside The Asbury Lanes), offers a vintage-infused diner experience that screams New Jersey.
Salvation offers a chic, rooftop bar experience perfect for a night out. This is the premier option for those who like to party every now and then. Gorgeous views of Asbury Park and the ocean are to be had. After dark, the rooftop is brimming with an authentic nightlife experience—complete with a live DJ.
Believe it or not, my favorite dining/drinking experience at the hotel was had at the pool. The Asbury Hotel pool is gorgeous to say the least—complete with a fun bar sporting frozen cocktails and beer and an on-site taco truck that’s dishing out some seriously good grub. What’s better than getting carnitas tacos and quesadillas delivered right to you as you bathe in the sun? The poolside staff is incredibly attentive, always making sure my drinks were filled and that I had everything I needed.
The NJ Staycation You Need
To say The Asbury Hotel was a great stay would be quite an understatement. The hotel exceeded my expectations, and for someone who probably doesn’t relax enough, it was the perfect place to melt away into Asbury Park, which is a city I have always loved, yet never stayed a full weekend in.
The hotel’s music connection makes for a unique stay that really does immerse you in the culture of Asbury Park. With great food and drink options—both on-premise and off—the gorgeous pool, close proximity to the beach and boardwalk, rooftop bar and beautifully furnished rooms, The Asbury Hotel proves to be one of the city’s most sought-after stays.
