Skip to main content

Greetings from Asbury Park: Where to Eat, Drink, and Play in the Jersey Shore’s Hippest Town

asbury park, castle, jersey shore
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Asbury Park has come a long way from the days that Bruce Springsteen was getting his fortune told on the boardwalk and playing for the crowds at the Stone Pony. Gone are (most) of the dilapidated hotels and other buildings, having made way for fresh, high-end accommodations of all sorts. New restaurants and bars have opened and now thousands flock to the beach-side town every year to do more than just pay homage to the Boss.

Perhaps the best part about AP? It’s close as hell to New York City. New Jersey Transit runs multiple trains a day down the shore, getting you there in between 90 minutes and two hours, depending on the time of day you go. For $32.50, you can sit back, relax, and not have to worry about battling shore traffic or paying tolls getting to and from real life.

With so many new establishments popping up, though, the question then becomes what to do.

Eating and Drinking

Asbury Park Brewery

asbury park brewery
Asbury Park Brewing Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of two breweries in the city (the other, Dark City Brewing Company, is well worth a visit as well), Asbury Park Brewery may be a little hard to find at first—the parking lot looks like the end of the road), but once you make it to the tap room, the craft beers are great for quenching your thirst on a hot beach day. Go for the 4/4 (A Session IPA) or the XPA, an American “extra” Pale Ale.

Asbury Park Distilling

asbury park distillery, liquor bottles
Asbury Park Distilling Co. Image used with permission by copyright holder

The newest entity to join the alcohol-making ranks in AP, Asbury Park Distilling is connected to the Asbury Park Festhalle (more on that next) and has just started making spirits. They will be producing a whiskey eventually, but for now you can visit and check out their vodka and gin.

Asbury Park Festhalle & Biergarten

festhall, beer garden
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you need a cold German beer and a hot pretzel, this is the place to go. Great German food complements the wide range of German brews (in total, you can choose from over 100 beers) that you’ll find both in the Festhalle itself, but also on the rooftop bar—which, let’s be real, why wouldn’t you want to raise a stein of Hefeweizen on a rooftop during the summer?

The Bonney Read

the bonney read
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Named after the two most famous female pirates, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, this chowder house has a mouth-watering raw bar (with both east and west coast oysters, shrimp, clams, and more) on top of a wide range of hot and cold options (the Chowder Dog, Lobster Roll, and Spanish Octopus are all solid options). It wouldn’t be a pirate-inspired place, though, without an extensive rum bar (over 60 rums) and tiki-inspired cocktails to go with the seafood.

Brickwall Tavern

brickwall tavern, pink drink
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With witty maxims and jokes plastered to the walls, Brickwall Tavern serves up not only a great bar environment, but some tasty cocktails to boot (including a hot chocolate that has bourbon and bacon in it that should, even though it’s not, be called The Best Cocktail Ever). The Burger Burger (two patties of ground short rib, chuck, and brisket), the fried chicken cutlet BLT, and the perogies are all must-haves.

Café Volan

cafe volan, coffee beans
Café Volan Image used with permission by copyright holder

You’ve got to start the day somewhere. If you’re not heading to Frank’s Deli for a Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwich (of if you can’t get in, or if you’ve already gone), head to Café Volan for all your caffeine needs. The regular coffee is great, but their lattés and other coffee-based beverages are even better and will wake you up in no time.

Pascal & Sabine

pascal and sabine, mac and cheese
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An upscale establishment that has two bars inside, Pascal & Sabine is where you’ll want to go if you have someone you want to impress. The cocktails are creative and balanced, and the food (such as the moules frites, mussels and fries) calls to mind European brasseries in the best way. If you can find a seat at the small bar, do it. The intimate cocktail experience is well worth it.

Playing

The Beach

asbury park board walk, jersey shore, boardwalk beside beach
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Technically, in Jersey it’s called the Shore, but you can’t go to Asbury Park without stepping foot on the sands. After a morning of brunch-drinking, it’s a great place to pass out for a little while (and work on your tan simultaneously). There are certain days (such as Fourth of July, etc) that the beach is only open to badge holders, but a badge is only $5 a weekday and $7 on weekends.

House of Independents

A newer performance venue in town, House of Independents is next to or right around the corner from most of the eating and drinking establishments we mentioned above. With a variety of acts—ranging from local punk bands to comics to 90s Dance Party nights—House of Independents is a great place theend the night.

Silverball Pinball Museum

silverball pinball, arcade, pinball
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is the gem of Asbury Park in terms of fun things to do. You’ll find pinball games dating back to the mid-1900s through the 2000s (including all-time hits like Indiana Jones, Mars Attacks!, and the Addams Family, plus a slew of other arcade delights (air hockey, foosball, and original arcade games like Galaga, Rampage, and Pong). An hour is $12.50, a 6-hour/Half Day pass will run you $15, and an all-day pass is $25. You’re going to want to get the Half Day pass, because an hour goes by in the blink of an eye in there.

The Stone Pony

the stone pony bar, bar
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The iconic venue of Asbury Park, the Stone Pony has hosted anyone who’s anyone in the music scene. During the summers, they have their outdoor summer stage to host bigger acts while the indoor stage continues the tradition of having bands from all over the world play. Some of the acts you’ll get to see there this summer are Michael Franti, Reel Big Fish, 311, the Gin Blossoms, and more.

(Photos, unless otherwise noted are courtesy of Amy Ellis Photography)

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Do you need a passport to go to Canada?
What to know about traveling to Canada
U.S. passport book

Traveling to Canada from the United States is relatively straightforward, but the documentation required can vary depending on your mode of transportation and citizenship status. While a passport is the most widely accepted form of identification for international travel, alternative options are available for U.S. citizens entering Canada by land or sea.

What you need to know about traveling to Canada
So, what exactly do you need to cross into Canada? It really depends on how you're getting there.
What documents do I need to cross the Canadian border by car?
If you're a U.S. citizen traveling to Canada by land or sea, you have a few options for acceptable documentation:

Read more
Monos vs Away: Which is the better luggage brand?
A view of the Monos Monos Hybrid Carry-on Plus suitcase.

It's time to get new luggage. Maybe you already have a trip planned, or you're getting ready to book a vacation, but in either case, you'll need a travel bag to stow your gear. Two of the hottest, upscale, and modern luggage brands on the market, which you've likely encountered at some point, are Monos and Away. As competitors, a head-to-head of Monos vs Away makes a lot of sense, albeit the comparison is not as simple as you might think. There are a lot of similarities but a lot of differences, too, especially depending on what you're expecting out of these high-end luggage offerings. Let's discuss.
Monos vs Away luggage: Who wins?

If you're not interested in the full comparison and just want to know which brand you should purchase, the answer is Monos. While offering better designs, premium materials, and higher build quality, Monos luggage still manages to be priced more competitively. That said, you can't go wrong with luggage from either brand, so you wouldn't be making a poor choice if you decide to purchase luggage from Away.

Read more
This ultra-luxury, 6-star cruise trip usually costs $102,780 — but it’s 64% off
scenic arctic cruise gilt march 2024 eclipse at sea

If you want the ultimate vacation and at a fantastic discount, Gilt has a spectacular offer on a fantastically luxurious cruise. Right now, you can enjoy travels around the Arctic Circle and Northern Europe for 17 nights for $35,990, for two people (that's $17,995 per person) instead of the usual $102,780 that Gilt says it would cost. That means a huge saving of 64% off the regular price and the chance to enjoy a vacation and cruise of a lifetime. It’s all thanks to Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and we’ve got all you need to know about this phenomenal cruise. There’s just one space left on this highly exclusive cruise.

Why you should travel on the Scenic Cruise
This time around, there’s hardly any need to read up on cruise ship packages and add-ons worth paying extra for as this Scenic Cruise has everything you could need to be included. All you need to do is make sure you have a passport. You get 17 nights on board the Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours ultra-luxury yacht, the Scenic Eclipse. It leaves from Tromso, Norway on June 25, 2024. The small-ship experience has room for just 228 guests so it’s an exclusive trip.

Read more