About Asbury

The seaside community of Asbury Park is located on New Jersey’s central coast. Begun in 1870 as a residential resort by New York industrialist and real estate developer James A. Bradley, the city was named for Francis Asbury, the first American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.

The city remained one of the most popular resorts in the United States until experiencing a significant decline which began in the 1970s. Since the 1990s, a large gay community has emerged in the city transforming neglected or abandoned properties into beautifully restored homes, eclectic shops, art galleries, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Additionally, the Boardwalk has undergone an extensive restoration process and now offers the original majesty and glory of its past with modern design and sophisticated conveniences.

Asbury Park was ranked the fifth best beach in New Jersey in the 2009 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. The city offers pristine, sandy beaches, beautiful public parks, and three shimmering lakes.

The city also boasts a rich inventory of architecture, including Queen Anne Victorian, Gothic, Federal Revival, and Moderne structures. The city's most enduring Beaux Arts buildings, the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall complex and the Casino Arena and Carousel House, are located on the boardwalk.

Places to Stay

★ Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel 1401 Ocean Ave 732.776.6700 berkeleyhotelnj.com
★ Empress Hotel 101 Asbury Ave 732.774.0100 asburyempress.com
★ Hotel Tides 408 Seventh Ave hoteltides.com
★ Mikell’s Big House 405 Fourth Ave 732.869.0988 mikellsbighouse.com
★ Sixth Avenue House 305 Sixth Ave 732.361.6609 sixthavenuehouse.com

Arts & Entertainment

The city is widely known for its rich musical history. In 1974, the now legendary music club, The Stone Pony, opened its doors for the first time. The Stone Pony hosted many native New Jersey musicians including Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. Today, venues like The Stone Pony, The Wonder Bar, Asbury Lanes, The Saint, and the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall continue the tradition of offering original, live music to the Jersey Shore.

Two recent additions to Asbury Park’s entertainment lineup are The Showroom, our indie movie theater and ReVision Theater which produces professional productions of popular Broadway musicals like Hair and Full Monty, as well as world premieres like Kingdom.

Nightlife in Asbury Park

★The Beach Bar, 1300 Ocean Avenue
★Watermark, 800 Ocean Avenue
★Paradise , 101 Asbury Avenue at the corner of Ocean Avenue
★Georgies Bar, 810 Fifth Avenue
★Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, 1200 Ocean Avenue
★Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Avenue

Places to Eat

Asbury Park's rich immigrant experience is reflected in its culinary offerings, from soul food to traditional Italian, Portuguese, new American, Spanish, Asian, seafood, and the all-time favorite, diner fare. Many can be found in noteworthy buildings which have been renovated to preserve as much authenticity as possible.

The Adriatic 1409 Kingsley St 732.774.7834
America’s Cup Coffee Company 633 Cookman Ave 732.988.2000
Aunt Bea’s Market 620 Mattison Ave 732.481.5960

The Baker Boys 1300 Ocean Ave @ Convention Hall 732.775.0052 thebakerboys.us
Belmonte’s Ristorante 632 Cookman Ave 732.776.7500 belmonteristorante.com
Biggie’s Clam Bar 1300 Ocean Ave @ Convention Hall 732.775.3522 biggiesclambar.com
Bistro Olé 230 Main Street 732.897.0048 bistroole.com
Brickwall Tavern & Dining Room 522 Cookman Ave 732.774.1264 brickwalltavern.com

Carmine’s Restaurant 162 Main Street 732.774.2222 carminesnj.com
Caroline O’Toole’s Irish Pub 1300 Ocean Ave @ Convention Hall 732.775.3381
Crust and Crumble 658 Cookman Ave @ Shoppes at the Arcade 732.776.7767 crustandcrumble.com
Eddie Confetti Ice Cream & Café 800 Ocean Ave @ 1st Ave Pavilion, 1200 Ocean Avenue @ 5th Ave Pavilion 732.455.3199
Frank’s Deli & Restaurant 1406 Main Street 732.775.6682

The Harrison 716 Cookman Ave 732.774.2200 harrisonap.com
Il Pavone Gelateria and Caffe 539 Cookman Ave 732.455.3373 ilpavonegelato.com
Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant 1405 Asbury Ave 732.774.5051 jimmysitalianrestaurant.com
Ketchup Grill 101 Asbury Ave @ the Empress Hotel 732.988.6663
La Plaza Cubana Boardwalk @ 4th Ave

Laila’s 806 Fifth Ave @ Memorial Drive 732.988.8806
Langosta Lounge 1000 Ocean Ave @ 3rd Ave Pavilion 732.455.3275 langostalounge.com
Market in the Middle 516 Cookman Ave 732.776.8886 themarketinthemiddle.com
Mattison Park Martini Lounge & Restaurant 649 Mattison Ave 732.807.3435 mattisonpark.com
Moonstruck 517 Lake Ave 732.988.0123 moonstrucknj.com

Munch 632 Cookman Ave 732.775.0444 munchasbury.com
Old Man Rafferty’s 541 Cookman Ave 732.774.1600 oldmanraffertys.com
Pop’s Garage Taco Bar 1000 Ocean Ave @ 3rd Ave Pavilion 732.455.3275
Posillippo Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge 715 Second Ave 732.774.5819 posillipporestaurant.com
Pucker 4th Ave on Boardwalk 732.670.6590

Restaurant Plan B 705 Cookman Ave 732.807.4710 restaurantplanb.com
Salt Water Beach Café 1200 Ocean Ave @ 5th Ave Pavilion 732.774.1400 saltwaterbeachcafenj.com
Snack Attack 1300 Ocean Ave @ Convention Hall 908.220.0375
Stella Marina 800 Ocean Ave @ 1st Ave Pavilion 732.775.7776 stellamarinarestaurant.com
Sunset Landing 1215 Sunset Ave 732.776.9732 sunsetlandingap.com

Synaxis at the Shore 660 Cookman Ave 732.897.9700 synaxisattheshore.com
Taka 632 Mattison Ave 732.775.1020 takaapnj.com
Tim McLoone’s Supper Club 1200 Ocean Ave @ 5th Ave Pavilion 732.774.1400 timmcloonessupperclub.com
Twisted Tree Café 609 Cookman Ave 732.775.2633 twistedtreecafe