N.J.’s best rooftop bars pair high-quality co*cktails with unbeatable backdrops (2024)

Stand upon the crests of buildings, surrounded by the luxurious feel of being at the top, and clink your drink with a friend for the ultimate “cheers” to summer. High enough to reach the clouds — or stars depending on the time of day — and with warmer weather upon us, rooftop bars are once again becoming a staple of summertime entertainment. Following are a few of our favorites around New Jersey.

Alto, 690 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair

Alto is Montclair’s only rooftop bar, which makes it a popular spot for residents and visitors alike. The chic bar has 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space and is open year-round, with multiple heat lamps to alleviate the springtime chill that somehow always seems to linger throughout March.

“We really pride ourselves on our commitment to partnering with local vendors and farms,” said Julian Payne, general manager, the MC Hotel (Alto Rooftop). “We’re all about staying true to the community and the state, overall, while delivering a top-notch experience for guests.”

Executive Chef Joe Tartamella and his team redesigned the food menu consisting of hot bites, cold bites and sweets; and, as part of its commitment to providing the freshest seasonal flavors and local ingredients for culinary delicacies and co*cktails, there’s also a rooftop garden, aptly named Jersey Roots.

“The vegetables and herbs cultivated from the roof space are featured in multiple dishes and also serve as complementary ingredients and garnishes for their craft co*cktails,” Payne said. Chef Tartamella has also partnered with an Essex County small business, Bee Haven Bees, to create dedicated beehives for the MC Hotel, which are also used to harvest the honey for food and drink.

The Bradford, 600 Somerset Corporate Blvd., 7th floor, Bridgewater Township

We know, we know: You’re not sure what to expect from a rooftop bar in the middle of Central Jersey. But put your doubts aside because as soon as you enter the top floor of the AC Hotel, you’ll feel instantly transported to a New York City-style bar (with a slightly more suburban clientele). The Bradford is an upscale indoor/outdoor bar serving small plates in a cool and fun setting. A vibrant spot in Bridgewater, the bar’s décor and views will prompt hundreds of Instagrammable shots.

On a given Thursday night, you can expect things to be pretty happening with the DJ spinning throwbacks from the late ’90s and early 2000s, and it might drum up the best memories from your club days.

Instead of individual dishes or a menu separated by appetizers versus entrees, The Bradford offers shareable plates for the whole table to enjoy. Brunch fare includes everything from shrimp co*cktail and eggs benedict to brioche French toast and BEC (bacon, egg and cheese) burgers. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday in Somerset County, if you ask us.

Concourse Club, 379 NJ-17 South, Wood-Ridge

Inspired by the glamour of private jet travel, the Concourse Club is a rooftop restaurant and lounge that has all the makings of a VIP experience. Located on the seventh floor of the Element New York Wood-Ridge hotel, you’ll get an unrivaled view of the NYC skyline.

Concourse Club’s rooftop co*cktail bar boasts a spacious, heated rooftop with elegant design, perfect for enjoying a night out. The food and co*cktail menu is equally matched in sophistication and taste. Bites include shareable plates such as the lobster bao bun, hand-pulled chicken arepas, Cuban egg rolls and prime NY strip steak. (If your mouth is watering at the thought of these dishes, it’s no surprise; Executive Chef Peter Martinez was a “Chopped” finalist on Food Network as well as a season 19 member of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” and he has brought his knowledge and a passion for food to Concourse Club.)

NoHu , 550 Ave. at Port Imperial, Weehawken

No matter where you are in Weehawken, you’re bound to have a nice view, mostly because the vertical-stretching township is located largely on the Hudson Palisades, which overlooks the Hudson River. But being ground level is one thing — being 20 stories high is another.

NoHu Rooftop Bar & Restaurant is a great place to go for a romantic dinner with breathtaking sights of Manhattan. A 7 p.m. reservation on a Friday evening is a particularly magical experience to eat and watch the reflection of the sunset off the New York skyline. Bring someone special to celebrate a birthday milestone or anniversary.

And even though you’re in Bergen County, you can scratch that itch for a Southern comfort food craving. Chef Jose Emmanuelli and his team continue NoHu’s tradition, delivering a menu that fills stomachs and hearts with items like classic warm buttermilk biscuits, blackened gulf shrimp and grilled bourbon butter steak.

VÜE, 123 South Indiana Ave., Atlantic City

If you’re really looking to “DO AC,” then you simply must check off the South Jersey trifecta: beach, boardwalk and bars. And what’s better than hitting a bar that gives you a bird’s-eye view of the beach and boardwalk below? Perched on the 23rd floor of the Claridge Hotel is the VÜE, Atlantic City’s only rooftop bar and lounge.

After a lucky night at one of the neighboring casinos, you’ll find a sizable crowd at the VÜE for lunch and happy hour; the menu comprised of plenty of shareables, like cheesesteak spring rolls and buffalo chicken pizza. In 2019, the VÜE was crowned a top place champion in the Atlantic City Wing Wars, so its award-winning wings — smothered in your choice of honey siracha, buffalo or honey BBQ sauce — is worth the splurge.

The bar strikes the balance of being busy enough for a fun and lively energy while also quiet enough to engage in conversation with the person next to you. While a few signature co*cktails nod their heads to the history of America’s Playground, like Nucky’s Tea and Atlantic City Fifty-Four, you can grab a seat by the firepit (when it’s not too windy) and cozy up to gaze at the sunset and beachgoers. Sit back, relax and enjoy the VÜE.

Watermark, 800 Ocean Ave., Second Floor, Asbury Park

Situated right upon the Atlantic Ocean and across the street from the landmark Stone Pony Summer Stage, Watermark trades in the urban metropolitan scene for a spectacular view overlooking the beach and boardwalk.

This Asbury Park rooftop bar has been in business for nearly 14 years and relies on word of mouth. “Those in the know, know that we’re actually a fairly well-kept secret — and we like it that way,” said Russell Lewis, co-founder and owner.

Watermark hosts several occasions, from after-proposal parties to mid-sized corporate events, but, arguably, the most special times are those when the weather is perfect and you want to be near the beach watching the sunset with a freshly made co*cktail in hand.

There are multiple sofas and comfortable places to hang out for a relaxed vibe, as well as table benches, so that even if you come with someone, you get to eat with others you don’t even know and, by the time you leave, you’ve made new friends.