New Jersey's 31 best dive bars, according to Yelp (2024)

Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media

By Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Some New Jersey folks manage to be fancy all the time, sipping artisan co*cktails, nibbling exquisite sushi and Instagramming the heck out of every moment.

But I think it’s fair to say most of us Garden State bar-goers are much more comfortable in a neighborhood atmosphere: friendly people, cheap drinks, tasty food — a place you can go on your best or worst day.

Every regular imbiber has his or her favorite dive bar to watch the game or get a quick bite, but we wanted to find the consensus best local hangouts around the state. Dutifully, our friends at Yelp have provided THE best 31 dive bars in New Jersey.

Did your favorite dive bar make the list? Tell us in the comments.

Cie Stroud | For NJ.com

31. Joe's Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton

One customer says: "A great punk bar!In a basem*nt, cramped and no stage. Yet somehow the bartender has a huge selection of craft beers.. however I don't know how many punks are trying to drink 5 dollar pints though. Fun place!"

30. Frenchy's Bar and Grill, Roselle Park

One customer says: "Perfect dive bar. Above average food. Cheap beer. A ton of TVs. What more could you ask."

29. South Vineland Tavern, Vineland

One customer says: "This place is a gem during the week, cheap cold beer. The food is off the charts! Everything we have had is delicious. Dive bar esq but everyone is so nice. We frequent here at least once a week."

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28. Woodstown Hotel, Woodstown

One customer says: "This place is a dive, and I wouldn't have it any other way. $2 drafts and $5 shots of Jameson. It's a great place to grab a beer or 12 and play a game of pool. It's an unpretentious, come as you are, bar. The Woodstown Hotel is a real gem."

27. Buffy's Tavern, Kenilworth

One customer says:Mix of a crowd, but a good place to grab a beer and they stay open up until the minute of last call. They have bar shuffleboard which is hard to find and I think they also have a pool table. I'm a fan of the decent prices though.

26. Chester House, Manville

One customer says: "Tommy makes the best burgersin all the land and prices them below what you'd expect for a burger with such explosive flavor. There are a number of very reasonably priced beers on tap and you will never be left waiting for a long time to receive a drink as they are very attentive to all their customers."

25. Alloway Village Inn, Alloway

One customer says: "This is my favorite bar in South Jersey. Total townie vibe, always see someone I recognize from years past here. Food is great, love the u peel shrimp. They actually have a good selection of beer and liquor in package goods considering the location."

24. Highland Tavern, Gloucester City

One customer says: "This really is the Best Kept Secret in Gloucester City. This bar is inside a normal looking house. They took out the living room and installed a nice oval bar. You would never assume that this normal looking home contains a bar as this is a normal looking neighborhood. A must go to for any dive bar aficionado."

John Shabe | NJ Advance Media

23. Dillon's Tavern, West Orange

One customer says: "They haveone of the best Guinness pours I've ever had and their food is spectacular. You'd never expect it but their chicken fingers and steak sandwiches are freshly made to order and delectable."

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22. Duffy's Tavern, Paterson

One customer says: "What a great place to spend St. Patrick's Day. Corned Beef and Cabbage was delicious, the entertainment was great and the value for the portions was awesome! The staff was very friendly and helpful on such a "crazy" evening!"

21. Ducktown Tavern and Liquors, Atlantic City

One customer says: "Delicious feel-good food made with love! Staff is always friendly and eager to accommodate as if you're at home. Big parking lot which makes life easy in a popular Atlantic City area."

20. Dingo's Den, Clifton

One customer says: "Great dive bar with a heavy metal / horror movie theme. Bar pies are good. Friendly staff. Not too crowded. Wish they had more food options on the menu. Burgers maybe? I will definitely be coming back here."

19. Flatbrook Tap House, Branchville

One customer says: "Perfect place to go for picking foods. Got the chicken basket and I gotta say the fried chicken was 10x better than most I've had before. Service was super nice and beer selection was good too. If traveling in the area or visiting one of the many nearby hiking and camping sites I highly suggest stopping by the flat room tap house for a snack and a cold beer!!"

18. Shakey Jake's Cafe, Stanhope

One customer says: "Was skeptical walking in, but pleasantly surprised. The wait staff was right on top of everything and the drinks were perfect. Food was good, would go back again for sure."

17. The Boiler Room, Garfield

One customer says: "Yummy drinks.Free pizza! Great specials. Sunday brunch- free omelette station and $5 mimosas or Bloody Marys. The atmosphere is great... great music selection. I can see us hanging out here more often."

16. Johnnie's Tavern, Boonton

One customer says: "My family has been long time patrons of Jonnie's- my parents MET here some 25 years ago, as well as where 2 of my uncles met their wives. I spent my 21 here, as did all of my cousins before me. It's a familiar place, it treats its regulars and locals well, and the staff is familiar. No frills, no bells, no whistles, just good cheap drinks with friendly faces."

15. Tavern Off The Green, Morristown

One customer says: "This is simply the best local dive bar/pub in Morristown. The owners (Jamie & Michele) are fantastic owners who truly care about their customers and the community."

14. Dock's Corner Tavern, Jamesburg

One customer says: "This place is a total dive bar - an honest to goodness, true "hole in the wall" sort of place, and I love it. If you want a super "modern" bar to drink $12 co*cktails at, look elsewhere."

13. The Royal, Branchburg

One customer says: "The Royal is an instant classic. Come for dirt cheap drinks and fairly priced food. While the atmosphere leaves something to be desired, its inability to try to be something it's not is refreshing."

Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media

12. Riverside Inn Bar, Cranford

One customer says: "Great local dive with deceptively good food - arguably the best burgers in town, and on Thursdays they fire up the smoker for ribs, steaks and more. Bartenders are friendly and attentive."

Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media

11. Pic-A-Lilli Pub, Atlantic City

One customer says: "Great little dive bar located right near the boardwalk. A diamond in the rough if you will. This is an excellent place to have an inexpensive no-frills meal while staying in AC."

10. Al's Airport Inn, Trenton

One customer says: "A great hole in the wall place to grab a drink, some wings, and spend some times with friends. Anthony, the manager, is very friendly and attentive to all the customers. Don't be turned off by the house-like exterior, the parking lot is in the back."

Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media

9. Murphy's Tavern, Rumson

One customer says: " After going to various bars and clubs in the surrounding beach towns,this place felt like home. There's something charming about the intimacy of this basem*nt bar, with black & white tiled floors and barrels as tables."

Jersey Journal file photo

8. DC's Tavern, Hoboken

One customer says: "An awesome little place we found when in New Jersey. I wanted a nice friendly Cheers-style environment that had decently priced drinks. This place did not disappoint. The bartender was friendly and the regulars welcomed us with some great stories and fun times."

Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media

7. Jay's Elbow Room, Maple Shade

One customer says: "What a dive bar - and love it! I am not a person who likes chains, so this place was recommended to me for lunch - and glad I went. Burgers, chicken, and tons of side options but best part a full bar."

6. Tom Fischer's Tavern, Haddon Twp.

One customer says: "It's a locals bar where you can get a $2.50 lager and very reasonably priced food. No frills, no fancy stuff. Bartenders warm up as they get to know you and sometimes memorize your order (no promises). Cash only."

5. The Ale 'N 'Wich Pub, New Brunswick

One customer says: "This is great bar with a great atmosphere, they have games to play inside and hangout as well as a patio out back, the staff is very helpful and friendly and even helped us out when we were stolen from!"

4. Golden Cicada Tavern, Jersey City

One customer says: "Had a ton of fun at this place. You can't really see the inside since the windows are covered up, I honestly thought it was closed the first year I lived in JC. I decided to come here with the bf one night. It was much more lax than I expected. Really thought it was going to be more dirty and grimy, but it wasn't. It felt like I was in a friend's living room, not so much an actual bar."

Amanda Marzullo | NJ Advance Media

3. Krug's Tavern, Newark

One customer says: "The burgers live up to the hype! My friends and I frequent this place when we want huuuuuge burgers and a drink on the side lol. Like mentioned, the burgers are HUGE and it comes with a whole pickle and other condiments which is great."

2. Bond Street Bar and Grill, Asbury Park

One customer says: "You gotta love this place. Dive bar atmosphere with the best bar food around. Last summer I took my Brooklyn family there to eat and the 6 of us got away with a $60.00 food bill, and we were all stuffed."

1. The Straphanger, Hackensack

One customer says: "Hands down, the best neighborhood bar for miles. The place is very divey with big wrap-around bar, games, jukebox, pool table, darts... pretty much everything you could ask for at a pub."

Yelp's methodology: an algorithm that looks at the number of reviews and star rating for a business. Note: A maximum of two businesses per county were included, to ensure a solid statewide list.

Bobby Olivier may be reached atbolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@BobbyOlivierandFacebook. FindNJ.com on Facebook.