The Best 18 Rooftop Bars in New Jersey (2022 Guide) (2024)

Everyone loves a good rooftop bar, especially when it has an exceptional dining experience to go along with it. Let me share a little secret with you, you don’t need to travel to New York City to enjoy a rooftop view if you’re from the Garden State. That’s right. Some of the most delicious restaurants with even better co*cktails are actually home to the best rooftop bars in New Jersey. The best part? Collectively, they offer both city and beach views just minutes from home.

Thanks to New Jersey’s creative restaurateurs, outdoor dining—rooftop bars specifically—are here to stay. For 2022, we’ve put together our ultimate list of rooftop bars in New Jersey to eat and drink at. Whether you’re up in Hudson County or down the Jersey Shore, you simply can’t go wrong. Just remember if you make a reservation, don’t forget to cancel if you can’t make it. The following list is not organized in any particular order.

1. Concourse Club, Wood-Ridge

Located at Element New York by Westin, the Concourse Club is one of the best things to happen to Route 17 since The Sopranos. This rooftop bar and restaurant located on the hotel’s top floor has all the makings of a VIP experience that feels reminiscent of an NYC venue— one that’s upscale but doesn’t take itself too seriously. Craft co*cktails and sleek, retro decor help make this swanky lounge the object of your next weekend adventure. Guests must be 21 or older (see the venue’s dress code for more information).

2. Salvation Rooftop at The Asbury Hotel, Asbury Park

If you’re looking for a boujee beach vibe, this is your spot. Day drinking or co*cktails and wine at sunset, Salvation has it covered. Ever try a Lavender Lemonade? It’s vodka and housemade lavender lemonade. How about the Asbury Painkiller? It’s spiced rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream and nutmeg. They recently partnered with Avec Drinks to offer a selection of craft mixers as well. Reservations can be made on Resy, summer 2022 is looking up.

3. Porta, Jersey City

Pizza and drinks on a rooftop? SOLD. Porta is recognized as one of the best late-night spots in the country so make sure to add this to your list of go-to’s if you haven’t already been. From their rooftop to their menu, Porta is a spot thats equal parts fun, casual, and refined. Order a couple of Neapolitan pies then wash it down with some beer, wine or pick from their signature co*cktails list.

4. Rooftop at Exchange Place, Jersey City

Lunch, dinner, happy hour or brunch, you’re getting Hudson River views the whole time! The Rooftop at Exchange Place offers frozen co*cktails like frosé and trendy co*cktails such as the Garden State (Hendrick’s Gin, fresh cucumber, elderflower liquor and fresh lime juice). And don’t forget to check out Under the Boardwalk (Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, and fresh lime juice). A food menu is also available offering a limited menu of apps such as boardwalk fries and wings.

5. NoHu Rooftop Bar & Restaurant at EnVue Hotel, Weehawken

Of all the rooftop bars in New Jersey, this one has quickly become a Garden State favorite. You’ll feel like you’re in a movie as you sip on a co*cktail while enjoying the breathtaking views of NYC when you’re at NoHu Rooftop. Choose from classics like a Cosmopolitan or Old Fashioned, or just get the bottle of your favorite classy wine. Upcoming birthday or occasion? Firepits, premium waterfront tables and bottle service are currently available; contact the restaurant for more details.

6. Red Rock Tap & Grill, Red Bank

The Red Rock Tap and Grill is the perfect place to relax after a long day at work! This spot has plenty of outdoor seating and even has live music sometimes. Indulge in their specialty drinks like a Red Rock Frosè, The Crush (which is their take on an Orange Crush), Jalapeno Pineapple Margarita, plus more! While sipping on your drink, snack on their “eggroll of the day,” short rib tacos, duck confit tater tots and other delicious items.

7. City Bistro, Hoboken

Located in Uptown Hoboken, City Bistro is a three-floor restaurant, bar and lounge that offers a rooftop as well. Their rooftop food menu includes crostinis, pizzas and a huge selection of appetizers to choose from. They also have a wide selection of wines, signature and craft co*cktails. Looking to brunch with a view? This your place!

8. Town Bar + Kitchen, Morristown

Town Bar + Kitchen is another great place if you want a delicious dinner or brunch with perfectly crafted drinks—not to mention the great outdoor aesthetic as well! Pair your beer, mojito or wine with comfort food like arancini, Cacio e Pepe Fiocchi pasta, Town Southern Chicken sandwich and more! Another great aspect of the rooftop is that they have an operating fireplace up there, so keep this in mind when the temperatures start dropping!

9. Skinner’s Loft, Jersey City

This isn’t just your “drinks on a rooftop” kind of place. Currently, reservations for Skinner’s Loft rooftop patio are available for dining only. Therefore, you can have a full dining experience with great ambiance and great food. This American bistro offers everything from buffalo chicken spring rolls to a grilled New York strip. Cool down from your hot meal with a frozen cantaloupe margarita. If you recently moved to Jersey City or plan to, make sure to check out this neighborhood spot since it’s been a staple for many years.

10. Paulie’s Brickhouse, Jersey City

Picture this— a sport’s bar and grill that serves delicious brick-oven pizza and provides NYC skyline views. That’s Paulie’s. In addition to their pizza, they offer typical bar food favorites and Italian classics such as eggplant, chicken parm and meatball sandwiches. Choose from their wide selection of beers on tap, regular and frozen co*cktails. When the night winds down and you’re craving some dessert, try their Sicilian Gelato Panini which is a pressed brioche roll filled with gelato ice cream, or cool down with their Saucey Scoops where you can choose from alcohol-infused Italian ice or alcohol-infused ice cream! Please note that rooftop access is available only through reservations; please call the restaurant to secure a spot.

11. Watermark, Asbury Park

Watermark is one of the most perfect rooftop bars in New Jersey to visit after being at the beach all day. Here, the staff aims to provide the perfect dining ambiance and experience with every detail from the decor to the drinks. They have everything from martinis to boozy iced teas to their own co*cktail concoctions. Many of their specialty co*cktails are made with spirits that are infused in-house and all juices are freshly squeezed. For the 2021 season, they will be reopening MDW.

12. Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille, Cape May

An oceanfront rooftop sounds like music to ears, especially during the summertime. Not to mention drinks that’ll leave you cooled down and refreshed after a sweltering day. The menu here offers a huge selection of different “crush” flavors like the original orange crush, grapefruit crush, key lime crush and even a CBD crush. They also offer some varieties of margaritas and alcoholic lemonades plus beer and wine.

13. The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Asbury Park

It’s like Oktoberfest, but on a roof. What a dream. This spot is everything you could want when picturing the perfect day. Beers, spirits and you can’t forget the German food of wiener schnitzel, beef goulash, bratwurst and of course many, many pretzels. The best part? It’s one of the few rooftop bars in New Jersey to be just a few blocks walk from the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

14. The Bradford at AC Hotel, Bridgewater

In March 2021, Marriott’s AC Hotel Bridgewater welcomed The Bradford—a sleek rooftop oasis. The seventh-floor venue gives off nightclub vibes with modern decor and boasts both an indoor and outdoor dining experience. On the menu are craft co*cktails, the likes of a PB&J Old Fashioned and Frozen Miami Vice. In terms of eats, think sharable small plates. Whipped ricotta with grilled pita, fried calamari, scallop crudo, homemade doughnuts and more.

15. Iron Monkey, Jersey City

Beer lovers, you have to come here because they have over 40 craft beers on tap! If you’re not a huge beer fan, then there’s also a wide selection of co*cktails to choose from as well at the Iron Monkey. There’s their Signature Monkey-Tails co*cktail creations such as the Organtutangy Daiquiri (rum, triple sec, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice and sprite); Frozen Monkey-Tails co*cktails such as the Beach Bummin Bonobo (a tropical mix of rum, crushed pineapple, cranberry juice, blue curacao, sprite and topped with a cherry); and of course, Monkey Sangria. This is not your daddy’s dive bar.

16. Alto Rooftop at The MC Hotel, Montclair

As Montclair’s only rooftop, this is the perfect location to appreciate NYC’s skyline. Located at The MC Hotel, which opened in 2019, Alto Rooftop has a sleek and sexy vibe that is perfect for a date night or a G.N.O. Sip on a refreshing rosé, red or white wine or enjoy one of their classic co*cktails like a Paloma or Moscow Mule. Their house co*cktails are pretty intriguing and include the Grisly Pear (Beefeater Gin, Pear Williams, lemon, Cocchi Americano and eucalyptus); the Good Fellow (Misunderstood Whiskey, lemon, orange and Amaro CioCiaro) plus others. Another cool thing is that if you’re hungry, you can mobile order BareBurger and they will deliver it to the rooftop.

17. The VÜE Bar & Lounge, Atlantic City

Located atop The Claridge hotel in Atlantic City, this rooftop offers one of the best (and highest) 360-degree outdoor experiences. More than 23 floors above the beach, The VÜE Bar & Lounge is the the town’s only rooftop which serves up handcrafted co*cktails and featuring free parking wit a minimum spend of $75.

18. Little Tijuana, Newark

A margarita bar and plenty of tacos are waiting for you at Little Tijuana in Newark. This restaurant once brought on James Beard nominee Chef David Viana to curate the menu, who has helmed up gems like Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge, New Jersey. Here, the rooftop is retractable and there’s Mexican-themed artwork aplenty. Your IG feed will thank you later. There’s also a grass-covered patio for additional outdoor seating.