Spend enough time exploring New Jersey and you’ll quickly realize: the Garden State doesn’t get nearly enough credit for its charming downtowns. From vibrant restaurant scenes to picturesque main streets to pockets of rich colonial history, each offers locals and visitors a character and experience all its own.
Some are renowned. Downtown Princeton sits alongside a world-famous university. Downtown Montclair has long been celebrated as a hub for arts and culture, and Hoboken draws visitors with its lively waterfront and bustling nightlife. But beyond the well-known destinations are dozens of under-the-radar downtowns just waiting to be discovered.
Today we’ll be taking a look at five of New Jersey’s hidden gem downtowns.
Hillsdale
A stroll through downtown Hillsdale is best started at Veterans Park, the town’s charming village green, where benches, picnic tables, landscaped gardens, and a gazebo invite visitors to relax and linger awhile. Across the street on Broadway, locally owned shops, restaurants, and service businesses enhance the community’s small-town feel. Historic, architecturally significant buildings are scattered throughout the downtown, including Hillsdale’s distinctive train station building, where commuters can catch the train to Manhattan. Pop inside some of the many shops and you’ll find everything from specialty coffee to retro video games.
Did you know? The Piermont, a brand-new luxury rental community in Hillsdale, has recently introduced 256 beautifully designed apartments to the borough, complete with resort-style amenities and a brand-new community center. It’s the easiest it has ever been for renters to live near downtown Hillsdale. The building’s owner is offering up to two months of free rent as an incentive for a limited time.
Boonton
Boonton quietly has one of the coolest main streets in the state. It spans three quarters of a mile, climbing from its base near Route 287 to picturesque Grace Lord Park, uphill all the way. Independent businesses, restaurants, and coffee shops line Main Street, as well as unique buildings such as the Boonton Opera House, an architectural glimpse into the town’s 19th century heritage. There’s also the Darress Theater, a now vacant Vaudeville-era theater that the town owns and plans to rehabilitate into an active performing arts center.
Did you know? The Morris Canal winds through the heart of Boonton. Once an important part of the town’s economy, the canal is now a destination for outdoor recreation. A popular walking tour along the canal’s greenway starts from Boonton.
Union Township
Perhaps the most underrated destination in Union County, downtown Union Township, better known as “Union Center”, combines a historic character with the energy of a college town. It’s a hub for ethnic cuisine. Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Colombian, Portuguese, and Filipino dining options line Stuyvesant Avenue and Morris Avenue. Small businesses like Van Gogh’s Ear Café, a relaxed, artsy café serving lunch, dinner, coffee and dessert, are refreshingly unique. Brand-new apartment communities like CENTURION Union Center have helped spark further retail growth along Stuyvesant Avenue.
Did you know? Union Township has a rich history that dates back to 1667. It is home to a number of historic sites related to the Revolutionary War, such as the Liberty Hall Museum, Caldwell Parsonage, and Connecticut Farms Church.
South Amboy
Equal parts charming and energetic, downtown South Amboy continues to thrive as new residents flock to the city’s revitalized waterfront, helping spark renewed excitement around local businesses, dining, and culture throughout the downtown district. To the south is Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, offering 114 acres of open space, beaches, trails, athletic fields, gazebos, and a landmark pavilion, as well as a seasonal lineup of free concerts and community events. Complementing the city’s ongoing evolution is an elite collection of new residential developments – including Station Bay and The Pearl at Station Bay – upscale rental communities that further connect the growing waterfront with NJ Transit rail service and the vibrant energy of downtown South Amboy.
Did you know? South Amboy is the newest city in New Jersey to offer commuter ferry service to Manhattan. Commuters can ride to Pier 11/Wall Street, Brookfield Place, and Midtown/W. 39th Street in about 50, 60 and 70 minutes, respectively. There is a free public parking lot next to the terminal.
Bordentown
For a city with great restaurants and a historic character, Bordentown doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Day trippers can come for lunch at a sidewalk café, window shop the stores on Farnsworth Avenue, enjoy a craft beer at one of the city’s microbreweries, and gaze across the Delaware River from Bordentown Beach. Feel like stepping back in time? There’s an old bookstore, record shop and vintage clothing boutique for fans of classic entertainment and fashion.
Did you know? Bordentown has an active festival schedule. The Bordentown Annual Street Fair, the Iris Festival & Art Show, and the annual Cranberry Festival attract visitors from early May through October. The annual Peach Social celebrates a favorite local summer fruit and the Bordentown Historical Society’s Historic House Tours and History in Bloom Garden Tours showcase some of the city’s beautiful homes.
