Realizing of course that selecting "The Best" can be subjective, as patrons have they likes and dislikes about what they are attracted to.
When it comes to rating New Jersey bars and pubs, there are several key criteria to consider. These factors can greatly influence the overall experience and enjoyment of patrons.
A great bar should offer a wide selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, ensuring that there is something for everyone's taste.
Another important aspect to consider is the atmosphere of the bar. A great bar should have a welcoming and comfortable ambiance, allowing patrons to relax and enjoy their time.
Friendly and attentive staff can greatly enhance the overall experience. Prompt service, knowledgeable bartenders, and a willingness to accommodate special requests are all signs of excellent service.
The Brown Room
The Congress Hall Hotel
251 Beach Ave
Cape May, NJ
Website
Located in The Congress Hall Hotel, known as the area's first legal post-Prohibition cocktail bar. It features decor done-up with beautiful artwork, custom wallpaper, an iconic fireplace, and a grand circular bar serving a good variety of specialty cocktails, beers, wines, and spirits.
A top spot for an evening of drinks, conversation, and entertainment by one of the solo performers singing and playing either piano or acoustic guitar
Chickie's and Pete's
25 Route 73
Marlton, NJ
Website
A popular sports bar with 64 large-screen TVs (60-inches is the smallest) and two cinema-sized TVs, two bars, and great atmosphere.
They have a large variety of 40-plus beers on tap. A south Jersey favorite sports bar known for energetic vibe and their Crabfries and large seafood selections.
Good Night Irene's Brew Pub
2708 Pacific Avenue
Wildwood, NJ
Website
Open year round, they have the largest selection
of craft beers in the Wildwood/Cape May area with 46 beers on tap.
They also serve specialty cocktails and wine. It's a casual bar & grill also serving an extensive food menu including bar bites, wings, fries, appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, shrimp, & wood fired pizza. Has large screen TV's with sports and live music every weekend. During the summer the outdoor bar is open.
The Irish Pub
164 St. James Place at The Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
The Irish Pub is one of the best bar's in Atlantic City. The Pub is 35 years old with dark paneled walls. It's Irish in atmosphere with the smell of a European pub. This is one place in Atlantic City where you'll never lose your shirt, the prices are excellent, you can look all day --- or night --- and you will not find better prices.
They serve a large selection of beers including Harp, Bass, Killian's, Murphy's and Yuengling on draft, along with great lunch and dinner specials. A real AC plus is free parking next door to the pub!
Iron Hill Brewery
124 East Kings Highway (route 41)
Maple Shade, NJ
Website
Serves over 40 beers on tap, canned, and bottled including ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts, porters, along with their own brews, and specialty cocktails, wines, and whiskies.
While the food is good, the reason you come here is for their beers, some of which are Iron Hill brewed beers including Stouts, IPAs, Rye Ales, and Belgian Style Sour Ales, and offer them on a seasonal basis.
Kix McNutley's
63rd and Landis Avenue
Sea Isle City, NJ
Website
Kix McNutley's is a complex of 6 different bars including; The Sidekix Lounge, Kix nightclub, Kix Outside Patio Bar, Kit Kat Club, Kixstand Bar and the Kix Grill. This is the most popular bar on the jersey shore, south of Atlantic City.
Open year round, it features top bands performing on the main stage atop the huge dance floor. With large screen TV's for sports events, a great selection of domestic & imported beers, speciality cocktails, and wines, a huge dance floor, live music and an energetic crowd, there is an activity for everyone.
The crowd tends to be more mature than your typical Jersey shore bar, with mostly aged 30 plus patrons.
MudHen Brewing Co
127 W. Rio Grande Ave
Wildwood, NJ
Website
Open year round, the 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor seating, has 4 full bars, spread over the main dining room, garage, cozy upstairs bar/rec room, biergarten, and outdoor patio.
At the main bar, patrons can get a glimpse into the 127-barrel brewery where the home brewed craft beers are created.
During the warmer months, the festive atmosphere heats up with the opening of outdoor seating with a bar, a cool firepit, and cornhole games. Pups are welcome on the patio.
Prospector's Steakhouse and Saloon
3050 Rt 38
Mount Laurel, NJ
Website
A country restaurant and bar that features live entertainment every Friday nite, country dance lessons Wednesday and Thursday nights, family friendly country fun for all ages dance lessons on Sugarfootin' Sundays twice a month.
They have large screen TV's for sports events and serves a good selection of craft beers.
It's a Country & Western Bar that attracts top performers. In 2019, Garth Brooks performed in his 'Dive Bar Tour' at Prospectors Steakhouse & Saloon.
The VuE Rooftop Bar & Lounge at the Claridge
123 S Indiana Ave
Rooftop, 23rd Floor
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
With spectacular 360 views of Atlantic City and the ocean, this is a great spot in AC if you want something not glitzy and overdone. It's an ideal romantic place to have a cocktail before or after dinner. The bartenders are friendly and creative, and the drinks are reasonably priced. The ambiance is Jersey shore upscale.
They have an excellent happy hour, get there at sunset for an added touch of ambiance. The VUE has an indoor seating area, and two large decks, with tables, cabanas, and fire pits. There is a wrap around deck that allows you to walk around with your drink while admiring the view. They play modern loud music in a hip setting.
A great spot to view the fireworks going off at the Tropicana.
Wet Willie's
Two Atlantic City Locations:
* Resorts Casino
1133 Boardwalk
* The Quarter at Tropicana
2801 Pacific Ave
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
This chain bar is known for its rainbow colored frozen drinks. Their fun, upbeat, friendly atmosphere offers frosty daiquiri lovers a unique bar experience. Billed as the "world's greatest frozen daquiris," they offer 15 exotic flavors of colorful, frosty daiquiris where patrons can walk up to the daiquiri machines to make their own unique blend. They also offer a decent selection of "munchies" to complete the experience. The cocktails are not the only thing that makes this bar stand out; the whole place is amazingly fun .
Whistler's Inn
901 Rt 130 S
Cinnaminson, NJ
Website
A very popular, unpretentious, neighborhood bar with a "Cheers" ambiance with large screen TV's, a good selection of beers., and great Buffalo wings and smoke house BBQ food.
A great place for watching Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies games live , and for dance parties, and Djs.
The have a deck that is open all year round, with large glass garage styled doors that open up in the warmer months.The Deck's bar is fully stocked with over 20 draft beers, that are switched seasonally, and many beverage options.