Local's Guide to the Barrier Island

Rory
Local's Guide to the Barrier Island

Food scene

Ride up on boat for breakfast with a view. Restaurant is walkable, bicycle rideable and a quick boat ride away. BYOB
10 locals recommend
Channel Marker Cafe
3245 NJ-35
10 locals recommend
Ride up on boat for breakfast with a view. Restaurant is walkable, bicycle rideable and a quick boat ride away. BYOB
Great Sushi and outdoor seating. BYOB. This restaurant is walkable from the house.
8 locals recommend
Blue sushi
3581 NJ-35
8 locals recommend
Great Sushi and outdoor seating. BYOB. This restaurant is walkable from the house.
Delicious fresh seafood, steaks and chicken dishes. Very creative menu. Indoor and outdoor dining. BYOB
18 locals recommend
Ohana Grill
65 Grand Central Ave
18 locals recommend
Delicious fresh seafood, steaks and chicken dishes. Very creative menu. Indoor and outdoor dining. BYOB
Excellent food and coffee with the friendliest staff around! Outdoor seating and they often have live music!
23 locals recommend
Lava Java House
500 Grand Central Ave
23 locals recommend
Excellent food and coffee with the friendliest staff around! Outdoor seating and they often have live music!
Very friendly staff and homemade ice cream!
Summer Sweets
3071 NJ-35
Very friendly staff and homemade ice cream!
Great guacamole and you can place phone order for pick up
8 locals recommend
Gringo's Taco Shack
3257 NJ-35
8 locals recommend
Great guacamole and you can place phone order for pick up
Great restaurant for a special occasion. Unbelievable view for cocktails.
44 locals recommend
Charlies of Bay Head
72 Bridge Ave
44 locals recommend
Great restaurant for a special occasion. Unbelievable view for cocktails.
Fruit and vegetables, gourmet cheese and baked goods. Famous for their cheesecakes! Breakfast and lunch outdoors under tent.
Charlie's Cafe
491 NJ-35
Fruit and vegetables, gourmet cheese and baked goods. Famous for their cheesecakes! Breakfast and lunch outdoors under tent.
A nice mile walk from our house and you can treat yourself to Tate’s cookies, fresh fruit, calandras bread and flowers.
Big Ed's Produce
103 Grand Central Ave
A nice mile walk from our house and you can treat yourself to Tate’s cookies, fresh fruit, calandras bread and flowers.
Use open table for a reservation. Great place to try in the off season, interior is cozy and food is exceptionally good. Patio dining in summer.
20 locals recommend
Theresa's South
530 Main Ave
20 locals recommend
Use open table for a reservation. Great place to try in the off season, interior is cozy and food is exceptionally good. Patio dining in summer.
Family run business with the best steaks, gourmet salads, fresh breads, baked goods, pastas, and much more. Walkable and rideable from the house.
11 locals recommend
Lasolas Market
3591 NJ-35
11 locals recommend
Family run business with the best steaks, gourmet salads, fresh breads, baked goods, pastas, and much more. Walkable and rideable from the house.
Brand new in 2020. Make your own ice cream flavors and burgers will be coming soon. Outdoor seating.
Barrier Island Burgers
3564 NJ-35
Brand new in 2020. Make your own ice cream flavors and burgers will be coming soon. Outdoor seating.
Bar and restaurant that has live bands most weekends in the summer. Burgers, salads and chicken entrees. Good for a group and to have a decent cocktail! Indoor and Outdoor dining.
13 locals recommend
Used To Be's Restaurant
287 NJ-35
13 locals recommend
Bar and restaurant that has live bands most weekends in the summer. Burgers, salads and chicken entrees. Good for a group and to have a decent cocktail! Indoor and Outdoor dining.
2 floor restaurant with an indoor bar and an outdoor sidewalk bar. Call ahead for a reservation as this place is VERY popular for singles, couples and groups.
41 locals recommend
Crabs Claw Inn
601 Grand Central Ave
41 locals recommend
2 floor restaurant with an indoor bar and an outdoor sidewalk bar. Call ahead for a reservation as this place is VERY popular for singles, couples and groups.
Fresh and delicious bowls. Very casual with outdoor seating. Playa bowls is a bar a night during the resort season.
31 locals recommend
Playa Bowls
1999 Promenade
31 locals recommend
Fresh and delicious bowls. Very casual with outdoor seating. Playa bowls is a bar a night during the resort season.
Super fun place to go with kids. Call ahead for reservation as it VERY popular!
26 locals recommend
The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe
2305 Grand Central Ave
26 locals recommend
Super fun place to go with kids. Call ahead for reservation as it VERY popular!
The most delicious donut you will ever have. Or at least, I think so! Nice walk or bike ride from the house.
Donuts Plus
3173 New Jersey 35
The most delicious donut you will ever have. Or at least, I think so! Nice walk or bike ride from the house.

Sightseeing

Chadwick Island Marina
400 Strickland Blvd
Beautiful view and spot for pictures!
Lavallette Gazebo
Beautiful view and spot for pictures!
Beautiful spot to watch the sunset
Ortley Beach Bayside Park
2021 Bay Blvd
Beautiful spot to watch the sunset

Leisure

Miles of bike and walking paths, beaches, boarding and nature. One of the reasons why Jersey has the best beaches on the east coast. A must see.
96 locals recommend
Island Beach State Park
2401 Central Avenue
96 locals recommend
Miles of bike and walking paths, beaches, boarding and nature. One of the reasons why Jersey has the best beaches on the east coast. A must see.
Chadwick Island Marina has a boat gas station and pay to drop boat dock.
Chadwick Island Marina
400 Strickland Blvd
Chadwick Island Marina has a boat gas station and pay to drop boat dock.
Tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and shuffleboard.
Chadwick Beach Tennis Courts
Tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and shuffleboard.
Across the street from Bay View Cafe on Bay Boulevard in Lavalette.
Hankins Park
Bay Boulevard
Across the street from Bay View Cafe on Bay Boulevard in Lavalette.
Rides, games, boardwalk food and restaurants for the whole family. Paid parking only.
170 locals recommend
Jenkinson's Boardwalk
300 N Ocean Ave
170 locals recommend
Rides, games, boardwalk food and restaurants for the whole family. Paid parking only.
Rides, games, and boardwalk food for the whole family. Daytime best for families.
36 locals recommend
Seaside Heights Beach
36 locals recommend
Rides, games, and boardwalk food for the whole family. Daytime best for families.
Beach House has everything you need for beach watersports
Beach House Classic Boardshop
517 Main Ave
Beach House has everything you need for beach watersports
Ocean Beach Marine store has power boats for rent. They are located in the Ocean Beach Marina next to Channel Marker cafe. Walkable from our house.
Ocean Beach Marine Centers
3245 NJ-35
Ocean Beach Marine store has power boats for rent. They are located in the Ocean Beach Marina next to Channel Marker cafe. Walkable from our house.

Neighborhoods

Beautiful boulevard with multi-million dollar homes facing the Barnegat Bay. Nice bike or car ride.
Bay Boulevard
Bay Boulevard
Beautiful boulevard with multi-million dollar homes facing the Barnegat Bay. Nice bike or car ride.
Fun town with beautiful homes, shops and small restaurants.
19 locals recommend
Bay Head
19 locals recommend
Fun town with beautiful homes, shops and small restaurants.
Beautiful homes along Route 35 make for an excellent bike ride, run or drive in the car. These homes are a must see!
Mantoloking
Beautiful homes along Route 35 make for an excellent bike ride, run or drive in the car. These homes are a must see!
Outdoor concerts, food truck festivals, yoga classes and so much more! Lavalette defines the classic Jersey Shore beach town so it's no surprise Lavalette has been voted #1 town in NJ!!
16 locals recommend
Lavallette
16 locals recommend
Outdoor concerts, food truck festivals, yoga classes and so much more! Lavalette defines the classic Jersey Shore beach town so it's no surprise Lavalette has been voted #1 town in NJ!!
OBI, OBII and OBII all have interesting bungalow houses with lots of character and charm.
Ocean Beach
OBI, OBII and OBII all have interesting bungalow houses with lots of character and charm.

Shopping

Trendy summer clothes and accessories.
9 locals recommend
Island Gypsy
504 Grand Central Ave
9 locals recommend
Trendy summer clothes and accessories.
Great for hostess gifts
Beach House
39 4th Ave
Great for hostess gifts
Great gifts, clothes and accessories!
My Sister's Jewelry Box
905 Grand Central Ave
Great gifts, clothes and accessories!
Pretty, bohemian clothing, candles and accessories.
6 locals recommend
House of Lucky
502 Grand Central Ave
6 locals recommend
Pretty, bohemian clothing, candles and accessories.
Beachy jewelry, gifts and accessories.
Sunshine Daydream
601 Arnold Ave
Beachy jewelry, gifts and accessories.
Small gift shop with nice hostess gifts that is walkable from the house.
The Dancing Crab
559 New Jersey 35
Small gift shop with nice hostess gifts that is walkable from the house.
Good for basics...bathingsuits, shorts, t-shirts. Men's store is across the street.
10 locals recommend
B&B Department Stores
709 Grand Central Ave
10 locals recommend
Good for basics...bathingsuits, shorts, t-shirts. Men's store is across the street.
Sunnies and surf wear
6 locals recommend
Shaded Vision
605 Grand Central Ave
6 locals recommend
Sunnies and surf wear
Trendy, fun clothes.
Hazel Boutique
1202 Main St
Trendy, fun clothes.
Perfect for small gifts.
Salt House
406A Grand Central Ave
Perfect for small gifts.

Exercise

Beach yoga on the oceanside during the resort season. Nominal fee.
Sea of Abundance Yoga
123 2nd Ave
Beach yoga on the oceanside during the resort season. Nominal fee.
They offer private surf lessons. Call for info.
Ocean Hut Surf Shop
3111 NJ-35
They offer private surf lessons. Call for info.
SUP board and Kayak rentals delivered to your door!
Yakkity Yaks Kayak Rental
908 NE Central Ave
SUP board and Kayak rentals delivered to your door!

Grocery and Adult Beverages

9 locals recommend
Lavallette Liquors
66 Grand Central Ave
9 locals recommend
Cornerstone Wine & Liquors
1401 Grand Central Ave
It’s a great idea to stock up on cheeses, apps, wines, and other specialty items here. Plenty of pre-made salads, sandwiches, and platters so you don’t have to cook a thing!
Burkes Market
536 Main Ave
It’s a great idea to stock up on cheeses, apps, wines, and other specialty items here. Plenty of pre-made salads, sandwiches, and platters so you don’t have to cook a thing!
47 locals recommend
ACME Markets
5 Ortley Plaza
47 locals recommend