Belmar is one of the most popular beach towns for family vacationers, singles, college students, and party-goers. The beaches are large with white sand and a boardwalk that spans the length of the entire town. Belmar is also famous for its nightlife and seafood restaurants.

Nightlife

D’Jais Bar & Restaurant has been open since 1959. It’s one of the Jersey shores most talked about venues, attracting locals and visitors for its typical club-style atmosphere. D’Jais hosts famous dj’s every weekend, a theme party every Thursday night, and a free buffet happy hour every Friday. Almost all food is half price on Mondays on the outside deck. The bar & restaurant is right across the street from the beach so when you walk out of the nightclub, you have an incredible view. It’s perfect to cool off with a frozen drink after a hot day on the beach! D’Jais is on 18th and Ocean Ave on the south end of Belmar/Lake Como.

Bar Anticipation, locally known as Bar A, is one of the most massive bars in New Jersey with an inside and outside area. It’s one of the better bars for crowds because the outside area allows people to spread out. It’s also perfect for the warm summer Jersey nights outside. Bar A offers VIP cabanas and sand volleyball. The bar is famous on Tuesday nights for Beat The Clock, where beers start at $0.50 and go up in price every hour. Staying nearby? Bar A offers free transportation on the Bar A shuttle. Bar A is on 16th Ave near the train station on the south end of Belmar.

Boathouse Bar & Grill is a longtime restaurant and entertainment venue with multiple bars, an outdoor deck, and ship-themed decor. Monday night is craft beer night, Tuesday night is wing night, and Wednesday night is burger and brew night. Boathouse is on 13th Ave and Main Street on the south end of Belmar.

Headliner is just over the bridge from Belmar, but a popular nightclub for summer beachgoers. It has a sprawling inside and outside area. Headliner has local area bands that perform on a stage as well as a dj that mixes dance songs. Headliner is on Route 35 South just north of the bridge into Belmar.

Parker House is inside a Victorian beach home featuring a porch bar, casual tavern with seafood fare, and upstairs club. It’s a relaxing getaway from the “fist-pumping” Jersey shore spots in Belmar and surrounding areas. Popular for happy hours. Parker House is on 1st Avenue in Sea Girt, about 10 minutes south of Belmar.

There are a number of other smaller bars that locals, summer locals, and vacationers visit, but D’Jais, Bar A, Boathouse, Headliner, and Parker House are the most popular without straying too far from Belmar. Most of Belmar’s nightlife is in the south end; the north end is quieter and better for families. In the summer, there is always something going on in Belmar.

Restaurants

Belmar is right on the coast, so fresh seafood is the specialty, but there’s something for everyone in Belmar.

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives featured 10th Ave Burrito Mexi-Cali cuisine, so it’s a popular hotspot in Belmar. It’s famous for Taco Tuesdays, where you can have all the tacos you can eat for $10. Mondays offer a $15 all-you-can-eat buffet. Thursday is 50 cent wings with a Tecate & tequila special. 10th Ave Burrito also offers takeout and a bar area separate from the dining area. You can find weekly live entertainment with bands from all over the U.S.

9th Ave Pier is the only patio restaurant and bar in Belmar. It’s a great place to grab a few drinks and listen to live music. They also serve salads, sandwiches, seafood, and finger foods. You can walk, drive, bike, or boat here. This is the only place in Belmar to go to watch the sunset with a boat drink in hand!

Jersey Shore BBQ is a Texas-style eatery providing authentic Texas BBQ pit-cooked on local hardwoods. Signature dishes include po’ boys and Southern sides.

Kotta Sushi is one of the best places for sushi, Asian fusion, and Japanese food in Belmar. It’s byob and offers takeout.

La Dolce Vita is upscale oceanfront restaurant offering Italian fare, seafood, a beautiful patio, and a full bar all year long. Portions are big enough to share! For those looking for something a little more casual, La Terrazza next door is a family-run restaurant with excellent food, great for the entire family.

Getting There

Belmar is just off route 35 in central NJ. It’s located about 1.5 hours from NYC, 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, and 3 hours from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Belmar is only one hour to the Newark airport.

NJ Transit provides a train that runs up and down the Jersey coast and stops on 10th Avenue in Belmar. It’s convenient for travel from New York, any of the nearby airports, or any nearby town.

Uber is a ride-sharing transportation network in which riders can get a taxi, rideshare, or private car all from their mobile phone. The app lets riders see where uber cars are in the area and call a driver to pick them up wherever they are within minutes. Uber is available everywhere in New Jersey and is very popular for getting to, from, and around Belmar. First time riders: download uber here and enter the code alyssaa590ue for a free ride! (Also, sign up as an uber driver and make 80% of every fare you do! Make your own schedule, use your own phone, drive your own car, and make tons of money. Click here and enter invite code rlm6o.)