6 can’t miss spots in Asbury Park
The once scruffy Jersey beach town of Asbury Park is ready for its next act.
The sun is shining again on Asbury Park, the seaside enclave made famous by the Bard of New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen. I grew up nearby, and the memories of my youth are marked by its gritty streets and underground venues, then a stomping ground for mostly locals. In recent years, the city’s historic music haunts and iconic boardwalk have gotten a much needed sprucing up, and now attract visitors from far beyond the tristate area. Hip bars and first rate restaurants, along with hotelslike the three year old Asbury and the just opened Asbury Ocean Club, are transforming this town from a summer getaway into a year round destination. Here are six can’t miss spots in Jersey’s most dynamic music town.
1. Situated in a gleaming 17 story beachfront tower, the hotel at ASBURY OCEAN CLUB is luxe but laid back, with 54 loftstyle guest rooms and glossy communal spaces overlooking a pool deck and the ocean.
2. Beloved bowling alley ASBURY LANES, reborn in 2004 as a music club, has gotten a third life, with six refinished lanes, a retro diner, and an upgraded stage with shows curated by New York City based promoters the Bowery Presents.
3. DANNY CLINCH TRANSPARENT GALLERY is an immersive art and music venue selling largeformat prints, T-shirts, and books of rock portraits by the music photographer and Jersey native, along with Midcentury Modern furniture and a diverse collection of vinyl records.
4. Airy boutique PATRIÆ offers vintage objects and home goods, along with clothing made from sustainable materials. Stock up on owner Barbara Pisch’s tote bags and pillows, all handmade from hemp and linen sourced on her trips to Eastern Europe.
5. PASCAL & SABINE nods to the brasseries of France with its candlelit leather banquettes, marble bar, and menu of classic dishes like coq au vin and panroasted sole meunière.
6. Sample the aptly named Perfect Gin and Tonic at ASBURY PARK DISTILLING CO., a sleek tasting room that makes artisanal spirits and bitters on site.