Updated at: 28-10-2023 - By: John Lau

Montclair, New Jersey is home to a diverse variety of bars that serve up unique drinks and offer a welcoming atmosphere.

With over 80 restaurants and eateries in Montclair, only a dozen liquor licenses are available, making the bar scene in Montclair a bit more exclusive.

In this article, we will introduce you to the best bars in Montclair, NJ, based on your drink preferences.

Whether you’re looking for a rooftop bar with sweeping views, a cozy Irish dive bar, or a trendy cocktail lounge, we’ve got you covered.

Top 14 Best Bars In Montclair NJ

Alto

Best Bars In Montclair NJ (1)

Alto is a rooftop bar located in Montclair, New Jersey. It is situated on top of The MC Hotel, which opened in 2019.

The rooftop bar offers stunning views of the New York City skyline and covers over 3,000 square feet.

The Alto rooftop menu includes crafted and creative signature cocktails, a fine selection of wines, as well as a seasonal and local selection of draft and bottled beer.

Complementing the drinks, there are both hot and cold bites, like sliders, flatbread, cheese plate, and lobster rolls.

The restaurant offers casual dining with cuisines such as cocktail bar, tapas/small plates, and American. The dress code is smart casual.

The restaurant is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 12:00 am, Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am, and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The phone number for reservations is (973) 329-5600, and the email for group reservations or events is [email protected].

The restaurant offers private party facilities. The overall rating of the restaurant is 4.1 out of 5, with the food rating being 4.1, service rating being 4.1, and ambience rating being 4.5.

Bar Franco

Bar Franco is an Italian bespoke apertivo bar located in the heart of Montclair, New Jersey. The bar is rated 4.7 out of 5 with a total of 16 ratings on Google Maps.

The owner of Bar Franco, Franco Porporino, promises that the bar will bring an “opulent, New York vibe” to Montclair.

The bar offers a unique atmosphere and is known for its award-winning Italian cuisine.

Bar Franco is located at 5 Church Street in Montclair, New Jersey. The bar offers a $1,000 dessert called “La Bomba” which will be highlighted on the menu when the restaurant opens in May.

Cowan’s Public

Cowan’s Public is a restaurant and bar located in Nutley, New Jersey.

The establishment has operated as a pub for many years, under several different names, including Lou’s, John’s Tavern, and the Nutley Pub.

The bar is named in honor of John Cowan, a long-time proprietor of the Nutley Pub and everyone’s favorite accountant. The restaurant serves dinner, brunch, dessert, and beverages.

Cowan’s Public is known for its excellent cocktails and tasty pub grub. The establishment has a drab exterior, but its interior is a speakeasy-style space.

Pharmacie Bar + Kitchen

Best Bars In Montclair NJ (2)

Pharmacie Bar + Kitchen is a music-themed restaurant and bar located at 398 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey.

It is adjacent to The Wellmont Theater, making it a great place to hang out before a show. The restaurant serves handcrafted classic and modern cocktails, and has bars on two levels.

The food is described as awesome, decently priced, and great to share with a group. If you’re interested in checking out their drink menu, it is available on their website.

The Maddox

The Maddox is a popular American restaurant located in Montclair, New Jersey.

The restaurant is known for its upscale atmosphere and contemporary American cuisine, which emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and seasonal dishes.

The head chef is Michael Penaranda, who has experience working in New York City.

The restaurant offers a variety of menus, including lunch, dinner, brunch, vegan, cocktails, wine & beer, bottle service, large party, and prix fixe.

The Maddox is also known for its curated cocktails and premium cuts of meat.

The restaurant is located at 193 Glenridge Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042 and is open from Monday to Thursday from 3:00 pm to 12:00 am.

The Maddox is a part of a restaurant duo that includes Musuko, which opened on April 4th, 2023.

The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse in Montclair, NJ is an event space that offers spacious banquet halls for rent. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google Maps, based on 70 reviews.

The venue can accommodate up to 80 guests and has a bar, 3 flat screen TVs, and 5 high top bar tables. The Clubhouse is available for events, parties, and social gatherings.

It is also available for filming and photoshoots, with a rental rate of $250 per hour. The venue accepts credit cards.

Montclair Brewery

Best Bars In Montclair NJ (3)

Montclair Brewery is a microbrewery located in Montclair, NJ, owned by a husband and wife team.

They have a tasting room and outdoor beer garden where they serve local-inspired and culturally intriguing beers.

They have a rotating tap list of 20+ brews, which are locally brewed and always delicious. Montclair Brewery has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Google Maps, with a total of 292 ratings.

According to Yelp, Montclair Brewery is one of the top 10 breweries in Montclair, NJ, along with Ghost Hawk Brewing, Four City Brewing Company, Magnify Brewing, and The Barrow House.

Yelp users have given Montclair Brewery a rating of 4.5 out of 5, based on 125 reviews. Montclair Brewery offers delivery and takeout.

Avenue Bistro Pub

Avenue Bistro Pub is a restaurant and bar located at 558 Bloomfield Avenue in Verona, New Jersey. It serves lunch, dinner, and drinks.

The restaurant has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Google Maps, based on 258 reviews. The kitchen hours are not specified on the restaurant’s website, but OpenTable lists the restaurant as open for lunch and dinner.

The restaurant has a menu available on its website. It is also possible to make reservations through OpenTable.

McGovern’s Tavern

McGovern’s Tavern is a historic Irish pub located in Newark, New Jersey.

It has been in service for over 75 years and is known for its vintage police and firefighter helmets hanging on the walls and its Kelly green walls that give everything an unshakable Irish tint.

The tavern has an online menu available for viewing. In 2018, the tavern underwent a summer renovation and held a closing party to celebrate the change.

De Novo European Pub

Best Bars In Montclair NJ (4)

De Novo European Pub is a restaurant located in Montclair, New Jersey.

It is styled after the family-oriented casual pubs of Europe and offers an appealing and delicious menu with house-made dishes.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and has a bar that is open until 12 am. De Novo European Pub has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Google with a total of 568 ratings.

On Yelp, it has a rating of 4 out of 5 with 515 reviews. Customers have praised the location, food, cocktails, ambience, and service. The restaurant also offers private party hosting.

 D L V Lounge

DLV Lounge was an iconic jazz venue located at 300 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey. It was a special live music venue that had been in operation for more than 50 years.

Unfortunately, the lounge closed its doors on Thursday, December 1, 2022. The lounge was known for its entertainment and nightlife, and it was a hotspot on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.

The lounge had a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Google Maps, with a total of 131 ratings. According to Yelp, the lounge accepted credit cards, had a TV, and did not take reservations.

Pig & Prince Restaurant

Pig & Prince was a restaurant located in Montclair, NJ that has since closed down. The restaurant was housed in the former train station at Lackawanna Plaza.

The owner and chef, Mike Carrino, announced the closure of the restaurant in June 2019.

In October 2021, it was reported that the space formerly occupied by Pig & Prince would be used for a new beer-garden-style restaurant by Chef and owner Lauren Hirschberg of Turtle + the Wolf.

Just Jake’s

Best Bars In Montclair NJ (5)

Just Jake’s is a family-run restaurant and bar located at 30 Park St, Montclair, NJ 07042.

It has a cozy environment and neighborhood feel, and has been serving the Montclair area since 1997.

The restaurant is conveniently located just 3 blocks from the historic Wellmont Theater.

Just Jake’s serves lunch seven days a week and has happy hour Monday through Friday from 12-6PM.

They offer highly customizable private gatherings and are open for indoor and outdoor dining.

They also have big screen TVs both indoors and outdoors, where customers can watch every Sunday NFL Football game.

Just Jake’s is known for its live music shows. They can be contacted at (973) 655-8987 or [email protected].

Tierney’s Tavern

Tierney’s Tavern is a bar and grill located in Montclair, New Jersey.

– Location: Tierney’s Tavern is located at 136-138 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042.

– Hours: The kitchen is open until 11:00 pm every day except Sunday, when it closes at 10:00 pm. The bar is open until 1:00 am every day except Sunday, when it closes at midnight.

– Reviews: Tierney’s Tavern has a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google with a total of 693 ratings. On Yelp, it has a rating of 4 stars out of 5 with 146 reviews. On Tripadvisor, it has a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 with 28 reviews.

– Music: Tierney’s Tavern hosts live music events. Their website has a calendar of upcoming events and information on how to book a band.

– Social Media: Tierney’s Tavern has an Instagram account where they post updates and highlights.