Check Out These ‘Best Of’ Destinations In Essex County: Restaurants, Stores, More

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County is home to its fair share of beloved restaurants, stores and neighborhoods – and there are plenty of local destination spots to keep residents entertained and well-fed.

Here are some hotspots in Essex County that recently cracked “top” or “best of” lists:

BELLEVILLE

Fans of Italian cuisine will likely find a good meal at the Belmont Tavern, a local restaurant in Belleville that has seen rave reviews over the years, including from an online pundit who said it has the “best Italian food in New Jersey.”

BLOOMFIELD

Looking for a place to grab a bite to eat in Bloomfield? Foodies might want to check out Bucco or Blue Steel Pizza, which have scored spots on “best of” lists from Spoon University and Yelp.

Those with a sweet tooth might also want to check out Rombiolo Bakery Café, which was chosen to represent New Jersey on a list of “Absolute Best Bakeries In Each State.”

CALDWELLS

Two municipalities in the Caldwells – North Caldwell and West Caldwell – have recently found themselves on lists of the “best towns to live” in New Jersey.

Meanwhile, Caldwell has restaurants that have been getting some rave reviews, including Benji's Taqueria Mexican Grill, which made a list of Yelp’s “Top 50 Places to Eat in North Jersey.”

LIVINGSTON

Livingston, another town that has repeatedly landed on lists of the “best places to live,” also has some highly rated restaurants, including Sweet Basil’s Café and the Ritz Diner. Another local eatery – Nero's Grille – earned recognition from Wine Spectator Magazine’s Restaurant Awards, which honor the “world’s best restaurants for wine.”

MONTCLAIR

Local hotspots in Montclair have made several “best of” lists in the past few years.

Last year, Downtown Montclair landed on a national list of the “Best Outdoor Dining” neighborhoods in the nation. The town also has one of the “best movie theaters in the world” (Bellevue Theater) and is home to Publishers Weekly’s 2026 Bookstore of the Year (Watchung Booksellers).

NEWARK

New Jersey’s largest city has routinely made headlines for its restaurant and entertainment options.

Over the past few years, Newark has landed on lists of the “Best Neighborhoods To Eat Well On A Budget” and the “Best Cities for Hotdog Lovers.” The city’s lauded Portuguese restaurants have been recognized as having some of the “Best BBQ in the USA.”

Visitors to Newark can also grab the “best burger in New Jersey” at Krug's Tavern, or enjoy a beer at McGovern’s Tavern, one of the “Best Bars In America.”

Other lists that Newark has scored a spot on include the “Best Cities for Entrepreneurs,” the “Most Vibrant Arts Communities” and the “Best Cities for Halloween.” The city also has one of the “Most Beautiful Hidden Cemeteries” in the nation: Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

NUTLEY

Nutley is another town in Essex County that has seen some great reviews for its restaurants. Local eateries that have landed on “best of” lists have included Nuovo Cucina Napoletana and the Chestnut Street Café.

WEST ORANGE

West Orange has also scored some foodie cred in recent years, including a nod from OpenTable for having one of the “Most Scenic” restaurants in the nation, The Highlawn.

More of a hotdog fan? Chow down at Jimmy Buff’s, which were named the “Best in New Jersey” two years ago.

OK, Essex County residents... what did we miss? Let us know in the comment section!

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