Monmouth County Bar Named As Finalist For Best Beach Bars In The U.S.

Located in Sea Bright, this bar is known for its private lifeguarded beach, open-air bars and decks, drinks and more.

By Sara Winick, Patch Staff

Apr 28, 2026 11:57 am EDT

Donovan’s Reef Beach Bar, located at 1171 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright. (Google Maps)

SEA BRIGHT, NJ — A Monmouth County bar has been named as one of the finalists for USA Today’s list of the 10 Best Beach Bars In the U.S.

In this edition of USA Today’s 10 Best series for 2026, an expert panel nominated their top beach bars across the United States, described as “places in postcard-perfect locations with diverse drink menus and great atmospheres to boot.”

Now that the Top 20 finalists have been named, readers are invited to vote for their favorite once per day until voting ends on Monday, May 18, at noon ET.

The 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, according to USA Today.

In Monmouth County, Donovan’s Reef Beach Bar in Sea Bright has been selected as one of the finalists in the competition.

Described as one of the few Jersey Shore bars where cocktails on the sand are still on the menu, this beloved hangout spot has been going strong since 1976 and earned spots on multiple “Best Beach Bars in America” lists as well.

Read More: Monmouth County Bar Makes '21 Best Beach Bars In America' List

Located right on the beach in Sea Bright, Donovan’s Reef offers open-air bars and decks, live music, daily specials, food and more, according to its website.

The bar is open 9 a.m. until close Memorial Day through Labor Day and 10 a.m. to close in the off-season.

“A private lifeguarded beach, a cool tiki bar, and an outdoor deck offer plenty of seaside real estate to settle in, while the kitchen handles everything from breakfast through late-night eats with grilled classics,” USA Today wrote. “When live bands hit the beachfront stage, the sand doubles as a dance floor.”

Alongside Donovan’s Reef, two other Jersey Shore beach bars also made USA Today’s list of the top 20 finalists for the Best Beach Bars In the U.S.

Located in Cape May, Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille was also named as a finalist alongside PigDog Beach Bar in Wildwood.

To see the full list of finalists for the Best Beach Bars In the U.S., you can click here.