North Jersey restaurants with great views and outdoor dining: Check out these stunners
From the Skylands of northwest Jersey to the skyline views of Manhattan on the Gold Coast, North Jersey can be a feast for the eyes if you know where to look.
In these warm weather months, you're likely jonesing for opportunities to get outside and enjoy those views before it gets too humid and the mosquitoes come out en masse. And since beautiful weather pairs well with a cold drink and great food, I'm offering some recommendations on North Jersey restaurants with great views and outdoor seating.
Now, if you're up for a day trip, there are plenty of restaurants with great views throughout New Jersey, but we've got plenty of options here in the north, from mountain lodges to farm settings to urban oases to waterside patios. Choose your own adventure.
Do yourself a favor and head out to one of farmer/chef Steve Maclean's farm dinners this year. A curated, tasting-menu dinner on this 170-acre farm overlooking the North Jersey mountains is part agri-tourism, part stellar culinary experience and, completely, a treat.
As you watch cows graze in the pastures (and maybe catch a glimpse of the pigs, turkeys, chickens and ducks raised on the farm), you'll dine on Maclean's charcuterie board and three more courses that rotate seasonally. Dinners are BYOB, held in the farm's organic herb garden and are bimonthly on Saturdays; reserve your spot at thenjfarm.com/farm-dinner-events
Go: 1801 County Road 565, Sussex; 973-446-0020, thenjfarm.com.
Take a trip to Lake Hopatcong, with its placid surface surrounded by verdant hills, for one of the best non-oceanic water views in the state. In the evening, the sun dips directly across the water from The Windlass, so... plan accordingly if you want to catch that spectacle.
There are dockside cabanas, or gliders, at which to sit, but if you end up seated inside, you won't miss out: there are plenty of windows showing off the lake and the white walls inside reflect the glow of sunlight. Wherever you are, enjoy a large menu of seafood, burgers, casual entrees, drinks and more.
Go: 45 Nolans Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong; 973-663-3190, thewindlass.com.
The brick building and the pristine, manicured grounds in which Ninety Acres is cited are beautiful in their own right, but so is the Natirar estate beyond, of which you'll get a view at a meal.
You'll be reminded of the farm-to-table ethos of the restaurant as you dine on its 12-acre farm. The menu changes seasonally, but whatever fresh concoction is on your plate, you'll enjoy it from the cozy dining area or beside the outdoor fire pits.
Go: 2 Main St, Peapack; 908-901-9500, natirar.com.
You'll not only get a great view at Ironbound Farm and Ciderhouse, but also a good meal, a history lesson and the satisfaction of knowing you're supporting the regenerative farming revolution.
This year at Ironbound — a 108-acre apple and produce farm that not only uses sustainable agriculture processes but crafts cider that pays homage to New Jersey's cider history — the experience will be more casual than in years prior. From Thursday to Sunday, walk up to the bar and order your drink (cider, wine and cocktails) and exceptional, approachable food.
Go: 360 Route 579, Asbury; 908-940-4115, ironboundhardcider.com.
The stunning Kittatinny Mountain Range surrounds The Chef's Garden at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg. It may be remote, but it's worth the drive to see the bucolic beauty of this spot.
You'll be seated in an outdoor dining area surrounded by a garden and the mountains beyond; chefs will literally pick food from the garden to prepare for your meal. As such, the menu transforms seasonally so you get the best expression of their hyper-locally grown heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, carrots and more. Cocktails, too, are crafted with herbs plucked form the garden.
Go: 3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg; 844-276-8054, crystalgolfresort.com.
Blu on the Hudson is one of several destinations in the Gold Coast's revamped waterfront dining scene worth a visit. The views alone are attractive, but the food and vibe is unique here.
This trendy spot has several spaces depending on what kind of afternoon or evening you want to have: a classy bar, a spacious dining room and outdoor seating, plus special dinners from time and time. Choose from a menu of high-end cuisine and a drink menu of beer, wine and unique cocktails.
Go: 1200 Harbor Blvd., Weehawken; 201-636-1200, bluonthehudson.com.
Stirling Tavern might not seem like the type of place for excellent outdoor views as its located smack-dab in the middle of Morristown's South Street. But grab a chair at the rooftop bar, preferably around sunset, and get ready for a show.
As you nibble on eats like octopus hushpuppies, wild boar ragu and the Mexican street corn flatbread, you'll be treated to views of the city, some hills beyond and a magnificent sky. If it's all too much stimulation, Stirling Tavern's got a long menu of cocktails, craft beers and wine to calm you down.
Go: 150 South St., Morristown; 973-993-8066, stirlingtavern.com.
In the spring and summer, The Station at Mountain Lakes opens its outdoor patio area and offers a unique dining experience with plenty of treats for the eyes. With intimate tables under towering trees and between manicured bushes, a meal here feels like dining in a picture-perfect meadow.
The food meets the moment, with items like wasabi panko-crusted ahi tuna, steak au poivre, pasta and more. And if you miss your moment this summer, The Station turns into a cozy indoor dining destination come fall and winter.
Go: 99 Midvale Road, Mountain Lakes; 973-335-5330, thestationatmountainlakes.com.
Lola's Tex-Mex is a lively, lakefront Mexican cantina with a great outdoor deck for dining. The vibe (and decor) is colorful, but so are the woods surrounding Lake Hopatcong, of which you'll have a bird's-eye view as you sip drinks and eat casual Mexican fare.
With plenty of oversized comfort meals from which to choose and gorgeous environs in which to eat them, Lola's is a hidden gem you ought to check out on a warm afternoon.
Go: 300 Lakeside Ave., Hopatcong; 973-264-4231, eatlolasnow.com.
Montclair's only rooftop dining area is the spot to be if you're looking for views without a big trip involved. Sip on cocktails and wine as you take in views of the New York City skyline from over 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space.
Round out your experience with light bites and, as you make your way through your time there, peruse the Watchung mountain range, the campus of Montclair State University and, of course, bustling downtown Montclair.
Go: 690 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 844-624-6835, themchotel.com/food-drink/alto.
Oh, maybe you've "always meant" to visit The Highlawn in West Orange, but haven't had the time or the will to get there yet. Consider the warming weather your formal invitation to visit.
You'll enjoy panoramic views of the New York City skyline from three outdoor options at this elegant American spot. The patio also hosts live music, and the grounds abut Eagle Rock Reservation, a small but mighty wooded area with walking trails to burn off the food and drinks you'll enjoy at The Highlawn.
Go: 1 Crest Drive, West Orange; 973-731-3463, highlawn.com.
You really can't beat the vibe and the views at D'Boathaus. A visit here on a warm late-spring or summer day is a cure for whatever might be ailing you. Life's just better with warm sun, cool breezes off the lake and cold drinks in hand.
Its menu of affordable seafood, burgers, sandwiches and more marries with the casual, fun vibe of the spot, and my guess is you'll like it enough to make a couple trips out there this summer.
Go: 322 Lakeside Road, Hewitt; 973-657-5757, dboathaus.com.
With an exceptional view of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River from its covered outdoor dining area — and plenty of windows to see it from inside — Haven is a feast for the eyes as much as your appetite.
Yes, you'll likely enjoy its menu of New American, locally sourced dishes (braised smoked pork belly and roasted Long Island duck, to name two), and you'll certainly appreciate its comparatively affordable prices, but the view is liable to capture your attention. Stop by for brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour and special events.
Go: 2 Main St., Edgewater; 201-943-1900, havenedgewater.com.
Just outside Peapack and Gladstone, and off Route 206, is Burnt Mills Cider — a super casual cidery with regular food truck appearances and a view of the sunset that's hard to match.
The farmhouse tap room is an aesthetic marvel in its own right — as are the carefully crafted ciders that range from super dry and crisp to sweet and funky. My guess, though, is you'll most enjoy the views from the large, hillside lawn where you and dozens of other guests can lay out a blanket or set up shop at a picnic table to enjoy the bucolic views of nearby farms, the woods in the back of the lot or the hilly forests beyond.
Go: 3540 Route 206, Bedminster; 908-781-6000, burntmillscider.com
Unless you're one of the few hundred people who live out near this northwest Jersey river town, you're going to have to commit to making a drive out to Milford. But there are few places that are as pretty as the grounds at Alba Vineyard.
Rows of grapevines score the rolling hills of this 93-acre site, with views of soft, forested mountains beyond; you feel like you're in Oregon or Washington's wine valleys at Alba. Enjoy the views with one (or several) of Alba's wines and nosh on local cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery and other small bites during the week. On weekends, Alba opens its Reverie Kitchen, which serves wood-fired pizza, charcuterie, salads and handhelds bites.
Go: 269 County Road 627, Milford; 908) 995-7800, albavineyard.com.
Matt Cortina is a food reporter for NorthJersey.com/The Record. Reach him at mcortina@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ restaurants with a view: Check out these stunners in North Jersey
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