These bustling beach towns in Monmouth and Ocean County have some of the best Main Streets and boardwalks for a fun filled Jersey Shore bar hop. Whether you’re heading out early or planning on staying out late, we’ve got a number of our favorite bars offering exceptional cocktails, appetizing bar food, and all sorts of entertainment that will keep hopping from bar to bar .

We’ve set the scene for you to have a memorable Jersey Shore bar hop in any one of our favorite towns from the river’s edge in Red Bank to the boardwalk in Seaside Heights. No driving necessary between these bars!

The Top 4 Jersey Shore Bar Hops in Monmouth and Ocean County

1. Asbury Park

Whether you’re starting the day early at the beach or getting dressed up for a night out on the town, Asbury Park will leave you with great food in one hand and a tasty drink in the other as you stroll down the boardwalk to downtown.

If there’s one place to start your day in Asbury Park, it’s at Asbury Festhalle & Biergarden! Enjoy over 30 imported draft beers and put simply, the best pretzel you’ll ever eat! If the weather is right, head up to their rooftop. It’s the perfect place to sit outside and enjoy a liter of your favorite import.

After you’ve had your rum fix, head to Taka Restaurant’s brand new location on Cookman Avenue for a sake fix. Grab a drink before or after dinner at their comfortable lounge featuring soft couches and dim lights that will make anyone look good with a Sake Sangria drink in their hand. It’s also a great place to grab a bite to eat off their late night bar menu featuring a drunk man’s classic – Ramen Noodle Bowls.

It’s a trip from Japan to Germany in under a block. Where else can you do that?

Head down to the ocean on your Jersey Shore bar hop with a visit to Stella Marina. Sip on rich Italian wines in the first or second floor bars, both overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. If Latin flavor is more your style, walk next door to the recently expanded Cubacan Cantina a rum and tequila bar. Chances are high that the rum drinks and ocean breezes will have you dancing the salsa well into the evening.

For those looking for a little bang for the buck, head the other way down Cookman and grab a stool at Johnny Mac House of Spirits on Main Street where every alcoholic beverage gets you a free pizza any day of the week. Hang out inside where you’ll spend hours reading hilarious quotes hidden all over the bar or head downstairs for a game of skee ball. We promise this place actually does exist.

Complete your Jersey Shore pub crawl with a night cap at Lola’s European Café on Cookman where you can enjoy a glass of wine paired with cheese, fruit, and meat platters, freshly made panini’s and even some homemade gelato. Check out the bourbon bar or try out any one of their tempting dessert cocktails. Dessert and booze never felt so good together.

2. Belmar

The beach town where locals and tourists collide from June through August, Belmar makes the list for having some of the best shore bars that even locals brave during the summer months because yes, they’re that good.

After a long day at the beach, head over to the river and stop by Klein’s Fish Market for a a frozen cocktail at their outdoor tiki bar on the Shark River. Whether you’re a local who just wants a drink while you’re people watching or a tourist , they always have a great view of the river, music, and great drinks!

Afterwards, take a walk down Main Street for some of the best beer that the Jersey Shore has to offer at Beach Haus. Grab a flight of beers and hang out on the second floor balcony of their brand new brewery. The tables are made from original wood beams and the beer is brewed right downstairs. You really can’t get more local than that.

After that flight of beers, walk less than a block to 10^th Avenue Burrito for strong margaritas and spicy tacos. Grab a drink in their dark lit Mexican bar or party outdoors. Either way, a taco and a margarita are integral to the rest of the evening.

Next up is a trip to Boathouse Bar & Grill. Live music, your favorite beers on tap, and what we think are some of the best grilled wings at the Jersey Shore await you. When you’re ready to move on, walk down the street to Paul’s Tavern in neighboring Lake Como where you’ll be treated to even more live music in their “Sound Garden.”

And topping off the evening, there’s really no other place where locals and tourists get together more than Bar Anticipation. On any given Tuesday, you’ll join hundreds of thirsty people getting off the train for Bar Anticipation’s infamous Beat the Clock or hang out with the locals any other night of the week. With over four bars inside and out, Bar Anticipation aka “Bar A” is a must stop during your Jersey Shore pub crawl.

3. Red Bank

Sitting on the picturesque Navesink River, Red Bank is packed with bars that make a name for themselves throughout the year for hosting live music and mixing up great drinks.

Start your Jersey Shore pub hop with a sophisticated cocktail at Danny’s Steakhouse. Get there during during happy hour and enjoy a great assortment of drink specials along with various apps for $5 & $7. Hop across the street to Tommy’s or Taste for another beverage or bite to eat.

When you’re in need of some Caribbean lovin’, venture down Monmouth Street and make your way to Jamian’s Food and Drink where favorite local artists including Pat Guadagno and Dead Bank jam till closing time. It’s a little bar with a lot of soul.

After jamming out, visit Teak Restaurant across the street for a night that’s complete with cocktails and dishes that are Instagram worthy. Teak Restaurant has all of the ingredients to keep you going strong for the rest of the evening, from filling appetizers to cold beers, fresh sushi, and refreshing alcoholic beverages. It’s an Asian Fusion twist on your night out on the town.

Set on Broad Street in Red Bank, Gotham is the newest addition to our Red Bank Jersey Shore Pub Crawl. And really how can it not be? Offering over 40 different types of bourbon and whiskey, 30 different types of Scotch, 50 different types of beer, classic cocktails that will make you shiver with delight, and a bar menu that’s filled with wings, burgers, and even chicken and waffles – it’s an adult’s dream complete with live music and happy hour.

If bourbon and whiskey aren’t your thing, stroll around the corner to Brannigan’s. If the weather’s right, sit outside and enjoy a beer in one of Red Bank’s best low-key bars.

In our very humble opinion, there aren’t too many other places in Red Bank to end the night. At The Downtown, you’re sure to have a night that ends on a high note. Grab a drink downstairs or head upstairs for some of the best live music in the area and dance away.

4. Seaside Heights

Seaside Heights is known as being one of the Jersey Shore’s favorite playgrounds for kids and adults alike. Home to a number of bars that make walking the boardwalk much more fun, especially when it comes to a DIY Jersey Shore pub crawl, these bars are not to be missed.

Start your night off at a local’s favorite, Captain Hooks Bar where the drinks are inexpensive, the music is live, and there are plenty of games to play. After, take a stroll along the boardwalk and head due south to Spicy Cantina for drinks and food that will make you think you crossed the border. Hang out on the deck as you people watch or step inside for epic DJs.

Just around the block is Savor Lounge, the perfect stop for a cold micro brew and some late night snacks. Enjoy the summer weather on the deck outside for happy hour or check out The Moonshine Jazz Trio every Saturday night from 7-11pm. They even have $5 Sangria mason jars – actual moonshine not included.

When you’re ready to play some games and make some new friends, head to Riggers Bar. Known for being a favorite locals bar, it’s a great place to play a game of ping pong, pool, or shuffleboard and enjoy perfectly priced drinks without a lot of fuss.

End your night with a bang at Hemingway’s Café. Just a short walk away, Hemingway’s Café if party central if you’re looking for a club that doesn’t quit until closing time. No matter what night of the week it is, Hemingway’s Café always has something going on from happy hour to live music and events featuring well known DJs. If you’re going big or going home, you’ve arrived at your final destination.