Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in New Jersey

Discover the best outdoor dining restaurants in New Jersey. With an abundance of ocean and waterfront views, and restaurants with beautiful gardens and patio dining, NJ an ideal place to enjoy dining al fresco.

These selections have excluded restaurants with sidewalk dining as they tend to be more oriented towards people watching as well as the noise from street traffic that takes away from amenities of mother nature and the ambiance that waterfronts, beaches, oceans, and gardens provide.

In the selection of the best outdoor dining restaurants I have emphasized the amenities of outdoor dining over other restaurant features such as food, service, and indoor amenities.

Note: Due to the extra special amenities of dining outdoors in a scenic setting, be prepared to pay more for these restaurants than others.

	Courtesy of Cafe Matisse

Best Northern NJ Outdoor Dining Restaurants

The Bernards Inn
Bernardsville, NJ
Dine outdoors on the Terrace and enjoy the cool breezes and evening stars. [ Read More]

Cafe Matisse
Rutherford, NJ
Dine in the "Secret Garden", a plush outdoor garden with fountains. The garden can also be viewed from the inside through floor-to-ceiling windows. [Read More]

Highlawn Pavilion
West Orange
Dine on the patio with scenic views of the New York City skyline and Eagle Rock Park. Enjoy lunch or dinner under the stars. [Read More]

Liberty House
Jersey City
The view! of the NYC skyline is breathtaking! [Read More]

Lua
Hoboken
Outside dining on their 80 seat outdoor café with an awesome view of the NYC skyline and the cool breezes off the water. [Read More]

Maritime Parc Restaurant - Has spectacular waterfront views of the New York Harbor NYC skyline, Stature of Liberty, Ellis Island, the marina, and up the Hudson River to the NJ Palisades. During the warmer months there is outside dining on a large stone patio with awesome waterfront, marina views. [ Read More ]

Restaurant Latour
Hamburg, NJ
Outdoor dining on the patio looking across the Kittatinny Mtns to the Delaware Water Gap and Pennsylvania. For that special ambiance, arrive for dinner in time to take in the sunset over the mountains. It's a plus for a romantic occasion. [Read More]

Best Central NJ Outdoor Dining Restaurants

Avenue Restaurant
Long Branch
Outdoor dining on the Terrace facing the beach and ocean. [Read More]

Avon Pavilion
Avon-by-the-Sea
Dining at this restaurant is a great way to experience the Jersey Shore. It's open air outdoor dining on the boardwalk with a view of the beach and ocean, and a nice vantage point for people watching. [Read More]

Black Trumpet Restaurant
Spring Lake, NJ
They offer dining on the porch is offered with beautiful views of the beach and ocean. [Read More]

The Frog and the Peach Restaurant
New Brunswick
They offer outdoor dining in The Garden Room with seating for 50 that can be temperature controlled for a winter luncheon or a summer evening. This semi-outdoor space is heated and enclosed in the winter and open in the summer to expose it to the warm weather breezes. [Read More]

Kleins Fish Market & Waterside Café
Belmar, NJ
Dine outdoors overlooking the Shark River and the passing fishing boats on the deck under large colorful umbrellas. [Read More]

Lilys on the Canal
Lambertville, NJ
Located along the Delaware Canal offering alfresco dining on the patio for the lucky few who are able to land a table outside. Its also a good spot for people watching as they stroll by along the tow path. [Read More]

The Shrimp Box
Point Pleasant Beach
Experience excellent water front views, fresh locally caught seafood, and "not break the bank." [Read More]

Matisse Restaurant
Belmar, NJ
Al fresco dining is available on the deck with gorgeous views of the beach and the ocean. [Read More]

Moonstruck Restaurant
Asbury Park, NJ
Outdoor dining on the front porches of the second and third floors. The setting is very attractive overlooking Wesley Lake and the stately homes in Ocean Grove
[Read More]

Rats Restaurant
Hamilton, NJ
There is patio dining at the edge of a pond, overlooking the gardens. [Read More]

McLoones Asbury Grille
Asbury Park
Awesome ocean views, people watching, and a high energy bar scene [Read More]

Stockton Inn
Stockton
Dine outside in the beautiful tri-level brick patio with terraced gardens, waterfalls, and a variety of hanging plants. [Read More]

Best Southern NJ Outdoor Dining Restaurants

Café Gallery
Burlington, NJ
Outdoor dining with scenic views of the Delaware Riverfront as well as views of the brick outdoor dining terrace with an attractive fountain and beautifully landscaped grounds. [Read More]

Pier House Restaurant
Cape May, NJ
open air terrace dining overlooking nothing but the ocean and the beach. Indulge yourself in a sophisticated, yet comfortable setting. [Read More]

Uries Waterfront Restaurant
Wildwood
It's one of the best places in Wildwood for waterfront dining. A great place to experience that "Jersey Shore" feeling by sitting back and watching boats pass by while enjoying a drink at happy hour or staying on for a casual meal.
[Read More]