Best Bars in Montclair NJ (2026)
Montclair has one of the strongest bar scenes in New Jersey outside of Hoboken and Jersey City. Bloomfield Avenue has a walkable strip of quality options — craft cocktail bars, a genuine wine bar, a long-running dive, and a few spots that are just good neighborhood bars. Here is what locals actually go back to.
Quick Picks
Best cocktails: Pig & Prince. Best wine bar: Catch & Release. Best dive: The Thirsty Turtle. Best for a group: Bluestone Wine & Cocktail Lounge.
Best Cocktail Bars in Montclair
Pig & Prince
71 Bloomfield Ave
The best cocktail program in Montclair, period. The bar team takes craft seriously — seasonal menus, house-made syrups, strong technique. The food is excellent too, which makes this work as either a dinner spot or a late-night bar. Expect it to be busy on weekends. Make a reservation if you want a table.
Vibe: Upscale casual, date night, cocktail-focused
Blu Grotto
Bloomfield Ave
An Italian-American restaurant with a serious bar. The cocktail list is creative without being precious about it, and the bartenders actually know what they are doing. Solid place to start a night before moving elsewhere, or for a low-key date.
Vibe: Restaurant bar, Italian, relaxed
Bluestone Wine & Cocktail Lounge
580 Bloomfield Ave
A proper lounge setup with good cocktails and a solid wine list. More of a grown-up vibe than some of the other Bloomfield Ave spots. Good for groups who want to actually have a conversation. Hosts occasional live music.
Vibe: Lounge, groups, wine and cocktails
Best Wine Bars in Montclair
Catch & Release
Bloomfield Ave
The best dedicated wine bar in Montclair. Thoughtfully curated list with a mix of natural wines and conventional bottles. Small bites pair well with the pours. The room is intimate and the staff knows the list — they can actually steer you based on preferences. Gets busy on Thursday through Saturday evenings.
Order: Ask the staff for a natural wine recommendation — they are good at matching to taste
Raymond's (bar side)
28 Church St
Known as a brunch institution but the bar at Raymond's is underrated for a weeknight glass of wine. Quieter than the main drag, relaxed atmosphere, solid wine list at reasonable markups.
Order: The house red by the glass, any seasonal cocktail special
Dive Bars & Neighborhood Spots
The Thirsty Turtle
Bloomfield Ave
Montclair's best dive bar. Cheap drinks, friendly regulars, no pretension. If you want to watch a game, drink a beer, and not spend $18 on a cocktail, this is your place. A genuine neighborhood bar in a town that trends upscale.
Sinatra's Bar & Grill
Valley Rd, Upper Montclair
Upper Montclair's neighborhood bar. Classic setup — TV, sports, decent bar food, reasonable prices. The Upper Montclair crowd tends to be a bit more low-key than Bloomfield Ave. Good spot if you live in the area and want something walkable.
Montclair Bar Scene: What to Know
- →Most bars on Bloomfield Ave are within a 5-minute walk of each other — easy to bar hop without a car
- →NJ Transit Bay Street station makes it easy to come in from NYC or neighboring towns without driving
- →Last call in NJ is 2am — most Montclair bars wind down between 1-1:30am in practice
- →Parking is easier on side streets off Bloomfield — avoid the main Ave lots on Friday/Saturday evenings
- →Wellmont Theater shows regularly push extra traffic onto Bloomfield Ave — bars get busier on show nights