Enjoy sunsets and specialty cocktails at these rooftop bars at the Shore
From the beach to the bay and everything in between, the Jersey Shore is a beautiful place — and it's even prettier with a bird's-eye view.
Find one at a rooftop bar that overlooks the water or busy downtowns and offers sunset views, live music and lots of fun.
Here are 10 rooftop bars to try this summer.
BeachHaus Brewery, Belmar
At The Rooftop at Beach Haus, grab a high-top table or a spot at the 30-seat wrap-around bar and watch the sun set over Shark River. When the temperature dips, move your party to sofa seating around a fire pit.
From the bar, try a Casa Sunset made with tequila, pineapple juice, fresh lime, agave, and cocoa bitters, or a Shark River Spritz with Aperol, orange and grapefruit juices, and Prosecco. From the kitchen, try shareable boards of meats and cheeses, ceviche or lobster roll sliders.
Go: 801 Main St.; 732-202-7782, beachhausbeer.com.
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The Beach Gallery, Keansburg
The newest addition to the Shore's rooftop options is this restaurant, bar, tea room and art gallery, which opened May 18 along the Sandy Hook and Raritan bays.
The Studio Rooftop Bar and Lounge has cabanas, a stage for live music or DJs, and views of the New York City skyline. The rooftop has both indoor and outdoor seating.
Go: 260 Beachway Ave.; 732-769-5089, beachgallerykeansburg.com.
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Bird & Betty's, Beach Haven
Craving a quintessential summer night? Head to the rooftop at Bird & Betty's, a restaurant, bar and night club on Barnegat Bay.
Diners love the clam pizza, roasted corn pizza, fresh oysters and shrimp toast. The bar mixes summery cocktails like the Shipwrecker, a frozen drink of coconut rum, Kahlua, Baileys and vodka, and a blueberry lemon spritzer with vodka, honey and Prosecco.
If you'd rather not deal with parking in this busy part of the island, Bird & Betty's Betty Bus shuttles customers between Brant Beach and Holgate Thursday through Sunday nights.
Go: 529 Dock Road; 609-492-3000, birdandbettys.com.
Committed Pig, Manasquan
When Jerry Rotunno and Tony Monteiro converted the former Maria's Italian Cuisine into Committed Pig, they doubled the restaurant's size by adding a second-story bar and rooftop patio overlooking Main Street.
The indoor bar, with high-top tables and TVs, opens to the patio, with string lights overhead and full menu service available. The Committed Pig serves an all-day brunch menu built around comfort food like pancakes, French toast, pork roll sandwiches and burgers.
Go: 165 Main St.; 732-837-9800, thecommittedpig.com.
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Hotel LBI, Ship Bottom
Just over the causeway to Long Beach Island is Hotel LBI, a stately and beautiful hotel with a restaurant, Salt Kitchen & Bar, inside.
Up on the roof is The Rooftop Bar, with lounge chairs, bar seating and views of Manahawkin Bay. The menu has artisan pizzas like the Nonna, with fresh mozzarella, pomodoro sauce and garlic confit; the truffle mushroom; and the spicy sausage with n'duja, charred long hots and braised fennel.
From the bar, try a guava colada or a spicy watermelon margarita.
Go: 350 W. 8th St.; 609-467-8000, hotellbi.com.
Other rooftop options
The Beachcomber Bar & Grill, Seaside Heights: 100 Ocean Terrace; 732-793-0526, beachcomberbar.com.
Daddy O, Brant Beach: 4401 Long Beach Blvd.; 609-494-1300, daddyolbi.com.
R Bar, Asbury Park: 1114 Main St.; 732-776–7463, itsrbar.com.
Red Rock Tap + Grill, Red Bank: 14 Wharf Ave.; 732-747-2999, redrockrb.com.
Watermark, Asbury Park: 800 Ocean Ave.; 732-455-3447, watermarkap.com.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore rooftop bars feature sunsets, specialty cocktails
