Monmouth GuideMiddletown covers a lot of ground. As Monmouth County's most populous municipality, it stretches from Raritan Bay down to the Navesink River and takes in villages like Leonardo, Belford, Port Monmouth, Lincroft and Navesink, each with its own character and its own reasons to visit.
This guide rounds up what is happening over the next two weeks, along with places to eat and drink, parks and beaches worth a walk, and a museum stop for a rainy afternoon. Use it to plan a full day or just to find one new spot close to home.
About Middletown
A quick look at the township and the villages within it, so you know how the pieces fit together before you start planning.
Our Middletown page is updated every day with this weekend’s events.
What’s on in Middletown in the next two weeks
Here is what is on the calendar across Middletown over the coming two weeks, from Halloween-season happenings to weekly gatherings at the library and senior center.
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Thursday · All day
Tour this beautifully restored 18th century house with exhibits that help tell the story of the region's history and the Hartshorne family legacy in Monmouth County.…
artsFreevia Monmouth County & Parks -
Thursday · 10:00 AM · Community Room
Wear your costume and trick or treat for non-food "treats." The program starts in the Community Room, where all of the kids decorating "trick or treat" bags to hold our…
familyvia Middletown Library -
Brookdale Haunted Theater - Brookdale Community College
Thursday · 6:00 PM · Brookdale Performing Arts Center, 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738The Brookdale Performing Arts Center’s Haunted Theater returns for its 23rd year, continuing its evolution into one of New Jersey’s premier haunted attractions. A…
artsvia Monmouth County Tourism -
Shore AC Fall Adult XC Series — Wolf Hill Park
Saturday · 9:00 AM · Various Monmouth County Parks, Monmouth County, NJEvery Saturday morning, rain or shine, the Shore AC offers a 5K race along with team, age group and individual scoring, and series prizes. All ages and abilities…
sportsvia Monmouth County Tourism -
Open Mic Poetry - Gratitude and/or poems written as a set of instructions
Sunday · 3:00 PMExplore or recite literary works during a time of alliteration, rhythm and verse. All are welcome to read your work aloud or read work from your favorite poet(s). Must…
musicFreevia Monmouth County & Parks -
Monday · 12:00 PM · Conference Room 1 - Lobby
Senior Center Book Club
communityvia Middletown Library -
This Ain't Your Grandma's Bingo - Middletown
Monday · 6:30 PM · 1005 NJ-35, Middletown Township, NJ 07748Come out for bingo every Monday with prizes awarded weekly!
via Monmouth County Tourism -
Tuesday · 7:00 PM · Children's Program Room
Bring a Friend! Make a Friend! Join us as we play games like Trivia, Bingo, Pictionary, HeadsUp and More! Tween Game Night is for ages 9-12. Please register for this…
familyvia Middletown Library
Where to eat and drink in Middletown
Middletown's dining runs from craft beer in Belford to Sicilian cooking in Lincroft. A few places to keep in mind for your next meal or coffee run.
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Haldi Chowk
Indian · Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and DivesCreative 'deconstructed' Indian cooking such as lamb tacos, duck confit and beef kebab, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
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Nicholas Barrel & Roost
American · From the team behind Restaurant NicholasChef Nicholas Harary's casual successor to acclaimed Restaurant Nicholas, serving scratch-made comfort food and weekend brunch.
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Jersey Shore Coffee Roasters Café
Coffee · Near the Henry Hudson TrailLocal roaster's café near the Henry Hudson Trail with indoor seating and an outdoor patio.
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Tatum's Table
Breakfast & BrunchDaytime cafe in Lincroft serving breakfast, brunch and lunch daily 8am-3pm, known for croffles and brunch flights.
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Falcone
Italian (Sicilian)Reservations-only BYOB Italian restaurant in a restored chapel in Lincroft, with a menu rooted in Sicilian tradition.
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Belford Brewing Company
Craft BeerSmall-batch craft brewery and taproom on Main Street in Belford, open since 2014.
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Matata Asian Cuisine
Asian Fusion / SushiRoute 35 Asian restaurant serving sushi, sashimi and pan-Asian dishes, with dine-in and takeout.
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Casa Calaveras
MexicanMexican restaurant and bar on Route 35 with happy hour and a covered outdoor patio.
Get outside in Middletown
With bay and river frontage plus several county parks, Middletown gives you plenty of room to walk, ride or sit by the water.
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Hartshorne Woods Park
An 831-acre hilly forest above the Navesink River with some of the most challenging hiking and mountain-bike trails on the coast.
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Sandy Hook Beaches (Gateway National Recreation Area)
Ocean and bay beaches on a national park barrier spit with Manhattan skyline views and historic Fort Hancock.
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Deep Cut Gardens
A 54-acre free public garden with a 180-bush rose garden, koi pond, greenhouse and display gardens for home gardeners.
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Huber Woods Park
A 390-acre hilltop park over the Navesink River with 8.5 miles of trails, an Environmental Center and a reptile house.
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Thompson Park
The Park System's 667-acre headquarters park with a 4.9-mile paved loop, playground, lake, Theater Barn and arts center.
More to explore
One more stop worth knowing about when you want something indoors.
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Monmouth Museum
An art, science and natural-history museum on the Brookdale campus with rotating exhibits and hands-on kids' galleries.
Middletown is big enough that it rewards a little planning, whether you are heading to the trails above the Navesink, grabbing brunch in Lincroft or catching an event at the library. Check times and registration details before you go, since programs can fill up.
Quick answers
What is there to do in Middletown, NJ?
Middletown has places to eat like Haldi Chowk and Nicholas Barrel & Roost, outdoor spots like Hartshorne Woods Park and attractions like Monmouth Museum. Upcoming events include Historic Portland Place Tours on Thursday, Oct 29.
Where should I eat in Middletown?
Local picks include Haldi Chowk (Indian), Nicholas Barrel & Roost (American) and Jersey Shore Coffee Roasters Café (Coffee).