You are here: How to spend a day in Maplewood, New Jersey at a family food and beverage bar
The charming town of Maplewood is a great place for a quick day's tour of the outskirts of Hudson County. The people are friendly and diverse, the city center exudes nostalgia, and Maple Avenue is dotted with restaurants and shops. Maplewood has lush green areas, such as the Memorial Park and the nearby Nanshan Reserve, providing many outdoor options for picnics, sports or relaxation. Given the combination of nostalgia and greenery, it is not surprising that maple is the birthplace of Ultimate Frisbee. Read on to plan an outing to Maplewood, New Jersey.
According to the Maple Forest Museum Durand-Hedden, the Native American tribe Lenape was the earliest inhabitant of the Maple Forest-South Orange region. According to the Nantico Krenny-Lenape American Indian tribe, the tribe lived on the Mid-Atlantic coast from New York Bay to Delaware Bay in the early 17th century. '".
In 1667, settlers purchased 40,000 acres of land from Lenape, including what is now Maplewood Township. In the late 18th century, the area was named "Jefferson Village" after Thomas Jefferson. As the region developed, farms and small industrial enterprises appeared in the early 19th century. Only when the railway line was built, "Maple" appeared.
In 1860, a train station was built near Baker Street and Maple Avenue. "A big maple tree stands nearby...because there is a well-known big maple swamp in the village," said the Maple Forest History Preservation Committee. Maple Town was born. With the opening of the railway, many wealthy people fled the city.
Approximately 26,000 people call this village home, and the community is mainly composed of houses rather than apartments or apartment buildings.
Memorial Park is an oasis designed by the Olmsted brothers. It is located in the city center, within walking distance of the city center. There, visitors can find many charming shops and various restaurants on the street. Those lucky enough to be in town on a Friday or Saturday night may hear live music everywhere in the street. Check the calendar of the Maplewood Village Alliance for upcoming events.
This pizzeria uses fresh local ingredients and offers a seasonal menu including pasta, pizza, salads, small plates and lunch sandwiches. It’s satisfying to take a bite of the right crust on a brick-baked pizza. Currently, the lunch menu is for takeaway only.
The handmade French Mediterranean menu of Bistro D'Azur changes almost every day because chef Richard Krug uses fresh local ingredients. This high-end restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 4pm to 10pm, and offers two-course and three-course fixed dinner options every night, including a vegetarian menu. It offers a limited selection of bottled wines and a BYOB policy with no corkage fees.
Coda Kitchen & Bar has an extensive menu, including locally sourced food and craft beer. The friendly and knowledgeable wait staff will let customers taste beer before ordering and provide dishes suggestions. Grilled peach salad (a special dish of the evening) is very popular in early autumn evenings.
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Cornbread serves "quick casual, authentic and delicious soul food", and its raw materials "from farm to soul". This restaurant takes the love of soul food as the highest standard because it "represents the importance of the family and the strong bond that holds the community together." This love is through delicious chicken, fried catfish and ribs, and of course corn Bread and other side dishes to expand. Provide pick-up, delivery and dining options.
(Photo source: @la_villa_mexican_salvador)
This quaint and well-lit cafe serves homemade Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine. The large menu includes many appetizers, soups, salads, chicken, meat, vegetarian dishes and dinner platters. Indoor and outdoor seating is provided, as well as online ordering for pickup.
Allspice Grill | 1908 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood
This Jamaican restaurant offers seafood, vegetarian, meat and chicken dishes that are truly "seasoned with natural herbs and spices." Chef Dasina created "Six delicious lobster tail recipes", and all dishes are prepared with natural ingredients. Provide reservations, meal delivery services, and curbside pick-up options.
Since opening in 2005, Lorena's chef and his "seasonally inspired French-American" cuisine have won numerous praises. Campos named this restaurant after his wife, which makes Lorena's one of the 100 most romantic restaurants in the United States. U.S. made by OpenTable diners in 2018. Open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.
Signe Heffernan, the hometown girl chef of this cafe, specializes in "farm fresh ingredients and small batch cooking". The menu is mainly based on sandwiches, but dinner is also available. In 2020, NJ.com rated the creation of True Salvage Taylor Ham/Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich as "Best". Daily specials can be found on the Instagram page of True Salvage Cafe. Business hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am to 3 pm.
Village Coffee serves breakfast all day, as well as bowls, burritos and panini. In addition to ordinary coffee drinks, there are six types of chai, six types of hot chocolate and four types of cider (in season), hot or iced. Sitting outside in the sun or moving inside on a cold day, the brick and wood interior exudes a warm feeling. It is close to the train station, which is convenient for drinking coffee or tea while running.
This classic shop serves ice cream, sugar-free ice cream flavors and frozen yogurt. The store follows the Covid-19 protocol and only allows a few people to enter at a time. The store does not accept debit or credit cards, so please make sure you have cash on hand before visiting.
This cute shop offers a wide variety of brushes, paints, diaries, notebooks, sketchbooks, pens, markers, and even slate pencils. The shop was established in 2016. “Carefully select well-made and well-designed art supplies, stationery, and gifts, suitable for all ages.” The shop follows the Covid-19 guidelines and requires masks to be worn even when fully vaccinated.
CannaBoss Lady is a tranquil boutique that “provides luxury goods for women (and men) who focus on beauty, health and wellness.” The owner Jill Cohen opened this store in 2020, focusing on women’s cannabinoid products. Education to make smart CBD buying decisions. CannaBoss Lady's mission is to "support women by selling various brands owned by women" and donate to female minority charities.
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This small shop has been committed to "providing the freshest seafood in the area" since 1989, when Maplewood locals and owners Reggie Delphin and Shawn McClure founded it. The fish is picked daily from Fulton Food Market, and the store also offers prepared foods, herbs and seasonings. Freeman's caters to business events and personal gatherings, and provides free home delivery services.
This female-owned and operated market opened in 2017. The 2,800 square foot space is filled with antique art, clothing, furniture, jewelry and other items for sale. The cooperative organized community cultural activities, such as art performances and live music performances. Maplewood Mercantile is open from Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm.
This retail store only sells one brand of CBD products, the Organic Touch brand, because it is part of the franchise. In addition to providing common CBD products such as gummies, ointments and teas, this store also offers CBD pet snacks, "prepared by the veterinarian" to help your fur baby stay calm. The shop exudes an airy and clean modern atmosphere, and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions.
A cozy store that sells “premium goods” such as cashmere shawls and knitted scarves, jewelry, candles, and seasonal items such as Wassail spice packs. The baby area includes muslin pillows and swaddles, children’s books and baby gifts. Perch entered the holiday season at the beginning of November and displayed its collection of ornaments and decorations carefully selected according to the store's 2021 holiday theme "Sky Dome".
This community bookstore offers a wide variety of classic books, new works, books for young people and children. Mission: "Attract readers of all ages and interests, and welcome customers and employees with autism." Browse "classic" music such as UB40 and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The reserve is close to Maplewood (Millburn, West Orange and South Orange), has approximately 2,110 acres of land along the Rawai River, and provides nearly 20 miles of walking and hiking trails. Choose a simple one-mile trail, such as the Rahway and Maple Falls Trail, the medium-length 4.3-mile Openwood, River, Lenape and Overlook Trails loops, or for true hikers, take a multi-day hike on the 32.8-mile Lenape Trail : Zhixi Park to Nanshan Reserve.
This half-mile fairy tale trail is open all year round. It starts in the Locust Grove picnic area, suitable for small children to walk. Along the sidewalk, the elf's habitat is located in the woods. Local artists helped create these miniature houses along the Rahway Trail.
The museum explores the history of maple (and surrounding towns) from the "primitive settlement from the end of the 17th century to the end of the 20th century" through music, food, and participatory activities. Public programs are open on one Sunday of every month, usually from 1 pm to 4 pm.
In addition to including picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, softball fields, and amphitheaters, the Memorial Park also hosts July 4th celebrations and Maple Stoke (postponed to July 2022). In May, local artists held the first "Painter in the Park" event. This verdant beauty was originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s and is located in the center of the town.
Turtle Zoo is located in Nanshan Reserve, about 15 minutes' drive from Fenglin. Turtle Zoo entrance fee: $17 for adults; $14 for children 12 and under and seniors 62 and over. The zoo is a 10-15 minute drive from Maplewood. Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. A mask is needed inside.
As a freelance writer, Louise covers topics including health, local events and pet insurance. For five years, she has called Hoboken home and loves to discover new things about Mile Square City and its history. Passions include traveling, exercising, reading, and finding fascinating streaming media series. She is also a playwright and screenwriter, and has directed plays and short films. She enjoys spending time with her family, including three fur babies who were rescued as kittens.
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