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Bradley Beach, NJ

Bradley Beach, NJ: Relaxed Beach Days & Main Street Dining

 

Bradley Beach combines sandy ocean beaches, a scenic beachfront promenade, and a Main Street packed with places to eat. Start with a leisurely breakfast, spend the afternoon by the water, then head downtown for thin-crust pizza, Italian specialties, Thai food, or a cozy BYOB dinner. Add a round of oceanfront mini golf and a bakery stop, and you have an easygoing Jersey Shore outing for families, couples, or friends. With its neighborhood atmosphere and year-round businesses, Bradley Beach offers plenty to enjoy beyond the summer season.

 

Websites & Social Media

Borough of Bradley Beach | Tourism & Events | Bradley Beach Business & Community Alliance | Community Social Media Links

 

Plan Your Day

  • Beach admission: Badges are required for ages 13 and older during the summer beach season. Children 12 and younger enter free. 2026 rates: $14 daily, $48 weekly, $90 adult seasonal, and $35 seasonal for ages 13–15 or 65+. Beach badges & current information.

  • Swimming: Swim only while lifeguards are on duty and follow their directions. Check the borough’s beach page for schedules and conditions.

  • Restrooms: Public restrooms are located at Cliff, LaReine, Third, and Evergreen Avenues. Changing rooms are available at Cliff and Third.

  • Accessibility: Accessible ramps are located at Cliff, Brinley, Third, and Evergreen Avenues. Beach wheelchairs are available upon request.

  • Beach gear: Tents and canopies are prohibited, with a limited exception for small baby tents. Check the rules before packing.

  • Parking: Designated beachfront spaces along the east side of Ocean Avenue and Bradley Boulevard require seasonal payment through ParkMobile. The posted borough rate is $2 per hour, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Follow signs for season dates and restrictions, and park head-in in angled Ocean Avenue spaces. Arrive early on summer weekends. Parking details.

 

Things to Do in Bradley Beach

Beach & Promenade: Enjoy a day on the sand or an oceanfront stroll along the paved promenade. Seasonal concessions provide convenient stops for a beach-day snack.

Shipwreck Island Mini Golf: Play an 18-hole round beside the beach with ocean views along the way. It’s an easy addition to a family outing or a casual date. Check seasonal hours before visiting.

Main Street Shopping & Dining: Browse local businesses, stop for coffee, and explore Bradley Beach’s restaurant row. You’ll find everything from longtime Italian favorites to Thai cooking, vegan Mexican food, and creative brunch spots.

Riley Park Events: Plan your visit around a community gathering, market, or musical event at Riley Park. Check the Business & Community Alliance for current market programming.

Bradley Beach Historical Society: Explore the people, buildings, and traditions that shaped the borough. Check the society’s website for exhibits, programs, and visiting information.

 

Where to Eat

Restaurants with Bars in Asbury Park

  • Vic’s Italian Restaurant: Thin-crust pizza and traditional Italian dishes in a longtime, family-run restaurant. Casual sit-down dining with an old-school neighborhood feel. Bar serving alcohol.

  • Pagano’s UVA Ristorante: Traditional and contemporary Italian dishes in a welcoming sit-down setting. A good choice for dinner with friends, celebrations, and scheduled live music. Bar serving alcohol.

  • D’Arcy’s Tavern: Burgers, sandwiches, and pub favorites in a lively neighborhood tavern known for showing soccer. Casual sit-down dining with a sports-bar atmosphere. Full bar.

  • The Elbow Room: American comfort food, small plates, and cocktails in a relaxed neighborhood bar and kitchen. Casual sit-down dining with scheduled live music and trivia. Full bar.

 

BYOB Restaurants in Asbury Park

  • Marandola’s: Italian pastas, seafood, and meat dishes in a cozy, polished setting. A sit-down option for a leisurely dinner or a special evening. BYOB.

  • Skratch Kitchen: Creative, chef-driven dishes with Italian influences, including pastas, seafood, and rustic comfort food. An intimate sit-down choice for diners looking for something beyond the usual beach fare. BYOB.

  • Bamboo Leaf Thai Eatery: Thai and Vietnamese cooking in a cozy, informal restaurant on Main Street. A relaxed sit-down alternative to pizza and pub food. BYOB.

  • Del Ponte’s Coal Fired Pizza: Coal-fired pizzas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches in an easygoing neighborhood setting. Casual dine-in service, takeout, and patio seating. BYOB.

  • Osaka at the Station: Sushi, Japanese rice dishes, and hibachi-style entrées in a casual Main Street restaurant. A low-key sit-down choice for lunch or dinner. BYOB.

​Breakfast, Brunch & Casual Bites

The Buttered Biscuit: Homemade biscuits, pancakes, egg dishes, and lunch favorites in a cozy café. Casual sit-down service with a welcoming breakfast-and-brunch atmosphere. BYOB.

Hatch 44 Cafe: Creative breakfast and brunch with Latin-inspired touches and specialty coffee. A cheerful, casual sit-down café on Main Street. BYOB.

FINS: Tacos, burritos, and other dishes combining Southern California, tropical, and Pacific Rim flavors. A casual, surf-inspired spot for a quick meal or takeout. Soft drinks and other nonalcoholic beverages.

Luna Verde Vegan Mexican: Plant-based tacos, burritos, bowls, and Mexican specialties made by a family-owned kitchen. Online ordering for pickup or delivery; currently no dine-in accommodations or bar service.

Del Ponte’s Bakery: Italian cookies, pastries, and cakes from a longtime Bradley Beach bakery. An easy counter-service stop for a treat after the beach or dessert to bring home. Bakery service, no bar.

Restaurant hours and BYOB policies can change. Check directly before visiting, especially during the off-season.

 

A Little Bradley Beach History

Bradley Beach’s development began in 1871, when William B. Bradner purchased land south of Ocean Grove with James A. Bradley among the investors. Originally called Ocean Park, the community adopted the Bradley Beach name and became an independent borough in 1893. Train service helped bring vacationers to the shore, and by the 1920s Bradley Beach had become a popular resort destination. Today, its beachfront and Main Street continue that tradition of welcoming visitors.

 

Events & Community Activities

Add a local event to your beach day. Check the Bradley Beach Tourism Department and Business & Community Alliance for upcoming celebrations, markets, music, and community activities. Confirm dates and weather updates before heading out.

 

Local Churches & Worship

St. James Episcopal Church
605 Fourth Avenue, Bradley Beach. Visit the church website for worship times and parish information.

Church of the Ascension
500 Brinley Avenue, Bradley Beach. A Roman Catholic church within the Parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Check the parish website for Mass times.

 

Recommended Beach Supplies

This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sun & Skin: Sunscreen, SPF Makeup, Lip Gloss, Sunglasses, Hats, Visors.

Beach Gear: Beach Chairs, Umbrellas, Beach Towels, Coolers, Water Shoes.

Swimwear & Layers: Women’s Swimwear, Men’s Swimsuits, Women’s Lightweight Clothing, Men’s Lightweight Clothing, Women’s Hoodies, Men’s Hoodies.

Beach Reads: Paperbacks & Kindle Books.

 

Explore More of the Shore

Keep exploring with our guides to Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, and Belmar. Make Bradley Beach your destination for the day or one stop on a longer Jersey Shore getaway.

Bradley Beach
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