Discover montclair

How to get around; where to dine; schools and parks, and more

Montclair’s extensive park system includes Edgemont Memorial Park.

Montclair enjoys a strategic location in New Jersey’s Essex County, sharing borders with six other Essex towns (Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Orange, Verona, and West Orange) plus two in Passaic County (Clifton and Little Falls). It’s also just 12 miles west of New York City, making it ideal for commuters and city transplants who don’t want to stray too far.

Today, Montclair’s many Colonial, Tudor, and Victorian-style homes mesh beautifully with its tree-lined streets and charming shopping and dining areas. While the town has a quaint, slightly European look, the stores and restaurants you’ll find here are quite eclectic. You can go out for tacos one night and classic French cuisine the next. You can pop in at a bicycle shop, a neighborhood hardware store, an upscale clothier, an independent bookseller, and so much more. In short, Montclair seamlessly blends the best of urban and suburban living.

the township

Population: about 38,000
Households: around 13,000
Median Household Income: $113,000

Local news sources:
Baristanet
Montclair Local News
Montclair Patch

Town History
Montclair was originally home to the Lenape Indians (which explains names like Watchung and Yantecaw). English settlers founded Newark in 1666 and expanded westward, creating the settlement of Cranetown, which is now the southern part of Montclair.

Montclair Art Museum: Home to an impressive collection of American and Native American art, the Montclair Art Museum also has public and family programs, as well as an art school that serves everyone from toddlers to seniors. Exhibits change regular… — Montclair Art Museum: Home to an impressive collection of American and Native American art, the Montclair Art Museum also has public and family programs, as well as an art school that serves everyone from toddlers to seniors. Exhibits change regularly, so any time you visit, you’re bound to see something exciting and new! Admission is free on the first Thursday evening of each month.

recreation

Brookdale Park: With multiple sports fields (including a new turf field and track), a playground, dog park and rose garden, the 121 acres of Brookdale Park has something for everyone. It’s hugely popular in the summer, with a variety of concerts, arts and crafts shows, and a renowned Fourth of July extravaganza. Whether you head here for an event or just to spread out a blanket and stare at the clouds, you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself.

Park System: Montclair’s 23 parks and trail networks offer residents a wide variety of recreational activities, including softball, basketball, swimming, hiking, biking, tennis, and ice skating. With 18 public tennis courts, three public swimming pools, one indoor skating rink (as well as two outdoor skating areas, conditions permitting) and roughly 175 acres of parkland, it’s safe to say that there’s no excuse not to exercise in Montclair—or, perhaps, to simply bask in the sunshine.

And on top of all that, fans can view professional baseball at Yogi Berra Stadium, which is located on the campus of Montclair State University.

Presby Memorial Iris Gardens: Established in 1927 as a memorial for Frank H. Presby, a founder of The American Iris Society, this living museum boasts thousands of iris varieties. Peaking around Memorial Day, the gardens are an absolute must-see.

Wellmont Theater: From Yo Gabba Gabba and Demetri Martin to Tony Bennett and Daughtry, this distinctive venue is sure to satisfy any entertainment craving you have, although it will have to wait until after the pandemic.

Faubourg. A modern French brasserie in the heart of Montclair, serving a light take on the French classics along with a separate vegetarian menu. And as you would suspect, it’s also got an extensive wine and cocktail menu.

dining

Belgiovine’s Italian Deli. More than two dozen specialty hot and cold subs are on offer, along with soups and salad. The restaurant also caters.

Fascino. With top Montclair Magazine Reader’s Choice honors for favorite romantic spot, fine-dining restaurant, and Italian restaurant, Fascino offers a menu that goes beyond the red sauce with offerings like east-coast oysters, squid-ink pappardelle, and thyme-roasted hangar steak.

Applegate Farm. Originally a working dairy farm founded in the 1800s, Applegate Farm makes pretty much the best ice cream ever.

Montclair Bread Company. How can you resist a eatery that calls itself “a bread bakery with a doughnut addiction”? (And don’t forget the cookies.) Rachel Wyman’s cozy storefront near the Walnut Street train station is a destination for pastry lovers all over New Jersey!

Raymond’s. You can go back in time with this old-fashioned lunch counter, serving diner classics and updated entrees such as spiced ahi tuna burger. Save room for the double chocolate brownie for dessert!

Samba Montclair. This homestyle Brazilian restaurant has done so well that it’s expanding even during the pandemic. Owner Ilson Goncalves inspired a menu that tastes like the rustic Brazilian country food his mother cooked.

Zeugma Grill. Named after an ancient city in Turkey, Zeugma’s menu offers delights from Turkey, the Middle East, and across the Mediterranean region. Chef Can Alp was featured on the cover of Montclair Magazine for its Readers’ Choice awards in the Spring of 2019.

schools

Montclair has a “magnet” public-school system. Instead of children merely being assigned to their neighborhood schools, parents can select a school based on the magnet theme they are most interested in, and apply for enrollment in the school that specializes in that theme. All schools follow a basic curriculum, but the magnet themes inform feeling and culture of each individual school.

There are seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school, from which 90 percent of graduating seniors go on to further education. In addition, seven private schools are located within Montclair and neighboring towns.

Click here for more information about Montclair’s public schools.

transportation

By train: On weekdays, NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service can take you to New York Penn Station in 37 to 55 minutes. On weekends, trains run only from Bay Street station (with a transfer at Newark Broad Street).

Click here for bus and train scheduling information.

Car: NJ Route 3 and the Garden State Parkway are your main links to the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, and Newark Liberty International Airport.

NEW JERSEY: FUN FACTS

New Jersey has more racehorses than Kentucky.
Two-thirds of the world’s eggplants are grown in New Jersey.
New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production.
In 1642, America’s first brewery opened in Hoboken.
Les Paul invented the first solid-body electric guitar in Mahwah, New Jersey.
We saved the best for last – Bruce Springsteen is our native son! (But then again, don’t we all know that?)