Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Red Bank, NJ

  • Published 2022/02/19

The Garden State’s welcoming town of Red Bank is bursting with funky coffee shops, thriving art galleries, hip stores, unique restaurants, and vibrant music culture.

A borough in the great state of New Jersey, Red Bank possesses a solid historical background with beautiful scenery on its borders, from which you can enjoy the scenery of the Navesink River.

Red Bank has an incredibly diverse range of local businesses, including ones from the entertainment and design sectors.

With its core values in place on the most prominent commercial streets in New Jersey like Broad Street, White Street, and Monmouth Street, it’s no surprise that Red Bank is known for having a popular social scene with various special events planned throughout the year.

Indeed, Red Bank continues to be one of the best places to visit in all of America.

Interested to know more about this place?

Check out 15 things to do in Red Bank, NJ, below!

Learn and Socialize at T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center

A true champion for social justice, T. Thomas Fortune was born into slavery in 1856, but by the 19th and 20th centuries, he became one of the most influential journalists and newspaper publishers across America.

The stately mansion went first by the name “Maple Hall,” and it was in this very mansion that T. Thomas Fortune and his family made many fond memories together for several years.

He used this house as the site of many meetings with important figures of the time, including the legendary African American leader Booker T. Washington and other influential people of the time.

The T. Thomas Fortune Foundation preserves the historic house turned cultural center and does its best to keep social justice culture alive for the next generations of civil rights leaders and pioneers.

The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center is a fabulous place where you’ll be able to learn and socialize with people from all walks of life.

Tuck into Delicious Irish Cuisine at the Dublin House

Dublin House was originally a small Middletown house relocated to the Navesink River and then later to Red Bank.

It presumably settled between Mechanic and Front Street and finally in 60 Broad Street after the Civil War.

Robert Allen Jr. renovated the house to achieve a Second-Empire or Mansardic architecture, which was popular during 1865-1880.

Dublin House is a great Irish restaurant with delicious food, unbeatable service, friendly and attentive staff, and a nice interior and exterior that presents a historical side and a modern aesthetic for patrons to enjoy.

You can come here to check out their weekly live music, main menu, or their seasonal outdoor bar if you’re up for having a delicious dinner in a restaurant bistro that reflects the city’s intricate architectural past.

Catch Some Blue Claw Crabs at Red Bank Marina

Boats at Red Bank Marina waters.

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Family-owned and operated in the beautiful surroundings of the Navesink River, the Red Bank Marina has been specializing in blue claw crab fishing and other various water sports since 1940.

With many years of experience, they know exactly what it takes to ensure that your day-to-day activities are run nimbly and efficiently, which is why they offer so many recreational activities, from boating to kayaking and beyond.

Waters of Red Bank Marina.

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Their bait shop has an impressively wide range of fishing and crabbing products for purchase, and their bait for sale is always fresh!

They also have a “clean-up” station where you can continue working on your own catch at the end of the day, and you may buy snacks and cold drinks from them, such as soda and water.

And their services go way beyond just the normal drive system tune-ups, oil changes, and repairs along the river because they also give you a new way to enjoy the water by providing access to kayaks and stand-up paddleboards if you wish to take part in these exciting activities.

A boat near a bridge at Red Bank Marina.

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Enjoy Some Fun Activities at Count Basie Park

One of the biggest parks on Henry Street in Red Bank is the Count Basie Park, one of the larger and more popular green spaces, which make it a great place to go for a walk, have a picnic, or catch up with your neighbors.

This engaging park is ADA accessible with a playground for children and restrooms to make anyone’s visit comfortable.

If you’re interested in other recreation, this facility has ample space for walking or running and various sports, such as baseball, soccer, and basketball.

So if you’re close to the Red Bank area, make sure that this is one of your stops during your “parks” tour.

See Original Artworks at Detour Gallery

At Detour Gallery, you just don’t have a choice but to fully appreciate the world’s most admirable art in a stress-free environment.

Whether through formal or informal sessions, there are plenty of opportunities for people to view the works on display and make their interpretations of what they might love about each piece.

Detour Gallery also provides the perfect backdrop for your memorable event by bringing together a contemporary design.

They’ve been presenting an expanded roster of artists and offering a wide range of artwork in diverse styles, enough to keep you occupied for hours.

They originally exhibit realistic, outsider art, abstract, 19th-century genre art, urban art, street art, pop art, hyper-realistic, photography, and so forth.

Skate into Fun at The Red Bank Armory Ice Complex

Everyone loves a party, especially when friends and family come together to enjoy some food and ice skating afterward.

The Armory Ice Complex is the best ice skating facility in Red Bank, New Jersey, where skaters of all ages can take advantage of exceptional facilities for ice skating.

The rink used to be a military training facility that housed cavalry and mechanized units, but it’s now operated privately to be an excellent place for families to spend the day or young professionals who need some ice moment.

Here at the Armory Ice Complex, you’ll find both Rinks 1 and 2 available for rental to host your next birthday party, family skate, or sports training camp.

The skate shop and skating rink feature party rooms capable of accommodating up to 20 people and also offer private ice rentals for great parties and events.

Appreciate Masterpieces at Chetkin Gallery

Located in the lovely historic building of 9 Wharf Avenue, Red Bank, New Jersey, Chetkin Gallery began in 1987 to provide the people in the community and visitors with an opportunity to invest in great contemporary art and artists.

The Chetkin Gallery has an outstanding selection of oil paintings from increasingly renowned French, Chinese, and English artists specializing in Classical Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and Contemporary Impressionistic techniques.

These painters are highly versatile with the representation of numerous subjects, ranging from landscapes to portraits to still lifes.

As the gallery grew over time, the ambiance has remained warm and inviting, with an intimate atmosphere where you can feel comfortable enjoying a variety of selected works.

And if you’re also a private collector looking for something to add some spice to your collection, you’ll always find joy in acquiring the right painting for your art collection in this art studio, whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector.

Their long-lasting relationships with artists enable them to amass an incredible collection of original works from European contemporary visual artists.

And if you’re an artist yourself, they’ll also assist you in selling your artwork through various auction houses like the Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the UK.

Unlock the Mystery at Trap Door Escape Room

Trap Door Escape Room is the first of its kind, offering a unique escape room experience that’s unlike any other.

The term “escape room” may lead you to believe that the scenario is the same as it would be in a normal escape room.

However, Trap Door Escape Room actually breaks out of this paradigm by completely reimagining what an escape room can be.

On top of that, they invariably offer a top-notch, immersive experience with no limitations: it’s an open world where players are free to simply explore the environment and make their own choices and objective-driven and heavily story-driven in which every game is different based on how you play it!

As a world-renowned escape room developer, Trap Door is taking the entertainment industry to new heights through their captivating experiences using touch in an emotional and meaningful way for their guests.

Trap Door Escape Room’s newest adventure, “Follow The White Rabbit,” is the perfect way for you to have a weekend getaway and imagine yourself falling down the rabbit hole after taking the infamous shot of poison from the caterpillar in Wonderland.

In this door-crashing game show style of game, you’ll be a part of the madness as you uncover what brought about the famous Alice’s retreat from sanity.

Live Out Your Musical Fantasy at the Count Basie Center for the Arts

Exterior of Count Basie Center for the arts.

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Originally called Reade’s Carlton Theater, the Count Basie Center for the Arts opened in 1926 and is now a historically-significant opera house on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pollstar magazine even cited the venue as one of America’s leading venues for live music and became a prominent sanctuary of many famous musicians.

The performers who graced its historic stage include well-known English drummer Ringo Starr, the legendary jazz pianist William J. “Count” Basie, the E Street Band Bruce Springsteen, the great American jazz vocalist Tony Bennett, and more.

Near exterior view of the Count Basie Center for the arts.

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The Count Basie Center for the Arts is a vibrant pillar of community culture that has provided the residents of this area with happiness, joy, and excitement since it was founded over 90 years ago.

The center aims to become a cultural destination of focus, instilling in its patrons a sense of neighborhood association through their attendance to their many different offerings and classes.

Have a Refreshing Drink at Red Tank Brewing

The family-owned and operated micro-brewery Red Tank Brewing Company is a little corner of paradise in Red Bank, where you’ll find some of the best handcrafted beers in town.

Red Tank Brewing Company is a sentimental brewery founded on life, family, and the love for good beer, believing that a beer reflects how you live and how you think, which means the beer you enjoy will be one made with an artisan’s passion and a craftsman’s eyes.

The thing that makes this brewery any different from other breweries is the atmosphere, or what you might call a home pub feel.

Because when you come to one of their establishments, it’s like hanging out with friends, only the drinks are so great that they make you feel better than your friends would anyway.

So if you’re within Red Bank’s premises, you need to visit Red Tank Brewing and try their Ips Hazy Cosmic Jive that possesses an intense flavor profile yet surprisingly light on your palate.

Now, that’s not the only crisp, refreshing, and perfect for sipping under fresh air, but they also have their local favorite Molly Pitcher Amber Ale, which is also a deliciously smooth-tasting brew with a hint of malty goodness!

Catch a Show at Theatre of Two River Theater

Exterior of Two River Theater.

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Two River Theater is a not-for-profit theater that produces professional plays for the local community and for people who want to be involved in the acting business.

Two River Theatre gives opportunities to the community by offering great plays that can be seen at their 350-seat Main Stage Theater or the smaller 99-seat black box theater.

They’ve already commissioned over 18 original plays, musicals, and adaptations, and gone on to find critical acclaim both across the nation and internationally.

Two River Theater also serves as a creative haven for artists, providing them with the support they need to continue cultivating their work over the years.

And they offer a wide range of productions, including American classics, new plays, and musicals, and cater to the younger generation by providing educational events and community festivals.

Their season is brought to life each year through an impressive number of events that reflect the diverse community in which it exists.

Experience the Classic Steak at Danny’s Steakhouse

Danny’s Steakhouse is where celebrities from entertainment to sports and residents all gather for a nice, sit-down meal for good conversation and pleasant company over a good meal.

Danny’s Steakhouse is the place to go if you’re looking for that classic steakhouse experience with a quiet atmosphere, perfect for a romantic setting or spending some time with family, no matter what the occasion may be.

Danny’s Steakhouse offers a delicious selection of food that can all be enjoyed at a table or even taken home for later enjoyment.

They also offer excellent sides and desserts, coupled with a pretty good wine selection that makes this restaurant an absolute must-try.

Make sure to visit Danny’s Steakhouse and just see for yourself how great everything about this place is.

Pick Some Fresh Product at Galleria Red Bank Farmers Market

The New Jersey Farmers Market offers locally-grown produce from the state’s finest farmers and showcased a variety of crafts and eateries to choose from at one central location.

The farmers market has been so great that its vendors grew to over 40, with around 1,000 people attending each Sunday.

The Galleria promotes a sense of community by bringing like-minded individuals together for an educational forum focusing on local business development.

Running from May through early November, the market opens every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lies in the parking lot of The Galleria on Bridge Avenue and West Front Street.

With its updated, elegant atmosphere and rich culture and history, the Galleria is a fantastic spot to be sure to stop by when visiting Monmouth County.

Discover Exquisite Coffee at Coffee at Corral

From the moment you walk into Coffee Corral, a wave of warmth will fill your being with comfort, because as soon as you step into the store, you’ll realize that you aren’t just at any coffee shop.

No matter your taste, of almost fifteen different New Orleans style, Single Origin coffees, Cold Brew coffees, and organic roasts, they offer a cup you cannot compare to.

They also support many different horse racing charities and local businesses and artists, which makes them one of the coolest local places to bring your family or meet up with friends.

It’s also a great place to hang out for breakfast, lunch, or whenever you need your morning cup of Joe because everything is freshly made.

After purchase, you can take a seat either inside the cute, quaint bar, or you can go outside where live bands play music from time to time, and a tiny field of tables set against the quirky wall designs makes it a great place for dates or family outings.

Friendly staffs are always on hand to provide for your precise needs, so it’s hard not to love coming back here again and again!

Shop at City Center Plaza

City Center Plaza is a friendly shopping mall near Water Street in Red Bank, New Jersey.

The mall has a wheelchair-accessible entrance for quick accessibility and friendly services.

Within City Centre Plaza, you can find not just one but a few convenient and reliable businesses.

For example, the Walgreens drug store chain is conveniently located inside the shopping district itself.

Also on hand are a popular mailing service by FedEx and a terrific Mexican restaurant – Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The parking lot is difficult, but good to have access to many tasty stores like delis or coffee shops that make quick stops convenient.

Final Thoughts

Smaller cities may not have all the towering skyscrapers or hip nightclubs, but they are loaded with character and charm.

Take some time to jot down all the fun things to do in Red Bank, NJ, before you leave so that you can get the most out of your vacation.

You’ll soon find that bigger isn’t always better and that there’s a lot to be said for smaller cities, particularly those on the waterfront, which offer a special kind of comfort and neighborly feel.

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