There is nothing like enjoying a fun night out. Whether it’s dancing all night, listening to some live music, making your own at a karaoke night, or hearing some jokes at a comedy club, Northern New Jersey has tons of options to keep the party going. Keep reading for more information about where to go out in Northern New Jersey, based on your preferences.
“I’m looking to dance every night of the weekend” — 46 Lounge | 300 US Highway 46, Totowa
46 Lounge in Totowa has fun events four nights out of the week. On Thursdays, the bar has a late-night party with chill vibes and music. In addition to drinks and shots, hookah is also available. Risky Fridays provide a more upscale night out. Music varies from house, hip hop, reggaeton, and radio favorites. Saturday is Latin Impulse with music including Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, House, Dance, Hip Hop, and more. Sunday events can vary. Its website also has a tab for Special Events for more information.
Read More: Bars in the Montclair Area to Visit Based on Your Drink Preferences
“I want live music while I sip on a cocktail” — Backstage | 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
Backstage is located on Hoboken’s busy Washington Avenue and serves cocktails, bites, desserts, and wines. It has events for tasting and live music. Live music is held on Wednesday from 7:30PM-10:30PM, and includes artists like Mike Murphy, Jazz with Nicholas Valencia, Gina Royale, and more. In addition to live music, Sundays are Tiki Nights, Mondays are Industry Nights, and Tuesday evenings are All-Night Happy Hours.
“I’m just here for the jokes” — Bananas Comedy Club | 801 Rutherford Avenue, Rutherford
The audience will go bananas for a night at this comedy club located in the Renaissance Hotel in Rutherford. Bananas Comedy Club prides itself on bringing big talent into an intimate experience. Some comics that visited Bananas are Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jeff Dye, Anthony Rodia, and more. For those looking to make comedy nights more frequent occurrences in their calendars, Bananas has an Insiders Club so patrons can get more information about pre-sale tickets, promotions, VIP opportunities, and more.
“I want the look + feel of a NYC club but in NJ” — Birch | 92 River Street, Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
Birch takes the title of “Hoboken’s premiere nightlife” as partiers swarm this hot spot on River Street near the water. Birch has two floors of fun with each floor having a large bar accessible for patrons. The venue is open mainly on Fridays and Saturdays. The music vibe at Birch can range from House, Rap, R+B, Throwback, + Pop. More information can be found on Birch’s FAQ page such as the dress code and where to park. Some DJs that passed by Birch are DJ Avera + Nico Oso, Martin + Cream, and Zack Martino.
“I’m down to grab drinks + I love themed parties” — Cloverleaf Tavern | 395 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
The Cloverleaf has been a staple in Caldwell since it was founded in 1933. For those who aren’t chasing a club scene, perhaps this tavern is more of a vibe. The Cloverleaf is always known for bringing the party. Some events it has held are The Ultimate PJ Party (including Founder’s flights, PJs attire is encouraged, and the first come first serve receive a Founders/Cloverleaf mug), a Halloween costume party, and a Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day party. Cloverleaf also has themed trivia regularly. Some topics include Friends, Taylor Swift, The Office, and Star Wars.
“I love rock + roll… and some other tunes mixed in every once in a while” — Dingbatz | 620 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton
Dingbatz first opened its doors in Y2K fashion on May 22nd, 2004. This is a venue that thrives on live music. Some of the live music featured at Dingbatz includes Lloyd Banks, Tay Tay Dance Party — featuring DJ Swiftie, Unloveable (a tribute to The Smiths + Morrissey), AC/DC Tributes, and Metal Battles (between six bands, and three will move on to a Round 2 Battle).
“I want to dance all night… but I might get hungry” — Fiesta Night Club | 115 President Street, Passaic
Fiesta is located near the intersection of President Street and Parker Avenue. Its website has an accessible All Events tab, so partiers can find upcoming events with ease. Some of the events Fiesta hosted include Sabados de Fiesta, DJs vs Sonidos, and events featured multiple performers such as MC Magic, Baby Bash, and Lil Rob. Dancing all night leaves many hungry, so Fiesta has a menu consisting of appetizers to share, tacos, salads, fajitas, burritos, and more.
“I’m looking for a chill vibe that also has karaoke” — JK’s Boathouse | 558 Washington Avenue, Belleville
View this post on Instagram
JK Boathouse is located on Washington Avenue in Belleville. It has a friendly atmosphere and serves some great burgers. On Thursdays, JK’s hosts a karaoke night from 8PM-12AM. In addition to Karaoke, JK’s also has some specials for sporting events. If the vibe is grabbing drinks and watching games, JK has access to all playoff games as well. Specials will be shown on the website’s homepage.
“First I want dinner, then I want live music” — Just Jake’s | 30 Park Street, Montclair
This family-run restaurant + bar opened its doors in 1997. Just Jake’s covers dinners, drinks, dancing, and music at its venue. Some of the live shows featured at Jake’s are a DJ Series (including DJ Louie + DJ Lou Mattia), The Benjamins, and its locally famous Nine Deez Nite covering throwback after throwback. Drinks include cocktails, beer, + wine. Menu items include wings, tacos, quesadillas, burgers, and more. Stop in early to grab dinner, then watch the restaurant transform into a standing-room-only live music dance hall.
“I want DJ music with a more upscale dining vibe” — La Taverna Lounge (at Il Vecchio Cafe) | 234 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Located in Calandra’s Italian Village, La Taverna Lounge combines a bar and lounge feel with upscale dining. The party can take place day or night at La Taverna. Some events that the establishment hosted are Zumba Dance Party + Brunch with Tre Deuce, Karaoke Nights, and a repeated event called Retro Saturdays. Patrons can visit its website and look for Upcoming Events under the Events tab to see more.
“I want a place that looks quiet on the outside, but has a banger going on inside” — Laundromat Speakeasy | 4 Dehart Street, Morristown
View this post on Instagram
This Morristown staple is the town’s only 23 and older bar. This establishment is also known as a speakeasy and is hidden in the basement of the building at 4 Dehart Street. Its doors are open Thursday through Saturday from 5 PM to 2AM. The Laundromat also prides itself in its cocktails made from some of the best bartenders in NJ. Some of the performers that premiered at the Laundromat Speakeasy are Bullshark, 7th Realm, Mr Lovejoy, The Exits, and more.
“My step count is low. I want to dance almost every night of the week” — Mandala Lounge | 246 3rd Street, Passaic
View this post on Instagram
This dance + nightclub has good music, great cocktails, and eats. The Mandala Lounge has hosted performers such as DJ Makarena, DJ Tory Flow, and more. Upcoming events and DJs can be found on the venue’s Instagram page. The website also shows available drinks from Wednesday to Saturday and a special list for Sunday. Appetizers (like tostones mandala + guacamole) and entrees (like enchiladas + tacos) can be ordered. There are also menus available on the home page for bottle service on various nights of the week.
“I’m a big fan of alternative rock, punk, + metal music. I need a place to headbang in peace” — Meatlocker | 8 Park Street, Montclair
The Meatlocker is located on Park Street in Montclair and has been known to house some great live music. This venue hosted music events like a Spookyfest combining the musical vibes of punk, grind, hardcore, death metal, and more. Information about upcoming events can be found on the venue’s Facebook page.
“I want a chill bar scene, but with a DJ music vibe” — Ringside Pub | 379 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
This pub recently celebrated 45 years in business and sits on Caldwell’s main drag, Bloomfield Avenue. Ringside Pub has a variety of events for partygoers. DJ appearances happen every Thursday evening. On Fridays and Saturdays the pub has bands playing for patrons. Sundays are reserved for open mic. So whether guests would like to listen or join in on the fun, there’s a night of the week for everyone at Ringside.
“My friends + I love karaoke. I want a place that can let all of us be together + sing our favorite tunes” — Rock 21 Bar + Karaoke | 400 Bergen Boulevard, Palisades Park
View this post on Instagram
Those who take their karaoke seriously should visit Rock 21 Bar + Karaoke. Rock 21 is a newer karaoke bar in Palisades Park. It serves Korean + American-style food for guests. Those looking for a more private experience can also rent a room. Karaoke rooms can be reserved for up to 30 people.
“I want good karaoke + great food” — Roosterspin | 251 North Avenue West, Westfield
Located in Westfield, Roosterspin is a Karaoke bar and restaurant serving great food and an even better music selection. At Roosterspin, it is highly recommended to have a reservation. There’s also food available with options like Dynamite Shrimp, Buffalo Chicken Roll, Miso Ramen, Garlic Fried Rice, and more. Guests can also call to book a private karaoke room for larger parties.
“I‘m down to laugh all night… I may be up for trying to tell a few jokes myself at some point.” — Scotty’s Pub + Comedy Cove | 595 Morris Avenue, Springfield
Spend the night laughing away at Scotty’s Pub + Comedy Cove. This venue hosts comedians such as Chris Roach, Bob Levy, and more. There are also options on the website for dinner + a show where diners can have an appetizer, an entree, and a pass to laugh all evening. For those who dare, Scotty’s has a comedy Open Mic Night on Wednesdays.
“I like all kinds of music. I just want a nice night out to have a good time at a bar with live music.” — Shawn’s Crazy Saloon | 350 Belleville Turnpike, North Arlington
Located near the corner of Belleville Turnpike and Chestnut Street, Shawn’s Crazy Saloon provides live music every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, + Sunday. Some performers at the saloon include an ACDC tribute band, Sensational Soul Cruisers, + Kelsey Hickman. Some genres of music are classic rock, metal, 80s, 90s, country, and more. Guests can visit the Tickets tab to find more about how to purchase tickets through Eventbrite and information about upcoming shows.
“I want a club scene but I may also want to dabble with karaoke too — Six 26 | 128 Christopher Columbus Drive, Jersey City
Located close to the intersection of Christopher Columbus Drive and Barrow Street, Six 26 has a variety of entertainment for its patrons. Karaoke happens every Wednesday evening from 8PM until closing. Thursdays are reserved for Latinx Thursdays from 8PM until closing. There are also two drag shows available each week.
“I want a vibe where live music meets Cheers… warm + welcomings chats with live music” — Tierney’s Tavern | 136-138 Valley Road, Montclair
Tierney’s Tavern has two floors of fun. Upstairs has a fully loaded jukebox, and the downstairs section is “where friends meet since 1934.” The upstairs section also includes live music from a band each week. Some musical guests that stopped by are The John McDermott Band, Essex Funk Collective, The Flemtones, and more. If looking for something a little more private, patrons can rent out the upstairs section of this establishment.
“I’m looking for a karaoke scene but BYOB” — Volume Up Karaoke | 880 River Road, Edgewater
Located in Edgewater right across the river from that beautiful NYC skyline sits Volume Up Karaoke. Enjoy the evening with views and tunes. This establishment is also BYOB so patrons are free to bring whatever liquid courage may be needed to bust out their favorite karaoke numbers. There’s a section of the website titled Rooms + Prices to show how many people each room can hold and see the service fees.
See More: 36 Hours in Hoboken: Here’s How to Spend Your Time
“I want to jam to music in a concert hall scene” — White Eagle Hall | 337 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
View this post on Instagram
White Eagle Hall is a relatively newly restored building with some great history behind it. Live music and performances can be found at this location. Some events the venue has had include Bollywood Night, Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay, Club Sumo, Emo Night Karaoke, Todd Barry Half Joking Tour, and more. Party people can view the Calendar tab to see upcoming shows and where to purchase tickets.
