Livingston is a charming town just a short distance away from Montclair. This Essex County gem has a population of nearly 30,000 residents and spans over 14 square miles. The suburban town hosts a variety of restaurants, parks, and specialty retail shops. There is an emphasis on community and history within the landmark establishments in Livingston. It is a great choice to spend the day eating, shopping, and appreciating the artistic flair of the town. Read on for your guide to a day trip to Livingston, New Jersey.
History
Livingston is named after the first governor of New Jersey, William Livingston who served 13 terms before 1790. In the 1700s, settlers from Newark obtained land from the Lenni Lenape Indians that now forms Caldwell, Livingston, and West Essex. In 1813, the land solely encompassing Livingston was formed to comprise the township of Livingston.
Originally, farming was a top industry in Livingston but after the invention of the automobile in 1886, housing took over and Livingston became a commuting suburb. Livingston boasts a strong influence from the performing arts as the township has a children’s theater, a community theater, and is home to the New Jersey Ballet Company.
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Things to Do
Dieci Lifestyles Spa | 90 West Mount Pleasant Avenue
Treat yourself to a relaxing visit at this wellness and beauty spa. The serene 13,000-square-foot space provides many treatments beyond the traditional beauty salon. Dieci has a variety of facials, Hydrafacials, massages, and body treatments. For those looking for a truly relaxing experience, check out Dieci’s infrared sauna and salt lounge. The innovative lifestyle spa provides cupping as a body treatment as well as a variety of body scrubs and wrap options.
Livingston Town Center | 100-8100 Town Center Way
At the heart of Livingston is the Town Center which is a walkable stretch of retail stores, restaurants, and residences. There are a variety of eateries including Thavma Mediterranean Grill and 16 Handles while shopping at stores such as Mixology and Shiseido. The Center also has multiple service shops including Livingston Nail Studio and the Lash Lounge.
Riker Hill Art Park | 276 Beaufort Avenue
The Riker Hill Art Park is a rare park with a rich history as it was once a Cold War Military Site. In the 1950’s, the land was a United States Army Missile Base. In 1974, the Army closed the base and sold the property to the county for $1. At first, the land hosted a geology museum, but the museum closed due to budget constraints. Instead, the land was transformed into a park that hosts artists’ studios and the vibe of the park is both breathtaking and creative. To visit, you must drive through beautiful Livingston neighborhoods. You will know you are at the park when you see elaborate pieces of art that eventually lead to an overhang. This is a great place for exceptional photos.
Where to Eat + Drink
Nero’s Grille | 618 South Livingston Avenue
Look no further than Nero’s Grille when it comes to choosing a spot for dinner. The restaurant’s elaborate bar features up to 100 different wine choices and specialty cocktails. In fact, Nero’s Grill was honored with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2023. The exquisite bar is often packed with regulars who visit Nero’s for the upbeat ambiance and good food. The restaurant is an Italian restaurant and steakhouse with excellent seafood options. The spicy vodka chicken parm, Chicken Nero (a dish made up of chicken pieces, sausage, vinegar pepper, and mushrooms,) lobster rolls, and Key Lime Pie are all customer favorites.
The Ritz Diner | 72 East Mount Pleasant Avenue
The bakery within the iconic Ritz diner is an old-fashioned treat that’s worth the trip. The Ritz’ has been a landmark in Livingston for over 40 years and celebrities — like Kenan Thompson and author Barry Farber — have visited over the years to rave about the food in this family establishment. The apple pie, available in mini pie portions, was featured on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show as a memorable sweet treat.
Super Duper Bagels | 498 South Livingston Avenue #3
Livingston is jam-packed with bagel shops but Super Duper Bagels stands out due to the authenticity and passion of the owner, Coby Adler. Super Duper Bagels has been a landmark in the area for over 35 years and is strictly Kosher and nut-free. The shop’s plain and everything bagels are the most popular items (there are three variations of the everything bagel: original, whole wheat, and multi-grain.) The jalapeno cream cheese is a unique and popular topping. In addition to bagels, the shop serves Bialys, sliced nova, and Challah, baked every Friday. Customers visit Super Duper Bagels for their salmon and Sablefish as well. The Adler family cherishes their bond with their customers, and you can feel the warmth of a truly community-oriented establishment immediately upon entering the shop. This makes Super Duper Bagels a fantastic first stop on your Livingston day trip. Super Duper Bagels is also running a special on Mondays for November: buy a dozen bagels, get three free.
Sweet Basil Café | 498 South Livingston Avenue
Sweet Basil Café is a popular Livingston option for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. The highly rated café is known for its delicious breakfast items and coffee (such as banana pecan pancakes and crab cakes benedict) as well as fresh and tasty twists on lunch and dinner plates. For example, there are two kinds of chicken salad options that can be served as a sandwich or salad platter. The café’s Pommery Chicken Salad is made with whole grain mustard, roasted red peppers, and snow peas, and the Apricot Chicken Salad is comprised of almonds, celery, dried cranberries, and apricots. The café’s vast dinner menu features standout items like the bourbon BBQ ribs and a Memphis Burger. There are also extensive vegan options.
The Twisted Tulip | 277 Eisenhower Parkway
The Twisted Tulip is the epitome of a community-driven coffee shop. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming with an artsy flair. Upon walking into the coffee shop, you can’t help but notice the graffiti art that covers the walls in this spacious café. There is inside and outside seating with delicious coffee and food options. The flavor syrups are house-made with Honey Caramel being a customer favorite. Every flavor can be used for cold foam on lattes and cold brews. Each week, the coffee shop features a drink of the week which is sold for $5. Examples of popular creations are the Maple Spice Fog, The Pumpkin Vanilla Latte, and the Lavender Mint Latte. The pastries are delicious, too, and outsourced from local and in-house chefs with banana bread and chocolate chip cookies being popular options. The Twisted Tulip’s Manager Jenn explained the shop’s mission by stating, “We want our customers to leave happier than [when] they came in.” The roomy shop is stroller-friendly, dog-friendly, and a must-try for anyone visiting Livingston for the day.
Where to Shop
Compliments Two | 163 South Livingston Avenue
Compliments Two is a long-standing member of Livingston’s retail community, having opened its doors over 50 years ago. What sets the store apart is the expertise and helpful nature of the stylists who know fashion and have a passion for helping their customers. The clothing featured in Compliments Two is high quality and timeless. The store’s vast selection of denim is impressive and pairs perfectly with the variety of beautiful cashmere sweaters. There are many options for a fancy night out as well — the pieces are unique, and the shopping experience is personalized and fun. The spacious South Livingston location is easy to navigate, and the vibe is friendly and cheerful. It is the sort of store where you feel like family and want to stay awhile. For those who are outside the area, the store has an online store, C2, as well.
Love Letters | 2 West Northfield Road #102
This charming gift store’s counter showcases a fully stocked candy store. Love Letters features old-fashioned candy and fun new twists like a candy pizza pie and gift baskets filled with nuts and candy. The store carries gifts for all ages including kid’s art supplies, an array of fashionable bags, and home décor. There is truly something for everyone in this landmark store. Love Letters has been serving the community for 35 years.
Meyer’s Dolls Toys Hobbies | 35 East Northfield Road
For the young and the young-at-heart, Meyer’s Dolls Toys and Hobbies is a quintessential stop in Livingston. Meyer’s has been in business for 110 years across the state of New Jersey, opening in New Brunswick in 1914. What sets this toy store apart is the rich history and old-fashioned influence of a traditional toy store. You can find current toys as well as classic toys such as dolls and puppets. One unique aspect of the toy store is an authentic-looking, 25-foot-long, electric train display. Kids can hit the buttons to hear different sounds while watching the train run. The store also has an elaborate wooden train display with options to purchase train parts. Meyer’s hosts Train Birthday Parties where kids can play at wooden train tables, build train layouts, decorate wooden trains, and take turns pretending to be a train engineer.
Pink Jewels Boutique | 110 Town Center Way
Located in the Livingston Town Center, Pink Jewels has a variety of classic and specialty items. The first thing you will notice upon entering the Pink Jewels Boutique is the passion of Marie, the owner. She knows her customers and can be heard chatting over fashion advice or checking in on her patrons. Marie even has private parties at the lifestyle boutique. The vibe of the shop is fun, upbeat, and personal. Pink Jewels is a fun place to pick up a thoughtful gift for someone with a variety of accessories, clothing (including fashionable pajama sets), and holiday-inspired gifts.
Precious Cargo | 2 West Northfield Road
Precious Cargo is a boutique just for kids. The store features an expansive selection of trendy and classic clothing with the warmth and care of a neighborhood establishment. There is also a focus on infants and supreme customer service. Expecting parents can consult on building a layette basket to make sure they have everything they need once the baby arrives at no charge. Busy parents can even pay ahead and take advantage of the store’s curbside delivery service, directly into their cars. Precious Cargo has been in business for over 30 years.
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Vanilla Sky | 159 South Livingston Avenue
This fast fashion store has options for everyone who keeps up with the trends and has a flair for fashion. The store features many brands including: Boys Lie, Free People, Risen, and Just Black. Vanilla Sky carries comfortable casual clothing as well as the perfect going-out outfits. Vanilla Sky is the perfect stop for anyone looking to update their wardrobe or find the perfect gift.
NJDEP Hosts Essex-Hudson Greenway Open House, Aiming for 2025 Groundbreaking
On September 15th, 2022 Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state of New Jersey had officially acquired a former rail line + would be converting it into a massive greenway, which will stretch from Essex County to Hudson County. This almost nine-mile linear state park, which starts in Montclair and runs to Jersey City, will serve as a recreational path for bikers and walkers — as well as provide necessary green space to a variety of communities. The hope is that this design will also help mitigate flooding in many areas. This new trail will follow along the right-of-way of the eastern portion of NJ Transit’s former Boonton Line, which discontinued commuter service back in 2002 and, after freight services stopped in 2015, has since been inactive. The state spent $65 million to acquire this 135-acre property — which is the single largest conservation project ever, per an announcement from the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project. Now, we know that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is aiming to break ground on the Newark section of the project in 2025. An open house was held on November 13th, where design plans for the project were revealed. Read on for what to know about the plans for the Essex-Hudson Greenway, including an upcoming open house to learn about project updates.
November 2024 Update
Per NJDEP's website, groundbreaking for the Newark section of the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project is expected to take place in 2025. NJDEP and NJ Transit hosted an open-house-style event on Wednesday, November 13th from 6PM-8PM at Park Elementary School — located at 120 Manchester Place in Newark — to inform locals about project updates, see artistic images of the Greenway, and share thoughts.
The design plans revealed at the open house include a map of the initial greenway development + construction that includes three community areas in the Newark section — which will span 0.8 miles from Branch Brook Park to Broadway.
The Branch Brook Park Overlook will feature views of Branch Brook Park with lawn and picnic space; The Tiffany Manor Hub will be a gathering space with seating and opportunities for food trucks and other short-term amenities; and The Newark Central Hub will include ADA-accessible play features, a performance space, sports courts, and restrooms. More details can be found on NJDEP's website.
This post will be updated as more details come out surrounding the groundbreaking.
Read More: Outdoor Exercise Paths in Essex County
All About the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project
Governor Phil Murphy and the Essex-Hudson Greenway Project announced on September 15th, 2022 that they had achieved a major milestone: the purchasing of a northern New Jersey inactive railway. This railway, which was NJ Transit’s former Boonton Line, is slated to be turned into a linear State Park that will stretch from Montclair to Jersey City on an almost nine-mile path. The state spent $65 million, which is the single largest conservation project to date — and is also the biggest investment in a non-motorized transportation corridor.
This project has been a long time coming with a lot of advocates working behind the scenes. The Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition — which is made up of the Open Space Institute, the New Jersey Bike + Walk Coalition, and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance — celebrated the purchase back in 2022.
“This acquisition by Governor Murphy and the state of New Jersey brings us one step closer to creating much-needed green space to the most densely populated and diverse region in the entire nation,” Kim Elliman, president and CEO of the Open Space Institute, said in the original announcement.
This 135-acre property will start from Montclair and pass through Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus, and end in Jersey City. The path, which is up to 100 feet wide at certain spots, will allow residents space for recreational biking and walking. Plus, according to the original release, this trail will provide a host of different benefits to residents in these areas.
"The Greenway has the potential to support new and existing businesses, create enhanced access to a healthy, thriving green space for historically underserved communities, and offer the communities adjacent to the property with significant flood control and environmental solutions to resolve longstanding issues," the announcement said.
In 2021, the September 11th National Memorial Trail received unanimous federal legislation for a trail route, which created a triangle-shaped, 1,300-mile trail. The Essex-Hudson Greenway will make up a portion of this trail.
“Many people don’t realize that in addition to providing nearby residents with new green space, the Essex-Hudson Greenway also has national significance as a component of the 9/11 Memorial Trail,” Andy Hamilton, Chair of the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance Board of Directors, previously said. “It’s exciting to see that we are one step closer to realizing this full potential of this project and we remain committed to supporting the State of New Jersey and our coalition partners as the project moves forward.”
Many locals have been campaigning for a linear park that would serve as a “shared-use path” for people walking, riding a bike, running, rollerblading, or just relaxing. Advocates including the Bloomfield Open Space Trust Fund, the Friends of the Ice + Iron Trail, and groups in North Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken have been pushing for this Greenway to come to fruition.
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We can't wait to see what this project will look like once it's finished.
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