50 Best Cocktail Bars near Short Hills

“Visited with friends for Dinner and Drinks, and we all had a great time. Cocktail options were limited but they were strong. Most of the Food item was good, but the Chicken was a little bit dry.

Service was a bit relaxed despite the place being not that crowded but the Staff were friendly and polite. Overall, pretty good option for Dinner and Drinks.“

“First time at Eataly in Short Hills. Food was really good but the service wasn’t. Long waits to order - to get water - to get a kids menu, and then the server didn’t pace the order so that the entrees came out at the same time. Half of our party got their pizza a full 30 minutes before the half of the party that ordered pasta or other mains. As we were waiting for the rest of our food she explained how the pizza comes out so much faster - I guess she just didn’t think to put in the order accordingly. The food was all great. We could have used Parmesan for the bolognese, but couldn’t wait for the server to come back before eating it. It looked like an issue with one server, versus the overall experience. But that’s our hopeful thinking. We will give it another try.“

“Kaza Urban Dining es una nueva incorporación a la escena de los restaurantes, que combina un diseño elegante, platos innovadores y una atmósfera que te atrae desde el momento en que cruzas la puerta.
Food:
The menu at Kaza Urban Dining is a creative fusion of global flavors with a modern twist, offering something for everyone.
Service:
The staff at Kaza Urban Dining is welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable. They strike the perfect balance between being available when you need them and giving you the space to enjoy your meal. The team is also well-versed in the menu, providing insightful recommendations and accommodating dietary needs with ease.

Drinks:
Kaza’s bar offers a wide selection of expertly crafted cocktails, wines, and mocktails. The cocktail menu is inventive, with seasonal ingredients and unique infusions that complement the food menu perfectly. The bartenders clearly know their craft, and each drink is beautifully presented and balanced in flavor.

Design:
The interior of Kaza Urban Dining is modern yet warm, with an urban aesthetic that’s both chic and comfortable. The space is carefully designed with a mix of sleek furniture, tasteful lighting, and touches of greenery that create an inviting atmosphere. The open layout and tasteful decor make it the perfect spot for both casual meals and special occasions.

Music:
The music at Kaza Urban Dining adds to the overall ambiance without overpowering it. The playlist is a mix of contemporary and classic tracks that set a relaxed, upbeat tone, enhancing the dining experience without disrupting conversation.
Overall:
Kaza Urban Dining is a must-visit for food lovers looking for a place that offers not just a meal but a full sensory experience. With its delicious food, top-notch service, carefully crafted drinks, stunning design, and well-curated music, Kaza Urban Dining has quickly become a standout destination. It’s a place where you can savor every bite, enjoy the ambiance, and unwind in style. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a fresh, urban dining experience.“

“I have not had the opportunity to have dinner there yet, but have had lunch on three different occasions prior to going to the Paper Mill Playhouse up the street. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and great food and customer service. Restaurant has several booths and tables which gives you privacy if you choose to do so, or you could go to the bar side where there are some large TVs for watching your favorite sport as you dine. We will continue to go there when I’m in the area.“

“Great place had fun with friends. Good friendy staff an food looks really good. Even though I didn't actually order any myself this first visit. Also 2 for 1 shots all night definitely helped even more. They also have touch tunes jukebox. Recommend to all visit this establishment.“

“We are BEYOND ECSTATIC with our wedding cake and all other pastries and desserts provided by Calandra’s Bakery! No other bakery bakes your cake at 3:00AM the day of your wedding and it shows! Super fresh moist and SUPER DELICIOUS! Every guests commented about the spectacular presentation…simple yet elegant carrying our live orchid theme with LIFELIKE piped orchid petals cascading down each layer! What a joy to have such an unforgettable and memorable experience of knowing our family and friends will remember our wedding cake as much as we will! We had the choice of several bakeries but must end by telling this story…we had checked out a couple of bakeries but after a final wedding gown fitting we decided to visit Calandras. Unannounced we asked to see the person who could help us with our wedding cake. Calandra’s is an incredible “complex” and was extremely busy place but we were directed to Aisha Maliki. Aisha dropped everything presented us with an exquisite tray of every wedding cake option in bite size proportions all fresh and delicious. She gave us coffee and tea and gave us time to talk amongst ourselves in a relaxed atmosphere until our decision was unanimous! She then proceeded to take us through the endless design options available and helped us tweak every little detail until alas our vision for the PERFECT wedding cake had come to life! Mind you we did this unannounced but Aisha couldn’t have been more cordial personable professional and most of all friendly! We left SO elated to leave having one of the most important wedding checkboxes checked and feeling we just had welcomed a new family member into the fold! Based on our incredible experience with Aisha and Calandra’s your choice for YOUR wedding cake and pastries should be Calandra’s! You will definitely not be sorry!“

“Great place to hang out with friends, food was ok , I ordered grill chicken and I needed to be more cooked inside , other than that everything was great , I would order something else next time but music and drinks was great , fun ambience would def recommend“

“Great cocktails and knowledgeable staff“

“Date night at the Rabbit Hole! Reservations were easy to make and our hostess was very kind and quick to seat us. Our server, John, was incredibly friendly, explained all the specials, and gave great recommendations. He had a wonderful sense of humor too! The vibes were awesome - loved the wonderland theming and the moody lighting. Great date spot! The food was definitely a highlight. We got the lobster mac (which was made with risotto) and the ricotta and sausage pizza. Would definitely recommend both. The cocktails were beautiful and creative. We will definitely be returning!“

“if you like good food this is the place to go. We had a little bit of everything. Highly recommend the cheese and meat board and the gnocchi is amazing. The winner of the night was the tuna and don't skip dessert. We will come back.“

“This place is a gem.
The best time to go is at around 3:00. The restaurant was virtually empty when we arrived and we were seated immediately.
As soon as we ordered our food, it was on our table within 7 minutes.
Our waiter was very kind!
I highly recommend the Rainbow roll and the Kinya Ramen bowl.
The serving sizes are large and more than enough for one person.
My boyfriend and I plan to return for the excellent food and upstanding service.

Gordon Ramsey would be silent at one bite of the delicious goodness on the Kinya menu. Incredibly tasty. -A Hell’s Kitchen Reference“

“We have been coming here for years! Love the service, the food and the ambiance ♥️“

“Nami Nori in Montclair is a hidden gem. With delicious vegetarian options and amazing sushi, it's definitely worth a visit. The appetizers are a standout, and the sushi rolls are expertly prepared. If you're in the area, don't miss out on this fantastic restaurant.“

“GREAT SERVICE FOOD AND FUN“

“What can I say, another amazing holiday at my house because evolution! After have the great meal from Thanksgiving catered we decided to do it again for Christmas Eve! Best decision ever! The food was absolutely delicious and was the perfect amount for my family of 10! It’s a pleasure dealing with Dina and all the staff ! (I’m sure everyone there thinks im a pest !) the accommodated all of my substitutions and were very open to me picking what I wanted. I live 45 minutes away and they delivered to us ! Again, so grateful! I cannot recommend this establishment enough. I wish I lived closer because I would be there so often. Thank you evolution for again helping me have a beautiful holiday with a 3 year old and a newborn. You all are rockstars !“

“Me & Husband Love house 157. Our waitress Elijah is awesome . I always get the Rasta Pasta w. Grilled chicken . Hubbsz gets the lamb chops… love it here. Atmosphere and music amazing . Drinks also a hit.

Parking: Parking across the street at autozone.“

“Totally enjoyed our first visit to this new gem. The decor is creative, the cocktails are delicious and the food is excellent. The staff is attentive and very friendly! Wishing them all the best and hoping this place is around for a long time!!“

“Outstanding craft cocktails and delicious food! I only wish I had found them on my first night in Rahway rather than my last. I would have been here every night…“

“I have celiac and am dairy free and felt very safe dining here. Ordered a gluten free bolognese and it was DELICIOUS and the mocktails/cocktails were fantastic as well. Can’t wait to come here again!

Dietary restrictions: Amazing gluten and dairy free options. Staff was very accommodating!“

“Too bad I live out of state because this is my FAVORITE restaurant in NJ. Wonderful staff and food. Not as noisy as other places because of the decor/layout. The prices seem a little high but when you can't even finish your food - that's a good deal. The menu is phenomenal. If you can't find something to eat here then you are insane.“

“I love their vegan options. Everything is so fresh and tastes great. My go to place when I want good burgers and shakes.

Vegetarian options: They actually have vegan options which is why I love ordering from them. They make it taste great and don’t skip on the flavor and texture.“

“Everything was pretty much perfect except for that lobster malfadine. literally what was that? probably the worst thing I’ve ever tasted. Wow. Vanilla & Lobster? Maybe im missing something. Jesus Christ. I can’t even exaggerate how terrible it was. Apps were great and drinks were ok. Mind boggled by that pasta still“

“This is the first 5 Star restaurant we have found in NJ since moving in 1991 from Manhatten. Four of us went this past sunday evening. Everything was 5 star,including food; Niavh's (Irish name pronounced as Nieve) service; and the personable manager, Dave. Gorgeous wood and glass. Great Ambience. Easy to park. Could not be happier!“

“Thanks Daniela, you are always so sweet and great bartender. Thanks to Sebastian and Nicole also great team.“

“food is decent
service a bit slow bc the bartender is busy at the bar so tables in dining room fall to a lower priority. makes sense though because they're not that busy.

it doesn't have the dive bar vibe it had before...“

“great place great football menu other food is good as well“

“Buena comida , buen ambiente, excelente atención, calidad“

“best place in elizabethport,,, great food ,and great services,,, 100% recommended“

“5 stars! Great drinks and they offer a happy hour !! Food was very good , with big selection and very reasonably priced.“

“Great first time Dining at Captial Craft, experience was amazing, even thanked the chef for the wonderful food.“

“Can I just say WOW!!!! Been waiting to come here for quite some time, and it far surpassed every expectation I had!! Staff was lovely! Creative, DELICIOUS appetizers... We tried several, and seriously each one was SOOO GOOD!!! I'm a huge fan of Detroit style pizza, and it was cooked to perfection! Dessert was absolutely phenomenal as well! One of the best meals I've had in some time, from start to finish! They even had live music upstairs, which was such a nice surprise! Can't wait for our next trip back!!! Thank you for a wonderful evening!“

“We had a great meal at LaColina Mexican Cantina. We got seated pretty quick but we did get there by 6… got a little more crowded at 7 on a Saturday night. Food options were great as well as the drinks. Atmosphere was great also and there was a good amount of people there on a Saturday night. Just one down side… I don’t like that they automatically add on 20% tip on the bill. Tip should be based on great service and at the customers discretion.“

“Went here tonight. Had a wonderful experience. Friendly staff, pretty good food, A+ drinks and ambience. Had the tuna tartare- think they can sauce up a little bit and hit with a " vehicle" ( tostada, etc), but overall, fine!! And surprisingly fresh for the area. Grilled Caesar- fantastic. Croquettes ( jamon) more my husbands thing but the sauce was good and I totally enjoyed ! Staff is sweet and super excited to have you. Ambiance is gorgeous. And honestly- food, room for improvement but definitely a major highlight of the area.

For those of you submitting bad reviews, shame on you. I have to take a guess and say 1.) you think you have taste because you lived in Murray Hill for a couple years, did a stint and Hoboken then made your way to the suburbs of Jersey. News flash, it's northern Jersey. You should be appreciative this place is putting an effort in to offer a more elegant experience than the harvest restaurants and chipotle around town. These people are trying, and we should be encouraging this type of development in our town as much as possible. OR 2.) you're so violently upset by the costing of tapas that you blow their whole rating on that, you aren't the target audience.

Congratulations to this team for working with what you got, elevating the suburban experience, bringing friendly, attentive service, good food, and giving us back a little local zest in " going out for dinner" . Will keep coming back!“

“My wife and I are on the #eatjersey challenge to have a meal in all 564 towns of NJ. We chose Antojitos Restaurant for Irvington, our 109th town.

We went early on a summer evening after work when it wasn't too crowded. The atmosphere is one that seems to turn into more of a nightclub as the evening goes on. The music selection was great, with current reggaeton, dance, etc. The super-sized margaritas are essentially 2 drinks in 1 with a full Corona mixed in!

Food was delicious. We enjoyed Ceviche de Camarones for a starter. The Bistek encebollado & the Churrasco Ecuatoriano brought the flavors of Ecuador here to Jersey. We're lucky to have so many cuisines available in our state!

My wife and I are on a challenge, it's called "#eatjersey", to eat in all 564 cities in New Jersey. We chose Antojitos restaurant for Irvington, our 109th city.

We went early one summer night after work when it wasn't too busy. The atmosphere is one that seems to turn into a nightclub as the night progresses. The music selection was excellent, with current reggaeton, bachata, etc. Oversized margaritas are essentially 2 drinks in 1 with a full Corona mixed in!

The food was delicious. We enjoyed Shrimp Ceviche as a starter. The Bistek encebollado and the Ecuadorian Churrasco brought the flavors of Ecuador to Jersey. We are lucky to have so many kitchens available in our state!“

“Just had the best experience with ladyfingers! I had a birthday party for my daughter and they provided a two tier cake and a coffee bar. Lauren was very responsive from start to finish. I was able to pick the flavors and filings for each tier off their long list of options. I didn’t have much time to look for a cake design so just sent over a photo of a cake that I quickly googled. They were able to create it, and even better, they added a customized cake topper with my daughter’s name. They also delivered it to the venue which was very important to me since I didn’t want to deal with picking up a big cake from a bakery and making sure it didn’t get ruined during an already busy day. At the party they provided us with a “coffee bar” serving up a variety of flavored hot and iced coffee & chai. The guests loved this! Many drove from far so a coffee option was exactly what the needed upon arrival. The onsite team was great, arrived early to setup, and went above and beyond by lending me a cake stand and having ice delivered for us when we were unable to get any because it happened to be sold out everywhere near by. Overall great experience and would highly recommend them!“

“Sunday funday football brunch is the place to be. Fabulous food. Great selection of draft beer! The staff is very friendly. Highly recommend the Deviled eggs and Pimento bread dip.“

“Great place! Really liked the deli and pizza selection. The bar was great with large space.“

“Had an all around great experience every time we've been there for brunch Sundays“

“Amazing drinks amazing bartenders!!!“

“Unbeatable Service – Quinn Keeps Us Coming Back! This bar lounge has become our favorite spot, and it’s all because of the incredible service! Every week, we’re welcomed like family, and Quinn always makes sure we have an unforgettable experience. Quinn is an absolute pro behind the bar—crafting amazing cocktails with precision and personality, always knowing exactly what we’ll love. The drinks are always perfect, the atmosphere is unbeatable, and the service is what keeps us coming back week after week. Huge shoutout to Quinn for making this place feel like home. If you haven’t been yet, you’re missing out! Highly recommend!“

“Surprisingly good. My wife and I shared sweet chili wings and a Cobb salad. Bartender Jake took good care of us. It was perfect for an airport hotel. Although I have nice memories of eating Portuguese and Spanish food nearby on previous trips, if you want an eaay, hassle-free meal before or afer a flight, the hotel restaurant/bar is a delightful option!“

“Great hotel. Great service and atmosphere“

“Surprised I never popped in here sooner. If there is one word to describe this place it’s “cozy”, and on a cold Friday night it fit the bill perfectly. Guiness on tap major plus. The two man blues band was great, and the owner Chris was very welcoming, introducing himself. I will be back for another pint of my favorite stout, for sure, maybe grab a bite also next time. Recommended! Cheers 👍“

“It is a very nice restaurant, clean, not so big, with plenty of parking. The music is varied, on Thursday they had Karaoke in English and Spanish. They have Hooka service, the staff in general is very friendly. The prices at Happy Hour are high.“

“Muy Recomendable excelente servicio,muy lindas las niñas que nos atendieron,Rumba increíble“

“Delicious foods great service! Chef Louie cook the best meals ever! I highly recommend this place!!“

“I have been going to Marlos for years, and I love how they have remodeled the place. And the food is the best.“

“Held a party there got a VIP and they had the nerve to charge my party $40 a person. Unorganized. My bottle girl never came back to refill our juice or ice. Never brought out the cake until the crowd left. If it wasn’t for my family and friends $650 would’ve been down the drain.“

“I love how fast paced this restaurant is but it is so laid back that you can stay here and talk for a few hours“