10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Jersey Shore

The Ocean City Boardwalk is perhaps coastal New Jersey’s biggest attraction, and it doesn’t shut down at night. The boardwalk is brimming with after-dinner entertainment, such as miniature golf, escape rooms, arcades, amusement park rides, and Tiki sunset cruises.

If you’re looking for a night cap, there are plenty of places to stop for an ice cream cone (take it to go and walk the 2.5-mile boardwalk under the stars) or a cocktail. And if there is live music at the Music Pier, it is worth catching a show in the historic concert venue that originally opened in 1928.

A true hub of nightlife, Asbury Park Boardwalk is one of the best places to spend your evening in Jersey Shore. The main attraction is live music that you can see at seated venues like the Paramount Theatre, or the adjacent Convention Hall, or at bars and nightclubs. The Wonder Bar and the Beach Bar are both popular spots for live music, cocktails, and dancing.

Strolling the boardwalk after dinner is also a worthy activity. As you walk, you’ll see the historic buildings lit up and feel the ocean breeze.

The Ocean Grove Beach area is known for its clean Jersey Shore beachfront and family friendly fun. The town of Ocean Grove is quiet, making it a wonderful beach town for families. If you’re looking for after-dinner entertainment in Ocean Grove, Saturday night concerts at the Great Auditorium feature award-winning musical acts. The historic auditorium, built in 1894, is worth a visit to take in the impressive Victorian-style architecture.

Looking for some post-beach libations? Ocean Grove is a dry town, but the nearby Asbury Park has more than its fair share of trendy bars and clubs.

Seaside Heights Boardwalk has a reputation of being a destination for partygoers. If you’re looking to dance the night away, there is no shortage of clubs to check out – Temptations, Beach Bar, and Bamboo Bar are local favorites.

If clubbing isn’t your favorite after-dinner activity there are plenty of other attractions for families typical of an All-American pier. Catch a concert at the Beach Stage or Franklin Avenue Stage, visit an arcade, or ride the twilight rides at Casino Pier.

The concept of beach clubs might be foreign to anyone not from a coastal town, but they are quite common along the Jersey Shore. Members of beach clubs pay for the privilege of amenities and beach access in exchange for an annual fee. Their rules for allowing non-member visitors vary, but non-members are generally permitted to patronize bars and restaurants at private clubs. Depending on the establishment, you may have to be an invited guest.

The best beach clubs to visit after dark in Jersey Shore include Promenade Beach Club’s nightclub, Edgewater’s Luau beach parties and tiki bar, or Le Club Avenue’s Beach Bar which has phenomenal live music.

The Silverball Pinball Museum in Asbury Park is a truly unique experience – far from the traditional post-dinner activities. The arcade features hundreds of pinball machines from the 1950s to today that you can play late into the night. Pinballers pay an admission fee for a certain amount of time (it’s cheaper after 10pm) to have access to as many rounds of pinball as they can play. No need to lug around coins or keep track of a game card.

Take a break from beating your high score at the Silverball Café and dig into one of their boardwalk desserts like ice cream or funnel cake.

The stretch of land on Absecon Island, now known as Atlantic City, has been inhabited since at least the 18th century. A lot has happened between then and now. More than 200 years of death and hauntings are explored on the Atlantic City Ghosts tour – an event that takes place after dark. Brave visitors will pass by places where ghostly sightings are common and hear about the dark history behind the normally glitzy town.

The captivating walking tour is also a great way for visitors to become acquainted with the city, crossing paths with casinos, beaches, the boardwalk, and theatres.

The famous Martell’s Tiki Bar is located on Point Pleasant Beach and offers indoor and outdoor dining. If you’re looking for a fun night in the Jersey Shore, you won’t regret coming to Martell’s for drinks, music, and dancing.

Tropical drinks are their specialty. Try the raspberry tiki tea or piña colada for a dessert-like nightcap. In the summer especially, you can expect large crowds of people hanging out at this hopping joint. Luckily, it’s a large venue that can accommodate the bustle of the crowds.

Atlantic City is a boon for night owls. At casinos you can, of course, gamble, but you can also catch a show, dine out, or enjoy some good drinks. Wet Willie’s at Resorts Casino is a noteworthy bar offering an unimaginable breadth of daquiri flavors.

These are true dessert drinks with flavors like chocolate thunder and white Russian, which are both blended with ice cream. If you prefer fruity flavors, they serve the traditional strawberry daquiri, but also banana, sour apple, and mango – or try mixing and matching any number of the potent icy drinks. In certain areas along the Atlantic City boardwalk, open containers are allowed, so you can take your concoction on-the-go.

Inside the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City is an unforgettable place for people who just want to dance – Boogie Nights. This dance club has a unique retro vibe, with DJs throwing it back to the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s on themed nights. The whole experience is complete with a big shimmering disco ball twirling over the dance floor.

If you want to make the night an even more memorable occasion, you can reserve bottle service for tables that are also on theme, like the Love Shack table or Awesome ‘80s table.