An Afternoon in Downtown Westfield, New Jersey
Looking for a fun downtown area with lots of shops and LOTS of options for dining? Well my friend, it’s time to take a trip to Westfield, New Jersey.
Located in Union County, downtown Westfield is a vibrant community with a mix of pop and mom shops, big brand stores, and more restaurants and bars then you can fit into one day. It’s a cute, walkable area with plenty of things to do for any age range.
I headed there on a Saturday morning, and asked the New Jersey Isn’t Boring Instagram audience what I should do with my few hours in town:
The response was overwhelming and I took a lot of your recommendations in. Here is what I did (PS I was only there for 4 hours, I will definitely come back).
We started our day at a diner…of course! Vicki’s Diner (110 E Broad St) is located right in the downtown area and is the perfect place to eat. We enjoyed our breakfast in this adorable classic diner which has a very friendly staff. And before you ask…yes, I’ve been to the Westfield Diner before.
What we didn’t realize was that after breakfast we would still have time before most of the shops opened, so we walked around. However, it was COLD and windy the day we visited, so we ducked inside Westfield’s Trader Joe’s (155 Elm St). Ironically, it was a location that a lot of people recommended we visit, despite is being a chain grocery store. However, I always love going to any Trader Joe’s, and it was nice to see the place re-opened after it’s roof collapsed last year.
Then it was shopping time!
First stop was visiting The Farmhouse Store (221 East Broad Street) a cool shop with just about everything. I follow the store on Instagram so it was nice to finally visit, and I think we spent a solid 45 minutes there. There’s A LOT to take in, including an entire second floor filled with furniture. Looking for unique gifts? This is the place for you.
Of course I couldn’t resist going to Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming (218 E Broad St), since I’m always looking for new ways to spoil my dogs.
Although it’s a small chain, the Westfield location does make and sell their own creative bakery products. Plus I loved visiting because there were plenty of dogs inside.
Looking for a people bakery? Be sure to check out Bovella’s (101 East Broad St) which has been around since 1949. Not only is this place considered one of the best bakeries in the tri-state area, it’s also a cute European-style café where you can grab a coffee, espresso, or gelato as well as one of their famous pastries.
Another cool store worth mentioning was Baron’s Drug Store and Pharmacy (243 East Broad St), which has been around for SEVENTY years.
It’s not just a regular pharmacy, it’s also a cute boutique shop with plenty to browse through.
One of the recommendations I received was stopping by Brummer’s Homemade Chocolates (125 East Broad Street), a family-owned handcrafted and homemade chocolate that has been making deliciousness in New Jersey since 1904.
It’s the perfect place to stop whenever you have a sweet tooth.
Savory Spice Shop (138 East Broad St) is a great place to shop if you love to cook or bake. They grind and blend their spices daily in small batches to ensure the highest quality and superior freshness.
And look…a Jersey section!
Sadly, we were not hungry enough before we left for a full lunch, but we did stop by the Adam’s Tavern for drinks.
The Addam’s Tavern (155 Elm St) is a newer restaurant named after the famous Addam’s family whose (fun fact) home is modeled after a home in Westifeld. In addition to their own specialty cocktails, they also serve local craft beer.
Other restaurants I’d recommend in Westfield are Limani Seafood Grill (235 North Ave West) and Butcher Block Burgers (39 Elm St) which I have visited previously.
I always enjoy my trips to Westfield, and look forward to visiting again (this time in warmer weather). Look out for a “Part 2” in the future.
