Metuchen is often referred to as the treasure of Central Jersey, and for good reason. Being a major hub for local restaurants, entertainment, and business centers to flourish and thrive truly makes Downtown Metuchen the focal point of Jersey. Locals already know how great the downtown area of Metuchen is, but we want everyone to know that it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from any destination, and once you’re here you won’t ever want to leave!

The Downtown Metuchen Alliance boasts 31 locally owned restaurants and entertainment centers, 145 business offices, 61 service areas, and 36 retailers, making it your one-stop-shop for your date night, socializing, and shopping needs. While Metuchen is great for day trips or night-outs, it’s also the perfect spot to check some chores off your to-do list, like signing the kids up for test prep classes, dropping your car off in the shop, or your clothes at the cleaners.

Let’s talk about the food. Metuchen is home to 24 locally owned restaurants that offer Italian, French, Greek, Asian fusion, Caribbean, Mexican, and Thai cuisine (and so, so many more). These dining centers take fresh to the next level and use the best, most high quality ingredients from local farms and fish markets throughout New Jersey, as well as outsourcing to local markets from their home countries. Talk about authentic! You will never have a bad meal at any of these all-star eateries, and with so many breakfast, lunch, and dinner options available, you’ll have to come back to try them all!

If you need some family fun ideas to fill up your day, Downtown Metuchen’s got you covered. Follow along with an instructor at ArteVino while painting a beautiful landscape (and for some adult fun, feel free to bring a bottle of wine to get those creative juices flowing). Who says you need to go to Broadway to see an amazing show? If theater is more your speed, visit the Forum Theater and catch your favorite show! And if your little ones are into taking down bad guys and fighting alongside their favorite hero, Hailey’s Harp-Cade & Bar is chock-full of arcade games for them to play, while parents are welcome at the bar to enjoy their favorite drinks and snacks.

Now let’s talk about how we can check everything off of your to-do list while you’re here. With 145 offices and 61 services offered throughout Metuchen, you’ll be able to come here for all of your personal and professional needs. Get those cavities filled at any one of their 6 dental offices, change up your hairstyle at one of their 18 barber shops, pick up your prescriptions from the local drug store, repair your old shoes, or take your best furry friend to the vet for a check up, or for a grooming. Anything you need to do, Metuchen can take care of it. Just name it!

While you’re running those errands and have some time to kill, go window shopping (or actual shopping) at any one of their 36 local retailers. Revamp your wardrobe with new digs from their three clothing/consignment stores, pick out some new furniture and make your home more cozy, grab a nice bottle of wine for a night in, or go grocery shopping at one of their local markets. If you’re a die-hard fan of Whole Foods Market and refuse to purchase your produce anywhere else, you’re still in good hands. A brand new Whole Foods just opened its doors on October 11th in Metuchen, so you can still stick to your brand loyalty.

Although not every company or service within Downtown Metuchen has been listed, you get the idea that this town has literally everything you could ever want or need, and more (you can check out the full list of companies here). So plan a day trip, a date night, a family fun adventure, or just set a day aside to take care of some chores. No matter what you decide to do, you can do it all in Metuchen, where everything is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from home.