If you’re looking for a weekend getaway in the Garden State packed with small-town charm, you can’t go wrong with Frenchtown. Resting along the banks of the Delaware River, this small but inviting community awaits travelers with colorful Victorian architecture, a thriving arts scene, quality restaurants, and unique boutique shops to explore.
Frenchtown is a river town located in Hunterdon County and received its name from early French-speaking settlers, some of whom fled the French Revolution. Today it’s home to only a little over 1,000 residents, but attracts visitors from all over the state.
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It’s a beautiful town to stroll through and explore, with its picturesque architecture and river views.
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A creek flows through the town and feeds into the Delaware River, where you can go tubing, rafting, and kayaking in nearby Milford Township.
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Start your morning in Frenchtown with a cup of coffee (or tea!) from Early Bird Espresso & Mercantile, a much-beloved local coffee shop on Bridge Street, where you’ll also find an assortment of pastries, and coffee beans to bring home with you.
Arthurious/Google Local Early Bird Espresso & Mercantile, 33 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Wander a little further down Bridge Street, and you’ll come across the Frenchtown Cafe, where you can grab a delicious lunch or breakfast in a historic building estimated to have been built in 1897.
Frenchtown Cafe/Facebook Frenchtown Cafe, 44 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
After your meal, stop by and browse the shelves at Frenchtown Bookshop. This independent bookshop is family-owned and features a diverse selection of books, along with unique “book-adjacent” gifts.
Frenchtown Bookshop/Facebook Frenchtown has quite a few boutique shops with interesting merchandise to peruse – for example, Modern Love is a specialty shop worth visiting with an eclectic assortment of items. Frenchtown Bookshop, 28 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Also, Sublime is a gift shop on Bridge Street that was voted the best gift shop in Hunterdon County in 2022!
Facebook Sublime Frenchtown For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss LibbyBeans, a confectionary selling candies, chocolates, baked goods, and more.
Art enthusiasts will love rounding out the trip with a visit to ArtYard, a contemporary art center with a campus of four buildings, all within walking distance of Frenchtown’s center. ArtYard has rotating indoor exhibits, and a permanent outdoor installation. There’s also a theater where attendees can enjoy musical performances, dances, plays, film screenings, and more, so be sure to check ArtYard’s calendar to see when the next event is.
ArtYard/Facebook ArtYard, 13 Front St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
For more information about Frenchtown businesses to visit and upcoming town events (including festivals), visit the Frenchtown Business & Professional Association website or Facebook page.
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Early Bird Espresso & Mercantile, 33 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Frenchtown Cafe/Facebook
Frenchtown Cafe, 44 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Frenchtown Bookshop/Facebook
Frenchtown has quite a few boutique shops with interesting merchandise to peruse – for example, Modern Love is a specialty shop worth visiting with an eclectic assortment of items.
Frenchtown Bookshop, 28 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Facebook Sublime Frenchtown
For those with a sweet tooth, don’t miss LibbyBeans, a confectionary selling candies, chocolates, baked goods, and more.
ArtYard/Facebook
ArtYard, 13 Front St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
Have you visited Frenchtown? What was your favorite part of this bucolic riverfront town?
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Address: Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USAAddress: LibbyBeans, 43 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USAAddress: Thistle, 38 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USAAddress: Modern Love, 39 Bridge St, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA
