Each month, The Hoboken Girl and The Giordano Group highlight one town in Northern New Jersey to share some of the best places to eat, drink, and socialize. We’ll outline the different commuting options and fun, family-friendly activities while providing you with the necessary facts about and critical insight into the competitive Northern NJ real estate market. This New Jersey real estate series will showcase what makes each town cool, unique, and vibrant. So while you may not be looking to move, we all know stalking Zillow houses is the best hobby — and The Giordano Group is here to make it that much easier.
After visiting Westfield, we are heading to the bustling nearby city of Summit, also located in Union County. Named for its location at the top of the Watchung Mountains, Summit is definitely worth the climb. The six square miles that make up Summit offer a great mix of city life and outdoor fun. Summit boasts an eclectic downtown that is home to more than 200 unique boutiques, restaurants, galleries, spas, and more. Summit is also noted for its recreational facilities, prestigious public and private schools, and convenient commute to New York City. The architectural styles are diverse — from luxury modern condominiums to brick colonial style single-family homes, converted turn-of-the-century carriage houses, and Victorians. Read on for your guide to Summit, NJ.
About the Giordano Group
Darren Giordano and his team of realtors have over a decade of experience in Hudson County and Northern New Jersey, achieving the Platinum Level of Excellence every year since 2016. They closed over $300,000,000 over the last decade.
To learn more about the market value for homes in Summit — or if you want to find out the current market value of your home in Hudson County, text CMA to 201-723-3300 to get in touch with the Giordano Group or click here.
The Commute
By Train
Summit falls on two different NJ Transit train lines: The Morristown Line and the Gladstone Branch Line. The Morristown Line is known as the “Midtown Direct” train and takes you directly to NY Penn Station without any transfers, a 40-50 minute trip. The Gladstone Branch takes you to Hoboken (making it the perfect day trip destination for our HG readers) and then on to Penn Station by the PATH or NY Waterway Ferry. The Summit Train Station is located at 40 Union Place with over 200 businesses within walking distance.
By Bus
The Lakeland Bus Lines run from Summit to Port Authority Bus Terminal. Boxcar Transit also has a direct bus service to NYC on the Ridgeliner Route. The Bus Stop in town is located on Broad Street between Maple and Elm.
By Car
Only 20 miles West of New York City, Summit is a quick 35-minute drive from Hudson County. Summit allows for easy commuting by car. Major roadways such as routes I-78, 24, and I-287 as well as The Garden State Parkway and The New Jersey Turnpike (Exit 14) are all accessible.
Where to Eat + Drink
From upscale steakhouses to casual diners, Summit is full of great choices when it comes to dining.
BarBarcoa | 10 Maple Street
Executive chef Justin Antiorio’s special menu includes Mexican street corn, beef tacos (cooked slow + low), and smoked chicken wings. We also recommend adding a drink to your order — BarBacoa is serving up blue agave frozen Margaritas, Oaxaca old- fashioneds, and an assortment of beer and wine.
Bull N Bear Brewery | 425 Springfield Avenue
Opened in the spring of 2021, Will Dodge and Mike Formisano have a rotating selection of beers and host live music at this fun local spot. Due to NJ Liquor Licensing laws, the Brewery is ‘bring your own food.’
The Committed Pig | 339 Springfield Avenue
If you’ve never heard of the Committed Pig, we recommend visiting this incredible spot ASAP. It serves American comfort eats, and the red velvet pancakes + apple pie french toast are particularly delicious.
Due 360 | 50 Maple Street
At Due 360, the team strives to serve delicious eats consistently. This authentic Argentinian/Italian tapas restaurant is great for the whole family to enjoy.
Fiorino Ristorante & Bar | 38 Maple Street
Fiorino is an upscale Italian restaurant serving up Tuscan eats. It also has an extensive wine list to pair with your meal.
Huntley Taverne | 3 Morris Avenue
(Photo credits: @huntleytaverne)
Huntley Taverne is cozy with a ski lodge-type vibe. Complete with fireplaces and a patio, you can enjoy hearty American cuisine fireside on a chilly autumn night — or dine inside any time of the year.
Marigolds | 426 Springfield Avenue
Marigolds is a rustic breakfast and lunch spot that also offers dinner to go. It provides crowd favorites like acai bowls, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toasts, paninis, and much more.
Natali’s Summit Bakery | 185 Broad Street
Natale’s is a family-owned bakery that has served the area with fresh bread, cakes, and other pastries daily since 1938. The “Philly Fluff” poundcake is legendary, by the way.
Roots Steakhouse | 401 Springfield Avenue
For a more upscale dining experience, Roots Steakhouse is the creme de la creme with several locations across New Jersey. You can’t go wrong with a grilled steak or lobster tail at this famed steakhouse, especially after a fun day of exploring.
Summit Diner | 1 Union Place
Built in the late 1930s, this diner is one of the oldest in the state of NJ. It has the typical diner fare in a nostalgic, relaxed 1930s railroad car setting.
Summit House Restaurant and Bar | 395 Springfield Avenue
This American restaurant is housed in a vintage building and serves classic American fare sourced from local farms, fishermen, and select purveyors. The menu features a raw bar specializing in East Coast oysters, peak-season vegetables, humanely raised meats, and an extensive seasonal craft cocktail program.
Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar | 2 Kent Place Boulevard
Winberie’s is located in the historic Summit Opera House and is another great pick for family dining, offering an extensive menu that includes steaks, burgers, and pasta.
Things to Do
Summit hosts a variety of annual events including the Mayor’s Fourth of July Celebration, Summer Outdoor Movies and Concerts, Classic Car Shows, a Weekly Farmer’s Market, and a Halloween Parade. Here are our picks for the most unique experiences in Summit, New Jersey.
^ Artists perform throughout downtown, playing all different genres of music for Summit Street Sounds every Thursday & Friday evening from 5PM-8PM in the Summer.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
At this non-profit arboretum and garden, guests can stroll from dawn to dusk free of charge. You’ll see beautiful in-season blooms and creatures. You can check the calendar of events, many of which are family-friendly. The daffodil festival in the spring is stunning.
Summit Historical Society Museum | 90 Butler Parkway
The Historical Society Museum is a great place to get your history fix by viewing museum installments that give an inside look into Summit’s past. The museum also hosts events like The Taste of Summit, Four Centuries in a Weekend, and holiday boutiques.
Summit Play House | 10 New England Avenue
The Summit Playhouse was founded in 1918 as a World War I relief organization and is home to one of the oldest continuously-operating amateur community theaters in the United States. It produces three shows a year, with performances in November, February/March, and April/May. Kaleidoscope Theatre for Youth presents productions every summer and winter.
Twin Maples | 214 Springfield Avenue
The Fortnightly Club purchased this historic estate in 1949, which is a Summit women’s club dedicated to volunteerism, fundraising, community service, and outreach. It gained its historical status in 1996 and currently resides in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey | 68 Elm Street
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest institution dedicated to viewing, making, and learning about contemporary art. Composed of a Studio School serving children, teens, and adults; a contemporary art museum; and educational in-community programs serving K-12 schools.
Vivid Stage at Oakes Memorial Center | 120 Morris Avenue
Several theater groups including Vivid Stage and The Stony Hill Players call this venue home and provide year-round entertainment. Stony Hill hosts three shows each season including a youth musical production in the fall, a musical in the winter, and a dramatic show in the spring.
Where to Shop
Summit is centered around the busy Springfield Avenue, which is where you’ll find most destinations to shop and eat. Summit’s fun downtown offers a variety of great places to shop.
A to Zoom | 358 Springfield Avenue #1
Teens to tweens will love A to Zoom, a gift shop that provides the latest in trendy, retro gifts and accessories including hug me dolls as well as locker and room decor.
Badawang Art | 37 Maple Street
Badawang Art is a small gallery and boutique in downtown Summit that sells a variety of Fair Trade handcrafted and inspirational gifts and clothing from the Far East, Africa, and America.
Dor L’ Do | 447 Springfield Avenue
Dor L’ Dor is the place to find unique and trendy European-inspired fashion. It carries a wide assortment of women’s fashion and accessories including handbags and jewelry.
MONDO Summit | 426 Springfield Avenue
This vertical mall houses Marigold Cafe and over a dozen other shops for you to eat, shop, play, and connect with others.
My Love Story | 31 Maple Street
This unique beauty product and accessory boutique also offers massage therapy and skin care services by an elite team of specialists.
The Red Balloon | 386 Springfield Avenue
This children’s boutique specializes in elevated style and unique gifts for infants and children, ages 14 and under.
Summit Antiques Center | 511 Morris Avenue
You can check out artifacts, vintage items, gems, artwork, furniture, home décor, collections, presents, and far more — along with two large stories of rare treasures in NJ’s oldest antique center.
Kid’s Corner
^ Summit High School
The Schools
Summit Public Schools include two primary centers (Wilson and Jefferson) that house the pre-school and Kindergarten programs. It also has five elementary schools (Brayton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln-Hubbard, and Washington), a middle school (Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School), and a high school (Summit High School). There are also three private and parochial schools: Kent Place School, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, and Oratory Preparatory School.
^ Lawton C Johnson Summit Middle School
Parks + Playgrounds
Summit is home to many local parks that range in size and have a variety of amenities. In addition to the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, you can find part of the 30-acre Briant Park, Watchung Reservation (the largest nature reserve in Union County), the Passaic River Parkway, and the 70-acre Hidden Valley Park here.
^ Briant Park
Briant Park | 301 Shunpike Road
Briant Park (not to be confused with New York City’s Bryant Park) is a 30-acre park in Union County that’s home to various activities.
Investors Bank Field | 38 Butler Parkway #14
This 25-acre park is home to several athletic fields, 6 lighted tennis courts, and a playground.
Mabie Playground | 30 Summit Avenue
This 2-acre park features 2 playgrounds, parkland, and basketball courts.
The Muni | 189 River Road
Summit’s Municipal Golf Course, better known as the Muni, is a Par 3, 9-hole executive course designed by renowned golf architect Hal Purdy. The course covers 13 acres of land which were once part of a private estate.
Passaic River Park | Mount Vernon Avenue
This county park includes a nature trail, soccer field, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Watchung Reservation | 1160 Summit Lane, Mountainside
Though the address is officially in Mountainside, Watchung Reservation stretches into Summit. It’s the largest nature reserve in Union County and is full of fun hiking trails and beautiful scenery along with a Trailside + Science Center.
Wilson Park | 14 Beekman Terrace
This 11-acre park features 2 Lighted Tennis Courts, a baseball and soccer field, a basketball court, and a playground.
Real Estate Corner via The Giordano Group
The Summit real estate market is hopping, like all Northern NJ Suburban towns. There were 157 sales YTD through July 1st, which was down from 216 at the same time last year — so again, we have a supply and demand issue.
There are only 48 active homes for sale as of July 13th. The average sales price was $1,394,658 in 2022, with 83% selling at or above listing price. 56% of the homes are selling for over $1,000,000. The days on market were 21 days YTD. If you’re interested in learning more about Summit or any neighboring towns, you can give Darren and The Giordano team a call, shoot them an email at darreng@kw.com or download the North Jersey Homes app to stay ahead of the market.
Stay tuned for the next town in our North Jersey series, coming soon.
