Lodging and Libations

Cultural and Heritage Affairs Website Navigation

The restaurants below are set in buildings and/or locations with historic significance. Union County is a dining mecca with many restaurants in addition to these venues – offering nearly every cuisine. Ask the staff at historic sites for their personal favorites.

These listings of dining and lodging establishments are provided as reference, and are not intended as recommendations; we suggest checking online review sites to get a sense of what others experienced at these hotels and restaurants.

Lodging

CityLogoNameStreetPhone NumberWeb Site
Berkeley HeightsEmbassy Suites by Hilton250 Connell Drive908-897-1970Website
ClarkHoliday Inn 36 Valley Rd732-574-0100Website
Cranford

Homewood Suites by Hilton 2 Jackson Drive908-709-1980Website
Elizabeth

Country Inn & Suites 100 Glimcher Realty Way908-282-0020Website
Elizabeth

Courtyard Marriott87 Glimcher Realty Way908-436-9800Website
Elizabeth

Crowne Plaza901 Spring St 908-527-1600Website
ElizabethEmbassy Suites95 Glimcher Realty Way908-558-0752Website
Elizabeth

Extended Stay America45 Glimcher Realty Way908-355-4300Website
Elizabeth

 


Hampton Inn1128 Spring St908-355-0500Website
Elizabeth

Hilton Hotels & Resorts1170 Spring St908-351-3900Website
Elizabeth


Renaissance Hotels45 Glimcher Realty Way908-436-4600Website
Elizabeth

Residence Inn Marriott83 Glimcher Realty Way908-352-4300Website
Kenilworth

The Kenilworth Inn60 South 31st St1-800-775-3645Website
Linden

 

Hampton Inn Linden501 West Edgar Rd908-862-3222Website
New Providence

Best Western Plus Murray Hill Hotel and Suites535 Central Ave908-665-9200Website
Rahway


Home2 Suites by Hilton Rahway 667 East Milton Ave732-388-5500Website
Rahway


Watt Hotel Rahway, Tapestry Collection by Hilton1403 Irving St732-515-5505Website
Rahway


Best Western Riverview Inn and Suites1747 Paterson Ave732-381-7650Website
Springfield


Hilton Garden Inn Springfield304 US-22973-232-5300Website
Summit

The Grand Summit Hotel570 Springfield Ave908-273-3000Website
Westfield

Best Western Westfield Inn435 North Ave West908-654-5600Website
CityLogoNameStreetPhone NumberWeb Site

Libations

CityPhotoNameStreetPhone NumberWebsiteDescription
SummitSummit Diner1 Union Place908-277-3286N/AThe US railcar-style diner opened in 1929, and is the oldest operating diner in New Jersey. The original building was replaced with the current building constructed by the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company in 1938
SummitWinberie’s Restaurant & Bar 2 Kent Place908-277-4224WebsiteThe historic Old Opera House was designed and built in 1893-1894. It originally housed shops on the ground level and upstairs, an 800-seat stage hall that featured vaudeville that became Summit’s very first movie house.
SummitGrand Summit Hotel- Hat Tavern570 Springfield Ave908-273-7656WebsiteThe hotel originated as the Blackburn House in 1868 which was taken down to make way for the Summit Suburban Hotel. Following the completion of the hotel the country fell into the Depression and one of its darkest periods. As the times grew good again in the country, the hotel hit its stride and became home to the prominent set and their private and public events from all over the area.
CranfordRiverside Inn (former speakeasy)56 North Ave East908-709-9449N/AThere is three hundred years of history at the Riverside Inn. It now occupies what was once known as Drake's Landing in the 18th Century, the Lenape Indians used it as their resting ground and would paddle their canoes up the Rahway River, in the early 1900s the lot was a Model A Ford dealership, then during Prohibition, a florist was on the first floor while a speakeasy operated in the basement.
CranfordCranford Hotel1 South Union Ave 908-276-2121WebsiteThe Cranford Hotel was built in 1893 by the Hess Family. Its convenience to the railroad tracks made is a popular stop for businessmen. The hotel was sold in 1946 and remained in use as a hotel until the early 70’s and currently still bares the resemblance to its earlier days.
Scotch PlainsStage House Tavern366 Park Ave908-322-4224WebsiteOpened in 1737 by John Sutton, The Stage House Inn served the community as a meeting place for local government and became a central location during the Revolutionary War for patriot conscription.
Scotch PlainsAshbrook Tavern at Ashbrook Golf Course 1210 Raritan Road908-490-8620WebsiteThe battle of Short Hill occurred at the site of the present Ashbrook Golf Course and the Monument to this battle is located in front.

On June 26, 1777, on the plains below the Watchungs, Gen. Washington’s Continental Forces of less than 6,000 men fought a running battle with combined British and Hessian Troops numbering nearly 12,000. Gen. William Howe, feigning a retreat, sought to lure the colonial forces to the lowlands and crush them. What started in Metuchen would soon make its way to the Ash Swamp, where delaying tactics gave Washington’s troops and local militia enough time to return to the safety of the Watchungs. And for in depth version, click here.
PlainfieldTexas Wiener100 Watchung Ave908-756-5480N/ATexas Wiener is not so much a restaurant as it is a right of passage for many Plainfielders. Around since the 1920s, it’s always been one of the go to stops for a hot dog—and the toppings. Folks may move away from the Queen City, but there are those who insist that whenever they’re back visiting family or friends, a pilgrimage to Texas Wiener is a must.
KenilworthRed Knot at Galloping Hill Golf Course3 Golf Drive908-241-8700WebsiteThe club occupies the low, rounded peak of Galloping Hill, so named because of the British military dispatch riders who galloped on the road here during the American Revolutionary War. If you look towards the west, there was once a 186-foot rise known as Tin Kettle Hill, which played a vital role in the Revolutionary War. General George Washington stationed sentries on the hill to warn of any British troop advances, of which there were several, leading to the Battles of Springfield and Connecticut Farms. From 1903-1906 the Pennsylvania Rail Road leveled Tin Kettle Hill, using the soil to build a new route to New York City.