Collingswood restaurants, bars and activities

On a September afternoon, chef Josué Santiago Negrón prepared a fresh batch of fluffy croissants at Dulce Artisan Pastry on Haddon Avenue. Just up the street, a group of middle schoolers crowd into Cafe Antonio’s after school for a slice of buffalo chicken pizza. As yellow leaves fall on Collingswood’s sidewalks, residents and visitors stroll through town with coffee in hand.

Philadelphians can easily venture to this South Jersey township – which almost feels like the fictional Stars Hollow Gilmore Girls — thanks to the PATCO Speedline station, just steps from the city center.

“It’s really a town where the people who live here are constantly walking around,” said Cindy Schreiber, owner of Clutter Vintage and a 22-year Collingswood resident. “People know each other – Collingswood really has that small-town feel.”

Just over six miles from Center City, the community is bordered by South Park Drive to the north, Route 130 to the west, Newtown Lake to the south and East Cuthbert Boulevard to the east, according to the city map. Despite being a dry town, Collingswood offers numerous BYOB restaurants, boutiques, cafes, a brewery, a non-alcoholic bar, and a historic theater.

What sets Collingswood apart from Negrón is its good walkability and accessibility. “For someone who grew up in another country [similar to here]this is the place,” said the Puerto Rican chef. “Everything is within easy walking distance.”

The city’s demographics have changed over the years as families move in and out, and some young Philadelphians now call the suburb home. But one thing remains constant: a strong sense of community, said Paula Alban, owner of local candy store Candy Jar by 1892.

“I think that’s one of the best parts of owning a business in Collingswood – having the connection with customers who become friends and family,” she said. The city’s numerous events, from porch concerts to book festivals, help foster this community spirit.

Much of this hustle and bustle takes place on Haddon Avenue, where locals browse the shelves at Secret Origins Comics & More, shop for specialty foods at Haddon Culinary, or settle in for a pumpkin spice latte at Revolution Coffee Roasters.

But that’s just a fraction of what this South Jersey community has to offer.

How to spend the day in Collingswood:

At this lively Lebanese BYOB, chef Patricia Massoud serves dishes from her childhood in Lebanon. Her husband Tony, co-owner and host, greets guests with bowls of mezze—hummus, fried kibbeh—and platters of charcoal-grilled lamb chops, kafta kebab sausages, and tajin (baked fish, tahini sauce, caramelized onions). And for those looking for an all-inclusive meal, try the Taste of Lebanon, which includes mezze, an appetizer, and a dessert such as baklava or Lebanese milk pudding.

📍619 W. Collings Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08107, 📞 856-477-2105, 🌐 libeirutnj.com

Indulge in a retro nook at this 1950s-style restaurant and enjoy breakfast favorites like cookie dough pancakes and cookie scrambles with sausage gravy. For lunch or dinner, try the club burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches or stuffed fries. Be sure to order a shake – like the pumpkin latte milkshake with peach boba or the What’s Shakin’ Bacon shake with vanilla ice cream, bacon bits and pancake syrup.

📍729 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-869-0111, 🌐 thepopshopusa.com

Giovanni Barone and his family know a thing or two about lasagna bolognese and Neapolitan cakes. For over 30 years, family-owned Villa Barone has been an integral part of Collingswood’s extensive Italian restaurant selection. Whether you’re sitting outside on the sidewalk patio or cozying up in the comfortable seating inside, enjoy Penne Tartufo with herb-rubbed smoked prosciutto, classic Neapolitan pizza, and eggplant parmigiana for lunch or dinner.

📍753 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-858-2999, 🌐 villabaronesite.com

On the weekends, stroll into chef Josué Santiago Negrón’s pastry shop for homemade mallorcas—fluffy, sweet Puerto Rican bread—and guava cheese pastries. On weekdays, the 10-year-old bakery offers a wide selection of French-inspired pastries that combine Negrón’s culinary experience with seasonal ingredients. Here you’ll find dulce de leche tart, beer brownie and bread (with New Jersey beer from Eight & Sand Beer Co.) and churro cruffins, as well as a selection of cookies, sandwiches and quiche, as well as coffee from Royal Mile Coffee Roasters.

📍740A Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-942-0254, 🌐 dulcecollingswood.com

This little BYOB across from Li Beirut specializes in ceviches, pollo la brasa, and other Peruvian staples. Cousins ​​Carlos and Kiko Cervantes run the restaurant, which serves dishes like seared mahi-mahi fillet with salsa criolla (red onion salsa) and burnt yuca smothered in a mild aji-amarillo pepper cheese sauce. Wash it all down with homemade chicha morada, a refreshing drink made from purple corn.

📍624 W. Collings Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08107, 📞 856-854-6888, 🌐 kikosperuviankitchen.com

After perusing the store’s vintage finds and locally sourced products, settle into the rustic back bar and enjoy expertly crafted non-alcoholic cocktails. Featuring popular non-alcoholic brands, Mercantile 1888’s zero-proof bar offers an alternative in this dry city. Enjoy a spicy blood orange margarita with Monday mezcal, a Cosmopolitan with Seedlip botanical blend, an old-fashioned salted caramel with Ritual whiskey, or a dirty martini with amethyst vodka dupe. There are also non-alcoholic wines and beers, as well as small bites like a charcuterie board, local Sparrow’s popcorn and nuts to snack on.

📍765 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-701-6187, 🌐 mercantile1888.com

Founded in 2013 by two friends, this small-batch coffee roastery offers a variety of drinks from macchiato to cold brew. Buy beans to brew at home or order a specialty like the Portuguese sweet coffee Mazagran.

📍809 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-240-0640, 🌐 revolutioncoffeeroasters.com

Swedesboro Brewing Co. founder Marvin Bowe opened a second location for his popular brewery in Collingswood in June. The Raccoon Taproom, located at the former Devil’s Creek Brewery address, brews hazy IPAs, witbiers, pale ales and more. Try the Flying Steagle Lager for a clean taste or Our First Lady Saison for a citrusy flavor exclusively at Collingswood’s newest brewery.

📍1 Powell Lane, Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-240-7519, 🌐 swedesborobrewing.com

At Paula Alban’s pastry shop, people can find chocolate-covered pretzels and gummy bears, truffle chocolate, pistachio bark and M&Ms, dark chocolate orange peel, Swedish fish and much more homemade sweets. Alban’s mission is to be the “sweetest and happiest” place in the city, with a selection of sweets that bring a bit of nostalgia – think truffles galore – along with her takes on modern trends like the viral Dubai ones. chocolate bars.

📍721 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-833-1010, 🌐 thecandyjarby1892.com

Kara Guerrieri wants to help people explore nature in their backyard. Head to their store, House Finch, and find all the tools you need to do this. Collingswood’s suburban birding supply and gift shop sells birdhouses, suet, cylinders and bird seed in bulk in recyclable grain bags. Guerrieri’s mission is to help reduce the number of single-use plastic bags in the birding industry one grain bag at a time.

📍740 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-202-7623, 🌐 housefinchnaturestore.com

Every year the community invites readers and writers to a day-long festival. Numerous authors are in attendance and exhibitors have set up shop on Haddon Avenue. At the festival organized by the community, people can find books, food, literary games and other activities. This year the festival will take place on October 5th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

📍Haddon Avenue, 🌐 collingswood.com

Pop by Cindy Schreiber’s vintage and handmade shop. From chess boards to Halloween blow molds, vintage and upcycled items abound in the Haddon Avenue store. Schreiber opened Clutter Vintage nine years ago on a whim, quitting her full-time job to pursue her passion for second-hand items. “Anything you can keep [them] from a landfill – recycle everything,” she said.

📍697 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-833-1112, 🌐 cluttervintage.com

Book a private suite for a karaoke evening for you and your crew. Songbird Karaoke offers nine suites for singing with two to 50 of your favorite people ($40 per hour to $260 per hour). Karaoke singers will find more than 38,000 songs to choose from – think Frank Sinatra, Taylor Swift, K-Pop and Bollywood hits. YouTube is also available if you can’t find your favorite karaoke song. Download the Healsonic app to view the selection before you head out. And if you’re feeling hungry, Songbird partners with township restaurants including Cafe Antonio’s, The Pop Shop and Healthy Garden – BYO beer, wine and celebratory cake/cupcakes for the party.

📍790 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108, 📞 856-869-SING (7464), 🌐 songbirdkaraoke.com

Every Saturday from May through Thanksgiving, the Collingswood Farmers Market features various vendors offering local produce and goods as part of the PATCO High Speedline. There is a strong group of vendors, including New Jersey farms and neighboring restaurants, represented regardless of the weather. Farms in the market are offering pre-orders for pickup and home delivery.

📍Collings and Irvin Avenues, 🌐 collingswoodmarket.com