One of the things New York and New Jersey are most famous for is bagels. Being crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, bagels are a classic among breakfast and lunch foods for a reason. Montclair and the surrounding areas have tons of options for this classic Garden State food item, and we’ve rounded up some of the most famous eateries to grab a baker’s dozen of the iconic breakfast go-to. Read on for a list of the best bagels to satifsy that AM breakfast craving in the Montclair area.
The Bagel Box | 642 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange
The menu of The Bagel Box in West Orange includes bagels in the flavors salt, oat bran, pumpernickle, garlic, onion, marble, and more. Customers can pair a bagel with one of the many cream cheeses featured, including scallion, olive, strawberry, walnut raisin, vegetable, jalapeno, and sun-dried tomato.
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Bagels by Jarrett | West Mount Pleasant Avenue, West Orange
Bagels by Jarrett is “The Most Confused Bagel Shop You’ve Ever Loved,” as per its website. The menu includes pizza, gluten-free items, sandwiches, salads, pasta, wraps, burgers, and everything under the sun. Hidden on its expansive menu is, of course, bagels, which come in the flavors plain, sesame, and everything.
Bagel Nosh of Livingston | 1 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston
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At Bagel Nosh of Livingston, bagels are the foundation of most of its menu items. This spot serves bagels in the flavors everything, rainbow, whole wheat, garlic, onion, marble, and more. The cream cheese flavors include vegetable, scallion, lox, walnut raisin, sun-dried tomato, and more. All of its lunch sandwiches can also be put on a bagel.
Beyond the Bagel | 219 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
This bagel spot serves up bagels, breakfast sandwiches, prepared desserts, and lunch sandwiches alike. The menu includes New Jersey favorites like the egg and cheese sandwich, as well as a variety of cream cheeses, including strawberry, and vegan options like scallion tofu cream cheese. The shop also serves gluten-free bagels and, of course, a Taylor Ham sandwich.
Bloomfield Best Bagels | 404 Broad Street, Bloomfield
Bloomfield Best Bagels serves hot heros, wraps, breakfast sandwiches, cream cheese by the pound, and an endless array of bagels, some of which include cinnamon, pumpernickle, salt, poppy, rye, egg, onion, wheat, and french toast.
Hot Bagels Abroad | 150 Valley Road A, Montclair
Alongside a baker’s dozen bagels and hot fresh single bagels to bring home, this small but mighty eatery serves up a French toast bagel alongside options with butter, cream cheese, peanut butter, and more. Lunch sandwiches are served with a choice of side, and can also be enjoyed on a sub for an additional charge. Gourmet wraps, sandwiches, and grilled items are also available. All of the bagels are house-made daily.
House of Bagels | 45 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
The Bagel House is famous for its massive bagels and wide array of spreads and other options. Fruits, spreads, coffees, sandwiches, and even newspapers are available at this one-stop, quick meal shop. Raisin bagels, lox, and a variety of spreads are all affordably priced, too, attracting fans from across Essex County.
Mikki + Al’s Noshery | 179 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair
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Options are endless at this eatery, where cold salads like whitefish, macaroni, and tuna can be put on a bagel or be bought by the half-pound. Patrons can also enjoy lox and cream cheese on a bagel, with a variety of cream cheese flavors, including scallion. Diners can enjoy anything from a classic Reuben or a breakfast sandwich on a fresh bagel or opt for a latke plate or a bowl of matzo ball soup instead.
Plum Bakery | 179 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair
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Plum Bakery, a completely gluten-free spot, has hand-rolled bagels made “the old fashioned way,” as per its website. The bagel flavors include plain, poppyseed, sesame, onion, everything, and cinnamon raison.
Sunrise Bagels | 29 Watchung Plaza, Montclair
This bagel spot in Montclair has everything from the classic Taylor Ham, egg, + cheese sandwich to a lox bagel. Sunrise Bagels has over 20 bagel options, including sun-dried tomato, sesame, rainbow, jalapeno, egg, garlic, and more, as well as gourmet cream cheese flavors like the Walnut Honey Raisin Cream Cheese and the Pimento Olive Cream Cheese.
Walnut Street Bagels + Co. | 98 Walnut Street, Montclair
Photo Credit: Walnut Street Bagels + Co.
Walnut Street Bagels + Co. features bagels in the flavors in plain, everything, poppyseed, cinnamon raisin, garlic, onion, sesame garlic, and whole wheat everything. There are also a variety of cream cheese flavors like roasted black garlic, kimchi, sun-dried tomato, + garlic herb.
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Honorable Mention
Carlos’ Bagel Shop | 438 Lafayette Avenue, Hawthorne
While this spot is not in the Montclair + Essex County area, the menu of Carlos’ Bagel shop includes bagel flights, which feature four mini bagels (a combination of either plain, sesame seed, everything, or French toast) paired with a choice of four of its homemade cream cheeses. From classics like vegetable and scallion to one-of-a-kind flavors such as walnut raisin and strawberry, the spreads are good enough to take home.
A Trip to New Jersey’s 2nd Largest Museum: Morris Museum
New Jersey’s second-largest museum awaits visitors. Showcasing exhibits on innovation, dinosaurs, Native American history, trains, and more, the Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, has something for everyone. This accessible venue features free parking, kid-friendly spaces, military discounts, and a gift shop. Read on to learn about the Morris Museum, how to visit for free, and what to see while there.
How it Started
The Morris Museum began in 1913 as the Morris Children’s Museum, led by Nettie Pierson, and housed at the Neighborhood House School in Morristown. Nettie Pierson was born in 1868 as Marie Antoinette Shugg to Richard and Marie Shugg. Her father Richard, born in England, was one of Rutherford’s earliest settlers and one of the founders of the community’s original Baptist church. In 1896, Nettie married Aldus Pierson, whose family included the Pierson’s and other early European settlers of North Jersey. Nettie and Aldus had at least two children: Albert and Helen.
In 1922, the space expanded, and in 1938 it moved to Maple Avenue School. The collection included stuffed birds, toys, and fossils amongst others. In 1943, the museum was officially incorporated and began loaning out exhibits to local schools and libraries. In 1956, the first director, Chester H. Newkirk was hired and the following year the museum moved to 141 Madison Avenue. Finally, in 1963 the museum purchased the Twin Oaks Mansion, the current site of the museum today.
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The Twin Oaks Mansion was built between 1910 and 1913 and was owned by the Frelinghuysen family. The museum opened to the public in 1965 and added several galleries in 1969. This expansion also led to a name change and the "Morris Museum of Arts and Sciences” came to be. In 1972, the museum was officially accredited by the American Association of Museums, and in 1985 the museum took on its current name of “Morris Museum." Another expansion took place in 1989, wrapping up in 1990.
Nettie Pierson would be shocked today to know that her efforts have grown to steward the second-largest museum in the Garden State. This 75,524-square-foot facility is ADA accessible, full of local and national history, and features a variety of temporary and permanent exhibits. It is open from 11AM to 5PM from Wednesday through Sunday.
The Morris Museum is staffed by experts with degrees from institutions like New York University, Drew University, Seton Hall University, University of Florida, George Washington University, and Bucknell University. The team fulfills roles in Development, Education, Guest Services, Marketing, Exhibitions/Collections, and more. Together the workers ensure that the museum’s collections, exhibits, educational programming, and resources are cared for, shared, supported, and protected. Those interested in supporting the museum can click here to donate or click here to learn about the membership levels and benefits.
Current Exhibitions
Currently, there are six exhibits showcased at the Morris Museum. Two ongoing exhibits are Oceania Arts and Views and Vistas. Oceania Arts, sourced from the permanent collection includes woven, braided, carved, and painted works from Papua New Guinea and various other South Pacific Ocean communities.
Views and Vistas showcases Edwin Megargee’s Twin Oaks Farm Mural and a multitude of work he did for members of the American Jersey Cattle Club during the 1920s and 1930s. Former Twin Oak Mansion resident Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen commissioned a mural of his 150-acre Twin Oaks dairy farm to decorate his bedroom. Views and Vistas was curated by Anne Ricculli, Ph.D., Director of Exhibits and Collections, with the support of two Curatorial Interns Maura Ferrigno and Joey Patire. The exhibit was installed by Sara O’Connor, Preparator.
Ongoing installations and permanent exhibits include: the Mega Train Model Gallery, Native American Gallery, Earth Science Gallery, Earth + Memory: Contemporary Native American Pottery, Guinness Collection: Mechanical Museum + Automata, and the Dodge Room.
For the Kids
The Morris Museum is home to a variety of exhibits and spaces that can appeal to kids. Spark!Lab open from 12PM to 4PM Wednesday through Sunday is geared for an audience between five and 12. This is a flagship educational initiative of the Smithsonian Institution, where kids and their families learn and engage with history and invitation. Morris Museum is unique in its stewardship of a Spark!Lab. As the only Smithsonian Affiliate in the Garden State, the Morris Museum has a special partnership with the Smithsonian Institution allowing it to partake in certain programs and initiatives. For example, the Morris Museum is one of only 10 sites within the United States with a Spark!Lab.
The Guinness Collection: Mechanical Music + Automata and Morris Museum’s Digging Dinosaur Exhibition have interactive pieces that are great for kids. In January, the museum’s Education Department led a Digging Dinosaurs Family Tour which includes touching a real dinosaur egg and walking alongside dinosaur tracks.
Planning Your Visit
The price for admission to the Morris Museum varies. General admission for visitors is $12. Seniors, youth between 3 years old and 17, and students under 25 with an ID can access the Morris Museum for $8. There is also free admission for select groups. Children 2 and under as well as active military personnel visiting with up to five family members can visit the museum for free. Admission is also free for members of the Morris Museum who have special access to the museum on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 11AM to 2PM when it is typically closed.
Lastly, those living in communities like Kearny, Paterson, Montclair, Verona, and Westfield, where the public library has museum passes can visit the Morris Museum for free. Just ensure passes are reserved and picked up in accordance with library policy. Museum passes for the Morris Museum can also be found at libraries in Cliffside Park, Fanwood, Madison, Maplewood, Mendham, Mountain Lakes, Sparta, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne, West Caldwell, and numerous others across North Jersey. Just be sure to check.
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Accessibility
Morris Museum is a wheelchair-accessible museum with ample free parking, bathroom facilities, and a guest services desk. Each public space is accessible by elevators or ramps. Additionally, the museum has wheelchairs for visitors to use. If needed, visitors should ask for a wheelchair at the front desk. Service animals are allowed throughout the museum. Visitors attending performances and showings at the Bickford Theatre can request assistive listening devices from the front desk on the day of the performance.
