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One Fine Day in Frenchtown, NJ
8am Early Bird Espresso & Mercantile
If you’re an early riser, head to Early Bird for your morning coffee. My go to is the Honey Oat Latte. I like to take my coffee to go and find a quiet spot along the river’s edge or walk over the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge.
10am Frenchtown Cafe
Right in the heart of town, the Frenchtown Cafe has served as the town's main gathering place for both locals and visitors since 1996. The building dates back to the late 1800s but after a devastating fire in 2018, the restaurant was completely rebuilt by a local craftsman who used as many salvaged materials as possible, including the original beautiful black walnut counter. You can’t go wrong with any of the pancakes or omelettes.
12pm Art Yard
Down the street from the Frenchtown Cafe you will find Art Yard, an interdisciplinary alternative contemporary art center dedicated to presenting transformative artwork, fostering unexpected collaborations, and incubating original new work. Opened in 2015 in a former electronics warehouse and abandoned egg hatchery on the edge of town, ArtYard has since grown into a multi-building complex, including an exhibition space, theater, and residency program. Check their website for more information on exhibits, events, and workshops.
2pm Lovin' Oven
Right next door to the original Art Yard space is Lovin' Oven, a farm to table style restaurant offering extensive vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. They also have an amazing selection of desserts, all made in house. I never make it out the door without enjoying a slice of their Chocolate Caramel Tart or Key Lime Pie, and usually grabbing a Ginger Cookie for later!
4pm Shopping
Walk off your lunch with a bit of shopping on Bridge Street. Modern Love is great for gifts and thoughtful homegoods, Frenchtown Pottery for gorgeous local handmade ceramics, and Merge Gallery for a curated collection of vintage furniture and art. If you’re feeling ambitious, rent bikes from Cycle Corner and take a ride along the Canal State Park Trail, accessible right from town.
6pm The National Hotel
Enjoy a cocktail at the National Hotel. Established in 1833 and rebuilt in 1850, The National Hotel was frequented by many historical figures, including Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley. If you stay the night, you might bump into the hotel’s friendly and inquisitive ghost, who (as the stories tell it), visits Room 304 and asks questions about technology like “How does the telephone work?”
8pm Canal House Station
A quick 5 minute drive away, in the neighboring rivertown of Milford, is Canal House Station. When Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton first moved into this 1870s train station in 2017, they intended it as a larger studio and event space for their thriving cookbook empire. Now you can experience their recipes come to life along the banks of the Delaware River. The menus trend Eurocentric and classic American comforts, but there are also surprises that harken to Hirsheimer’s California roots and their work as globe-hopping food journalists.
