What to Do in Highlands, NJ: Eat, Drink and Explore at Mule Barn Tavern
Highlands, New Jersey sits at the northern tip of Sandy Hook, tucked between the Shrewsbury River and the Atlantic Ocean, and it tends to catch people off guard. For a small borough, it packs in a considerable amount worth doing, and the combination of the Sandy Hook National Recreation Area, the coastal setting, and the dining and drinking scene along the waterfront makes it a genuinely compelling day trip or extended visit, regardless of the season.
At the center of the Highlands experience right now is Mule Barn Tavern, a restored historic building at 36 Kearney Road that has become the gathering point for locals and visitors alike. But Highlands offers more than just a great place to eat and drink. Here is everything worth knowing about spending a day, or a weekend, in the area.
Start Outdoors: Sandy Hook National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook is the anchor of any visit to the area, and it earns that status. Part of Gateway National Recreation Area, the Sandy Hook unit is a barrier peninsula that stretches north into New York Harbor, and it offers a range of outdoor activities that keeps visitors coming back across every season.
The beaches along the ocean side are wide and well-maintained, with lifeguarded areas during summer months. The bay side offers calmer water and a different pace. The multi-use paths that run the length of the peninsula are popular with cyclists and joggers, and the trail system through the dunes and maritime forest gives hikers a genuine natural experience without requiring a long drive.
The northern end of the peninsula, where Mule Barn Tavern is located, is also where Fort Hancock sits. Fort Hancock was an active United States Army installation that served as a coastal defense post at the entrance to New York Harbor, and the historic buildings that remain on the grounds are worth exploring on foot. The connection between Fort Hancock and Mule Barn Tavern is direct: the tavern's building was originally constructed as a working mule barn supporting the fort's daily operations. Read the full history of the building on the Mule Barn Tavern About page.
Explore the Highlands Borough
Highlands itself is a small, tight-knit community that has held onto its character as a working Jersey Shore town even as the surrounding area has grown more tourist-facing. The borough runs along the Shrewsbury River on the bay side and offers views across the water to Sea Bright and the barrier beach beyond.
The main commercial strip has a mix of local businesses, and the waterfront has a handful of spots for a drink with a view. Highlands also sits at the base of the Navesink Highlands, the high bluffs that give the borough its name and offer some of the most dramatic coastal views in the region. The Twin Lights of Navesink, a historic lighthouse complex on those bluffs, is a short drive from the center of town and well worth a stop for the views alone.
Eat and Drink at Mule Barn Tavern
After a morning or afternoon outside, Mule Barn Tavern is the natural next stop, and for most visitors it ends up being the highlight of the day.
The tavern is housed in a restored historic barn that once supported Fort Hancock, brought back to life with reclaimed wood, warm lighting, and panoramic coastal views. The result is an atmosphere that is genuinely hard to find: rustic and comfortable without feeling manufactured, lively without being loud, and rooted in the actual history of the place rather than a theme applied from the outside. It is the kind of space where a two-hour lunch can turn into a four-hour afternoon without anyone noticing.
The Food
The menu at Mule Barn Tavern covers the range that a good American tavern should. Elevated comfort food anchors the experience: burgers built with real care, fresh seafood dishes, handcrafted flatbreads across a range of styles, and salads that are substantial enough to stand as a full meal. There are also vegetarian-friendly options that do not feel like afterthoughts.
The kitchen puts particular attention into the seafood side of the menu, which makes sense given the location. Dishes come out fresh and well-executed, and the lobster roll, the Baja wrap, and the seafood rice bowl have all earned specific praise from guests who describe the food as genuinely fresh and flavorful. The pork belly sliders are a consistent standout, mentioned by name by visitors who were not expecting to be as impressed as they were.
Weekend brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday and adds a morning-friendly layer to the menu that works perfectly after an early walk or bike ride on Sandy Hook. The full menu is available at mulebarntavern.com/our-menu.
The Drinks
The bar at Mule Barn Tavern is one of the better reasons to linger. Local New Jersey craft beers rotate on tap, drawn from some of the best breweries the Garden State produces, with IPAs, lagers, and seasonal small-batch releases that change with the time of year. The full cocktail menu gives every guest at the table something genuinely worth ordering regardless of preference.
The Hulse Beach Bar, signposted with the venue's distinctive reception desk inside, adds to the sense that this is a place with its own character and identity, not just a dining room attached to a bar.
The Outdoor Patio
The outdoor patio at Mule Barn Tavern is open during the warmer months and offers coastal views that make sitting outside for an extended stretch an easy choice. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio, which is worth knowing if you have spent the morning exploring Sandy Hook's trails with your dog. The patio has a relaxed, unhurried energy that fits the pace of a day in Highlands.
Live Music and Events
Mule Barn Tavern hosts live music as part of its regular programming, which transforms the space on evenings and weekends into something more than just a restaurant. The lounge area is equipped for performances, and the combination of the historic space and live entertainment gives Friday and Saturday nights in particular a different quality from the usual tavern experience. Upcoming events are listed at mulebarntavern.com.
Sports Bar
For visitors who want to catch a game, the Mule Barn Tavern functions as a fully equipped sports bar with multiple screens throughout the space, NJ craft beers on tap, and game-day food that actually delivers. Learn more about the sports bar experience here.
Private Parties and Events
If you are planning a group celebration in the Highlands area, Mule Barn Tavern is one of the most compelling private event venues in Monmouth County. The historic building, the coastal setting, the flexible catering program, and the dedicated private event manager make it well-suited for birthday parties, graduation celebrations, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and wedding receptions. Submit a private party inquiry here.
Planning Your Visit
Mule Barn Tavern is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM. The tavern is closed on Mondays. Walk-ins are always welcome for parties of fewer than eight guests. For parties of eight or more, reservations are recommended.
The address is 36 Kearney Road, Highlands, NJ 07732. The tavern can be reached by phone at 732-233-9277 or by email at mulebarntavern@gmail.com. Gift cards are available through Toast.
A full day in Highlands follows a natural arc: start on the trails or the beach at Sandy Hook in the morning, explore the Fort Hancock grounds and the borough in the late morning, then settle into Mule Barn Tavern for a long, satisfying lunch or dinner that extends into the evening. The building, the food, the drinks, and the company of people who have all had a good day outdoors make for an afternoon that is genuinely hard to improve on.
