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Guest Guidebook

Check out our top suggestions for the best food, shopping and activities in Ocean City, NJ! You will find our recommendations for the best places to eat, play and have fun that are relevant to how close to our condo they are, or local favorites worth traveling to! This list was compiled by locals in South Jersey, so you know you will get the best of the best when reviewing our guidebook! These places are also some of the top reviewed restaurants, sights, and things to do in the area, and we have even noted why they are most known for, so it helps makes your decision's even easier!

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Anchorage Tavern Restaurant

823 Bay Ave, Somers Point, NJ 08244

Best for Burgers, Sandwiches & Tavern food!

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The Crab Trap

2 Broadway, Somers Point, NJ 08244

Famous for their seafood and Happy Hour! Local Favorite.

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Clancy's By the Sea

1244 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Nice entertainment at night!

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Manco & Manco Pizza

816 E 9th St, Ocean City, NJ 08226

For some of the very best pizza in Ocean City, make sure you check out Manco & Manco Pizza located right on the boardwalk just off the 9th St. Has been reviewed by Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports' Pizza Reviews.

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Bocca Coal Fired Bistro

7805 Ventnor Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402

Great pizza and good all around food!

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Ventura's Greenhouse Restaurant

106 S Benson Ave #106, Margate City, NJ 08402

Great for entertainment, not too pricey

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Johnny's Cafe & Lounge

9407 Ventnor Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402

Known for steaks and seafood. Pricey. Make reservations in advance as early as possible

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Tomatoes

9300 Amherst Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402

Pricey, but very hard to get into. Make reservations as early as 1 or 2 months out. Food is excellent. Happening bar scene.

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Steve & Cookie's By the Bay

9700 Amherst Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402

Pricey, but very hard to get into. Make reservations as early as 1 or 2 months out. Food is excellent.

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Piccini Wood Fired Brick Oven Pizza

1260 West Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Great restaurant in Ocean City for an all around Italian meal including their Pizza, Pasta, Sandwiches, Calzones! They also have Salads, Chicken, Steaks & Seafood! Pizza is delicious!!

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Ike's Famous Crabcakes

1344 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Their crab cakes speak for themselves and located on the boardwalk in Ocean City.

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Island Grill Seafood & Steakhouse

100 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Seafood & Steak is very good and not as pricey compared to other places on our guidebook with similar food

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Oves Restaurant

4th Street & Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Great Donuts!!

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Mario's Pizzeria & Restaurant

1510 Bay Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Good place for Vegans and they even have Vegan Pizza!

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Bungalow Bowls

1054 Asbury Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Bright & fresh health food café with a surfing theme, serving fruity acai & pitaya bowls & smoothies. Great place for Vegans!

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Yianni's Cafe

847 Asbury Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Bustling, casual eatery featuring a variety of familiar Greek & American dishes, plus patio seating. Has both Vegan and Vegetarian options on their menu.

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Di Orio's Bar & Grill

10 MacArthur Blvd, Somers Point, NJ 08244

Fun sports bar, stays open later than most restaurants in the area. Great chicken wings and large selection of beer and liquor. Located just over the bridge from Ocean City in Somers point, about a 5-7 minute drive from the Hanscom. 

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Restaurants

Activities

Gillian's Wonderland Pier

600 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Theme park on the boardwalk, great for the younger ages toddler to 10 years old

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Playland's Castaway Cove

1020 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Theme park located on the boardwalk for the older ages 8 up to adults

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OC Waterpark

728 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Located on the boardwalk right by the Hanscom Hotel off of 8th street is this water park for all ages

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Ocean City Bicycle Center

740 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Located next to our building, this is a great place to rent bicycles, surreys, tandem bikes, trikes and even wheelchairs during your stay! It is convenient when you stay with us because they are so close to the boardwalk and right next to the building across the street, so access right to the boardwalk is so close!

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Congo Falls Adventure Mini Golf

1132 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

Located on the boardwalk, probably the best designed mini golf course on the boardwalk! There are 2 separate courses within Congo Falls that you can choose from, so you can hit this place twice and have 2 different experiences with mini golf during your stay!

Other Local Boardwalk Towns

Wildwood

Another great town with a boardwalk and amusement parks. Probably the best rides & thrills in all of South NJ. Great for "non-kiddie" rides and for teens / adults looking for Six Flags style rides.

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Seaside Heights

Seaside Heights is a hotbed of entertainment and attractions, and the Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach Waterpark is just the start of the action happening along the one-mile boardwalk. The Casino Pier also has an amusement park with state-of-the-art rides, classic boardwalk amusement rides and children’s rides. Main location for filming of the hit MTV Show "Jersey Shore"

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Point Pleasant Beach

The Point Pleasant Boardwalk offers an overload of must-see attractions along its one-mile. The north end of the Boardwalk is home to Jenkinson’s Aquarium, featuring everything from sharks and alligators to seals and penguins. Families also will love playing a game of miniature golf, exploring the Fun House, going on the 7D Dark Ride or listening to legendary Frank Sinatra tunes at Sinatra House.

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Atlantic City

Perhaps the most well-known boardwalk of them all, this historic destination was the world’s first boardwalk, built in 1870. Today, the boardwalk still draws in beach going visitors seeking entertainment, shopping, dining and a little fresh air. While you're here, don't miss the historic Steel Pier, built in 1898. Extending 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, the Pier has more than 25 kid-friendly and “extreme” rides, as well as an amusement arcade. Another exciting attraction along the Atlantic City boardwalk is Ripley’s Believe or Not! Museum, where visitors can marvel at everything from the world’s smallest production car to real shrunken heads.

Shopping

Asbury Avenue

Better places to shop (outside boardwalk shopping) in Ocean City for small boutiques, home decor & souvenirs. Located within walking distance of the Hanscom Hotel. Most shops between 6th & 11th Avenue in Downtown Ocean City.

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Cape May

Great shopping is located in Cape May, NJ on Washington Street spanning 3 blocks with lots of little beach shops & boutiques! 

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King of Prussia Mall (1 hour & 45 minutes away)

160 N Gulph Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Yes, it is a trek, but totally worth going to! It is the 2nd largest mall in the USA behind Mall of America and boasts 450 stores with 7 department stores!! They have every type of store you can envision at a mall, from mom & pop shops to great boutiques, big brands galore and even lots of high-end designer! If you want a little getaway for one of the best malls in the USA, look no further!

Miscellaneous

Circle Liquor Store 1938

1 MacArthur Blvd, Somers Point, NJ 08244

Located literally just before you hop on the bridge to Ocean City from Somers Point on the right-hand side! Closest liquor store to Ocean City!

Wanting to know the best shopping, restaurants, boardwalks and theme parks in/and around Ocean City, NJ? Check out The Condo By The Sea's suggestions made by locals for tourists! Need some great recommendations for your stay? Thanks for stopping by the website and guidebook for the best condo / short term summer rental in Ocean City, New Jersey! We are a short term rental found on AirBnB and VRBO that has selected by locals, some of the best attractions and places to eat for foodies, best shopping for the shopaholics and fashionista and best rides on the boardwalk for the thrillist and thrill seekers! We have hand selected some of the more popular and hole in the wall spots to that you can see and experience during your stay Down the Shore in South Jersey! Are you coming to the jersey shore for a vacation and looking for a great place to stay the night? Whether you live or traveling in from Philadelphia, New York, North Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Margate, Ventnor City, Brigantine, Longport, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Cape May, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Strathmere, Asbury Park or anywhere else in the USA, this guidebook we have created for your stay in Ocean City, NJ is the best guidebook you will find that is relevant and helpful when booking a trip or activities in Ocean City, New Jersey!The Condo By The Sea is available for daily stays and rentals, weekly rentals, monthly rentals and even winter places for rent! If you are looking for the best place to stay in OCNJ, consider The Condo By The Sea, located feet away from the incredible beach of the Atlantic Ocean! The best things to do in Ocean City and surrounding areas can be found here on TheCondoByTheSea.com which is AirBnB & VRBO's best-selling condo down the shore! Although Ocean City is a dry town, meaning no bars or alcohol can be served on the island, we have suggested the best bars and restaurants close to it, including a liquor store just over the bridge from Ocean City in Somers Point! If you are looking for great places to shop in the Ocean City, NJ area including a mall in Pennsylvania or beach shops, souvenir shops, boutiques and designer shopping, we have you covered in our guidebook! Lastly, if you want to know which are the best theme and amusement parks in Ocean City, NJ and surrounding beach towns in south Jersey located on the jersey shore, we have selected the best places to go and ride all the rides you can! Read our guidebook today for all the best things to do and see exclusively on TheCondoByTheSea.com! 

Please Note: We have not received any compensation by any of these spots mentioned above. These are completely unsolicited by them and strictly recommendations and suggestions of spots we enjoy going to when in Ocean City, NJ. They are in no way an endorsement of their services or products. We do not receive any sort of affiliate compensation from them in any way shape or form.

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