Montclair Guide

With its rich cultural offerings, outstanding restaurant scene and easy commute to New York City, Montclair, New Jersey, has long been the first step into the suburbs for ex-pat city dwellers. The New York Post even called it "the only suburb true New Yorkers will even consider." Montclair is currently home to Stephen Colbert, the actor Patrick Wilson and celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

Located just 11 miles from the city as the crow flies, Montclair boasts peaceful residential neighborhoods that run alongside several quaint business districts, including the Six Corners main drag along Bloomfield Avenue, the Walnut Street shops and farmers market, Upper Montclair's Valley Road district and a collection of shops and restaurants along Watchung Avenue. While there are many rental buildings and new-construction residences, Montclair homes are primarily beautiful owner-occupied properties of Colonial, Craftsman, Victorian or Tudor design. Buyers in this competitive market should be prepared for bidding wars, and property taxes are notoriously steep.

Montclair's outstanding transportation offerings bolster its popularity among former urbanites. The town's nearly 40,000 residents enjoy easy access to an impressive seven different stops along NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton train line. Several NJ Transit bus routes are complemented by two private buses offered by DeCamp Bus Lines.

French for "clear mountain," Montclair is nestled alongside a tall ridgeline formed by the Watchung Mountains. The community is dotted with small neighborhood parks with larger greenspace and trails at Eagle Rock Reservation, Mountainside Park, Mills Reservation and Brookdale Park. The highly regarded magnet school system prioritizes diversity and parent choice at seven elementary schools, three middle schools and Montclair High School, where 90 percent of graduates go on to college. Montclair State University and Bloomfield College add to the area's impressive educational offerings.

What You'll Love About It:

Six Corners: This lively district along Church Street and the Bloomfield Avenue thoroughfare boasts excellent restaurants, boutiques and a village-square ambiance. On Bloomfield, Lackawanna Plaza mall and national retailers, such as Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie stand shoulder-to-shoulder with local hotspots like modern French brasserie and bar Faubourg, cozy Italian favorite Fascino and lively Cuban Pete's. With its wide sidewalks, Church Street is an unbeatable destination for warm-weather outdoor dining at one of the great BYOB restaurants, including Raymond's, a Sunday brunch mainstay, and contemporary Italian spot Scala del Nonna.

A Vibrant Arts Scene: For a smaller city, Montclair provides an outsized range of arts and culture attractions. The Montclair Art Museum offers impressive galleries and an array of classes and camps. The Montclair Film Festival — New Jersey's largest — hosts their annual event at the newly renovated Investors Bank Film & Media Center, plus year-round programming and outdoor screenings. Montclair residents enjoy exceptional concerts at the yearly Montclair Jazz Festival and the Wellmont Theater. The new Seymour Street development next door, dubbed "The Lincoln Center of New Jersey," will include an art school and The Wellmont Arts Plaza outdoor space, plus retail storefronts and medical offices, all while adding much-needed parking to the area.

Montclair Country Club: New Jersey is known for its exceptional golfing and country clubs, and the Montclair Country Club is among the state's finest and one of the country's oldest. Founded in 1893, the club offers four 9-hole courses, tennis and pickleball, a newly renovated pool complex and a clubhouse offering formal and casual dining.

The George: Famed makeup artist and Montclair resident Bobbi Brown and her husband have transformed the former Georgian Inn into The George, a charming hotel featuring a heady mix of old bones and contemporary design. Built in 1902 as a private home for Charles Van Vleck, The George offers 31 sophisticated guest rooms and beautiful surroundings that have made it a favorite wedding destination.

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