Lambertville, a historic mill town on the Delaware River, has a bit of everything for the cold-weather visitor. There are cozy inns, top-rated restaurants, comfy coffee shops, stylish boutiques, art galleries, and a host of antique shops and markets. You can walk everywhere and enjoy river views on the D&R Canal State Park towpath and the charming, pedestrian-friendly bridges spanning the Delaware.
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WHAT TO DO
Lambertville lives up to its nickname of the Antiques Capital of New Jersey. In addition to standalone shops throughout town, multiple dealers are conveniently located at the People’s Store on four floors of a large building on North Union Street.
Another treasure trove is the Golden Nugget Flea Market, held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday year-round, weather permitting, with about 200 vendors.
The area is also a mecca for art lovers. Wander into any of the many galleries downtown, or go straight to the Artists’ Gallery on Bridge Street, which features continuous exhibits of 16 artists, focusing on a new work each month. Also visit ArtYard, an exhibition space, theater and artist residency in nearby Frenchtown, is currently showing the works of artist and New York Times best-selling author Suleika Jaouad and her mother, Anne Francey.
At the the historic Prallsville Mills just outside Lambertville, you can visit the gallery of eight artists, including legendary painter Ty Hodanish, in an old linseed mill (by appointment only in January).
WHERE TO EAT
The cozy, subterranean Wine Cellar at Lambertville Station. Photo: Courtesy of Genesis Hospitality
Start your day at one of Lambertville’s many coffee shops—standouts are Union Coffee and Luminary Coffee.
For lunch, try Liv & Charlie’s Real Food, or get a hearty sandwich at Meta Cafe.
For a special dinner, try the Lambertville Station Restaurant; come early and visit the Wine Cellar for vino and cheese in front of the 19th-century building’s stone fireplace. D’Floret is an intimate, farm-to-table spot, where the menu changes based on what’s in season.
For casual but tasty fare, consider the Latinx-fusion menu at El Tule, where you can BYO.
For excellent pre- or post-dinner cocktails, head to the fun and quirky Boat House bar or the Hawke.
If you don’t mind the short drive up the river to charming Frenchtown, and you can score a reservation, another special-occasion dinner spot is Finnbar, helmed by Cal Peternell, former head chef at Alice Waters’s legendary Chez Panisse.
WHERE TO STAY
Woolverton Inn offers luxe cottages, like this two-bedroom option. Photo: Courtesy of Woolverton Inn/Mario Passalacqua
Two inns, Lambertville Station and the Lambertville House, are both on Bridge Street. Craving a water view? At Lambertville Station, 43 of the 46 rooms have river views, and a continental breakfast is included. Want to cozy up in front of your own fireplace? At the 1812 Lambertville House, most of the 26 rooms have fireplaces.
For a more bucolic setting, stay at the Woolverton Inn seven miles away, in Stockton. Built in 1792, it sits on 10 acres with a sheep farm and includes a three-course breakfast. You now can stay on site for dinner, too: Just opened is the Inn’s Northridge Restaurant in an historic 1830’s stone barn on the property.
Before leaving the area, take a trip back in time to the Rosemont-Ringoes Road in Sergeantsville, where you can drive over one of New Jersey’s last covered bridges, which just reopened last year.
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