A small-town feel with rich history, Burlington City is bustling with shops, restaurants, and plenty of fairs and festivals—all while overlooking the Delaware River
It’s rumored that the English pirate Blackbeard buried his legendary treasure under a black walnut tree in Burlington City, attempting to hide it from authorities hot on his tail as he sailed up the Delaware. That’s the legend, anyway. No priceless booty has ever been found. Even if the famous pirate’s riches never were, treasure abounds in Burlington today. The historic city on the river has a quiet gem of a walkable downtown waiting to be discovered with restaurants, theater, a brewery, and antique shops. Those shops feature more than 150 vendors offering up plenty of treasures, no digging with a shovel required.
Originally inhabited by the Lenape of the Delaware nation, Burlington was settled for a time by Dutch, Swedish, and Belgian traders but it was the English, including English Quakers, who eventually built it into a thriving shipping and commerce hub in what was then called West Jersey. Today, historical buildings remain and can be found throughout the city center, particularly along High Street, where there’s much to explore.
Parking is plentiful and free, and the city is also accessible from New Jersey Transit’s River Line. Park your car or hop off the train, then spend a day dining and shopping in Burlington City’s historic downtown.
10 am
Have breakfast and coffee before taking a historical stroll
First stop is Evermore Coffee Roasters for made-in-house breakfast sandwiches, quesadillas, or burritos, as well as baked goods (filled with local produce when in season). Have a plain ol’ cup of joe or a specialty coffee. When you’re done eating, grab your coffee cup and head to Wood Street. Sip as you stroll up Wood to take in the 18th– and 19th-century homes, paying special attention to 309 Wood, a private residence where Ulysses S. Grant and his family lived until the end of the Civil War.
11 am
Shop for antiques and more on High Street
Start your treasure hunting at Historic Burlington Antiques Emporium (65+ vendors) and Antiques Market on High (100+ vendors). Browse through vintage kitchenware, baseball cards, home and holiday decor, vinyl records, art, toys, and collectible action figures. If you’ve been looking for it, you may just find it in one of these two antique markets. Even if you weren’t, you might just find it anyway.
If vintage furniture is the treasure you seek, find it at Phillips Furniture and Antiques, where even the trendy, mid-century modern pieces are reasonably priced. And do not neglect to pop into Creepella’s Posh Pit & Dizzy Edge Records if you’re a vinyl hunter. The handpicked selection of records is in great condition. This goth/punk/alt shop also offers music memorabilia, clothing, art, and collectibles.
1 pm
Enjoy lunch with a water view
Whether you want pizza, soul food, burgers, or tacos, Burlington City has you covered. Francesco Pizzeria-Ristorante is where to go for excellent pizzeria-style fare. Legends Pizza and Tap Room has a similar pizzeria menu along with a bar and TVs to catch a game. If you’re craving soul food, A Taste of Soul by Ms. Nancy has seafood, mac and cheese, cornbread, grits, and more, in generous portions. And B-Unos has favorites such as burgers, wings, birria tacos, and empanadas.
You can dine-in at each of the restaurants, or, if the weather is beautiful, take your food to the Riverfront Promenade, where you’ll find picnic tables. Enjoy lunch al fresco while watching the sun gleam off the Delaware River.
2 pm
Indulge in dessert, and learn some history
Still have room for dessert after lunch? You’re in luck. Ummm Ice Cream Parlor, open April through December, serves up old-fashioned ice cream made on the premises in cones, sundaes, floats, shakes, and more, with plenty of toppings to choose from.
If you take your cone to go, you can spend a few minutes walking through Burlington’s Underground Railroad Walk, a mural that spans the sides of alleyway buildings. The walk is a block away from the Burlington Pharmacy, housed in a 1730s building where Quakers once hid runaway enslaved people and held anti-slavery rallies.
For even more history, book a fun, informative, and entertaining historical walking tour of the downtown with Burlington Tours. Offered May through October, the tours run each Saturday at 2pm with expanded days and hours in October when the historical tours turn into haunted history tours.
3 pm
Grab a beer and watch the game
If there’s a sports game on, Third State Brewing is sure to have it on the TV in its High Street tasting room. Enjoy high-quality craft beer from a rotating tap list or from cans. Don’t leave without taking home a growler of whatever you enjoyed best— filled straight from the tap.
5pm
Linger over dinner
Open year round, The Union House is known for its raw bar, French onion soup with a generous portion of melted cheese, great burgers, and entrees such as meatloaf and chicken pot pie. The full bar has a creative cocktail menu, more than 20 taps, a small but well-chosen wine list (Wednesday night is half-price bottle night), and plenty of room to belly up. When the weather gets warm, an outdoor bar opens. There’s often live music on weekends, too. Reservations accepted.
Open seasonally, Curtin’s Wharf has beautiful views of the river, especially at sunset. The all-outdoor restaurant serves steak, seafood, and pasta dishes, plus a menu for the “kiddo pirates.” There’s a boat dock as well, plus live music on weekends.
7 pm
Hang around
Sticking around after dinner? If it’s Friday, head to After Hours at Evermore Coffee Roasters. Baristas turn into bartenders who use ABV-free spirits, house-made syrups, sodas, and other premium ingredients to create balanced non-alcoholic and THC-infused cocktails. Small plates such as black bean or bacon sliders and charcuterie boards are made fresh to order. Reservations accepted.
Or take in some performing arts at the Bridge Players Theater or Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts.
BURLINGTON CITY
Fairs and Festivals
Burlington Day:
Each year on the third Saturday of May, this free community day offers music, food, and fun activities for the whole family.
Wood Street Fair:
The city’s biggest event— more than 175 artisans and crafters line the streets on a Saturday in early September (2025’s event is Sept. 6). There’s music, food, fun, and a special opportunity to take a look into some historic homes that are usually not accessible to the public.
Hops and Rocks Festival:
Hosted by Third Street Brewing in September, this charitable beerfest is held on the banks of the Delaware River and brings together more than 20 local breweries. (2025’s event is Sept. 13.)
Burlington City Boardwalk:
New for 2025, High Street will close down between noon and 5pm for one Saturday each month between May and December (taking off July and August) for more than 200 vendors, a beer garden, children’s activities, live music, and food trucks.
TAKE YOUR FOOD TO THE RIVERFRONT PROMENADE, WHERE YOU’LL FIND PICNIC TABLES. ENJOY LUNCH AL FRESCO WHILE WATCHING THE SUN GLEAM OFF THE DELAWARE RIVER.
1 A Taste of Soul by Ms. Nancy
345 High St.
609.531.2451 | tasteofsoulbymsnancy.com
2 Antiques Market on High
407 High St.
609.479.3923
facebook.com/AntiquesMarketOnHigh
3 Bridge Players Theater
36 E. Broad St.
856.303.7620 | bridgeplayerstheatre.com
4 Burlington’s Underground Railroad Walk Middle of 300 block of High Street
5 B-Unos
350 High St.
609.386.0060 | bunosbbb.com
6 Creepella’s Posh Pit & Dizzy Edge Records
243 High St.
609.531.2239 | dizzyandcreep.com
7 Curtin’s Wharf
501 E. Pearl St.
609.386.4594 | curtinmarina.com
8 Evermore Coffee Roasters/After Hours
1 E. Pearl St., Suite A
609.699.1088 | evermorecoffee.com
9 Francesco Pizzeria-Ristorante
351 High St. #102
609.747.1400 | francescopizzeriamenu.com
10 Historic Burlington Antiques Emporium
424 High St.
609.747.8333 | antiquesnj.com
11 Legends Pizza and Tap Room
318 High St.
609.386.3001 | legendspizzataproom.com
12 Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts
432 High St.
609.239.0029 | lyceumhallarts.com
13 Phillips Furniture and Antiques
307 High St.
609.386.7125
14 Third State Brewing
352 High St.
609.387.1620 | thirdstatebrewing.com
15 Ummm Ice Cream Parlor
236 High St.
609.387.9786 | ummmicp.net
16 The Union House
19 E. Union St.
609.531.6077 | unionhouseburlington.com
