Hotels in Asbury Park, New Jersey

A little about Asbury Park...

Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, on the Jersey Shore. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 16,930.

Asbury Park is considered to be a mecca for musicians, particularly for a subgenre of rock and roll known as the Jersey Shore sound. It is home to The Stone Pony, founded in 1974 and a starting point for many musical artists.

In particular, Asbury Park became famous after Bruce Springsteen released his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. in 1973. On his follow-up album, The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, one of the songs is entitled "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)".

In more recent years, Asbury Park has developed a reputation as a center of hip-hop culture in New Jersey. Rap artists such as Paul Wall and Method Man have recently performed in The Stone Pony as well as the city's historic Asbury Park Convention Hall. A growing number of independent rap and R&B artists originate from the area, including Black Wizard Entertainment, King Marv, Barbadu, and 7th Faction.

The city is also a hub of New Jersey gay culture and is a popular resort destination for gay men and lesbians. Highlights of the summer season include the Jersey Gay Pride festival and parade in June and the Roadtrip Weekend in August, along with a few nightclubs and gay-friendly shops open year round.

There were, at one time, several hotels in the city. Many were demolished after years of sitting vacant, but some still exist.
Abandoned or Demolished:
The Metropolitan Hotel & motel (vacant)
The Ambassador Hotel (demolished)
The Albion Hotel (demolished)
Currently Open:
Berkeley-Carteret Hotel
The Empress Hotel

Asbury Park's nightlife is primarily, but not all, rock oriented. The Stone Pony, the bar frequented by Bruce Springsteen, is still serving the rockers of the Jersey Shore. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, before going on to international fame, was the house band at the Stone Pony in the mid-seventies. On Main Avenue is the Saint (formerly The Clover Club), a small club that showcases some of the best local acts, established performers, such as Ben Folds, Jewel, and Cake, in the past. The Fast Lane, the club where Bon Jovi got his start, is still rocking too. Directly next door is Asbury Lanes, a vintage bowling alley that was revamped by local artists and musicians to create one of the coolest performance spaces on the east coast. It has been the setting of anything from musical acts to burlesque to spoken word, and there is still bowling.. On the other side is the Baronet, a vintage movie theater which dates back to Buster Keaton.

Popular with numerous Asbury Park residents and visitors is the monthly First Saturday event. On the first Saturday of every month, Asbury Park's downtown art galleries, home design studios, restaurants, antique shops, and clothing boutiques remain open throughout the evening, serving hors d'overs and offering entertainment, to showcase the city's residential and commercial resurgence.