This famed New Jersey university town is perfect for a day trip from Philadelphia, New York or the Jersey Shore or for a weekend getaway.
My recommendations include:
What to Do
Start your day at the Grounds for Sculpture just south of Princeton near Trenton in Hamilton Township, NJ. Here you can walk through the 42 acres of beautiful gardens and parklands to view over 270 sculptures from well-known and emerging artists. There are also inside exhibition spaces. It opened in 1992 after the vision of J. Seward Johnson, sculptor and philanthropist. He is known for his large works of such figures as American Gothic and Marilyn Monroe which I first saw in Chicago. You can also see his wonderful pieces that he created from Impressionist paintings. For example, you can admire Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party along the water.
I highly suggest eating at Rat’s Restaurant for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, where you can enjoy good food in a building that is meant to look like Monet’s home in Giverny, France. It overlooks the water-lily pond complete with boat and the Japanese Footbridge.
The Princeton University Art Museum: This small museum is worth the visit. It has a good permanent collection featuring Asian, American, European, Modern and Contemporary art plus Photography, Prints and Drawings. There are also temporary exhibitions like the one I saw, Rothko to Richter – Mark Making in Abstract Painting. Plus there are many events throughout the year including yoga, outdoor film screenings, lectures and special presentations.
Theater lovers should check out the schedule for the McCarter Theatre Center on the Princeton Campus. A number of Broadway productions have debuted there including Our Town and You Can’t Take It With You.
The Lewis Center for the Arts at the University also has performances in dance, theater along with programs and lectures in creative writing, for artists and visual arts.
Where to Eat
On my recent visit in July 2025, I found two great dining options.
The Meeting House: After arriving in town I went to brunch at The Meeting House at 227 Witherspoon St. This is an attractive restaurant offering American cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. They are open for lunch, brunch and dinner. I opted for the Eggs Benedict with spinach, prosciutto and breakfast potatoes.
For dinner I went to the Witherspoon Grill. It has a menu of classic American fare including surf and turf. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the service and the food. I had a great Bucatini pasta with clams in a lobster stock. It received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 2025. 57 Witherspoon St.
Other places to try include:
Small World Coffee: A local coffee shop at 14 Witherspoon St. is perfect for a break before or after a visit to the Princeton University Art Museum. They now have a second location at 254 Nassau St.
On my last trip I enjoyed Sakrid Coffee Roasters where I stopped in a latte after lunch after reading about it in several articles. Located at 20 Nassau St., they have full menu of coffee drinks along with pastries. It has both indoor and outdoor seating.
I then went next door, in the same building, for dessert to Jammin’ Crêpes. I went as I saw it featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. They are known for their sweet, savory and breakfast crêpes made with local ingredients. I loved the peach crêpe with raspberry coulis. Make sure to stop in when you are in town.
On my next trip I want to go to the Nassau Diner at 82 Nassau St. This is a classic diner serving breakfast and comfort food in a traditional setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It looked like a fun place.
Palmer Square is an historic public square in the heart of downtown Princeton across from Nassau Street and Princeton University. Established in 1937, it has a collection of shops, restaurants, offices and residential spaces. They also host events including the Summer Music Series concerts and Movie Nights on the Green. Make sure to visit:
Thomas Sweet Chocolate: Since 1979, this is a shop featuring chocolates, ice cream, pastries and coffee drinks. The dark chocolate pecan bark that I bought was a great choice.
Rojo’s Roastery: This is a small batch coffee roaster at 33 Palmer Square.
Winberies Restaurant & Bar: This is a casual restaurant with a pub atmosphere that opened in 1984 and has received excellent reviews and great press. 1 Palmer Square.
the bent spoon: Located at 35 Palmer Square, this is an award winning ice cream shop. It is very popular and during the summer months the lines can be very long.
Halo Pub: At 9 Hulfish St. on Palmer Square, this was a great spot for ice cream on a hot summer day. They have a local dairy in Lawrenceville NJ and use the best ingredients. I went on a previous trip and thought the toasted almond flavor was great!! They also have coffee from La Colombe.
Still hungry then stop in at The Little Chef Pastry Shop which has a large selection of homemade pastries and cakes. 8 S. Tulane St.
Agricola: This is a highly recommended farm-to-table restaurant with a creative menu and great food. They focus on fresh ingredients from local farms. I thoroughly enjoyed it for dinner in the past with a local friend. I loved the scallops. 11 Witherspoon St.
Elements is another good dining option that features locally-sourced ingredients and tasting menus. 66 Witherspoon St. They recently moved to a smaller spot and has received great reviews from The New York Times, edible Jersey, Esquire Magazine and New Jersey Monthly.
Under the same ownership and next door is Mistral which has also received very good reviews.
I recently read about Triumph Restaurant and Brewery at 138 Nassau St. They feature lunch and dinner along with brews on tap and live music. They also have locations in Red Bank, NJ and New Hope, PA.
According to the NY Times, other spots to check out include Labyrinth Books at 122 Nassau St. and Princeton Record Exchange, an independent record store since 1980, at 20 S. Tulane St. They also recommend the casual Hoagie Haven at 242 Nassau St. for great sandwiches for over 40 years.
On my recent visit in July 2025 I stopped in at Labyrinth Books. It is am attractive local bookstore with a very large selection of books to choose from.
Where to Stay
On my recent trip I enjoyed the Inn at Glencairn. This is a small inn in a renovated 1736 Georgian manor house. It is a short drive south of downtown and has attractive rooms, an excellent full breakfast with three seatings, onsite parking and several common areas. The staff was also very helpful. Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award has ranked the inn in the top 10 for hotels in the Mid-Atlantic region. 3301 Lawrenceville Rd.
It you want to stay downtown, I recommend the recently opened Graduate by Hilton. I am a big fan of this hotel group that is now part of Hilton since 2024. I have stayed in other locations in the US. They are located in college towns in the US and always have a cool, preppy college vibe. I was impressed with the design of the Princeton location at 10 Chambers St. It is in a great location for exploring downtown. I will definitely stay there on my next trip.
The Peacock Inn: The Peacock Inn is a really lovely spot near downtown. It was originally built in the late 1700’s and has a very good restaurant and bar plus 16 king and queen rooms. 20 Bayard Lane.
