Ah, New Brunswick. It’s one of those towns in New Jersey that just about everyone knows. Home to Rutgers University, one of the oldest universities in the United States, it’s a massive cultural hub surrounding a campus made up of several famous colleges. It’s also the best college town in NJ – because it absolutely lives up to the hype! I attended college at Rutgers, and while my school days are long over, my trips to New Brunswick are anything but. I fell in love with the city’s unique museums, rich dining scene, and hidden shopping gems, and I find myself coming back time and time again. With a new group of students coming in every single year, it’s likely that New Brunswick will keep growing and evolving – and that means any time is a good time for a visit!

Rutgers is a massive university - filled with countless dorms, libraries, campus buildings, and dining halls. And it deserves a town to match.
Jass/Wikipedia
Just walking around Rutgers can be a fascinating day trip - you might be able to visit Old Queens, the oldest building at Rutgers dating back to the early 19th century.
Old Queens, 420 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Zeete/Wikipedia
Rutgers is also home to several small museums, including a natural history museum and the famous Zimmerli Art Museum, which is regularly hosting special exhibitions.
Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Richa Rashmi/Google Local
Not far from the campus is Rutgers Gardens, a sprawling botanical garden and sculpture park worth a visit for any nature lover.
Rutgers Gardens, 112 Log Cabin Rd, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902, USA
Summer Pramer/Google Local
With so many students, it's no wonder that New Brunswick has an amazing dining scene! You can get oversized strombolis at the famous Stuff Yer Face.
Stuff Yer Face, 49 Easton Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Karen Brown-Stovell/Google Local
Check out our full coverage of Stuff Yer Face
Only feet away is Noodle Gourmet, a Cantonese-style restaurant specializing in heaping bowls of noodle soup.
Noodle Gourmet ????, 43 Easton Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Eric Finkelstein/Google Local
Check out our past coverage of Noodle Gourmet
Further down George Street, you'll find Sakana - a unique all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant featuring sushi, teriyaki, and so much more.
Sakana Sushi & Japanese Cuisine, 338 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Daniel Lee/Google Local
Check out our past coverage of Sakana
For a graduation celebration or any other night out, check out The Frog and the Peach - a high-end American restaurant set in a greenhouse.
The Frog & The Peach, 29 Dennis St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
The Frog and the Peach/Google Local
Check our our past coverage of The Frog & The Peach
Students on a budget are very happy for George Street Co-Op, a reasonably priced vegan-friendly grocery store on a side street.
George Street Co-Op/Facebook
The co-op is famous for its spinach pies - garlicky, tangy spinach baked in a flaky whole-wheat crust.
George Street Co-op, 89 Morris St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
George Street Co-Op/Facebook
For a night out, you won't do better than a visit to the George Street Playhouse - a Broadway-style theater in downtown.
George Street Playhouse/Google Local
The theater plays host to musicals, plays, and concert events throughout the year, and new and exciting shows are being scheduled all the time.
George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
George Street Playhouse/Google Local

Have you explored New Brunswick inside and outside its famous university? Let us know if you think it’s the best college town in NJ in the comments section! You can find out more about Rutgers Gardens in our past coverage, and visit the websites of the Zimmerli Art Museum, George Street Playhouse, and George Street Co-Op on the official websites. Whether you’re visiting for fun or because you have a student going here, The Heldrich Hotel is always a great place to stay.

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