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Mendham is the quiet one between Morristown and Chester: a short Main Street (Route 24) lined with old houses, a tavern that has been pouring since 1742, and some of the best woods walking in Morris County a few minutes off the road. Here is how we would spend a day in Mendham, from where to eat to where to hike.
A quick note on the map: there are two Mendhams. Mendham Township dates to 1749, and Mendham Borough, the small downtown in the middle of it, became its own municipality in 1906. Locals just say Mendham, and so do we.
Eat and Drink on Main Street
The Black Horse Tavern and Pub
Start with the landmark. The Black Horse Tavern and Pub at 1 West Main Street dates back to 1742 and bills itself as New Jersey’s oldest continually running restaurant. The menu is American classics, the rooms are rustic and low-lit, and it is the spot locals pick when family is in town. It was recently renovated, but the old character is still there. It also made our list of the oldest businesses in Morris County.
Dante’s Ristorante
Dante’s Ristorante at 100 East Main Street is the town’s home-style Italian standby, the place for homemade ravioli, baked pastas and a pizza to go. It also handles a lot of local catering and parties, and it is a solid spot to catch a game.
Piattino
For a dressier dinner, Piattino at 88 East Main Street is a neighborhood Italian bistro with hand-rolled pastas and dishes out of a stone-fired oven. Reservations are a good idea on weekends.
Mendham Bagel and Coffee Shop
Mornings start at Mendham Bagel and Coffee Shop, in the same 88 East Main Street plaza. The bagels are kettle-boiled and baked on site, the coffee is locally roasted, and the Taylor ham, egg and cheese is the order. Grab one before a hike.
Get Outside
Schiff Nature Preserve
Schiff Nature Preserve is the reason a lot of people drive to Mendham. The nonprofit protects about 780 acres with 12 miles of marked trails, and you can still find Depression-era buildings built by the Boy Scouts along the way. Fall is the best season here, and the preserve runs family events and a summer nature program for kids.
Patriots’ Path
Patriots’ Path, the Morris County Park Commission’s long greenway trail, runs through the Mendham area and is mostly flat, which makes it an easy walk, run or bike ride. For more ideas nearby, see our guide to the best hiking trails in Morris County.
Jockey Hollow
Just east of Mendham, Jockey Hollow in Morristown National Historical Park is where the Continental Army camped through the brutal winter of 1779 to 1780. Walk the trails, see the reconstructed soldier huts and stop in the Wick House. Pair it with lunch in Mendham and you have a full Saturday.
Shop the Farm Stand
Backer Farm at 32 Ironia Road has been family run in Mendham since 1927, now by a fourth-generation husband and wife team. The 40-acre farm raises pasture-raised beef, poultry, pork and brown eggs, sold at its farm stand, open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The rest of the farm is closed to the public, so stick to the stand.
When to Go
Fall is Mendham at its best: foliage on the back roads, cool trail weather at Schiff and a full calendar in town. One of the busiest days on the town calendar is Mendham Fest, with food trucks, a fire department beer garden and a morning 5K. Get the details in our Mendham Fest guide. Making a day of it? Chester is a short drive west, and our list of the best restaurants in Chester has your dinner covered.
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