USA TODAY Names Cranford's Riverside Inn Among Nation's Top 38 Bars

The Riverside Inn in Cranford has been recognized as one of America's Best Bars of 2026 by USA TODAY, which selected 38 bars nationwide for their hospitality, atmosphere, and connection to their communities. The honor arrives as the historic dive bar marks more than a century serving Cranford residents.

Union County Life is covering this business achievement as part of our ongoing coverage of downtown establishments and local economic development across all 21 Union County municipalities.

Known locally as "The Dive," the Riverside Inn operates at 56 N. Avenue East. The building's history predates the bar itself. Before becoming the neighborhood gathering place it is today, the structure housed a Model Ford showroom and a florist shop. During Prohibition, a hidden speakeasy operated beneath the florist shop—a reminder of the era when the bar's cornerstone survived in an illicit form.

Owner Peter "Jake" Jacobs, who purchased the business with his late brother Jeffrey "Jocco" Jacobs in 1995, told USA TODAY the recognition came as a surprise. Jacobs said the bar has always prioritized the people who walk through its doors rather than chasing trends—a philosophy that has sustained the establishment through more than a century of neighborhood change.

USA TODAY emphasized the Riverside Inn's deep ties to Cranford. The bar remained a gathering place and symbol of resilience through Hurricanes Irene, Sandy, and Ida, serving as a location for community celebrations, memorials, and everyday moments that define neighborhood life. Journalists from the USA TODAY Network highlighted the bar's historic charm, including visible remnants of its speakeasy past and its reputation as a place where generations of Cranford residents have marked milestones—including their first legal drink.

The Riverside Inn was one of three New Jersey bars named to the 2026 USA TODAY list. The selection reflects a broader national conversation about local bars as cultural anchors and economic drivers in their communities—places that survive economic cycles and represent continuity in an era of rapid commercial change.

Explore Cranford businesses, programs, and local news on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: What is the Riverside Inn in Cranford?
A: The Riverside Inn, known locally as "The Dive," is a historic neighborhood bar located at 56 N. Avenue East in Cranford. It has served the community for more than a century and is known for its hospitality, atmosphere, and deep ties to Cranford residents.

Q: Why was the Riverside Inn named a USA TODAY best bar?
A: USA TODAY recognized the Riverside Inn as one of 38 best bars in America for 2026 based on hospitality, atmosphere, and unique connection to the community. Journalists selected bars they would personally recommend to friends and family.

Q: What is the history of the Riverside Inn building?
A: Before it became a bar, the building housed a Model Ford showroom and a florist shop. During Prohibition, a hidden speakeasy operated beneath the florist shop. The current owner, Peter "Jake" Jacobs, purchased the bar in 1995 with his late brother.

Q: What makes the Riverside Inn significant to Cranford?
A: The bar has served as a gathering place for celebrations, memorials, and everyday moments for generations of residents. It remained open and resilient through Hurricanes Irene, Sandy, and Ida, symbolizing community continuity and neighborhood identity.

Q: When did the current owner take over the bar?
A: Peter "Jake" Jacobs purchased the Riverside Inn in 1995 with his late brother Jeffrey "Jocco" Jacobs.

Q: How many New Jersey bars made the USA TODAY best bars list in 2026?
A: Three New Jersey bars were recognized on the USA TODAY Best Bars of 2026 list. The Riverside Inn was one of them.