3 Jersey Shore Beach Bars Named Finalists in USA TODAY Award

Three Jersey Shore beach bars are in the running for USA TODAY's 10 Best Beach Bars in the publication's annual Readers' Choice Awards poll.

A USA TODAY panel of experts nominated 20 beach bars in “postcard-perfect locations” with appealing drink menus and beach-vibe atmospheres. Public votes will decide the top 10 winners in the category. 

Donovan's Reef Beach Bar in Sea Bright, Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille in Cape May, and PigDog Beach Bar in Wildwood have all been nominated and are up for voting. 

Readers are encouraged to vote once per day until the voting ends on Monday, May 18, at noon. The 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 27.

Read below to learn what USA TODAY has to say about these beachside bar hangouts in Jersey:

"One of the few Jersey Shore bars where cocktails on the sand are on the menu, this beloved Sea Bright fixture has been going strong since 1976 and has earned spots on multiple 'best beach bars in America' lists along the way. A private lifeguarded beach, a cool tiki bar, and an outdoor deck offer plenty of seaside real estate to settle in, while the kitchen handles everything from breakfast through late-night eats with grilled classics. When live bands hit the beachfront stage, the sand doubles as a dance floor."

"Cape May's only rooftop oceanfront bar sits next to Montreal Beach Resort serving panoramic Atlantic views alongside its signature freshly squeezed Orange Crushes — a combo that's earned it a boatload of local awards. The coastal menu leans into locally sourced seafood, with standouts like New England clam chowder and handhelds keeping things decidedly Jersey Shore. Local bands and DJs turn dinner into a musical experience."

"Wedged between the Atlantic and the Raging Waters slides at Morey's Piers, this barefoot Jersey Shore hang is the rare beach bar that delivers on both the 'bar' and the 'barbecue' with equal enthusiasm. Smoked brisket, pulled pork, trash-can nachos, and the gloriously over-the-top Mother of All Bloody Marys (a 32-ounce pitcher dressed in an entire appetizer sampler) keep the crowds fed and happy. Live music runs daily, cabanas are available for rent, and dogs are welcome on the beach level."