The Royal

It’s a bit small and sometimes it gets a tad too crowded for my tastes, but the crowd is usually fun and the prices are more than acceptable. Two pool tables, a handful of televisions, a jukebox and alcohol… what else could a guy possibly need?

The Royal is great because it’s just a regular bar. Very down-​to-​earth, and not trying to look like a (hipster) dive. There are specials on domestic beers every day, and based on the signs I saw when I visited, stuff like karaōke night, «Trivia/​» nights, etc. I have only been here once, to enjoy a Yeungling draft on special! — but I could instantly tell that this bar is the kind of place every neighborhood needs. Filled with a variety of people of all ages. And really friendly service. Do not fear, gourmet beer drinkers — there were plenty of more upscale brews on tap like Blue Moon & Victory, too. I’ll be back.

A good neighborhood bar, not a dive bar at all. Pool tables and darts with cheap drinks plus connected to 25 Burgers. The crowd is a mix of blue collar folks and local office workers. A few hipsters creeping in recently, please NO Lumber-​Sexuals!

This place is a MUST visit when you’re in New Jersey. As an out of towner, this was everything I hoped from a New Jersey bar. In the words of Stefon, this bar has everything: cheap beer, six packs to go, a beer pong video game, New Jersey music anthems, crazy characters, free popcorn and shots, shots, shots, shots, shots.
I’m so glad we came to check this place out. Total slice of life.
You may get lots of looks when you walk in, but they’ll quickly warm up to you.

This is what a blue collar bar should be. Friendly, cheap, fast and full of things to amuse yourself with.
The Royal is located next to (attached) 25 Burgers, which it borrows for some of its menu. 25 Burgers makes for some excellent bar munchies, and in addition they sport their own kitchen to help fill out the menu.
Great rotating happy hours including a $ 2.50 Blue Moon on Weds.
2 Pool tables (in separate rooms), darts, and a jukebox fill out areas to amuse yourself. There’s plenty of room between the bar and booths and the staff is friendly and attentive.
Make no mistake … this is where the guys go after work and the local softball leagues wind up, but this is a neighborhood bar done right.
Tip of the hat.

The Royal is your dive bar haven! I love this place cheap beers and shots friendly fun staff. Pool, Darts, TVs, beer pong machine, digital juke box with any song you want on there, to go cooler with a great selection for a good price what more could you possibly want in a bar? Oh that’s right it’s connected by kitchen to a 25 burgers so you got In my opinion the best burgers in Jersey right there as well. I love that I’m able to get my favorite buffalo chicken sandwich and Bacon cheese fries all while I’m playing a game of pool. best hang out spot in the central Jersey area!

Maybe the best dive bar I have ever been to! Great selection of craft beer plus the beer you expect at a dive (bud, etc). Really good burgers (25 kinds) plus dogs, etc. And excellent Cajun fries. Top it off with friendly service and it is a can’t miss.

A cool & unusual dive bar with friendly service and a pretty darn good burger menu, thanks to the 25 Burgers restaurant attached to the bar. This place appears to be an old renovated rail car with some very «basic» additions.
Drinks here are really inexpensive and good, as long as you’re not looking for high end martinis. But, unlike some local non-​dives, you get an actual martini glass with your cosmo! Need more activity? You can play pool as well. And they have a beer pong machine. Getting the picture? T shirts & jeans are proper attire. Crowd appears friendly to newcomers. So divey, not dangerous is the watchword here.
The night I went with the GF, they had a band, and frankly this place is way too small for a band. It was like being a teenager again, and hanging out in someone’s basement. All that was missing was the blacklight posters (Google it, kids). And it was super crowded.
The Royal clearly has a following, and I think part of the reason is because it’s such a quirky, no frills kind of spot, not far from the ever-​growing roster of chain restaurants/​bars along Rt ²²⁄₂₀₂. I will definitely be back — perhaps on a night when there’s less of a crowd, to get the true flavor of the Royal.

Great dive bar! Good beer… friendly patrons… lots of regular folks! My favorite is the pork roll egg and cheese sandwich… yum!!!

We recently visited your establishment for drinks and wings before going to a movie. It is a favorite place of our dad. It was great! We had burgers, wings and onion rings, and of course our favorite beverage. The staff, in particular Kerry, was great.
We enjoyed our visit so much we went back a second time. As we came through the door I almost expected someone to yell out «Norm». So it feels like a neighborhood joint just like «Cheers».
We look forward to more visits before we leave, and of course you’ll find our dad there on his regular night our with his friends.
Thanks Kerry!

Thank you Unilocal for a great find! I had bookmarked The Royal a few days earlier thinking we would be in the area. That plan didn’t work out, but while driving home one day with a hungry husband I needed a place to go quick. The 25 Burger and Royal combo came up and off we went. The set up is a little quirky. The Royal bar looks like one of those old rail car diners with a modern looking 25 Burger attached. We walked in and grabbed a high top table and the waitress came right over with some free popcorn.
Since it was Sunday Football we had the $ 2 Coors light drafts. The bar had a few regulars watching multiple TVs all tuned to the various games. The bartender took great care to make sure the fan had his game on the TV closest to their seat. We ordered our 25 burger which the waitress delivers to your table. Those burgers were good and it’s really great that you can order the 25 burger and not leave the Royal. Yes, the Royal has other food options that we did not order on this trip.
After we ate, we took a walk to the back where they have a pool table and dart board. In the other larger dining room they have a beer pong machine and more TVs. We stayed at the Royal far longer than we planned but only because we enjoyed it so much. The customers are there to relax and have fun, the service is great, and the overall vibe awesome. Hope I have an excuse to be in the area again so I can stop in for longer than I plan.

Not the best bar, Dj was very confrontational with some guest who were there probably cause he was drunk, Bartenders had an attitude

Great local bar. I just had 6 wings and a basket of bacon. :)
Service is friendly and cool to an out of towner. I will be back.

Definitely a cheap dive bar that happens to be great, not a fake trendy «dive» bar trying too hard. I was surprised as to the amount of craft beer they had, because the looks of the place says Bud/​Miller/​Coors only. Founder’s pints for $ 4 is always a good thing.
I went for a burger and beer lunch, and even at 2pm on a weekday there were a bunch of people settling in for drinks and food at the bar. Bartender was pretty attentive and friendly, everyone else sounded like regulars.
The fact that the burgers come over from 25 Burgers, some of my favorite in NJ, seal the deal. I’ll be stopping in again the next time I’m in need of a burger and beer.

I guess my definition of a dive bar is different than others-​If this wasn’t on a highway, I’d call it a neighborhood bar. Good tap beers, friendly staff, good prices and tasty burgers if you are hungry. Much cleaner and safer than what I would call a dive bar.

this is my favorite bar in the area, it’s divey and i love it. when i first turned 21 and still lived at home, this is the only bar i would go to, now i’m 26 and live in NYC and i still come here whenever i can. the bartenders are super friendly and the drinks are good and cheap. they have pool tables, darts, and a couple of arcade games. if you’re from the area, chances are you’ll see people you grew up with or went to school with. 25 burgers has good bar food, too. you can also buy 6 packs of beer here FYI. love the royal!

Awesome gem of a dive bar! Cheap drinks and great burgers while you play some pool! You really can’t go wrong

Friendly staff, Good Food, Fair prices, fun atmosphere. Gets loud and crowded on the weekends though.

One of my favorite places to get a drink. All the bartenders remember their regulars and get you your drink fast. The two pool tables are great fun plus sometimes the back room will be a ping pong table. A dart board for fun too. I’ve spent countless nights playing cricket with some friends. Oh and they have 3 coolers of beer and wine, in case you want to continue the party somewhere else after last call. Never any drama and you always seem to run into someone you know. (if your from the area) this is my bar.

Perfect dive bar. Good beer selection, from PBR To micro brews, burgers from next door. Everything you expect.
No major hipster infestation, everyone from blue collar guys, to office people. Anyone can feel comfortable.