Any old-timers out there remember when this was The Nutley Pub? (As one Yelper wrote, "Not the classiest bar but..." - which perfectly summed up the last place.) Now going strong for well over a decade (?!) - Cowan's is classy and cool and leans into its strengths. Easily the hippest and most-happening spot in Nutley (and the surrounding towns) for the 'mature crowd' that's probably more interested in mash and hops and wort than getting hammered and making bad decisions at last call. The (ever rotating) beers on tap are stellar. The selection of bottles (of the harder stuff) on the picturesque back bar are eye-catching (even if I never heard of half of them). (After a few visits I still haven't tried the food. One of these days I'll get around to that, I promise.) Recommended, for sure. read more

Cowan's Public - "Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity." - Sammy Davis, Jr. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Loved the decor for Christmas!!!! They went all out!!! It's a casual bar with seasonal drinks!!! Drinks were delicious! Service was great! I didn't eat but they serve bar food! read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Such a cute spot for brunch and drinks. The French toast funnel cake was sweet and perfect to share. Waitress made excellent recommendations with drinks and their service was great. I'll be back read more

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I've wanted to check this place out for ages, however when I finally did I was in a bit of a rush and feel I need more time to get to know it better. Therefore since I cannot give 3.5 Stars I will give my very first Probationary 4 Star review! Located in a quiet part of town this neighborhood pubby restaurant has street parking ( and I heard outside dining in the rear). The waiter who greeted us at the door was friendly & helpful. Decent crowd at the bar for a Wednesday evening. A lot of craft cocktails, craft beers, Happy Hour Specials. I tried a Voodoo Child ( whiskey based) cocktail and it was excellent. I definitely would like to come back to have a few drinks and chat up the place as I feel it's a good place for that, but it's the food that can keep you there a while. THE FOOD... Well a place like this deserves to have some food to match the bar's attitude. Medium sized menu had many yummy sounding options but that's where it went flat... ---Buffalo or dry rubbed wings..nice size but flavor? ...MEH! The Buffalo was merely slathered in some sort of hot sauce and did not stand out. The dry rub was "good" but it needed a signature spice to make it stand up ! ---Deviled eggs ( 4 pieces to an order) with bacon, radish, and dill. A little small on size but that's OK if it POPS. These did not and won't make it to the Chris A Deviled Eggs Hall of Fame ( see my New Orleans reviews for the killers) ---Street Corn Tots.. don't bother. Merely regular tater tots sprinkled with corn, chipotle mayo, cilantro, and cotija cheese. (NOTE: I predict that for 2025 you will see some sort of Mexican Street Corn on every menu, everywhere!! Remember kale a few years ago?) However the redeeming grace was the simple cheeseburger on a nice brioche bun! Delish! Perfectly medium rare inside with a rich full crispy char-grill flavor on the outside. I mean a really good burger. So there you have it.... a reason to go...and a reason for me to go back. Great drinks and a burger which is a good start. And the opportunity to try more items. read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Came here for some drinks before their holiday menu ended. Nice festive interior but if you sit by the Christmas tree you'll always have people cramming in to take pictures. The drinks were ok (tried the Krampus and Miracle Mouse while friends got mocktails) in festive mugs. Service was absolutely terrible though. No one seemed like they wanted to be there. When we asked for a group picture from the staff they stared at us for a few seconds, looked at each other, before one begrudgingly obliged. Street parking only. read more

Loved coming here for dinner. Very unassuming from street but inside it's another story - a beautiful space and much larger than I expected. We brought our preschooler and were seated in the back room which was somewhat quieter than the main lounge, which was great. All the food and drinks we had were great and the little one was entertained by the coloring on the kids menu. Our server and host were also very kind and welcoming. When we left, our son was asking about when we'd return - definitely soon! read more

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10/10 for christmas spirit and decorations! This was a great place to go around the holidays and have a lunch and some drinks. The staff was friendly and they really go all out for the holidays. The best thing we ate were the chicken wings for sure! I probably wouldn't get the avocado toast again but the chicken sandwhich with fries was crispy and had a nice spice! read more

Cowan's Public - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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I went for lunch and it was ok. Servers were nice and attentive but we were the only ones there lol. I got the burger and it was pretty good I would probably get it again. My fiancé got the steak frites and it was below average unfortunately. I think the place overall was cool though. Speakeasy classic look. Drinks are good and the space had a great vibe. read more

Came in for brunch and enjoyed it a lot. The food was good and the drinks were great. Our waiter was amazing and I would definitely come back. read more

I love this bar. This is my new favorite cocktail bar. Their prices are very reasonable compared to other cocktail bars. The ambiance is very classy and comfortable. The service is great the bartenders check in with you and even recommend drinks to your liking. read more

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This is a cozy fun bar in Nutley, NJ. When you walk in, it looks like a Christmas bar because of all the wonderful lights and decorations. They have a special Christmas drink menu and all the jolly drinks are served in adorable Christmas drink ware. Bonus: They have the Christmas mugs for sale! The bartenders are dressed in ugly sweaters and they look like they belong in the North Pole serving up Christmas cheer! We didn't order any food, but the food I saw come out, looked good. As for the drinks, the best one was the hot toddy drink served in an adorable Santa mug. I had to buy the mug! There was also a Krumpus drink that my BIL seemed to enjoy. Aside from the Christmas drink menu, they serve craft beers, wine and cocktails. read more

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The ambiance was amazing because their holiday decor is beautiful. When we entered we were greeted and IDed. We had reservations which seem to be a must. The place is not huge. I understand places trying to optimize space but it just felt so close together and I wasn't a fan of it. Food was ok. Fries weren't all the way cooked. Skirt steak was perfectly cooked for me. The drink was delicious yet strong. Service was okay. I did like that they brought over the dessert menu and left it instead of us having to decide right in the moment. We didn't get a dessert but I enjoyed the skirt steak sandwich and my sister had the fried chicken one. Would come back but for brunch as per my sister's recommendation. read more

Cowan's Public - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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A nice family place with live jazz and food in an old big house. Many types of drinks. Very beautiful place. Friendly staff. read more

Cowan's Public - Photo by German Herrera - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

The cocktails and happy hour options were amazing. The drinks were pretty and tasted good. We had small bites. I highly recommend the prince mussels and pretzel. Both really good options. Also, the oysters were always a good choice. The bartender and servers were extremely nice and attentive so I can appreciate their hospitality. read more

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I'm going to start by saying, the only reason this is getting more than a 1, is because the waitress tried her absolute best to accommodate (she refunded some terrible tasting tacos, and brought a round of shots before we left). Ambiance: This is the only 5/5. If you want to come here for a drink and some light jazz it's beautiful, rustic, and not too loud. Food: Cauliflower Tacos 1/5 No flavor, came to the table cold, the initial tortillas were definitely not even stuck on the pan. They tried to just bring new ones, but by then the rest of the taco was cold anyway. Chicken Tacos 2/5 They tripled up the shells, there wasn't much flavor until I added hot sauce, which was a little disappointing because I was excited about the aioli Fish & Chips 3/5 Very to the point as far as flavor. Burger 4/5 Wings 4/5 Could have been a little more crispy, but the flavor was great Fries 4/5 Could have had more flavor and been crispy Deviled Eggs 4/5 Shrimp 4/5 Interesting Thai chili type flavor and came with fries Steak 2/5 It was asked for a replacement over the mashed potatoes, and they forgot. The steak is only a few cubed pieces so not remotely worth that price tag for a location like this. Not much flavor I'd maybe return if I was in the area for a business meeting, and just wanted a quiet spot with drink and oyster specials, but food wise this really isn't it... read more

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This was my goto place for a penicillin or whatever custom drink I wanted but the quality of bartenders definitely has fell off so for me because the drinks and vibes were the only appeal, 1 out of 2 makes me no longer support Skopos establishments because all of their food is blah read more

Service: Poor. The tall bartender with reddish blonde hair was totally inattentive to my friend and I. He was too busy engaging with with own friends and not assisting customers. My friend and I like this restaurant very much however, this night we left completely disappointed and we will not be returning when he is there. Please note, this is the second occurrence when we were unattended to because the bartenders friends were present. Not ok! read more

Came for brunch and enjoyed it! I ordered the omelet of the week. I was a little disappointed I couldn't order it with egg whites only, but it was still fantastic and the homefries were super crispy and delicious. My husband ordered the breakfast burger with sweet potato fries. There ended up being an upcharge for sweet potato fries which we weren't told when we were given it as an option for a side but they were fantastic and crispy. We shared the overnight oat parfait which was also delicious. It was very sweet though so I would recommend it as a dessert instead of an app. Overall brunch was super tasty and the portions were large. Our server was very friendly. The vibe was cozy. I'd definitely come back to try other foods and order the sweet potato fries again! read more

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Food: The captain crunch French toast was delicious and sweet but not too sweet at least not for me. The presentation did not do the food justice. The turkey burger my friend said was tasty nothing too much to make it stick out but still left satisfied. I had the brunch burger and it was very tasty and filling. It was perfectly seasoned and made just as I asked for. Service: There seemed to only be two people taking orders however they did the best they could. The waitress was friendly and as attentive as they could be. Ambiance: This place was amazing! The Christmas decor really made me feel the Christmas spirit that I was lacking. It's a nice bar but also has tables to sit and enjoy a more intimate experience . read more

Cowan's it's at this time of the year has the whole bar/restaurant full with Christmas decorations, the cocktails are served in Christmas glasses too.. I used to go there a lot and just figured that i forgot to let a review.. the drinks are always amazing, service is very good too. They have a "small variety " on the menu, but the food is delicious too. read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

Met three friends here. We had reservations and were seated upon arrival even though one of our friends was running a bit late. For apps we ordered the chicken lollipops and the spinach and artichoke dip. Both were well cooked and tasty. My cocktail was also good. The yuka chips had good texture to them- crispy and thin however they seem to have been soaked (for too long) in vinegar. I only had one and could not stomach the rest. For my entre I ordered the classic cheeseburger. Unfortunately, it just was not it for me. I love cheeseburgers and this one left a lot to be desired. A cheeseburger is so basic it's just a huge no-no to ruin one. It lacked flavor. The meat was over cooked (I ordered medium). I took two bites and didn't finish it. Definitely left disappointed. On a positive note, while we waited for our entre another server approached our table and apologized for the longer than usual wait for our meals. He said they were short staffed and our waitress was serving on both sides of the establishment. Little did they know we didn't even notice. Nonetheless, it was nice that they let us know because communication can make a huge difference in a customers ability to be empathetic and patient. Our server was great and knowing she was being overworked means she did an even better job. Kudos to her. I, however, likely won't return. read more

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In the heart of Nutley is a cute little speakeasy, we came here not knowing it was happy hour and man they had some great deals! I had the old fashion and my cousin had a drink as well. I ordered the chicken lollipops which were a tad bit crispy but still very delicious. She ordered the chicken sandwich which she said was on some pretty delicious focaccia, she eat the entire thing. Despite it being busy our server was super accommodating and attentive to us, we will be back to try the rest of the drinks on the rest of the menu! read more

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Stopped in the other night with my girlfriend. Was not able to get a reservation, but we were hoping we could grab a high chair by the bar area. We arrived around 5PM and two seats were left. We lucked out! Ordered the T. Rex drinks T start as I've had it before and loved them. Ordered also boa buns and loaded fries. Both were delicious! After food we grabbed two more drinks. My girlfriend had the egg nog drink which was fantastic. Sadly could not order it, as I'm lactose intolerant and wanted to limit my intake. I ended up grabbing the Yippie Ki Yay drink and it was even better than the T. Rex. Might be my new go to. Hoping to stop by one more time before they take down the holiday pop up. Decor inside is beautiful for the holidays and the staff is welcoming and kind. Always a great time! read more

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I came here on a summer night for my birthday and they had trivia. The place itself has a great atmosphere. It's a fun hip bar. The drinks are AMAZING. So good. They are very well made. A little pricey but I don't mind paying it when I enjoy the drinks. The food was also shockingly really good. I enjoyed the food and drinks more than I thought I would. Parking can be a bit of a hassle in this area. It's street parking and in a somewhat busy area, so you might have to walk a little. read more

Cowan's Public - Flippin the bird - so good - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Love coming here! It's my to go to have drinks and hang with friends! I also love the atmosphere, the aesthetic! It's like 1930s with a flair, and I love that! Food is so good also! read more

What a great spot! There is a tremendous old time vibe to the decor here that's unique and charming, and the service is fantastic. This is not a dive bar, mind you - upscale for those standards - but if you're in the area and looking for a charming spot to grab a drink, here it is. Highly recommended, please go and enjoy! read more

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Hands down the best NJ restaurant I've been to in 2022 in terms of food and service. Our waitress was friendly and made us feel so welcomed as first-time guests. Appetizers - Spicy gochujang wings (not spicy at all for my korean taste) - Bao buns Entrees - Wild-caught cod tacos - Flank steak Dessert - Cookie with marshmallows - Coffee I would like to go back to try everything else on the menu. read more

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I love coming here, even after 5 years! And I also love their Miracle on Center theme. I come every year, it's become a tradition for me. I love how more and more places are offering non-alcoholic beverages too. read more

Cowan's Public - Dominick the Donkey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

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Cool place with live jazz music at times and a great overall ambiance. The aesthetic kind of reminds me of a different era. The staff is pretty incredible and while I have not had their food, it is a cool place to hang out and enjoy some time and a drink. read more

Brunch experience @ Cowan's Public was awful. We were a party of 3 with reservations at 11:15 am. We were seated quickly but it went downhill from there. The place was not busy at all but it took 45 minutes for our food to come out. There was never any communication about why it took so long. Each one of our dishes was missing something and what I found disappointing was that we were only told about one ingredient they did not have--the hollandaise sauce for the Eggs Benedict. I ordered the Chorizo Hash and it was missing the spinach and onion. The french toast was missing the ricotta cream and lemon zest. It was also not on challah bread and just on a regular bread. We asked the server where these missing items were and after being gone for some time , she returns to apologize because they are currently going through a "transition of the brunch menu"? This situation could have been handled differently and it was not until we asked to have the french toast removed from the bill that she said okay. We we given an appetizer coupon but who would return after that experience? read more

This place has a very fun and lively atmosphere. Everyone is having a drink, as they should be when you get a look at the cocktail menu. So many fun cocktails! I had a special called Come On Over and it was delicious. They also have a long list of beers on tap which my husband loved. We had some good apps: Giant Pretzel with Beer Cheese, Bao Buns with Pork Belly, and Truffled Deviled Eggs The burgers look really yummy, so I'll try that next time. The service was very attentive and friendly. We'll definitely go back. read more

this place was really cute! Me and my sister went during their miracle Christmas theme. She had French toast with chocolate on top bananas and strawberries. I had tater tots with ketchup on the side. I didn't wanna get anything too big because we were going someplace else after. The tater tots were cooked perfectly! Some places they're either overcooked or greasy and these were not. They were nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I even tasted some of her French toast and that was also really good! Not too sweet. During this miracle Christmas pop-up you get to choose between certain mugs to purchase. She purchased a cute Santa mug! It's actually a really cute bar and I would consider going again in the future. Staff was really friendly. Bathroom was very clean. read more

The food was delish, awesome cocktails that were festive and the ambiance was cute. Took us getting the attention of our waitress after 20 minutes of waiting to take order. Tight location, so not ideal for anyone with a wheelchair. So I rated accordingly, would be a 3.5 if 1/2 were allowed. read more

Came here for dinner late on a Thursday, cozy spot! Parking was easy to find on the street. We sat at the bar and it was spacious with great lighting. My cocktail was delicious- I don't remember the name of it but it had many floral notes to it (blossom water and gin). We got the mussels and they were delicious. We also got the candied bacon burger which was also very good, I'd highly recommend. Our last item was half a dozen of oysters. It was fresh and refreshing but unfortunately they were a bit small compared to the ones we usually like. Otherwise, staff was great, people were very attentive, and we enjoyed our time here! read more

Cowan's Public - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Nutley, New Jersey

I was recently here looking for an option to go with my wife and some friends to celebrate Valentine's Day. In a short sentence I can say "I liked the place." The service is very good, especially Sam who was the girl who attended to us, from the moment we arrived the treatment was pleasant. I give it 5/5 for that. The theme and decoration is good. The Chillout music in the background has the perfect volume level. Although I am not a fan of cocktails, I think they have a very interesting cocktail menu that is worth trying. They have an excellent variety of traditional and non-traditional beers, so you can enjoy a good draft beer. I particularly felt good with the Seven Tribesman Export Dormunder Lager beer. We found the appetizers excellent, good portion and quite tasty. I would eat the Nachos and wings again. In short, it is a pleasant place to share a few drinks and a meal with friends or pairs to get out of the daily routine. A Hidden Gem in New Jersey. I will definitely visit it again. read more

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I have had this spot on my radar for a while and finally got the chance to give it a try. When I arrived I had to find parking on the street. I walked into a cute bar and grill. I really liked the vibe. My friend and I sat at the bar and Jason was our bartender and he was nice. They had a pretty good happy hour so I got wine for the night and it was good. My friend got whiskey and the chicken lollipops. They were huge when they came out and $4 per lollipop. I didn't have any but he said they were good. I really enjoyed my time and would return. read more

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My first time coming to Cowans! I wanted to come during their Santa pop up but it closed! Management was nice to reach out and offer a gift card I finally got to use during this visit with Friends! We started off with cocktails - they were amazing and flavorful. Very different. We ordered different appetizers to share, -chicken lollipops with the hot honey were really good! -yuca chips reminded me of the salt vinegar chips I use to eat ! - spinach and artichoke dip with the pita was amazing! We all ordered the special for Thursday - burger and a beer! We enjoyed our burgers - bacon cheeseburger - cheeseburger and a Chicken sandwich and the beer. Everyone's burger was cooked to order. Our waiter Casey was running the floor, she was attentive, friendly and helpful in recommending cocktails! I will definitely be returning. There was plenty of street parking. The inside decor was rustic feel with a beautiful bar! read more

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I came here on a Thursday with a couple of friends for dinner and for our surprise they had a burger and beer special. You get any burger and any draft beer for $16. Majority of us definitely got that deal but before hand we had some small bites like the Yuca fries, chicken lollipops and artichoke dip. The dip had pita bread. All of the small bite we had were enjoyable and tasty but the artichoke dip was definitely my favorite. I devoured it completely. We also enjoyed some drinks. I got the southpaw which was a little too sour for my taste buds but my friends enjoyed the peach castle. For my entree i got the cheeseburger- medium well with a salad on the side. That burger was good and yummy. Along with my burger i got some guava beer. Overall food was good. This place is super rustic and how it is decorated is super unique. The staff was friendly and attentive. read more

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Such a cozy space! I stopped by here with some friends in the middle of the week for some drinks and bites and we really enjoyed our time! For starters, the ambiance is very chill. The place is small but feels open and lively. The food was good! We started with a few appetizers like Yuca chips and fried chicken. The chips were strong for my taste, but my friend really enjoyed them. The chicken was delicious! I also had the chicken sandwich with a side of salad and it was also yummy. The drinks were my favorite! I had the "just got paid" with was delicious! 10/10 recommend. read more

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Had the company holiday party here. The place gives a warm cozy tavern feel and was very well decorated for the holidays. The staff was accommodating and in the spirit. They offered beer, wine, appetizers, and a buffet. The food and drinks were quite good, and they hosted a nice party for us. read more