Ridgewood, NJ

Ridgewood is one of Bergen County’s most beloved and charming communities, a picturesque village of tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and a genuinely exceptional downtown that has been drawing shoppers, diners, and day-trippers from across the New York metropolitan area for generations. Just 20 miles from Midtown Manhattan via NJ Transit’s Bergen County Line, Ridgewood pairs the accessibility of the tri-state area with the warmth and character of a true small-town main street. Our Calico design showroom is located at the Ridgewood Gateway Center on Route 17 South, minutes from the heart of downtown.

Whether you’re stopping in to explore our 5,000+ designer fabrics, custom window treatments, and free design services, or making a full afternoon of it, this guide covers the best dining, boutique shopping, parks, and things to do Ridgewood and the surrounding Bergen County area have to offer.

Where to Eat & Drink

Downtown Ridgewood’s East Ridgewood Avenue is home to over 120 restaurants and specialty food establishments, a remarkable density of quality dining for a community of 25,000 people. From European-influenced bistros and acclaimed modern American kitchens to beloved neighborhood cafes and BYOB gems, the Ridgewood dining scene consistently rivals far larger cities.

• Cafe 37  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile One of Ridgewood’s most praised dining destinations, serving Modern American cuisine with seasonal seafood, pasta, and meat dishes in an elegant setting. The Fettuccine Frutti di Mare, blue prawns, calamari, PEI mussels, white wine and fresh tomato, and the day-boat Jersey scallops are perennial highlights. A reliable choice for a special-occasion dinner.
• Felina  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A sleek, industrial-chic Italian restaurant with a devoted following throughout Bergen County, serving beautifully crafted pasta, wood-fired dishes, and an impressive wine program in one of Ridgewood’s most stylish dining rooms. Consistently among the most popular reservations in northern New Jersey.
• Raymond’s  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A beloved multi-location New Jersey institution with a location in the heart of Ridgewood. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with a menu of classic American comfort dishes done with genuine care, buttermilk fried chicken, fresh-ground burgers, and an excellent all-day brunch. One of Ridgewood’s most reliably enjoyable dining experiences.
• Blue Ridge Café  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A women-owned café beloved by Ridgewood locals for its inviting exposed-brick atmosphere, exceptional locally sourced breakfast and lunch menu, and some of the finest coffee in Bergen County. The go-to morning destination for residents across Ridgewood’s walkable downtown neighborhoods.
• Lucio’s  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A warmly regarded Italian restaurant serving house-made pasta and experiential Italian cuisine under the direction of the Mazon family, with a kitchen led by Executive Chef Carlos Gonzales. The spirit of a traditional Sunday family dinner- generous, comforting, and genuinely Italian- in the heart of downtown Ridgewood.
• Park West Tavern  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A modern tavern in the heart of downtown with handcrafted cocktails and contemporary American fare in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. One of Ridgewood’s most popular gathering spots for after-work and weekend socializing, with a lively bar scene and a crowd that skews local and loyal.

Boutique Shopping & Local Finds

East Ridgewood Avenue is the shopping heart of Bergen County, one of New Jersey’s finest walkable main streets, with over 120 retailers ranging from beloved independents to curated boutiques. Free parking is available in the Route 17 gateway center and in the downtown garage on Hudson Street.

• East Ridgewood Avenue  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile The commercial and social heart of Ridgewood, a beautifully maintained historic main street with a thoughtful mix of independent boutiques, specialty retailers, art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants. Among the finest walkable shopping districts in all of New Jersey, and increasingly a destination for visitors from across the tri-state area.
• Fox’s of Ridgewood  · East Ridgewood Ave · ~1 mile A two-floor boutique on East Ridgewood Avenue carrying a wide selection of luxury and contemporary fashion with a particular strength in designer brands at significant discounts (often 60%+ off retail). A Ridgewood institution with a loyal clientele built over decades of genuine curation.
• Bookends  · East Ridgewood Ave · ~1 mile A beloved family-owned independent bookstore that is the cultural soul of downtown Ridgewood, hosting frequent author events featuring bestselling novelists, political figures, and local writers. The kind of deeply community-rooted bookshop that every town should have and very few do. A landmark.
• Paramus Park & Bergen Town Center  · Paramus · ~5 miles Two major enclosed shopping centers a short drive from Ridgewood in Paramus, Bergen County’s shopping capital. Between the two, you’ll find Nordstrom, Macy’s, Target, and a comprehensive lineup of national and specialty retailers. Paramus has among the highest retail sales densities of any municipality in the United States.

Parks, Culture & Things to Do Near Ridgewood

Ridgewood and the surrounding Bergen County communities offer excellent parks, a vibrant arts scene, and easy access to New York City making it one of the most well-positioned suburban destinations in the entire tri-state area.

• Memorial Park at Van Neste Square  · Downtown Ridgewood · ~1 mile A beautifully maintained central park at the heart of downtown Ridgewood with a historic bandshell, manicured green space, a seasonal farmers market, and year-round community events. The park anchors the village’s civic life and is a natural gathering place for residents of all ages throughout the warmer months.
• Saddle Rock Grist Mill & Ramapo Valley County Reservation  · Bergen & Passaic Counties · ~15 miles Bergen and Passaic Counties offer extraordinary hiking and outdoor access just minutes from Ridgewood the Ramapo Valley County Reservation alone has over 4,000 acres of wooded trails, scenic ponds, and Appalachian foothills terrain. A natural escape from suburban life that feels entirely removed from the New York metropolitan area.
• New York City via NJ Transit  · Ridgewood Train Station · ~35 minutes to Midtown One of Ridgewood’s great advantages is direct NJ Transit service to Midtown Manhattan from the village’s own train station, approximately 35 minutes to Penn Station. This connectivity makes Ridgewood an excellent base for pairing a design visit with a New York City day trip, or for metropolitan-area customers making a weekend of it.
• Grounds for Sculpture  · Hamilton, NJ · ~50 miles south One of the most remarkable sculpture parks and art museums in the eastern United States, 42 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with more than 270 works by contemporary artists, including a remarkable collection of hyperrealist and large-scale outdoor sculpture. An excellent full-day destination for design-minded visitors willing to make the drive south.

Visit Calico’s Ridgewood Design Shop

Our Ridgewood design shop is located at 371 State Route 17 South, Ridgewood Gateway Center — minutes from downtown Ridgewood, with easy access from across Bergen County and the greater New York metropolitan area.

We offer 5,000+ designer fabrics, trims, and wallpaper and specialize in custom window treatments, Hunter Douglas blinds and shades, custom furniture, bedding, cushions and pillows, and reupholstery services. Our fabric selection includes over 1,000 performance fabric options featuring Sunbrella, Crypton Home and Bella Dura. Our designers are available for free in-store and in-home consultations for all project sizes, from a single accent pillow to a complete home redesign.

• Address: 371 State Route 17 South, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
• Phone: (201) 444-5785
• Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM | Sunday: Closed
• Website: calicocorners.com