New Hope and Lambertville Food Walk Across the River

A New Hope and Lambertville food walk crosses the Delaware River between two small towns that face each other, one in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey, joined by a bridge you can walk. The crossing takes minutes, so a day can include a snack in one state, lunch in the other and dinner back where you began. Cross on foot and eat on both banks.

How does a New Hope and Lambertville food walk work?

A bridge carries road traffic and a walkway across the Delaware River, linking New Hope on the Pennsylvania side with Lambertville in New Jersey. Walkers and cyclists cross on a pedestrian path alongside the road. The crossing takes a few minutes, with views of the river and both towns. Check any posted rules or closures for the bridge before you set out.

Each town has a feel of its own. Lambertville is quieter, with antiques shops and galleries, and New Hope is livelier, with theaters and a bigger crowd. The bridge is also a good place to stop for a photograph, with the river below, the towns on each bank and the hills beyond. In autumn the trees along the banks turn color and the walk becomes a postcard. Wear comfortable shoes, check the weather and carry a light bag.

What should you eat first in New Hope?

A pastry and a coffee, from a cafe or bakery on Main Street, to start the day. The brunch guide covers sit-down options. If you are walking to Lambertville after, carry a small bag and keep your hands free. Do not fill up before the bridge. There is plenty of food on the other side. A common mistake is to eat a full lunch in the first town and then arrive at the second with no appetite. Keep the first stop small, a pastry or a savory snack, and leave room for the real meal. If you are walking with someone who eats slowly, agree a rough time to cross, and a place to meet if you get separated among the shops.

What is Lambertville dinner like?

Personal and varied. Lambertville has a main street of restaurants, many in old brick buildings, offering American, Italian, seafood and other cooking, with several that lean on farm-to-table menus. Some are BYOB, which means you bring your own wine, but each restaurant sets its own rule, so ask before you go. Tables are smaller and quieter than on the Pennsylvania side. The pace is slower, and servers tend to know the regulars. Walk the main street once to see what is open, check the posted menus and pick the room that seems to suit your mood. A late afternoon walk in Lambertville, when the light is low and the shops are closing, is a good time to find a table before the evening rush.

For a New Jersey view of dining, see the Hoboken restaurants guide and the New Jersey food worth a drive page.

What about antiques and snacks on the other side?

Lambertville is known for antiques dealers and galleries, and a day of browsing calls for snacks. Buy a coffee, a cookie or an ice cream and eat it on a bench by the river. A shop that sells treats usually sits within sight of a shop that sells silver. Take your time and carry a bag. Antiques dealers have their own hours, and many close early or on certain days, so check before you plan a browse. A good habit is to browse in the afternoon, eat early and cross back at dusk. Most dealers are happy to talk, and a friendly chat can lead to a tip about where to eat that is not on any list.

How do you plan a two-state day?

Choose one town for lunch and one for dinner, and use the bridge for the walk in between. Eat a snack in the first town, lunch in the second, then cross back for a stroll and dinner. Tell the restaurants if you plan to walk, so they can seat you at the end of a long afternoon. Allow time, because bridge views and shop windows slow everyone down.

What does each side cost the traveler?

No tolls for walkers, and parking is the main expense on both sides. Parking in either town fills on summer and autumn weekends, so park once on one side and walk. Rules and fees vary, so read the signs. Check ahead if you plan to bring a car across.

How do tags and lists help?

In the Mosey app, raters add tags when they rate a meal, and diners look for them in the Find sheet. For a two-state day the useful ones are Outdoor seating, Date Night, Dog-Friendly, Bakery and Coffee Shop. A tag is a note from someone who was there. Make a list with a section for each town, add stops with a note, and share it with the friend you are walking with.

Where next in New Hope?

The New Hope restaurants guide covers the Pennsylvania side, and the Bucks County farm markets guide covers the countryside. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in Pennsylvania page.

As you cross back, open the Mosey app, rate your dinner by the dish and name your list for the day so the friends who missed it can follow your route.