There are bars, and then there are institutions. Martell’s Tiki Bar has been operating at Point Pleasant Beach since 1941, which makes it older than almost everything else on the Jersey Shore worth mentioning. It sits directly on the boardwalk with unobstructed Atlantic views and a live music schedule that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day without a night off.
The drinks are what you’d hope for from a tiki bar done with conviction: rum-forward cocktails, frozen options that make sense in July heat, and a craft beer list that covers the local breweries without overcomplicating it. The mai tai is the thing to order once.
Live music typically begins around 8pm and runs until midnight on weekends. The outdoor deck fills fast on warm Fridays, so arriving an hour before the first set is a reliable strategy. The crowd is a genuine cross-section of Shore regulars — families at the early tables, couples and friends in the peak hour, the kind of mix that makes a place feel alive rather than put together.
The surrounding Jenkinson’s boardwalk adds an aquarium, amusement rides, and miniature golf, which means a Martell’s evening can anchor a full afternoon when there are children in the party. A Shore evening begins with a home to return to.
