One of Belmar's most popular casual restaurants, Playa Bowls, operates two locations on Ocean Avenue to serve beachgoers and residents.
The flagship Playa Bowls is located at 803 Ocean Avenue in Belmar, next to Coney Waffle ice cream shop. The second Playa Bowls location, which is known as "Lil Belmar," sits at the corner of 17th and Ocean Avenues (down the block from Dunkin Donuts). Both locations serve the company's signature pure acai bowls, pitaya bowls, smoothies, coconut bowls, chia pudding bowls, banana bowls, and green kale bowls.
Other items on the Playa Bowls menu include fresh fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, and steel-cut organic oatmeal bowls. Add extra fruit or customize your bowl or smoothie with toppings such as white chocolate, almond butter, whey or vegan protein, chia seeds, goji berries, bee pollen, and other options for 75 cents per add-on.
In the back of Playa Bowls on 8th and Ocean Avenues, you'll also find Coffee Surf Co., an independent coffee shop also founded in Belmar.
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Playa Bowls started in 2014 as a modest pop-up stand on Ocean Avenue in Belmar, inspired by the founders' international surfing adventures where they first experienced the taste of acai and pitaya bowls. The business has erupted into a nationwide sensation beyond the Jersey Shore, with the opening of numerous franchise locations in 20 states, including 65 in New Jersey, dozens along the East Coast, and some even as far as Arizona, Texas, and Colorado.
My go-to orders are either the Dragonberry pitaya bowl (pictured above) or the power acai bowl, which is topped with chocolate protein, bananas, peanut butter, and granola. Local tip: Order ahead online to avoid the long wait in line on busy summer weekends.
Playa Bowls (Original Location)
803 Ocean Avenue
Belmar, New Jersey 07719
732-556-6897 www.playabowls.com
Playa Bowls Lil' Belmar
1607 Ocean Avenue
Belmar, New Jersey 07719
732-245-1239
Live Like A Local: Rent A Belmar Beach House
Day trips down the shore are fun, but it's even better to rent a beach house for the week to experience everything wonderful about the Belmar area. For couples, solo adults and small families, the two-bedroom Blue Hydrangea Cottage rental in Belmar, New Jersey, is the perfect getaway place. The home sleeps up to four people and is consistently rated five stars for cleanliness, amenities and location. Learn more at www.VacationInBelmar.com.
Story and photos © copyright by Christine Cardellino, owner of www.VacationInBelmar.com and publisher of the award-winning Belmar Beachcomber Blog, a travel and tourism guide for the Belmar region of the Jersey Shore. Do not copy any content (including images) without our permission. All rights reserved.
