Edison – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

Edison is a city in Middlesex, New Jersey. The city is named after Thomas Alva Edison who carried out most of his life's work, including the invention of the phonograph and the lightbulb, here. Menlo Park, where Edison's laboratories were located has a Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum honoring him. The town of Edison now has a large concentration of Asians, and Oak Tree Road in Edison is the place to visit if you are looking for Indian food or Indian stores.

Edison is a 40-minute drive from the nearest airport, Newark Liberty International Airport. Drive down the Garden State Parkway and take exits 130 or 131 to Iselin/Rahway/Metuchen.

The Northeast Corridor line of NJ Transit provides a rail link. It might be convenient to get off at the Edison, Metuchen or even Metropark stations depending on where you need to go.

Edison has many walking-distance restaurants and attractions depending on which train station you get off at.

• 1 Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Menlo Park Museum, 37 Christie Street, ☏ +1 732 549-3299. Tu-Sa 10AM to 4PM. Built on the location of Thomas A. Edison's laboratory at Menlo Park, the museum showcases many of Thomas Edison's inventions including the phonograph, some light bulbs and a 1929 Edison 'Light-O-Matic' Radio. Free, but donations welcome.

• 1 Roosevelt Park. Opened in 1933, it's the oldest park in Middlesex County. (updated May 2021)

• 1 Oak Tree Road, County Route 604. Oak Tree Road near the border with Iselin has a large number of Indian restaurants and stores: people from all over come here to shop [1]. Whether you're looking for Bollywood videos, bhel puri, or a sari, you'll find it here. Many stores are closed on Mondays. The best way to get here is by taking the Garden State Parkway to Exit 131 (on-street parking is available), or taking the train to Metropark (it's about a 15-minute walk from the train station; exit the station, turn left onto Route 27, and then turn left again at the intersection with Oak Tree Road). (updated Nov 2022)

• 2 Worldwide Piano and Music, 804 US-1. A piano store. (updated Nov 2022)
• 3 Menlo Park Mall, 55 Parsonage Rd. A two-level super regional shopping mall. As of 2022, it is anchored by Macy's Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble, and an AMC Dine In Movie Theater. The mall has additional storefronts including Zara, Forever 21, Apple, francesca's, Kay Jewelers, among others. (updated Nov 2022)

• 1 New Keum Ho Jung, 518 Old Post Rd #12. Good Korean food located in the shopping center at the intersection of Old Post Road and Vineyard Road. (updated May 2021)
• 2 Super Duper Deli II, 2257 Woodbridge Ave. Good sub shop to get a quick bite to eat. Cold cuts are usually better than hot subs. (updated May 2021)
• 3 Harolds New York Deli, 1173 King Georges Post Rd. A Jewish deli that has huge sandwiches but also a very good salad bar and desserts. A little pricy but worth the money. (updated May 2021)
• 4 Skylark Diner, 17 Wooding Ave. Generally, most entrees are good. The best item is the Lebanese Wrap at around $9. One of the few diners in New Jersey with a liquor license. Then again, New Jersey has a lot of diners. (updated May 2021)
• 5 Le Peep, 561 US-1. A very good breakfast place. (updated May 2021)
• 6 Ferraros Restaurant & Pizzaria, 1601 Amboy Ave. One of the better pizzerias in Edison. A little bit pricy but well worth the money. Dinners are also very good. (updated May 2021)
• 7 Akbar Restaurant, 21 Cortlandt Street #1. Quality Indian food located off US Highway 1. Also has a lunch Indian buffet at around $8. (updated May 2021)
• 8 Mithaas Edison, 1655-170 Oak Tree Road (At the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Wood Ave.), ☏ +1 732 947-3014. The name means "sweetness" in Hindi. Serves Indian desserts, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks — it is in fact possible to make a meal out of some of the snacks. The Paneer & Veg Kathi Roll is passable, but the mango lassi is just right. Completely vegetarian. $10-15.
• 9 Ming Far Eastern cuisine, 1655-185 Oak Tree Road (at the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Wood Ave), ☏ +1 732 549-5051. For a sample of what the Indians have done to Chinese cuisine, this place is worth a visit. The restaurant is well-patronized and if you do not call ahead for a reservation, you are looking at a wait of around 20 minutes. $20 for a meal.
• 10 Menlo Park Diner, 1475 US-1. (updated May 2021)
• 11 Edison Diner. (updated May 2021)

• 1 Elixir Bar & Grill, 2222 Woodbridge Ave. (updated May 2021)

• 1 Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center, 125 Raritan Center Parkway, ☏ +1-732-225-8300. Free high-speed Internet ccess.
• 2 Hilton Garden Inn – Edison, 50 Raritan Center Pkwy, ☏ +1 732-225-0900.
• 3 Courtyard Edison Woodbridge, 3105 Woodbridge Avenue, ☏ +1-732-738-1991. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Hotel offers free parking and complimentary Internet. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, drinks and Starbucks daily. (updated Apr 2015)

• New York City is a 40-minute ride away via the NJ Transit train.
• New Brunswick is a short drive through Highland Park and across the Raritan.

Routes through Edison