It Ends With Us – scenic filming locations & restaurants in New Jersey

It Ends With Us Book cover. Image from https://www.instagram.com/colleenhoover/?hl=en

Lily Bloom moves to Boston to follow the dream of opening a florist shop, meets a charming neurosurgeon Ryle, and they fall in love with each other. But after some time, the heroine discovers the boyfriend's abusive side. Suddenly, her existence turns into a nightmare until the girl’s close childhood friend, Atlas, reenters the scene.

Boston, MA. Photo by Jimmy Woo on Unsplash

If the whole story unwinds in Boston, why are we talking about New Jersey? Have you heard the saying, necessity is the mother of invention? The capital of Massachusetts is a fantastic city. Still, due to financial requirements, the director decided to look for another location where the production team could beautifully recreate an authentic New England vibe. Baldoni was determined to use as little green screen as possible by choosing actual restaurants, markets, and shops, giving the picture a more realistic, immersive feel.

A shot from It Ends With Us. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/@ItEndsWithUsMovie/

One of the most romantic scenes, Lily and Ryle’s kiss, was filmed on Newark Avenue in Jersey City. This stretch is a walker’s paradise in the historic downtown neighborhood, with lush green havens nearby, such as Mary Benson Park and Enos Jones Park. The area is a commercial center full of shops, cafés, and restaurants. The filming took place soon after Christmas, and local business owners readily collaborated with the DOP team when they were requested to take down the brightest of the holiday decorations. Interestingly, some string lights were kept and later incorporated into the scene, creating a charming background frame texture.

To experience the lively dynamic of Newark Ave, head down to Hudson Hound. It can be best described as a modern, casual American pub-style eatery with an Irish personality. The vibrant sports bar & restaurant combines a delightful ambiance with an enticing comfort food offering. The long leather-furnished space features appealing decor: a polished oak counter, tall stools, wooden beams, floor-to-ceiling window façade, and granite flooring. They also have an outdoor shaded terrace that is perfect for the warm sunny Jersey disposition.

The culinary team presents a menu of classic pub grub made using the freshest seasonal ingredients. Some of the scrumptious creations you can sample here are adobo dry rub chicken wings in blue cheese dipping sauce, chicken liver pâté on crusty bread served with house pickles, fried Brussel sprouts with bacon bits, full Irish breakfast platter with black pudding, and roasted chuck beef Guinness pie with arugula salad. Satisfy your sweet cravings with dessert items, such as sticky toffee pudding, warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream, and peach cobbler with mixed berry compôte.

A shot from It Ends With Us. Image from https://www.instagram.com/itendswithusmovie/?hl=en

Spoiler alert! In the movie finale, Lily runs into Atlas at a local farmer’s market. The actual place is called Van Vorst Park – an old public area named after a prominent family who arrived here in the 1960s and played a major role in the state’s history. Nowadays, many filmmakers approach the city to get permission to shoot in Van Vorst Park, and not everyone is allowed to. Baldoni’s team was very fortunate in this matter, so they set up a market and brought regional vendors to create a more authentic ambiance. The park managing organization was really helpful, and they even turned on the central fountain for certain scenes (which is usually kept off during the winter months).

Our next establishment follows the farmer’s market theme which is quite evident the moment you take the first bite of their irresistible specialties. Halifax Hoboken is a culinary gem located in New Jersey’s W Hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows that gaze towards the glittering New York City skyline. It is the brainchild of Chef Seadon Shouse – a native of Nova Scotia’s fishing community, who has polished his cooking skills by working in various spots including Nantucket Island, Massachusetts; Chester, New York; and Lynchburg, Virginia before opening this flagship Hoboken restaurant.

The interiors are minimalistic in design, and always highlighted with lovely floral centerpieces. The menu is a farm-to-table offering made using produce procured from Delaware and the capital of Nova Scotia. Indulge your taste buds in gastronomic delights, such as skillet egg frittata with confit tomatoes, smoked rainbow trout with cream cheese, black sea bass tartare in sesame dressing, wood-fired Atlantic monkfish served on a bed of risotto, and grilled pork loin in bacon apple chutney. Their cranberry pavlova and cinnamon apple fritters will take you to cloud nine.

Average bill – $58

A shot from It Ends With Us. Image from https://www.instagram.com/itendswithusmovie/?hl=en

Arguably, the main challenge for the production team was to recreate the flower shop that would illustrate what a dream come true should look like – aesthetically very attractive yet effortless. ‘When I see a movie, I can usually tell when something or somewhere has been fabricated,’ says Justin Baldoni, ‘and it takes me out of the story. For It Ends With Us, there are no sets built on a soundstage and no blue screen anywhere.’

After seeing the first shots of the boutique, you can clearly feel the difference the director is implying. The location was constructed in a Hoboken arts space called Field Colony, with Bloomfield Street creating a dynamic, scenic backdrop. Chosen for its authentic distinct old-city vibe, reminiscent of Boston, the area was beautifully reenvisioned by the movie’s art department, who came up with the idea to feature flowers from local florists.

We discovered an ideal place, a true gem, to match Lily’s flower shop vibe. Nestled inside the vintage Agassiz Mansion at The Castle Inn, Aurelia is a romantic culinary destination offering one of the best dining experiences in the region. The property presents sweeping views of Conanicut Island, Narragansett Bay, and the Newport Bridge and is surrounded by forty magical acres of wooded area. The establishment oozes elegance right from the moment a valet greets patrons at the entrance and escorts them through a regal wood and leather-studded lobby to the fine Aurelia hall.

As the bay’s seaside landscape changes subtly with the seasons, so does the menu curated by Chef Cadrette’s team. Diners can look forward to exquisite imaginative dishes like lobster roll in tarragon crème fraîche with fries, braised beef enchilada in salsa roja, pan-fried Nantucket Bay scallops in a yuzu ginger emulsion, grilled lobster tail served with wagyu filet in a beurre blanc sauce with bok choy. At the end of the evening, take a glass of wine like Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC and enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the lawn while feeling the soft sea breeze.

Chef’s Tasting Menu – $165 (for two)

A shot from It Ends With Us. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/@ItEndsWithUsMovie/

In the book and the movie, the Roots (Bib’s) restaurant owned by Atlas, becomes the backdrop to one of the main plot twists. And even the bigger BTS twist is that the venue is an actual, functioning haven of genuine hospitality called South House nestled on Newark Ave. Why is it shocking?

A shot from It Ends With Us. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/@ItEndsWithUsMovie/

Well, to fit in a whole filming crew, massive pieces of equipment, lights, etc. into such a space is a herculean task, plus you need to make sure that the DOP team is able to move freely without being obstructed by anything, and, as we can say now, the job was executed well, and fans of the movie/book get a chance to visit the legendary restaurant in New Jersey any time. Believe us, it’s totally worth it.

Thanks to the massive PR campaign received through the camera lens of Justin Baldoni’s It Ends With Us, South House has gained long-deserved popularity. Apart from the obvious – visually appealing, effortless vintage style with homely potted plants, oil paintings on the walls, cute cushioned furniture, and warm, intimate chandelier light, the venue allures patrons with honest hospitality and lip-smacking food.

Opened comparatively recently, in 2015, the restaurant has quickly become a neighborhood-favorite joint, and its impressive selection of artisanal cocktails paired with great live music turn any casual evening into a fun, memorable party. Plus, they feature happy hour on weekdays, special taco Tuesday, and wing Wednesday menus. Other mouthwatering treats you must try here are Southern spicy fried chicken with corn on the cob, seasoned cornmeal-fried catfish with Cajun fries, herb-crusted cod, and wildfire burger with Pat LaFrieda USDA beef. Add a glass of old fashioned made with Wild Turkey, hickory-smoked orange syrup, and Angostura bitters to elevate your experience.

Average bill – $52

Are there any fascinating filming locations we forgot to mention? Share them in the comments below. And if you are interested in tourism revolving around legendary movies and series, check out the following articles:

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Most famous dishes and drinks you have seen in movies. Butterbeer included