Madison, New Jersey is located in Morris County, surrounded by towns such as Chatham, Florham Park, Morristown, and New Vernon. With over 16,000 residents, "The Rose City" continues to boom with its downtown area, which constantly grows with local businesses and restaurants. With New York City only about a 45 minute train ride away, numerous commuters tend to settle down in Madison due to its convenient location. In the other direction, the Jersey shore is a little over an hour drive away. This best of both worlds aspect of Madison makes the town's location very ideal for the families and residents who live there. However, Madison's location is just one of many of the town's perks.
To start, Madison's business district constantly explodes with new local businesses and restaurants. Madison's wide variety of businesses in its downtown area makes the town even more unique. Just at the intersection of Prospect Street and Greenwood Avenue there is an array of different venues, such as Whole Foods, Jaguar, Starbucks, Staples, and Five Guys. Furthermore, Madison is known for its wide variety of restaurants. Popular Italian venues include Osteria Trevi, Il Mondo Vecchio, L'Allegria, Il Goccino Ristorante, and Rocco's Tuscany Bar and Grille. Moving on to Japanese restaurants, there is Blue Wazabi and Takuma. Two of Madison's Mediterranean spots are Biladi Grill and Grillera Mediterranean Cuisine. Moreover, Palm Thai Restaurant and the Indian restaurant called Begum Palace are other popular downtown spots for locals. Finally, Madison is home to causal and classic venues as well, including 54 Main Bar & Grille, Slamwich Scratch Kitchen, and Nautilus Diner. Clearly, Madison's business district consists of numerous different kinds of business, such as contractors, landscapers, professional services, and restaurants, which makes the town extra unique for its residents and visitors.
Additionally, Madison has several unique highlights that sets it apart from its surrounding towns. Besides its blossoming downtown area, Madison is also known for being home to Drew University, a private Liberal Arts college. Drew University makes Madison a "college town" and creates a youthful environment full of undergraduate and graduate students. The university's location in comparison to New York City is a huge contributor to its appeal for students, which just emphasizes Madison's ideal spot in New Jersey. Fairleigh Dickinson University is also right outside of the town's borders, in Florham, and adds to the area's overall youthful ambiance. Lastly, Madison also hosts special annual events like The Taste of Madison, which is a food festival that showcases the various local restaurants in town. These events draw in visitors from all over New Jersey and allows residents to learn more about the venues in their town that make Madison, Madison.