My Ultimate Guide to Eating and Drinking in Hoboken
My Ultimate Guide to Eating and Drinking in Hoboken
Planning to hop on the PATH and spend a day in Hoboken? The bars and restaurants here are definitely going to be the highlight of your visit.
In fact, Hoboken actually has the most bars per capita of any city in the United States with over 120 spots to grab a drink in a city that measures to one square mile.
We moved to Hoboken in the spring of 2021 and in the 2 years we’ve lived here we’ve had no shortage of amazing coffees, cocktails and of course, Italian food.
I thought it’d be fun to put together a list of all of my top Hoboken restaurant, cafe and bar recommendations for you all to share my love of all of these neighborhood spots.
Now on the bar front, keep in mind I am in my late 20’s—so I tend to spend more time in uptown Hoboken and prefer a good craft beer or cocktail to a slew of cheap drinks and my recommendations reflect that. If that is not your vibe, just wander the bars by the PATH.
Best Hoboken Coffee Shops
Black Rail
Tucked in the northwest corner of Hoboken, Black Rail coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops. Not only is this a great place to work (WiFi, bathrooms and sandwiches are all available here) but the coffee is great too.
Cafe Vista
Another gem on the west side, Cafe Vista is another great spot to work from and grab a cuppa. They also make a great matcha and iced chai latte and even have a buy 10 get 1 free punch card available for regulars. They also have a sister cafe in Jersey City called Dream Vista.
The Hive
I could probably write a whole separate blog post about my love for The Hive, but I’ll stick with the need-to-know highlights. They make my favorite iced chai in all of Hoboken, they create these amazing small batch cinnamon rolls on weekends, they’re kid-friendly with a whole separate play section and the owners are the sweetest humans.
Where To Get Bagels in Hoboken
O’Bagel
I bet you probably want a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich to go with your coffee and it is my professional opinion that O’Bagel is the best bagel stop in Hoboken. They have such creative sandwich combos that you can order and are always delicious. Pro tip—on weekends place a mobile order for pickup so you don’t need to wait in line.
JP’s Bagel Express
A close second for best bagels is JP’s Bagel Express. I like to switch it up here from O’Bagel and get an egg and cheese on a bagel but add avocado. I would go here more often if I didn’t live so far from it, but if you’re downtown by the PATH, this is the spot for you!
Best Brunch + Lunch in Hoboken
Anthony David’s
Whenever someone wants to get brunch in Hoboken I feel like Anthony David’s is my go-to suggestion. Not only is the food absolutely incredible (prosciutto + mozzarella sandwich anyone??) but they have tons of indoor and outdoor seating so it’s rare to wait for a table.
Elysian Cafe
If I could give out an award for the ultimate lunch spot, I’d give it to Elysian Cafe. Not only are they the oldest continually operated bar/restaurant in Hoboken, when it comes to food they have it all from burgers to sandwiches to soups and salads. Want to make it brunch? Just order a Bloody Mary.
Vito’s
Want to grab a sandwich to go? The deli scene in Hoboken is one of the best, but I always come back to Vito’s. If you want an Italian hero with mutz (that’s mozzarella for those who haven’t had their coffee yet) this is the spot to go. Bring your sandwich for a waterfront picnic for extra points.
Best Hoboken Pizza Spots
Apulia
Looking for a great spot for personal, wood-fired pizzas? It’s got to be Apulia! This Washington street gem has so many tasty options of both white and red pizzas and they also have a full menu and bar to accompany their signature dish. We even got to sit outside in the back patio on a summer night!
Benny Tudino’s
There is no shortage of great pizza in Hoboken, but if you’re looking for a neighborhood spot that has stood the test of time, Benny’s is it. This spot has been a Hoboken staple for over 50 years and if you’re looking to experience classic NJ pizza, you’re in the right spot.
Dozzino
There are plenty of reasons to love Dozzino with their pizza being at the top of the list. Aside from that they are BYOB and they have an adorable outdoor garden area that is the spot to be during the summer months. Go with a group or bring a book and go alone and enjoy a pie all to yourself (I’ve done this a few times!)
Tenth Street
If you are a thin pizza stan, Tenth Street is the spot for you. Both their classic and margarita pies are always winners for me and this is another great BYOB spot. As a heads up, they don’t take reservations and on a busy evening (you can always put your name down and grab a drink at 10th and Willow across the street) it can take anywhere from 45-60 minutes for your pizza to be ready even once seated, but I can promise it’s worth the wait.
Best Hoboken Dinner Spots
Charrito’s Taqueria
If you’re in the mood for Mexican, Charrito’s should definitely be on your radar. From tasty tacos to great guac, this place has no shortage of delicious options. My cousin Brian and I went last summer and I’m definitely due back for another visit.
Dear Maud
This is one of Hoboken’s newer spots but that hasn’t stopped it from making a great first impression. I went for dinner with my friend Ali and got a delicious burger which makes it a great dinner spot, but if you want to linger after you finish your meal they have a huge bar area with lots of cocktail options.
Dino & Harry’s
Look no further for the best steak in town at Dino & Harry’s. This spot has lots of old school vibes and even has a piano player some nights so if you’re craving a martini and a rib-eye there is no better place to be. We came here for our anniversary and it was fabulous!
East LA
On a similar vibe to Charrito’s (and on the same block) this Mexican spot also has some gems on its menu too, and if you’re a fan of margaritas of all flavors and preparations you won’t want to miss the chance to dine here.
Hoboken Burrito
It’s all in the name—this unassuming spot on the south side of Church Square Park makes my favorite burrito in Hoboken (specifically the shrimp burrito) and they also make a MEAN salsa that comes with a side of chips. Prop tip: eat the burrito first and then do the chips and salsa to prepare your palette, trust.
Muteki
In the mood for ramen? It’s got to be Muteki. This spot makes my favorite ramen in Hoboken. I’ve only ever done pickup or delivery because I love eating ramen in the coziness of my own apartment and the broth is ALWAYS still hot somehow. I also add extra noodles making it a super filling meal.
Otto Strada
Italian for eight street, this Italian locale is a favorite among locals and it’s easy to see why. You can do BYOB and all of their pasta dishes are so delicious. They don’t take reservations either but you can pop over to Finnegan’s across the street for a pre-dinner beverage if you find yourself having to wait for a table.
Saku Hoboken
I can’t believe that it took three years of living in Hoboken to finally dine at Saku. What was I waiting for?! The interior of this restaurant is beautiful and makes you feel like you’ve been transported to Japan. They have a whole menu of traditional sushi and sashimi options but also lots of other beloved dishes to share like gyoza, fried rice and more. The service was great as well!
Sorellina
Are you sensing a pattern of Italian restaurants here in Hoboken? It truly is the epicenter for amazing Italian cuisine and Sorellina is at the top of the list for me. Meaning “little sister” this corner restaurant serves up incredible food at all hours (I also recommend their brunch) and their wine selection is also amazing. It’s a great spot for a date night or to bring your parents to!
Best Bars and Drink Spots
Antique Bar & Bakery
Antique is home to a 30-ton coal oven so you know their food is good and their cocktails are also delightful. We’ve been here for both dinner and drinks and you of course need to order their famous bread pudding for dessert if you haven’t filled up too much on food. I highly suggest grabbing a cocktail at the bar!
City Bistro
City Bistro is one of the few rooftop spots in Hoboken and it’s such a nice spot to go to on a warm day. You can eat here too but the bar on the roof deck is really the spot to be, especially because you can take a picture near this “bad decisions make better stories” sign like Taylor and I did.
Cork City
Any craft beer fan will know that Cork City is the spot to go in Hoboken for the most unique beers on tap. They’re categorized on a giant screen behind the bar by type and the bartenders even give them grades. I love coming here to watch a football game—assuming the Giants are winning—and you can order food to be delivered here.
Olivia’s NJ
Now Olivia’s offers so much more than just cocktails, but when Andrew and I (self-proclaimed beer and wine people, not-so-much cocktail people) first came here and ordered cocktails at the bar I swear we sipped our drinks, both looked at each other and said “WOW!” They even have live music some nights and a back room that you can rent for private events.
Pier 13
Is it summer? Are you in the mood to day drink? Are you in Hoboken? You must be at Pier 13. This seasonal waterfront bar is the place to be on a sunny Saturday. You can either do table seating with a waitress or head out to the turf and do self-serve from the bar and food trucks line the pier for snacks when you get hungry (my top picks are tacos, empanadas or a flatbread depending on which trucks are there that day.)
Pilsener Haus + Biergarten
This may be the largest bar in Hoboken—this sprawling biergarten boasts a large hall inside, a side section, an outdoor patio and sidewalk seating. It’s hard to miss and it’s a great place to go on a weekend afternoon for a beer, a bratwurst and of course one of those gigantic pretzels.
Sirenetta
The sister restaurant to Sorellina is just on the other side of Washington street with a focus on seafood. Definitely aim to go here during one of their specials: they have clam night on Monday’s and $1 oysters from 4-6pm on Tuesday’s, so you can order that second glass of rosé knowing you saved a bit of cash.
The Hoboken Waterfront
And finally, I just want to give a shout out to the Hoboken Waterfront. There are lots of spots to eat here with a view on Sinatra Drive (how did I get through this whole blog post without mentioning that Frank Sinatra was born here??), but even grabbing any of these items to-go and bringing a blanket by the waterfront is an experience in itself.
Whether you go for Pier A park downtown or you sprawl out by Maxwell Place park uptown, you’re guaranteed beautiful skyline views and great people watching.
What are your favorite spots in Hoboken? Any must-try spots that I didn’t mention here? Leave me a comment down below!
If you’d like to read my NYC neighborhood guides, click here.
yours,
Austen