J9’s guidebook
Food scene
There are tons of options in downtown Jersey City, Hoboken and Jersey City Heights. Here are a few of our favorites.
Great French Bakery in Jersey City. Great coffee, croissants and more.
30 locals recommend
Choc O Pain Jersey City Heights
330-332 Palisade AveGreat French Bakery in Jersey City. Great coffee, croissants and more.
Our favorite French restaurant. Great food menu, wines, and cocktails. It's recommended that you call for reservations as they are quite busy. (201) 876-8800 or visit madameclaudejc.com
90 locals recommend
Madame Claude Bis
390 4th StOur favorite French restaurant. Great food menu, wines, and cocktails. It's recommended that you call for reservations as they are quite busy. (201) 876-8800 or visit madameclaudejc.com
A great little bar just 3 blocks away. Enjoy a Chicago style pizza and a awesome beer on tap. It is a local favorite.
28 locals recommend
Low Fidelity
328 Palisade AveA great little bar just 3 blocks away. Enjoy a Chicago style pizza and a awesome beer on tap. It is a local favorite.
You can jump off the 123 Bus on your way home from NYC at Congress Street. They have a solid food and drink menu as well as live music. Check out their website to see which artists are playing. http://www.foxandcrowjc.com/
75 locals recommend
Fox & Crow
594 Palisade AveYou can jump off the 123 Bus on your way home from NYC at Congress Street. They have a solid food and drink menu as well as live music. Check out their website to see which artists are playing. http://www.foxandcrowjc.com/
Great coffee and food. Close to your apartment. A good place to do a little work as well.
14 locals recommend
Froth On Franklin
85 Franklin StGreat coffee and food. Close to your apartment. A good place to do a little work as well.
Chef Jaime Ramirez restaurant is within walking distance. Open for brunch and dinner. It’s BYOB.
9 locals recommend
The Franklin
159 New York AveChef Jaime Ramirez restaurant is within walking distance. Open for brunch and dinner. It’s BYOB.
Owner and baker, Rick Easton is a James Beard nomination. The food here is excellent but expect a 10-20 min wait time to order. It is a very popular spot. I arrived at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday and didn’t order until 6. I brought home to eat as the tables were full. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.
16 locals recommend
Bread & Salt
435 Palisade AveOwner and baker, Rick Easton is a James Beard nomination. The food here is excellent but expect a 10-20 min wait time to order. It is a very popular spot. I arrived at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday and didn’t order until 6. I brought home to eat as the tables were full. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.
Zack's
232 Willow AveGreat food and drinks. Wonderful atmosphere. Recommend reservations.
Light Horse Tavern
199 Washington StAwesome Seafood platter, great dining atmosphere.
Large bench seating. Good pizza. Good Vibes. Its three-story includes one of the few rooftop spaces in the city, spanning an entire block with two full bars and dining.
156 locals recommend
Porta Jersey City
135 Newark AveLarge bench seating. Good pizza. Good Vibes. Its three-story includes one of the few rooftop spaces in the city, spanning an entire block with two full bars and dining.
Neighborhoods
Just 12-minute drive, 20 min bus ride or 30 minutes walk away.
It is New York’s sixth borough.
The Historic downtown has sweeping Manhattan views, beautiful tree-lined streets and historic brownstone! A burgeoning food scene that rivals spots in New York City,
Exploring Jersey City is easy. Copy and paste these links to see what to do:
https://www.dixonleasing.com/blog/neighborhood-expert/the-neighborhood-downtown-jersey-city
https://www.wheretraveler.com/new-jersey/advice/10-best-things-do-jersey-city
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-jersey/articles/20-must-visit-attractions-in-jersey-city-nj/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/jersey-city-new-jersey
55 locals recommend
Downtown Jersey City
The Historic downtown has sweeping Manhattan views, beautiful tree-lined streets and historic brownstone! A burgeoning food scene that rivals spots in New York City,
Exploring Jersey City is easy. Copy and paste these links to see what to do:
https://www.dixonleasing.com/blog/neighborhood-expert/the-neighborhood-downtown-jersey-city
https://www.wheretraveler.com/new-jersey/advice/10-best-things-do-jersey-city
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-jersey/articles/20-must-visit-attractions-in-jersey-city-nj/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/jersey-city-new-jersey
Just a short walk down the hill, Hoboken has bars, restaurants, cafes and more to offer. Frank Sinatra was born here.
228 locals recommend
Hoboken
Just a short walk down the hill, Hoboken has bars, restaurants, cafes and more to offer. Frank Sinatra was born here.
Sightseeing
Psst...I am going to tell you a secret, taking the boat from Jersey City to the Statue of Liberty is so much better, easier and quicker than NYC. The lines are much much shorter too. When you are finished you can take the boat (FREE) to Manhattan to continue your sight-seeing adventures. I definitely recommend that you buy your tickets ahead of time. If you want to go to the Crown, you must reserve at least 3 months in advance.
From the apartment, call and Uber/Lyft. There is paid parking if you wish to drive.
https://www.statueoflibertytickets.com/Statue-Of-Liberty-Tours/
All first-timers to the NYC area want to visit here.
1303 locals recommend
Statue of Liberty Museum Shop
1 Liberty Island - Ellis IslandAll first-timers to the NYC area want to visit here.
It's just 1.3 miles from the Heights. The Path train will take you to Manhattan quick and easy. Connecting you to NYC subways at 33rd and World Trade.
8 locals recommend
Hoboken PATH Station
1 Hudson PlIt's just 1.3 miles from the Heights. The Path train will take you to Manhattan quick and easy. Connecting you to NYC subways at 33rd and World Trade.
If you need a day to rest from NYC, check-out the Hoboken Museum.
32 locals recommend
Hoboken Historical Museum
1301 Hudson StIf you need a day to rest from NYC, check-out the Hoboken Museum.
This is my favorite place to explore, walk and have a good time with guests or even on my own. Don't miss out on this walk in NYC.
119 locals recommend
The High Line
This is my favorite place to explore, walk and have a good time with guests or even on my own. Don't miss out on this walk in NYC.
Liquor Store
Fabulous Wine store. The wine expert will guide you to the perfect bottle.
18 locals recommend
Madame Claude Wine
234 Pavonia AveFabulous Wine store. The wine expert will guide you to the perfect bottle.
Jersey City Super Buy-Rite
575 Manila AveEverything you need but you. Accessible by car.
Sparrow Wine & Liquor Co
126 Washington StA great walking distance option for a nice selection of wines, beers and liquors.
Central Avenue Liquors
210 Central AveA great walking distance option for a nice selection of wines, beers and liquors.
Grocery - Food Store
The Supremo is a local grocery store with any staples you may need and is only 3 blocks away from your apartment.
19 locals recommend
Supremo Food Market
323 Palisade AveThe Supremo is a local grocery store with any staples you may need and is only 3 blocks away from your apartment.
Less than 1 mile away, you can be here. It is accessible by bus, car and is a long but walkable walk.
420 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
715 River RdLess than 1 mile away, you can be here. It is accessible by bus, car and is a long but walkable walk.
Parks & Nature
Its a nice walk. You will encounter many of our great Palisade Ave restaurants. Fabulous NYC views.
57 locals recommend
Riverview-Fisk Park
498 Palisade AveIts a nice walk. You will encounter many of our great Palisade Ave restaurants. Fabulous NYC views.
Pershing Field Memorial Park is a large park which is located in the center of the Heights. Pershing Field offers a variety of fun activities to local residents and visitors. There is a playground with swings for children to enjoy and in the summer months the children take advantage of the sprinklers which provide hours of fun. Pershing Field also offers many sport activities. The field has its own baseball league called Pershing Field Babe Ruth League. There are also two basketball courts and four tennis courts. Other recreational activities which the park boosts are an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, and an outdoor running track (approx. 1/3 mile long).
19 locals recommend
Pershing Field Park
201 Central AvePershing Field Memorial Park is a large park which is located in the center of the Heights. Pershing Field offers a variety of fun activities to local residents and visitors. There is a playground with swings for children to enjoy and in the summer months the children take advantage of the sprinklers which provide hours of fun. Pershing Field also offers many sport activities. The field has its own baseball league called Pershing Field Babe Ruth League. There are also two basketball courts and four tennis courts. Other recreational activities which the park boosts are an ice skating rink, a swimming pool, and an outdoor running track (approx. 1/3 mile long).
City advice
Getting around
123 NYC Bus
You can catch the 123 Bus on Palisade Ave
123 has 14 stops and the total trip duration for this route is approximately 35 minutes. The bus starts at about 5:30 a.m. During rush hour it runs about every 20 minutes then once an hour after 8:35 a.m. At the Port Authority Station NYC, the gate for the 123 is Gate 214.
You can download the NJ Bus app where you can buy tickets online and see schedules. https://www.njtransit.com/var/var_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=NJTAppTo.
Another good app for timetables is https://transitapp.com/
Getting around
Hoboken Path Station
Hoboken Path Station is just 1.3 miles. Walkable on a great day. $7 Uber/Lyft ride.
87 Bus @ Ferry Street.
The Path Station takes you into NYC along the 33rd Street line or World Trade Center. $2.75.
https://www.panynj.gov/path/maps.html
Getting around
Directions from any of the NYC Airports
Easiest use Uber or Lyft. They pick-up at Arrivals and the drop-off Departures.
Customs and culture
BYOB
Many restaurants in the area in the Heights, Hoboken and downtown Jersey City are BYOB (bring your own bottle). Liquor licenses are hard to come by in NJ so this is an option many restaurants offer. Check the restaurant's web page.
Getting around
Transportation FAQs
BUS
•NJ Bus tickets can be purchased at Port Authority Bus Terminal.
•Zone 2 $3.50 or Zone 3 $4.80. Buy 10 tickets for reduced fare.
NYC Metro
•NYC Metro Cards pay-per-ride $2.75. These can be used on NJ Path.
•NYC 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard Cost: $33 (Reduced Fare $16.50) Note: PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses do not accept 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCards.
NJ Path Hoboken Station
•Path trains accept Metro Cards
•Path Train is $2.75 one-Way. NJ Smartlnk available for discount fares at purchase at path station.
Getting around
NJ Jitney Buses
Alternative to 123 or 119Bus @ same locations
* The ride is $3 cash and they will make change. No tickets or passes available.
•Take New York City. Only operates during rush hour to the city and arrives 5-10 min before the 123 /119 Bus. Last Jitney is at 8:30 am. Sometimes they run one at 8:45 am for holiday season.
Drop-off is at 40th and 8th, and 40th and 7th. It is common for passengers to get off at various points along 40th Street, as traffic moves very slowly.
• Not recommended to return only limited service if any.
Getting around
119 Bus Route
119 Bus @ Reservoir and Central Ave
•During the week and late morning early afternoon this bus stop has more buses running on various times. Check schedule or the Transit app.
•It takes the same amount of time into the city, 35 min.
•During rush hour, you can catch a Jitney along Central Ave going to New York City
•This line does not operate on Sundays.