Booking a table for one doesn’t need to feel isolating. Of course, it’s fun to go out with friends, but it’s nice to schedule some “me time” every now and then, too. Hoboken and Jersey City are home to tons of great restaurants to dine solo. Keep reading for some of the best places to eat or drink by yourself in Hoboken + Jersey City.
Hoboken
Benny Tudino’s | 622 Washington Street
Benny Tudino’s sells personal 10-inch pies and giant slices (yes, they are bigger than newborns). This is a good option for solo dining because you don’t have to worry about ordering a full pizza to eat by yourself.
Bon Banh | 506 Washington Street
Bon Banh is a Vietnamese restaurant with plenty of small tables. The menu includes pho, banh mi sandwiches, + summer rolls. The lemongrass shrimp summer rolls and the spicy grilled pork banh mi are especially popular orders.
Carpe Diem | 1405 Grand Street
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Carpe Diem is a neighborhood pub with a menu of burgers and Irish entrees. This welcoming sports bar often has a game on, so it’s easy to grab a seat at the bar without feeling awkward about eating alone.
Read More: Fun Date Night Spot Ideas in Hoboken + Jersey City
Dolce + Salato | 1101 Grand Street
Dolce + Salato is an authentic Italian cafe with window seats for people-watching. The cafe has breakfast, salads, paninis, + an impressive selection of espresso drinks. Hazelnut enthusiasts, don’t miss out on the Torino, a drink made with double espresso, frothed milk, + Nutella.
Elysian Cafe | 1001 Washington Street
The Elysian Cafe bar is a nice option for solo dining. The bar menu has aged cheddar grilled cheese, Reuben, crispy fish tacos, and short rib macaroni au gratin. Anyone looking for a spot to dine solo during lunch should keep in mind Elysian’s ½ sandwich + soup menu.
Fiore’s House of Quality | 414 Adams Street
This historic Hoboken institution is known for its mutz — and lines out the doors. It’s well worth the wait, so if you’re going alone, pack some headphones + put on a podcast to pass the time. It can get hectic in the deli, so bring cash + make sure to know your order by the time you reach the front.
Green Pear Cafe | 93 Grand Street
This cozy, European-style cafe has small outdoor tables that are great for solo diners. There’s a selection of coffee drinks + croissant sandwiches for a light breakfast along with soups, pasta, and sandwiches for a bigger meal.
Honeygrow | 120 Washington Street
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Honeygrow is a stir-fry + salad spot with window seating for solo dining. There are some pre-made entrees on the menu or diners can make their own salads + bowls by selecting a base, protein, and tons of add-ins.
La Isla Downtown | 104 Washington Street
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This welcoming Cuban diner has bar seating + a la carte menu options that are enough for one person. Instead of ordering family style, solo diners can enjoy a Cubano sandwich or a chopped salad. The dessert menu has a small Empanada de Guayaba y Queso (guava + cream cheese turnover) which seems like an ideal sweet for one person.
Mamoun’s Falafel | 300 Washington Street
Mamoun’s Falafel on Washington Street is the Hoboken outpost of NYC’s iconic Middle Eastern restaurant. Solo diners can easily find a spot to sit and eat their shawarma bowl or falafel + hummus pita sandwich.
Mr. Wrap’s | 741 Garden Street
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This no-frills standby has a few small tables to accommodate solo diners. The menu features over 30 different types of wraps, tortilla pizzas, salads, subs, and shakes. For more recs on where to get the best chicken ceasar wraps, click here.
Northern Soul | 700 1st Street
This neighborhood eatery features a mix of vegetarian + meat-forward entrees. Menu highlights include a Tofu Mignon Sandwich + Guinness Beef Stew. There’s a bar and some small tables outside where diners can eat solo.
Okinawa Sushi | 400 Newark Street
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Okinawa Sushi has lunch specials every day until 3PM. Diners looking for a quick, solo lunch spot can order the five-piece sushi with California roll, nine-piece sashimi, or sushi sashimi combo which all come with soup or salad.
Tacoria | 208 Washington Street
This small Mexican restaurant is great for solo diners. Tacos are sold individually + there’s a small-bites menu with single-sized portions of guacamole and pico de gallo. There are some small tables where people can sit and eat their meal by themselves without feeling bad about taking a spot from a large group.
Tony Boloney’s | 263 1st Street
Tony Boloney’s sells slices so solo diners don’t have to order an entire pizza. There are a few small tables inside + outside that are a good size for one person.
Jersey City
Ani Ramen | 218 Newark Avenue
Ramen is a go-to solo meal + Ani Ramen has some of the best bowls in Jersey City. It’s hard to go wrong with shoyu or vegan ramen, and anyone who wants a bit more can add on some bao buns or kimchi.
Dark Side Of The Moo | 52 Bowers Street
This burger restaurant specializes in exotic meats like alligator + kangaroo burgers. It’s a nice option for solo dining, especially if you’re feeling more adventurous than your friends.
DOMODOMO | 200 Greene Street
Sure, Domodomo is popular with big groups for birthday parties, but solo diners can also enjoy the experience. The sushi bar is a great spot to sit alone and savor sake + sushi omakase. Hand rolls and nigiri sushi are priced individually, so going by yourself means you can get a few items without blowing the budget.
Gussy’s Cafe | 292 Newark Avenue
This casual eatery has breakfast, lunch, dinner, + happy hour menus with tempting options like a Sausage Gochujang breakfast sandwich and Cajun Chicken Caesar salad. There’s window seating + tons of small tables where solo diners can sit to eat.
Kitchen Step | 500 Jersey Avenue
Kitchen Step is a popular Jersey City brunch spot that can be enjoyed alone. The small plates menu has charred octopus, kale Caesar salad, and French onion mac + cheese. The bar is a great spot for solo diners who want to eat without worrying about taking up an entire table.
Kura Revolving Sushi | 525 Washington Boulevard
Sushi moves past diners on a conveyor belt surrounding the tables at this novelty restaurant in Newport. Solo diners can pick up plates as they go instead of over-ordering. The restaurant usually has a wait, but it might be quicker for solo diners to move through the queue.
Lobster Garage | 98 Morris Street
There’s almost nothing better than grabbing a drink at Lobster Garage on a sunny day. Solo diners can find a spot at one of the colorful picnic tables to sip their beer. On a crowded day, solo diners might have to share their table, but this could be a convenient way to meet some new friends in the neighborhood.
Low Fidelity | 328 Palisade Avenue
Low Fidelity is a cocktail bar in the Heights with bar seating and a spacious backyard. In addition to craft cocktails, this spot is known for its Detroit-style pizza. Salads and small plates, like deviled eggs + bruschetta toast, are available if a pan pizza seems like too much for one person.
OZU Foods | 106 Hutton Street
OZU Foods is a tiny Japanese restaurant with a window bar + stools where solo diners can eat their ramen or sushi rolls. Vegetarian + vegan menu items such as the nutty tofu roll + vegan miso soup, are available.
Pet Shop | 193 Newark Avenue
Pet Shop is a neighborhood bar + live music venue. Going to Pet Shop alone is never a problem + there are tons of seats at the bar and small tables scattered throughout the space. The back patio, which has plenty of seats, is open when the weather is nice. The menu features plant-based dishes like a vegan fried oyster mushroom po’ boy and gluten-free jackfruit birria tacos.
Pinwheel Garden Dumpling + Noodle Bar | 318 Communipaw Avenue
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This family-owned restaurant serves a menu of “remixed” Asian-American dishes. There’s a window-facing bar with stools that seems like it was made for solo diners. The lunch menu has Thai Basil Fried Rice, Bacon Drunken Udon, + a scallion pancake pizza.
Rasoi | 810 Newark Avenue
Rasoi is a high-quality Indian restaurant with an expansive menu. Solo diners will want to focus on one or two dishes since the portions are big, but with so many great options this is easier said than done. There’s a lunch box option for diners who want a smaller version of the buffet spread.
See More: 7 Fun Things To Do On Your Own in Essex County
Two Boots Pizza | 133 Newark Avenue
Two Boots Pizza is one of the many pizza-by-the-slice options in downtown Jersey City. This spot on Newark Avenue has multiple vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Solo diners can also order a personal 10-inch pizza on a gluten-free or traditional crust.
White Star | 179 Warren Street
White Star on Warren Street has bar seating and small tables where solo diners can relax. Happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 4PM-6PM with deals on certain drinks. The bar snacks menu has smaller plates like flatbread pizzas and Buffalo wings.
Würstbar | 516 Jersey Avenue
Wurstbar is a gastropub with outdoor + indoor seating for solo diners. The menu has tons of different sausages + dogs that can be made vegan. Happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 4PM-7PM with discounts on Haus cut fries (which won Hoboken Girl’s 2023 Best Of Hoboken + Jersey City), poutine, + a few drinks.
