The Hoboken Girl Team 
This article is sponsored by The Life of Reilly.
Jersey City has plenty of spots for a night out, but the best visits are to places that feel like an experience from start to finish. After getting a sneak peek earlier this year, The Hoboken Girl team recently returned to The Life of Reilly, a speakeasy tucked beneath San Patricios at 8 Erie Street in Jersey City. The verdict: it’s one of those spots you plan your whole night around, whether out with the girls or going for a date. Keep reading to learn about The Life of Reilly, Jersey City’s newest speakeasy.
About the Speakeasy + Its Unique Drink Experiences
The Life of Reilly is an Irish-inspired speakeasy, with the name stemming from a late 19th-century Irish-American cultural phrase. The bar draws on Irish-American history and vaudevillian influences for its aesthetic, with playbills, performers, and Vintage Mexican and Irish posters sourced from The Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
At The Life of Reilly, drink-crafting is a performance. Each cocktail is crafted on-site, using fresh juices, hand-cut ice, and ingredients locally sourced from New Jersey and New York. FYI: You can request that the bartender make you a drink off-menu, with anything from the pantry of ingredients.
We recommend pairing your drinks with something from The Life of Reilly’s food menu, which is full of small bites with personality. Some of the options we loved on our second visit menu included oysters, shrimp cocktail, caviar (yes, really), beef carpaccio, and endless Kerrygold buttered popcorn. It’s the kind of lineup that works whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite or building out a full evening.
About San Patricios
San Patricios, the sister restaurant to The Life of Reilly, is an equally great way to end your night following The Life of Reilly experience. The cantina and pub space brings a unique blend of Irish and Mexican influences, with a strong cocktail and spirits selection.
San Patricios’ menu features both Mexican and Irish cuisines from brunch to dinner. If you grab one of its drinks, be sure to check out some of the standout selections, such as Irish Coffee, Carajillos, Guinness, or Pacifico.
How to Visit
Though newer to the scene, The Life of Reilly has already found its place as a go-to for nights out in Jersey City. Located on 8 Erie Street in Jersey City, walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are preferred and can be made via Resy.
The Life of Reilly is open on Wednesday + Thursday from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and on Friday + Saturday from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM. To book a reservation, visit here.
