Hoboken and Jersey City are popular food destinations in New Jersey. Not only are restaurants known for their diverse food selections, but there is also no shortage of establishments with well-curated wine lists. Restaurants have also kept up with trending movements in the wine world such as natural wines — wines made without any additives — making the local wine experience more explorative. Read on to find some of the restaurants with great wine menus in the Hoboken + Jersey City area.
Pro Tips: Sometimes the size of the wine list can be overwhelming. We recommend starting with what you are familiar with, such as the grape varietals or the wine-producing region, and it always helps to ask the sommelier for recommendations that are in your budget.
Hoboken
Bin 14 | 1314 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @bin14winebar)
First opened in 2008, Bin 14 is Hoboken’s first wine bar and remains an extremely popular hangout for Italian-inspired tapas and aperitifs. The exceptional sparkling wine selection pairs well with cheese boards, bruschettas, and pizzas. The red and white list consists mainly of Italian and French labels with a handful of bottles from Spain, Portugal, and the new world. Additionally, there is a bottle list ($100 and above) that exclusively features Napa Valley producers.
Court Street | 61 6th Street
Court Street, known for its seafood dishes and American classics, has been a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence recipient since 2016. This award is given to restaurants with a variety of great wines across multiple wine-growing regions. The Court Street wine list is strong in new world wines – it features Californian cabernets and merlot for reds, as well as a variety of whites from New Zealand, California, and New York. After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, the restaurant has recently brought back its wine tasting events. In each session, guests sample ten wines from a selected vineyard.
Read More: Your Guide to Wineries + Breweries Near Hoboken + Jersey City
Del Frisco’s Grille | 221 River Street
(Photo credit: @dfgrille)
The wine menu at this waterfront steakhouse has been a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence pick since 2016. In a 2018 blog post, Del Frisco’s Vice President of Beverage Gretchen Thomas wrote that when selecting new wines, she looks for three things – good value, the history behind the wine, and “something unique that contributes to the whole wine list.” The wine program, with over 300 bottles, is strong in California selections. A bold and rich bottle, such as a Cabernet or Malbec, pairs well with steak.
Grand Vin | 500 Grand Street
(Photo credit: @grandvinhoboken)
Grand Vin has a crowd-pleasing menu that features contemporary Italian and American dishes. The wine selection consists mainly of bottles from traditional winemaking regions in Italy, France, and California. But more interestingly, there are a handful of bottles from non-California US, including a light-bodied, highly drinkable co-ferment of four grapes made in upstate New York (‘Barry Family Cellars Four Track Demo Red Blend Finger Lakes’). Grand Vin also has a private label chianti made from organically farmed Sangiovese with notes of cinnamon and berries. The restaurant also hosts wine-tasting events.
Sorellina Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar | 1036 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @sorellinahoboken)
Sorellina, known for its simple and creative pasta dishes, has an exclusive Italian wine program that has been recognized by Wine Spectator every year since 2017. It features a rotating selection of 30+ wines by the glass and over 120 labels offered by the bottle. This includes wines made from rare, indigenous varietals produced by small winemakers, as well as a ‘Riserva’ list which indicates premium quality. The wine list is organized by style rather than country or region. “If you know you typically like full-bodied reds with ripe fruit, you should choose from our ‘Full & Fruity’ section. Our staff is also very well educated on our list and can always help make recommendations,” owner and sommelier Gabi Lombardi told The Hoboken Girl. The restaurant frequently hosts wine dinners with producers from Italy — the next one is on June 15th with a producer from the Veneto region. Sorellina also has food and wine pairing options on a daily basis.
Jersey City
Battello | 502 Washington Boulevard
(Photo credit: @battellojc)
This fine-dining restaurant serves Italian-influenced dishes and is particularly strong in seafood. The wine program has been a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence pick since 2014 (except in 2017 and 2018 when the restaurant was closed due to pier repair.) In an earlier interview, owner and wine director Cory Checket said Battello offers lower than average markup and various bottle formats including magnum and half bottles. The diverse selection includes wines with significant age, such as vintages dating back to the 1980s; wines from organic producers and family-owned wineries; and wines from not only famed wine-producing regions in Italy, France, and California, but also South Africa, Switzerland, Lebanon, Austria, and Greece.
Bistro La Source | 85 Morris Street
(Photo credit: @bistrolasource)
Bistro La Source, a popular French restaurant, boasts a large wine menu. Owner Bill Spitz helps curate the menu with featured hand-picked wine selections. With over 60 bottles of wine to choose from, the menu highlights regions in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and — of course — France. There are also a few New World wines sprinkled throughout — there’s even a Riesling from Seneca Lake, New York.
See More: Where to Find Rooftop Bars in Northern NJ
Frankie | 264 Grove Street
(Photo credit: @frankieeatsjc)
This wildly popular Australian-style cafe draws inspiration from cuisines around the world and offers creative dishes such as fish curry, lamb kofta, and kimchi fried chicken. But what sets it apart from other cafes is its natural wine-focused wine program. Natural wine refers to a trending style of winemaking that involves organic farming and minimal intervention (meaning no or little sulfites or other additives). The list features a large variety of Australian wines, as well as bottles from famed wine-producing regions in Europe and South Africa. We’d recommend a very aromatic Australian Grenache for red, or a bright, floral Savagnin for white.
Porta | 135 Newark Avenue
(Photo credit: @portajerseycity)
The restaurant makes excellent Neapolitan-style pizza as well as creative Italian dishes that rotate by the season. The small but mighty wine menu features mainly labels from famed wine-producing regions in Italy. Some notable items include a fresh, fragrant Nebbiolo from Piedmont that makes an excellent pasta wine, and a bright, zesty Vermentino from Sardinia that pairs beautifully with fish or cheese.
Satis Bistro | 212 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @satisbistrojc)
This chic bistro serves seasonal Southern European dishes such as pasta, grilled fish, and steak frites. The wine list has an excellent French selection that features bottles from, among other regions, Loire, Burgundy, Rhone, and Bordeaux. A Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with the restaurant’s many fish dishes and a Pinot Noir is great with the cheese board.
