Date night looks different for everybody. Sometimes, the truest display of romance is cuddling up on the couch with far more takeout than two people can stomach. Other times, it’s all about dressing to the nines and showing off your ten (a.k.a., your date). Whatever vibe you prefer, The Hoboken Girl team has a local recommendation to match, so we asked our editors: what’s your favorite date night spot in Hoboken or Jersey City? Answers varied from moody cocktail bars to mainstay Italian restaurants, and even some interactive experiences. Keep reading to see the Hoboken + Jersey City date night spots recommended by The Hoboken Girl team.
Laico’s | 67 Terhune Avenue, Jersey City
“Laico’s in Jersey City is so fun. It’s on Terhune Avenue, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Jersey City. They have delicious food, awesome espresso martinis, and it’s an old-school Italian vibe. I bring friends here, my husband, and it’s amazing every time.” — Jennifer Tripucka, Founder
The Laugh Tour at Dorrian’s Red Hand | 555 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City
“Heading to a comedy show is a great way to mix things up (or vibe-check someone you’re just meeting), and the talent that comes through The Laugh Tour at Dorrian’s is seriously so funny. Here’s likely how your night will go: order food + drinks, laugh a lot, then head to the bar after to debrief and laugh some more.” — Danielle Farina, Social Media Manager
Flour | 500 Jefferson Street, Hoboken
“Flour is definitely such a great vibe for a date night spot. It kind of feels most like you went out of town although it’s right in the heart of Hoboken. The menu is so unique and the open kitchen is such a vibe. Plus, it’s BYOB!” — Amber Veltri, Social Media Manager
Otto Strada | 743 Park Avenue, Hoboken
“Otto Strada, where my boyfriend and I had our very first date and keep coming back to relive those sweet early days. As total foodies, we can’t get enough of Otto Strada’s creative dishes, and the BYOB setup makes it even more fun. Whether you’re on a cozy date night or just hanging out with friends, Otto Strada always hits the spot!” — Carli Clesmere, Digital Assistant
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dullboy | 364 Grove Street, Jersey City
“Dullboy is my ideal date spot. The intimacy, vibe, and delicious craft cocktails make it the perfect space.” — Jordan Hernandez, Contributor + Volunteer Coordinator
Chickie’s | 236 Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City
“Chickie’s in Jersey City is such a great spot! The food is some of my favorite in Hudson County and they make an excellent St. Germain Spritz.” — Joelle Hernandez, Contributor + Volunteer Coordinator
Grand Vin Kitchen + Bar | 500 Grand Street, Hoboken
“Grand Vin is one of my favorite date night spots in Hoboken. The dining area is beautiful and the vibes are cozy and romantic. I love the pan-seared scallops, stuffed mushrooms, and the short rib with risotto. Insanely delicious!” — Elena Gergis, Freelance Writer
Hudson Golf | 16 Hudson Place, Hoboken
“I’m a foodie through and through, but sometimes I crave a date night that’s a little more exciting than just sitting at a dinner table. Hudson Golf is perfect for an interactive outing — it’s so much fun to play a round, and the food + drink options are great!” — Samantha Impaglia, Associate Editor
Korai Kitchen | 576 Summit Avenue, Jersey City
“Korai Kitchen is such an incredible and one-of-a-kind dining experience in Jersey City. It feels very special, especially since dine-in is only offered on Friday and Saturday nights. The meals last 3 hours, which gives you plenty of time with your date. It’s also BYOB, which is nice.” — Stephanie Brown, Freelance Writer
Tino’s Artisan Pizza Co. (for takeout) | 199 Warren Street, Jersey City
“Paulus Hook’s Tino’s Pizza is a great choice for date night takeout. The food is amazing and Paulus Hook is so charming in the fall — but the real highlight is that you can order the pizza “lightly done” and finish baking it off at home. So while you queue up the movie or get the game board set up, the pizza smells will waft through your home.” — Stephanie Spear, Copy Editor
Apulia | 1319 Washington Street, Hoboken
“We love Apulia. The food and the atmosphere are 11/10 and the hospitality is second to none. It’s always our go-to date-night spot whether it’s just us or with another couple. When we go, we get a PFT — pizza for the table, usually a Diavola, and then maybe a main to split. LOVE the tagliatelle alla bolognese and the bigoli cacio e pepe. Just thinking about this spot has my mouth watering.” — Danielle Lynch, Freelance Writer
See More: Romantic Restaurants for Date Night in the Montclair Area
Cellar 335 | 335 Newark Avenue
“Cellar 335 has incredible food, and is a super fun but still cozy atmosphere. Perfect for a couple looking to share a great meal and some tiki drinks in a cool corner of JC.” — Heather Rafanello, Contributing Writer
Pokémon GO Fest is Coming to Jersey City This June
Gotta catch 'em all! Good news for Pokémon fans — the 2025 Pokémon GO Fest locations were recently announced, and it's coming to Jersey City this summer. Details are slim as of now, but what we do know is that Chilltown's Pokémon GO Fest will take place from June 6th through 8th, 2025. Read on for what we know so far about Jersey City's first-ever Pokémon GO Fest happening in 2025.
The Details + About Pokémon GO Fest
Pokémon GO shared via its website on Monday, January 6th that the annual Pokémon GO Fest will be taking place in three locations this summer 2025 — all of which are different than last year's locales.
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This year's festivities will include a Jersey City Pokémon GO Fest — happening from Friday, June 6th through Sunday, June 8th, 2025. The exact location has yet to be announced, but this post will be updated with any further details. Per the website, ticket details and more information will be released in March.
Pokémon GO Fest's will also take place in two other cities for 2025. The Osaka, Japan event will run from Thursday, May 29th through Sunday, June 1st. The Paris, France fest will happen shortly after the Jersey City one from Friday, June 13th through Sunday, June 15th. This will be the first time that Jersey City and Paris will host Pokémon GO events.
A global Pokémon GO event normally takes place following the individual events — stay tuned to the website for more details on that.
In 2024, the events took place in New York City, Sendai, Japan, and Madrid, Spain.
Pokémon GO Fest orginated in Chicago, Illinois in 2017 and has since expanded across the world. The events have become a popular way for Pokémon fans to connect with others and explore. Per Dexerto, the fest involves physical events in specific cities that are set across multiple days, all followed by a global event where everyone can participate. Previous Pokémon GO Fests have included the debut of new Pokémon and forms. Locals can expect a day of adventuring to find all of the different Pokémon's Jersey City has to offer through the mobile game.
The mobile game Pokémon GO stems from the Japanese media franchise, Pokémon, which consists of the ever-popular trading card game, various video games, animated series and movies, and more. Per Pokemon.com, Pokémon are "creatures of all shapes and sizes who live alongside humans." Some of the most popular Pokémon include Pikachu, Charizard, Mewtwo, and over 1,000 more.
For further updates on Jersey City's Pokémon GO Fest, follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok, sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and check out our events calendar.
