Hudson County is home to some of the best food in New Jersey. It may be winter, but that is no reason to stay home and order take-out all season long. There are tons of foodie activities happening in the area. From food tours to wine tastings and even cooking classes, there is something on our list for every foodie. Read on to learn more about foodie activities in Hoboken + Jersey City.
Hoboken
Cooking Classes
Cook Ease Catering | 1101 Bloomfield Street, Unit A
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Chef Marla Mendelsohn has cooking lessons and group classes for all ages. Her classes combine learning and fun for a memorable experience. Group cooking classes are also a great option for bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and more.
Hudson Table | 1403 Clinton Street
For the foodie with an inner chef, Hudson Table has cooking and baking classes for all ages. There are themed classes like Italian Bistro, Greek Seafood, Gaucho Grilling, and more. Also available are fun events like couples nights and chef competitions where two chefs face off in a three-course battle, “Iron Chef” style. For little foodies, there are kids’ after-school classes that run from January to June. These classes are booked as a series for the entire Spring season. One-time classes are also available on holidays like Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day when schools are closed.
New Jersey Coffee School | 720 Monroe Street, Suite C508
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For coffee lovers looking to elevate their coffee skills, New Jersey Coffee School offers a fun and interactive class. This experience is three hours long and perfect for home baristas and coffee enthusiasts with little or no experience who want to learn the basics of making high-quality cups of coffee and espresso-based beverages.
Saku | 936 Park Avenue
Sushi lovers can learn how to roll sushi at Saku’s Dark Room on Tuesdays from 6PM-7:30PM. The class is called Rolling with the Homies and is led by the Head Sushi Chef Eddie-Sensei. Participants will learn how to make three types of rolls and rice vinegar for sushi rice. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Read More: Local Activities + Classes to Spark Your Creativity
Wine Tasting
Bin 14 | 1314 Washington Street
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For wine lovers, many spots around town have wine tastings. The wine list at Bin 14 offers a mix of flavors for every palate. Monthly wine tastings begin in the Spring, starting with its most popular Rosé tasting in April. Keep a close eye on its event calendar for more information.
Cheese + Wine | 720 Monroe Street
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Cheese + Wine hosts wine tastings every Friday from 5PM-7:30PM. The tastings are themed and always paired with cheese. Spirits are sometimes available for tasting as well. In addition, Cheese + Wine offers clubs like Perfect Pairing and Cheese of the Month where members receive a monthly package of seasonal or themed wine and cheese along with jams, jelly, or honey to pair perfectly with the selection. Custom gift baskets are also available.
Court Street | 61 6th Street
Each month, Court Street hosts a wine-tasting event on a Saturday afternoon from 1:45PM-4PM. Ten wines are featured during the event in a seated setting. Cheese, bread, and crackers are served, however, eating lunch before arriving is recommended. The cost of the wine tasting is $50.
Sorellina | 1036 Washington Street
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Sorellina Owner and certified Sommelier Gabi Lombardi curates a variety of wine-tasting events including Winemaker Dinners, Walk-Around Tastings, and even custom Food and Wine Pairings. The wine tastings include a flight of three wines with tasting discussion, assorted cheese, and salumi. The food and wine pairing includes three appetizers, two pastas, and a homemade dessert with a special after-dinner digestivo. Check out Sorellina’s wine tastings page for more information.
Wine Dad’s | 1330 Willow Avenue
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Wine Dad’s is a great place to shop for not only wine but a wide selection of beer and spirits. Winner of 2023 Best Liquor/Beer Store in Hoboken, Wine Dad’s has daily deals, fast and easy liquor delivery, and wine tastings every Friday from 5PM-7PM.
Jersey City
Breweries + Beer Gardens
902 Brewing Company | 101 Pacific Avenue
902 Brewing Company takes pride in its exceptional, hand-crafted beer. Its Tap Room hosts a variety of events including yoga, live bands, local DJs, and art installations. Its rooftop deck features breathtaking views of Manhattan and hosts live acoustic music, comedians, and more. Every Tuesday is $15 Flight and a Pint Night where guests can enjoy a flight of four (four-ounce) shots and a pint (16 ounces) of beer. Check out its event calendar for more details.
Departed Soles | 150 Bay Street #2A
Winner of 2023 Best Beer Selection in Jersey City, Departed Soles produces a wide selection of craft beer options and is New Jersey’s first and only brewery offering a vast selection brewed with 100% Gluten-Free ingredients. Every week the brewery hosts events like trivia night, barre classes, yoga classes, open mic, and of course, beer releases. Check out its event calendar for more information.
Zeppelin Hall | 88 Liberty View Drive
For those who love bacon, Zeppelin Hall is hosting BACONFEST 2023 from January 18th to February 11th. The event features 16 bacon dishes in addition to the regular menu. For more details, visit its events page.
Food Tours, Festivals, + Events
Beyond the Plate | Heights + Downtown
Food tours are a great way to explore hidden gems, try new foods, and learn about the history behind some of the best food establishments in town. Beyond the Plate runs two different food tours in Jersey City: Taste of the Heights and Taste of Downtown. These tours are food-focused with a sprinkle of arts, culture, and history. Each tour lasts about three hours and offers up to five restaurant visits. The Downtown tour also includes two to three alcoholic beverages.
Coluccio Cooks x Alessio’s Cafe | 99 Franklin Street
Enjoy an exclusive six-course dining experience designed by Chef Steve Coluccio at Alessio’s Cafe on January 18th, 2024, from 8PM-9:30PM. Chef Steve uses only the highest quality ingredients to transport you back to his grandma’s kitchen, with some innovative twists. The dishes will feature freshly sliced prosciutto di parma, black winter truffle, Hokkaido scallops, royal Ossetra caviar, bluefin toro, American wagyu, hand-harvested Sicilian monocultivar olive oil, and more. This event is BYOB. Check out Chef Steve’s website for more information on upcoming events.
Harborside Atrium | 210 Hudson Street
The Jersey City Whiskey and Spirits Festival is happening at Harborside Atrium on Saturday, January 20th with time slots from 1PM-4PM and 6PM-9PM. Ticket holders will taste a wide selection of whiskies and craft spirits ranging from the all-American Kentucky bourbons to Mexican Tequila, Russian Vodka, and more. Ticket prices range from $15-$60.
Hudson Hall | 364 Hudson Hall
Home of the Best Wings in Jersey City, Hudson Hall is showing all NFL Playoff games, including the ones on Peacock, and UFC 297 will be shown live on January 20th, no cover fee required. Game day specials of $5 Haus Lager mugs, $20 Haus Lager pitchers, and $20 for 20 wings will be on for all sporting events over the next few weeks as well.
Liberty Science Center | 222 Jersey City Boulevard
For those who enjoy a good beer, Liberty Science Center is hosting The Brewsology Beer Festival on Saturday, February 10th from 8PM-11PM. This one-of-a-kind experience is described as the boozy hybrid of an elementary school field trip. The event will feature dozens of local and domestic breweries, sampling over 150 beers. Early Admission tickets are also available and include entry at 7PM with specialty beers poured for the early session. Ticket prices range from $35-$80.
Not into beer? There’s also an event for wine lovers. Uncorked: NJ Wine Fest is happening on Saturday, March 16th from 7PM-11PM. This event features over 100 wines + bubblies from across the world + some “outside of the bottle” beverages (like seltzers and canned cocktails), food vendors, exclusive after-hours access to the full museum, interactive exhibits, and more.
Early admission tickets ($90) include entry at 7PM with an extra hour of tasting with a smaller capacity plus bonus wines poured by select wineries. The event includes full access to the museum with food sold separately. For more information, visit uncorkedwinefestivals.com.
Scale Fish Market | 45 Cole Street
Winner of 2023 Best Seafood in Jersey City, Scale Fish Market is hosting a pop-up event with multi-award-winning Chef Vincent Tropepe on January 16th from 12PM-8PM. Chef Tropepe will prepare three PEI mussel dishes for patrons to choose from: Mussels Espinal, Mussels Athena, and Mussels Thai. It is recommended to place orders in advance. For more information, please visit the event page.
Cooking Classes
Hudson County Community College | 161 Newkirk Street
Enjoy hands-on culinary experiences at HCCC’s award-winning Culinary Arts Institute. Programs include family and kids classes, food and wine weekend workshops, and Friday night dinners where participants prepare a delicious meal to enjoy after the class. Some of the experiences include pasta making, pizza making, and mastering knife skills. Learn more about the classes on Eventbrite.
Liberty House | 76 Audrey Zapp Drive
Maddy Rose Restaurant at Liberty House has a calendar of exciting foodie events. From cooking and cocktail classes, to sip and paint, exclusive wine dinners, and more. Prices range from $60-$75 depending on the type of class. Check out its event calendar for more details.
See More: Date Ideas for Dry January in Northern New Jersey
Wine Tasting
CoolVines on Grove | 276 Grove Street
Winner of 2023 Best Liquor/Beer Store in Jersey City, CoolVines creates an environment where anyone can shop for wine without feeling overwhelmed. Check out its event calendar for themed tastings every week.
Jersey Wine + Spirits | 492 Jersey Avenue
Every Friday Jersey Wine and Spirits has wine tastings from 5PM-7:30PM. It also has a wine club subscription which includes three bottles of carefully curated wine with detailed tasting notes for $79.99/ month.
Madame Claude Wine | 234 Pavonia Avenue
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Madame Claude Wine is located in Hamilton Square and has a wide variety of wines. Stop by for wine tastings every Friday from 5PM-7PM and check out its Instagram page for other fun wine and food events throughout the year.
Riverview Wine + Spirits | 43 Bowers Street
Riverview Wine and Spirits hosts a wine tasting every Friday from 6PM-8PM. For those who love wine and the convenience of free delivery, there is a wine club that includes three hand-selected wines with detailed notes for $80/ month. Free local delivery is included.
