The Hudson-Bergen light rail is a convenient way to travel between Hoboken and Jersey City. Whether you’re commuting to work and need a pre-office pick-me-up or if you simply want to plan a coffee crawl, we’ve rounded up the most convenient cafes near a few Light Rail stops along this line. Keep reading to find out where to grab coffee along the Hudson-Bergen light rail route.

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Essentials

Trains travel the Hudson-Bergen light rail route from 5AM-1AM daily. Rides cost $2.55 for adults and tickets can be purchased on the NJ Transit app or at the station. These tickets are valid for 60 minutes after activation.

Coffee Shops Near the Stops

Liberty State Park

The Grind Shop | 360 Communipaw Avenue

The Grind is worth the 10-minute walk to the Liberty State Park station. After all, this community favorite was voted the best coffee shop in Jersey City by HG readers in 2022. It opens at 7AM every day for early morning caffeinating.

Read More: All About Kaffa Espresso Bar in Jersey City

Cafe Lafayette | 74 Maple Street

Cafe Lafayette is a casual cafe with Korean-inspired dishes, breakfast essentials, coffee, sandwiches, and more. Cafe Lafayetteis a 6-minute walk from the Liberty State Park Station and opens at 7AM on Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The cafe opens at 8AM on the weekends.

Nûrish | 346 Communipaw Avenue

Nûrish is a cozy cafe with a vegan and vegetarian focus. Besides coffee, locals can grab smoothies, sandwiches, and more. The cafe is a 10-minute walk from the Liberty State Park Station and opens at 7AM daily.

Jersey Avenue

Brewshot | 9 Regent Street

There’s plenty of seating, and strong WiFi, in Brewshot which makes it a great spot to get some work done. The menu is full of specialty lattes and breakfast sandwiches which can be enjoyed as early as 8AM. Brewshot is a 4-minute walk from the Jersey Avenue Station.

Cocoa Bakery | 275 Grand Street

Cocoa Bakery's downtown location is a 5-minute walk from the Jersey Avenue Station. The tasty bake shop also serves coffee and fresh pastries to grab and go or for a special occasion. Cocoa Bakery is open at 9AM Tuesday through Saturday and 10AM on Sundays.

Cafe Dolma | 270 Grand Street

The charming, cafe Dolma specializes in fresh Turkish flavors and American dishes. The cafe also has a selection of coffee creations available as early as 7:30am on weekdays. The cafe is a 5-minute walk from the Jersey Avenue Station.

Life Pancake Company | 426 Jersey Avenue

Whether you're looking for a big stack of pancakes or just a simple coffee, Life Pancake Company has you covered. The restaurant is located just 4 minutes from the Jersey Avenue Station and is open daily at 7AM. 

Marin Boulevard

B18 Coffee Kitchen | 18 Park View Avenue

B18 is run by the Beechwood Cafe team and serves espresso drinks, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches. It opens at 8AM on weekdays and 9AM on weekends so you can stop by for a bite before a busy day ahead.

Prkup Up Coffee | 197 Van Vorst Street

Prkup Coffee has a community vibe along with an excellent coffee menu. Keep an eye out for seasonal specials like a Vermont Maple Syrup Latte in the fall. There’s a pastry case full of treats if you’re looking for something sweet, but Prkup Up also sells savory options like avocado toast and bagels.

Gotan | 198 Van Vorst Street on the Corner of Van Vorst + Morris

Gotan is one of the latest NYC cafes to open on this side of the Hudson. Coffee is served as early as 7AM so it’s a great option if you have an early morning commute.

Dream Vista | 177 York Street

Dream Vista is a magical, cozy cafe tucked away downtown. The coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating and is open daily at 8AM. Dream Vista is a quick 4-minute walk to the Marin Boulevard Station.

Short Grain | 183 Montgomery Street

Short Grain is a coffee shop and eatery serving Asian-influenced dishes, juices, and more. Short Grain is open at 7AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends and is a 6-minute walk from the Marin Boulevard Station.

Beechwood Cafe | 290 Grove Street

Beechwood Cafe is a home neighborhood eatery with indoor and outdoor seating. The extensive menu includes a variety of flavors including fun coffee and tea creations to gran-and-go or stay and enjoy. Beechwood Cafe opens daily at 8AM and is a 8-minute walk from the Marin Boulevard Station.

Lackawanna Coffee | 295 Grove Street

Local favorite, Lackawanna Coffee is a bright and creative coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. The shop's Grove Street location is an 8-minute walk from the Marin Boulevard Station and is open daily at 7AM.

Essex Street

Semicolon Cafe | 77 Hudson Street

Semicolon Cafe is a short walk from the Essex Street stop and has some of the best coffee around. The menu includes espresso drinks, matcha lattes, and Semicolon’s signature egg sandwiches. The space features tons of plants and natural light and it’s a beautiful spot to relax if you have some time to kill before catching the light rail.

Bluestone Lane | 30 Hudson Street

Popular coffee chain, Bluestone Lane is just a 2-minute walk from the Essex Street Station in Jersey City. The Australian-inspired eatery is opens at 7:30AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends.

Sam A.M. | 112 Morris Street

Sam A.M. is a homey cafe with locally sourced breakfast dishes and high-quality espresso and tea. The eatery is just a 5-minute walk from the Essex Street Station and opens at 6:30AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends.

Exchange Place

Gregorys Coffee | 10 Exchange Place

Gregorys Coffee opens at 6AM on weekdays and has an order ahead option — two great features if you need to fuel an early morning commute. Plus, the menu includes smoothies, juice, and a bunch of food that’s easy to take on-the-go if you’re not looking for coffee quite yet.

Maman | 70 Hudson Street

NYC-based French cafe and bakery, Maman, made its way to Jersey City a few years ago. The spot serves a selection of baked goods, coffee, juices, teas, fresh breakfast, and lunch options.

Starbucks | 15 Exchange Place

Starbucks isn’t the most local coffee around by any means, but this location opens at 5:30AM so it’s often the only option for early morning light rail riders.

Dunkin' | 1 Exchange Place + 105 Greene Street

If you're in a pinch, classic go-to Dunkin' has two locations just steps away from the Exchange Place Station. The outpost at 1 Exchange Place is just a 1-minute walk from the station while the 105 Greene Street location is a 3-minute walk. Both locations are open at 5:30AM on weekdays and 6:30AM on weekends.

Harborside

Canard Cafe Bar | 200 Greene Street

Located in the Urby, Canard Cafe Bar is a great option if you’re looking for a place to work for a bit before taking the light rail to your next destination. There are tons of tables and outlets in the Canard plus a full menu of coffee and pastries to keep you going for a while.

Butler Café | 350 Warren Street

Butler Café located inside of CoolVines is open weekdays at 7AM and weekends at 8AM. The coffee shop has a variety of espresso-based creations, drip coffee, pastries, and small bites and is a 6-minute walk from the Harborside Station.

Maggie's Farm Espresso | 88 Morgan Street

Maggie's Farm Espresso is an Australian-inspired cafe serving breakfast, lunch, pastries, and a variety of specialty coffees and teas. The cafe is open daily at 7AM and is a quick 4-minute walk from the Harborside Station.

Lackawanna Coffee | 325 Warren Street + 140 Bay Street

Lackawanna Coffee has two locations close to the Harborside Station. The 325 Warren Street outpost is a 6-minute walk and the 140 Bay Street outpost is an 11-minute walk. Both locations are open from 5AM-7PM daily.

Harsimus Cove

Le Cafe Coffee | 444 Warren Street

This artisanal coffee shop has a bunch of locations around New York but anyone traveling via the Harsimus Cove light rail stop can easily check out this cafe without leaving Jersey City. Signature drinks include the lavender latte and red tea latte which can be enjoyed alongside one of the tempting toasts or bagels.

Bleu Coffee | 175 2nd Street

Bleu Coffee's downtown location is a 4-minute walk from the Harsimus Cove Station and is open daily at 7AM. The coffee shop's menu is comprised of locally roasted coffee creations and serves as a great space to relax or get some remote work done.

Hidden Grounds | 148 1st Street

Hidden Grounds' 148 1st Street location is a 5-minute walk from the Harsimus Cove Station. The coffee shop serves breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and high-quality coffee and tea. Hidden Grounds is open on weekdays at 7AM and weekends at 8AM.

Wattle Cafe | 352 Marin Boulevard

Wattle Cafe is an Australian cafe and restaurant serving healthy, locally sourced food and coffee. The cafe is a 6-minute walk from the Harsimus Cove Station and is open at 8AM on weekdays and 9AM on weekends.

Hybrid Coffee | 398 Manila Avenue

Hybrid Coffee is a trendy cafe serving coffee, smoothies, avocado toast, acai bowls, and more. The eatery is open Monday through Saturday from 8AM-4PM and is a 7-minute walk from the Harsimus Cove Station.

Bourke Street Bakery | 331 Marin Boulevard

Bourke Street Bakery is an Australian-inspired bakery serving artisanal breads, pastries, meat pies, and Counter Culture coffee. The bakery opens daily at 8AM and is an 8-minute walk to the Harsimus Cove Station.

Newport

Gregorys Coffee | 525 Washington Boulevard

Gregorys has another location along the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line. It’s convenient for commuters since it opens at 6AM and, like the Exchange Place location, order ahead is available.

Starbucks | 111 Town Square Place

In a pinch, Starbucks is a reliable coffee option. This location is a 7-minute walk from the Newport Station and opens at 5AM on weekdays and 5:30PM on weekends.

Roast'd | 10 River Drive South

Roast'd is a New Jersey-based coffee shop. The high-quality beans come in the form of drip coffee, espresso-based drinks, and more. Roast'd is a 9-minute walk from the Newport Station and opens daily at 7AM.

Bwè Kafe | 140 River Drive South

Bwè Kafe is an ethical trade coffee shop with a relaxing ambiance. The Jersey City location is a 11-minute walk from the Newport Station and is open from 8AM-5PM daily.

Café Esmé | 485 Marin Boulevard

Café Esmé is a chic French cafe with coffee, teas, pastries, sandwiches, juices, and more. The cafe is an 11-minute walk from the Newport Station and opens at 7AM Tuesday through Friday and 8AM on weekends. 

O Kafe | 230 Pavonia Avenue

O Kafe is a great place to work remotely, cozy up with a good book, or dine in. The cafe serves coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches and other light bites. O Kafe opens at 6:30AM on weekdays and 7AM on weekends. This spot is a 14-minute walk from the Newport Station.

Hoboken Terminal

Joboken Cafe | 23 Hudson Place

We can’t help but chuckle when we say the name “Joboken” and that’s enough of a reason to start the day here. Coffee, tea, and Balthazar Bakery pastries are available daily.

Dunkin' | 1 Hudson Place + 40 Hudson Place

Two Dunkin' locations are conveniently located right by Hoboken Terminal. One is just inside the station at 1 Hudson Place and is open at 5AM on weekdays and 6AM on weekends. The 40 Hudson Place location is just a 1-minute walk away and is open at 6AM daily.

Gregory's Coffee | 111 River Street

Gregory's in Hoboken is a great work from home spot with an extensive menu to match. This location is just a 3-minute walk from Hoboken Terminal and is open at 6AM on weekdays and 7AM on weekends.

Bean Vault | 1 Newark Street 

Bean Vault's high quality coffee and espresso drinks are a local favorite. The coffee shop is located just 2-minute walk away from the Hoboken Terminal and opens at 7AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends.

2nd Street

Café Sophia | 200 Monroe Street

This cozy cafe is just a short 5-minute walk from the 2nd Street light rail stop. Cafe Sophia serves Lavazza coffee, omelets, and a selection of breakfast sandwiches served on bread that’s baked fresh each day. It’s open from 7AM-3PM on weekdays and 8AM-3PM on weekends — stop by for lunch if you’re craving a panini.

9th Street/Congress Street Station

Black Rail Coffee | 800 Jackson Street

Black Rail Coffee is practically located on the 9th Street/Congress Street Station platform. There are huge windows in the cafe so you can watch the light rail pass by while sipping a coffee. The cafe opens at 7AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends and seems to have anything you would want from a cafe including espresso drinks, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and plenty of seating — both inside and out.

Gotan | 770 Jackson Street

Gotan Cafe serves up high-quality Counter Culture coffee and Mediterranean cuisine, bringing some staples from the Tribeca location across the Hudson. The Jackson Street location is open from 8AM-5PM daily and serves everything from cold brew to iced matcha lattes.

Yuki's Bakery + Coffee | 720 Monroe Street

Yuki's, an Israeli bakery and cafe, specializes in baked goods such as babka, challah, burek, rugelach, and hamentashen (a seasonal treat sold during Purim). The menu also features coffee from Counter Culture Coffee and organic teas.

Lincoln Harbor

Cafe Grumpy | 1400 Waterfront Terrace

Cafe Grumpy is a few steps from the Lincoln Harbor station in the Weehawken Whole Foods. It’s open at 8AM daily and the menu includes a selection of matcha and turmeric drinks if you’re in the mood for something besides coffee.

Port Imperial

Steven's Cafe | 1200 Avenue at Port Imperial

Early morning commuters can pop into Steven’s Cafe when it opens at 6AM for freshly brewed coffee and warm bagel sandwiches. The pastry case is often stocked with colorful macarons which can be hard to pass up.

Bergenline Avenue

Dunkin' | 4914-22 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Sometimes Dunkin’ just hits the spot and there’s a convenient location right next to the Bergenline Avenue station. This outpost is open from 5AM to 10PM daily for all of your coffee and doughnut needs.

See More: Where To Get Matcha in Montclair + Beyond

Tonnelle Avenue

Six Corners Cafe | 4301 Bergen Turnpike

 

 

 

 

 

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Six Corners Cafe isn’t too far from the Tonnelle Avenue station and it has delicious diner-style breakfast options if you have time to sit down for pancakes or French toast.