Mix together one part fate and two parts failing businesses and you’ve got the history of the beloved Moscow Mule, which was made in America back in the 1940s. A Russian immigrant traveling to the states with an overabundance of — you guessed it — copper mugs, stopped into a bar in LA and met none other than the former owner of (the then failing) Smirnoff vodka company. The two needed to move their products fast and came up with what we know and love today as the Moscow Mule, served up in its signature copper mug (learn more here). Today, the Moscow Mule is one of the most popular cocktails in the country with hundreds of variations appearing on drink menus across the states, including right here in the Mile Square. We’ve rounded up not only the top places around town for killer Mules but also three DIY pitcher Mule recipes to enjoy with fresh summer ingredients.
Belo Bar | 104 Hudson Street
Serving up killer cocktails left and right, Belo does not disappoint – just try the house Moscow mule and you’ll see what we mean! Oh, and it’s also Insta-worthy.
Bin 14 | 1314 Washington Street
Enjoy a plate of mussels or even a gluten-free pie from this gem all while throwing back a tasty Moscow mule.
Del Frisco’s Grille | 221 River St
Think about it – fresh seafood, a waterfront view, and a cold Moscow mule, need we say more?
Onieal’s | 343 Park Avenue
A Hoboken staple, Onieal’s has curated a specialty drink menu dedicated just to Moscow Mules with an array of twists on the classic vodka libation. Mule specials are also offered on Tuesdays for $7.00 per drink.
The Ainsworth | 310 Sinatra Drive
Grab a refreshing Mule with a view at this waterfront spot. The Ainsworth offers a specialty Midsummer Mule with house-made lavender syrup, blueberries, lemon, and ginger beer.
Read More: Where To Get Frosé in Hoboken + DIY Frosé Recipes
The Shepherd + The Knucklehead | 1313 Willow Avenue
(Photo credit: @theshep_hoboken)
A newer addition to the Hoboken food + drinks scene that has quickly grown to become a local favorite, The Shep has created a Mule menu with five variations including rye-based, wine, gin, coconut. and a seasonal Mule rotation.
How to Make Them
Triple Berry Mule | Serves 12
- – 3 cups Vodka
- – 1 ½ cups fresh lime juice
- – 3 cans of ginger beer
- – Blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries
Add a mix of fresh berries to a pitcher and muddle to release juices. Add lime juice and vodka and stir. Just before serving, add ice, top with ginger beer, and gently stir. Garnish with more fresh berries.
See More: 5 DIY Tequila Cocktail Recipes
Kentucky Peach Mule | Serves 16
- – 3 cups 1 ½ oz. bourbon
- – 2 cups peach nectar
- – 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- – 4 cans ginger beer
- – Diced peach and fresh mint sprigs
Add all except ginger beer to a pitcher and stir. Prior to serving, add ice, ginger beer, and stir. Garnish with fresh diced peaches and mint sprig.
Mexican Jalapeño Sandia Mule | Serves 16
- – 3 cups blanco tequila
- – 3 cups fresh watermelon juice
- – 2 cups lime juice
- – 4 cans of ginger beer
- – 3-4 Jalapeños, de-seeded
Add 2-3 pieces of jalapeño – add additional jalapeño to taste for extra spice, and lime juice to a mixing glass and muddle. Strain lime and jalapeno mixture into a large pitcher and discard jalapeno pieces. Add tequila and watermelon juice to the pitcher and stir. When ready to serve, add ice, ginger beer and stir again. Garnish with lime wheels and watermelon chunks.
Sean Kingston Is Celebrating His Birthday With a Mini Concert in Hoboken
With the most bars per capita of any city in the United States, Hoboken plays host to a lot of birthday celebrations. Very rarely, however, are those birthday celebrations for one of the most prolific hitmakers of the late aughts — and even rarer still do those birthday celebrations include a performance from said hitmaker. If you're confused: Sean Kingston is coming to Hoboken to celebrate his 35th birthday at Madd Hatter. At the celebration, the 2000s icon will be performing his "top 6 songs," likely including "Beautiful Girls" and "Take You There." Doors open at 8PM on February 6th, 2025 at 221 Washington Street. Keep reading to learn more about Sean Kingston's Hoboken Birthday Bash, happening this February.
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The Details
On Thursday, February 6th, the fire will be burning on the Madd Hatter dance floor. Sean Kingston is celebrating his 35th birthday and he's chosen Hoboken as his celebration destination. Good choice if we say so.
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Kingston will be performing some of his greatest hits to a live audience in a mini concert. Doors open for the event at 8PM, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good spot in the crowd. Madd Hatter will also be serving up drink specials throughout the evening.
Tickets are available for purchase on EventBrite here. There are VIP admission and table options for anyone looking to make a night out of it.
At this point, you might be thinking: how, out of anywhere in the world, did Sean Kingston decide on Hoboken? The team at Madd Hatter shared with The Hoboken Girl that one of the bar owner's has a mutual friend with the singer — and with their birthdays just days apart, the duo decided to throw a joint birthday celebration. Everything came together from there: and the exclusive Sean Kingston performance is an added bonus.
More More More
Since we first covered this story on January 23rd, the event is reportedly in such high demand that Madd Hatter has added two additional Sean Kingston concerts: one the day before the Birthday Bash, on February 5th, and another 'Y2K' brunch on February 8th. The February 5th event is already sold out, but tickets are still available for brunch here.
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As always, you can keep up with all the Hoboken + Jersey City happenings in our events calendar here (which is a free community resource, BTW). For the latest local news, be sure to follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
