The coffee culture in Jersey City is alive and well – and ever-growing. The newest cafe to open in Chilltown is a popular Bayonne-based shop, Perk Up Cafe that is be located at 197 Van Voorst Street. The cafe is known for specialty coffees and espresso as well as a menu inspired by American classics and has officially opened its doors in Jersey City as of July 14th. Read on to learn more about Perk Up Cafe’s new location in Jersey City and what to expect.
(Photo credit: @perkupcafebay)
What to Expect
(Photo credit: @perkupcafebay)
Hot coffee, iced coffee, breakfast, specialty breakfast, this cafe has everything you could need to perk up your morning. For drinks, think – coffee, lattes, herbal tea, frappes, and iced tea.
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Perk Up Cafe uses coffee beans from across the Hudson River, Kobrick Coffee Co. which has had generations of roastmasters over 100 years. The beans are organically roasted, brewed, and served daily.
(Photo credit: @perkupcafebay)
As for the food, the specialty breakfast options boast tasty wraps and sandwiches like the Belly Buster that consists of Taylor ham, bacon, ham, egg, and cheese in a wrap, The Beverly which includes prosciutto, arugula, tomato, scallion cream cheese on a toasted bagel with red wine vinegar and olive oil, and the Protein Wrap made up of avocado, black beans, eggs, onions, and salsa.
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Avocado enthusiasts, this one’s for you – there are five avocado toast options. Other dishes include several takes on grilled cheese, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, and classic breakfast platters.
(Photo credit: @perkupcafejc)
The vibe of the cafe is most noteworthy. The new Jersey City shop has a clean, modern, chic feel to it with light wooden tables, chairs, and columns, and beautifully contrasting tiles on the counter and floor. The textured ceiling lamps and dedicated plants provide a serene environment to enjoy a coffee.
Jersey City’s Milk Sugar Love Expanding to Asbury Park
Milk Sugar Love, the beloved Jersey City-based ice cream shop known for its handcrafted treats, is expanding to the Jersey Shore. In June 2025 the artisanal creamery will open a new location in Asbury Park, New Jersey, bringing its signature small-batch ice cream to the beach. The woman-owned ice cream parlor — founded by chef-owner Emma Taylor — is known for using high-quality, all-natural, and organic ingredients to create classic and seasonal flavors. The Asbury Park location promises to be a sweet addition to the seaside scene this summer. Read on to learn more about Milk Sugar Love’s new location opening in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Details
Milk Sugar Love is set to open at 1319 Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, New Jersey in June 2025. The new shop will feature an expanded production kitchen, walk-up window, and café-style seating for 12, including a few coveted counter seats where guests can watch their sundaes, affogatos, and ice cream specialties being expertly prepared.
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The Asbury Park location's expanded menu will showcase house-made ice cream available by the scoop, artisanal soft serve, specialty coffee drinks such as affogatos and cold brew floats, and a full take-home menu including ice cream sandwiches, celebration ice cream cakes, and fresh-baked treats. Milk Sugar Love’s ice cream flavor options span from standards like strawberry and vanilla to one-of-a-kind tastes such as lemon olive oil and guava cream cheese.
The Monmouth County expansion marks an exciting milestone for the brand, which has been delighting dessert lovers at its storefront in Jersey City since 2014. The announcement of the future Jersey Shore location was made in tandem with a reflection and celebration of its tenth year in business.
“It’s been 10 years of Milk Sugar Love and I still deeply believe in what we’re doing – making inventive and delicious ice cream from scratch using locally sourced, all-natural ingredients. You help me continue to live this ice cream dream of mine with every post you share, with every pint you bring home for the family, with every friend you bring to visit the shop. I am excited for another year of making ice cream for you in Jersey City and soon, in Asbury Park too!” founder Emma Taylor announced on the Milk Sugar Love Instagram.
The new location in Asbury Park is fitting because, like most Jersey girls, Emma spent her summers down the shore where her love of ice cream blossomed.
"I moved to Asbury Park a few years back and have been inspired by the city’s live music scene, its close-knit small business community and of course, all its delicious food," Emma shared in the official press release. "I'm thrilled for Milk Sugar Love to join this creative community.”
The flagship Milk Sugar Love location is at 19 McWilliams Place in the Hamilton Park neighborhood of Jersey City. Previously, Milk Sugar Love operated a second location in the Jersey City Heights neighborhood at 394 Palisade Avenue, however, this location closed in 2022. Fans can expect the same dedication to quality and creativity that has made Milk Sugar Love a local favorite in Jersey City down at the shore.
Emma and the Milk Sugar Love team will be popping by Berg’s Smoked Meat + Poutine in Belmar, New Jersey on Saturday, January 25th from 12PM-2PM to celebrate the two businesses’ collaboration. The team will be scooping up the limited edition flavor, Caraway Crunch, serving up free samples. Pints will be available for purchase to enjoy at home. Berg’s Smoked Meat is known for its Montreal-style smoked meat and poutine. The Berg’s team worked with Milk Sugar Love to create the flavor, which is sweetened with brown sugar and crunchy-, all-butter smoked meat toffee pieces mixed in.
Be sure to follow @milksugarlovejc on Instagram for updates on the new Asbury Park, New Jersey location.
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