Back in July of 2021, the founders of America’s largest open-air food market, Smorgasburg, announced their venture to a permanent location in Jersey City in the former Lutze location. In companionship with the food bazaar was Smorgasbar, a beer garden with a full bar that serves up beers on tap, frozen drinks, and more. While Smorgasburg is not returning to JC this year, Smorgasbar is, and soft-opened yesterday, May 1st at the 3 Second Street location. Smorgarbar’s normal hours of operation will begin this Saturday, May 6th. Read on for more about Smorgasbar and its reopening for this year.
(Photo credit: Smorgasbar)
About Smorgasbar + The 2023 Opening Date
We got the exclusive back in May 2021 that the Smorgasbar project was in the works. As of July 2021, the restaurant has been open as a permanent beer garden with a full bar. Although the outdoor food bazaar known as Smorgasburg will not be returning to Jersey City this year, Smorgasbar will be opening for the warmer months and soft opened yesterday, May 1st (with an original opening date of April 29th that was postponed due to weather conditions). The soft opening will continue until Thursday, May 3rd when the outdoor beer garden will open for a 3PM – 7PM happy hour. Normal hours of operation will kick off this Saturday, May 6th, though there will be extended hours on Friday for Cinco de Mayo.
(Photo credit: Smorgasbar)
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While the Smorg markets were known for having an epic variety of food vendors together for a unique experience, the beer garden is at the forefront of the Jersey City location, emphasizing unique brews and drinks in the spacious indoor and outdoor space.
(Photo credit: Smorgasbar)
Smorgasbar boasts good food, drinks, live music, and events. Some of the items on the bar menu include beers on tap, wine, sparkling drinks like High Noons + Svedka Tropics, as well as a variety of mojitos and margaritas (flavors include passion fruit, guava, strawberry, and more). The margaritas are also available frozen — yes, please! Smorgasbar also serves up signature cocktails like a Moscow Mule, Oaxaca Old Fashioned, and Smoked Peach. You can find the full bar menu here.
As for the food, Smorgasbar curates a group of vendors from startups to seasoned chefs some weekends from Friday to Sunday, including some of the OG Smorgasburg vendors. During the week, food is available via a single vendor.
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The owners also hosted the outdoor Smorgasburg market on Saturdays at the parking lot at 195 Hudson Street, but it was recently announced that Smorgasburg will not be returning to JC this year due to redevelopment in the area surrounding it. You can still experience Smorgasburg at its Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and World Trade Center locations, which are already open for the 2023 season.
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