An unplanned day spent on Washington Street always turns into an eventful one with the multiple local businesses for shopping, sipping good coffee, and indulging in good food. Every street in Hoboken has a story to tell, and Washington has the best of both worlds. The party scene remains concentrated downtown, further along, one can find a quieter vibe with restaurants brimming with an array of cuisines, and all the bagel action in town. It would be fair to say, Washington represents the soul of our little Mile Square.
We’re excited to continue with our latest Street Series. In part 2 of this series, we’ll take you from downtown to uptown (6th Street to 13th Street) and share all the local businesses and sights to see. Read along to learn more about the must-visit spots to visit along Washington Street in Hoboken.
Bagels
Bagels on the Hudson | 802 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @bagelsonthehudson)
New Jersey has a generous amount of options when it comes to having a good bagel, but when looking for a great one — Bagels on Hudson hits the spot no matter the time — because yes, the shop is open for pickup 24×7. Aside from breakfast specials, the raspberry crumb cake is delicious and is a good option to try. If you’re looking to surprise a special someone, the care package is a fun idea with 6 Bagels, ½ ounce cream cheese of your choice, and a quart of OJ.
Hoboken Hot Bagels | 634 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @hobokenhotbagels)
Sticking to the Mile Square staple is always a good idea, especially when the taste remains consistent and flavorful. Hoboken Hot Bagels opens at 6AM and has breakfast sandwiches alongside bagels and spreads available by the container. The sun-dried tomato cream cheese tastes scrumptious when paired with the garlic bagel, but if you’re looking for something more light in flavor, the everything bagel is a solid choice.
O’Bagel | 600 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @obagel_family)
Known for its variety of bagels that are insta-worthy and taste delicious, O’Bagel is where locals make their first stop in the morning be it on a weekday or weekend. While the lines can get long, it moves by quickly and is absolutely worth the wait. After having mastered the breakfast game, the O’Bagel team is now venturing into the lunch space with a new concept called O’Deli that is available from 11AM – 2PM. ‘The Boken’ sandwich from the newly launched lunch menu is as decadent as it gets with garlic-herb grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato pesto spread on a roasted baguette.
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Food
Alfalfa | 1110 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @eatalfalfa)
Whether you’re a salad aficionado or looking to jump on the healthy lunch train, Alfalfa is THE spot to grab a salad in town. It originally started as a pop-up in the Hoboken farmer’s market in 2018, and was an instant hit amongst residents. The shop also has homemade gluten-free doughnuts, which can be quite hard to find sometimes, but luckily these taste even better than they look. From the newest collaboration with local blogger Maria Roberts, there is a newly launched salad – The Cobb, made with delicious bacon, and seasonal asparagus and paired with homemade red wine poppy vinaigrette.
Ali Baba | 912 Washington Street
Ali Baba’s is a great choice for sharing delicious middle-eastern inspired specialties. When you come here, don’t just get the hummus and pita, although this is an absolute must. The entire menu is worth a taste, which is why the vegetarian grand combo is a good idea. You can try a bunch of the menu items for $22 as the platter generously feeds a party of 2-3 people and includes falafel, hummus, grape leaves, tabouleh, labneh, and baba ganoush. The spot is also BYOB and has an expansive outdoor setup.
Amanda’s | 908 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @amandasrestaurant)
Amanda’s has been a part of the Hoboken community for over 30 years and is an upscale dining experience with the dinner and brunch being an American menu with an Argentinian twist. It is one of the few places in town with live jazz music, and enough space to host a private party (up to 90 guests) in one of the multiple private rooms.
Augustino’s | 1104 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @augustinosrestaurant)
White tablecloths and specialty menus are the epitome of fine dining, and pair that with a glass of wine and a simply impeccable Italian meal — and you’re all set to have a good night! Augustino’s has a very cozy, homey feel and is full of locals, making it a great spot to bring friends visiting Hoboken. It is almost impossible to come here and not order the famous chicken parm, and for our sweet tooth lovers — the icebox cake will be a huge hit! While it can be tricky to get a reservation, the restaurant often shares live updates on its Instagram page for availability.
Bin 14 | 732 Washington Street
Brunch season is finally upon us and there is no shortage of good spots to visit in the area. But when it comes to taking it up a notch with an upscale brunch, — no one does it better than Bin14. The menu features a wine bar, and twists on some of the breakfast classics, and a gluten-free menu Bin 14 hosts a Zeppole brunch every Saturday and Sunday starting at 10AM. The private space is a great option to host parties and some locals are even turning to this space for a wedding, which keeps things local and special.
City Lobster | 732 Washington Street
There is no better way to inaugurate summer than a good lobster roll. City Lobster — formerly known as BK Lobster — is a Brooklyn-based restaurant that opened in Hoboken in May 2022. The menu emphasizes a variety of lobster rolls, with imported lobster from Maine. The signature lobster rolls are named after famous neighborhoods in Brooklyn, and if lobster isn’t your jam, there are other varieties of seafood and menu options just as juicy burgers, fried shrimp, and chicken wings.
Elysian Cafe | 1001 Washington Street
Being in France in summer while enjoying a cappuccino and brunch scene seems like the ideal way to spend a weekend, you don’t have to go too far to experience the same. Elysian Cafe is a classic, and continues to be a local beloved spot for its exquisite brunch scene. A lesser-known hot tip is to order the fries when you’re here — they come in extra crispy.
Mango Mango Dessert | 620 Washington Street
Mango Mango boasts a variety of desserts and tea. The brand was an instant hit in New York and the menu and drinks explain why. It has mochi and classic desserts made with sago (which looks like white tapioca pearls) with a variety of flavors ranging from mango, matcha, and Madagascar vanilla. The grapefruit iced tea will be a summer staple with a fresh burst of citrus.
Margherita’s | 740 Washington Street
The Mile Square is filled with locals flocking to the area for some real Italian goodness, and amongst some of the most amazing restaurants in the area — Margherita’s is one of the tops. From scrumptious pasta choices to chicken marsala as well as a menu item of pizzas, our hot tip is to order a chicken parm and sub it with vodka sauce — safe to say your tastebuds will be delighted. While the spot does have BYOB with a corkage fee, it has a collection of brunch and dinner cocktails that can be paired with every meal.
See More: A Guide to West New York
Napoli’s | 1118 Washington Street
When it comes to curating the list of best things to eat in Hoboken, a lot of the items belong to Napolis, this comes as no surprise. Napoli’s is Frank Volpe’s labor of love, and this spot not only serves great food, but has an extremely friendly and welcoming atmosphere. With two locations in town, the Washington location has an old-school pizzeria feel inside, and a wooden parklet setup outside which is perfect for the weather. When it comes to the food, there are endless options of pasta, pizza, and paninis. An unexpected item on the menu is the chicken noodle soup which is the perfect cure when feeling under the weather.
Seven Valleys | 936 Washington Street
One of the best experiences of dining in Hoboken is the plethora of choices when it comes to picking a cuisine. Seven Valleys is a Persian-inspired restaurant with a lunch, dinner, and brunch menu. Two words to keep in mind when ordering — skewer kabobs. They literally melt in your mouth with each bite, and are served with a side of rice and grilled tomato. The Persian ice cream is baklava in ice cream form made with pistachios and rose water. The atmosphere is adorable with hanging plants and windows overlooking Washington Street, and the mini outdoor setups are perfect for date night.
Sirenetta | 1039 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @sirenettahoboken)
Sirenetta is an upscale seafood dining experience located on the corner of Washington and 11th Streets. It has become the go-to spot for oysters and seafood in town, and this comes as no surprise given the raw bar is mere perfection and the chic ambiance with a speakeasy tucked in at the back makes it a great pick for date-night or girls night out. The happy hour runs from 4PM – 6PM Tuesday – Thursday. There are small and large options for the seafood tower, and if you’re craving something non-seafood, do not worry — the caesar salad alongside the roasted cauliflower is equally good. No meal is complete without dessert, and the ice cream sandwich made with snickerdoodle cookie, brown butter gelato, and speculoos (cookie butter) steals the show.
Sorellina | 1036 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @sorellinahoboken)
Sister restaurant to Sirenetta, the vibe at Sorellina is more rustic with a long wooden bar and a warm inviting ambiance. It is safe to call this spot a blessing on Washington Street especially with the amazing outdoor setup to enjoy the spring weather while sipping on an Aperol Spritz. Happy hour is Tuesday – Friday 4PM to 6PM, and there is flight night on Wednesdays. Now moving on to brunch — be sure to order the homemade cinnamon roll for the table that comes with a generous serving of vanilla bean icing on the warm bun.
Stingray Lounge | 1122 Washington Street
Stingray is a hole-in-the-wall kind of spot that is perfect for date night or family dinner. There is an intimate bar seating area as well as a larger dining room on the other end. The team mastered their craft when it comes to seafood, and have happy hour every day of the week. Sunday to Wednesday is 50% off oysters and sparkling wine. On Thursdays, Stingray has $18 Lobster rolls and 50% off any beer on the menu. And speaking of weekend vibes, on Friday and Saturday house cocktails are priced at $9. The space also has a unique scent to it and if you want to take this back home with you — then we have great news! The restaurant has launched its own custom scented candles to recreate the Stingray experience in the comfort of your own home.
The Madison Bar + Grill | 1122 Washington Street
(Photo credit: @_madisonbarandgrill)
Madison surely lights up the neighborhood with its dark blue exteriors and expansive parklet setup on the corner of Washington and 13th Streets. Whether you’re looking to turn up the party on a Friday night or grab low-key dinner with friends on a weeknight, the Madison specials and menu make it an easy choice. It has a variety of refreshing summer cocktails, and a vegan menu as well. The outdoor setup overlooking Washington Street while sipping on a cocktail is a vision of our plans for summer 2022.
The Brick | 1122 Washington Street
Finding a good slice of pizza in Hoboken isn’t that hard. What can be challenging is finding vegan gluten-free options, but the problem is solved when we have the Brick right in town. The restaurant has an entire vegan pizza menu along with vegan appetizers and pasta. Almost any of the pizzas can be fully customized. Another great experience of dining here is that garlic knots are on the house — and don’t feel guilty for eating it all up in one bite cause they’re really that good. This spot is also BYOB and has ample indoor and outdoor seating space.
The Little Grocery | 1122 Washington Street
There is some magic when the day starts with a good cup of Joe, a fresh breakfast, and a warm friendly conversation, and that’s the exact atmosphere at this spot in town. The signature breakfast orders here are the egg sandwich, and the brioche French Toast made with balthazar Bakery bread. The coffee is sourced locally from Kobrick Coffee Company, and there are often specialty drinks on the menu. The cute outdoor setup is also a great spot to get some work or reading in.
Tosti Cafe + Kitchen | 1001 Washington Street
Sometimes there is no better feeling than sticking to the basics — a homey vibe to enjoy fresh pancakes, avocado toast, and fresh coffee all while soaking in the morning sun. Yes, Tosti is the spot. Tosti always has a variety of latte flavors to choose from and opens at 8AM each day. This is a BYOB spot (hello Mimosa!) and if you leave a review on google or yelp and show it to the server, diners get a complimentary order of chips and guac with their meal.
