I am still a Jersey Girl through and through, calling Downtown Jersey City home for the last few years. With summer fast approaching, I wanted to share some things to do as well as my favorites for those looking to explore the area for the first time, or Jersey City locals looking to try something different. From cute restaurants to long walks along the waterfront to live music to cold pints, a lot goes on when the weather gets warmer. Here’s my guide to an ideal summer weekend in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The 411 On Downtown Jersey City

Jersey City has undergone a ton of development and construction in the past few years. While I’ve witnessed some of it during my residency, talking to other locals and neighbors makes it clear how much the cityscape has changed.

Here are some fun facts from scrolling wayyyy back in history.

• Jersey City was settled by the Dutch in the 1630s.
• American Major Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee led a successful midnight raid on the British at Paulus Hook during the Revolutionary War in August 1779.
• For Hamilton fans, Alexander Hamilton saw the potential in Jersey following the war and designed the layout for what would become Downtown Jersey City.
• Crews built the underground “Hudson Tubes,” now known as the PATH, in 1908, connecting the city directly to Lower Manhattan.
• Millions of immigrants arrived in Jersey City before being ferried to Ellis Island during the 19th and early 20th centuries because the city’s waterfront was the terminus for major railroad lines, earning the city the nickname “America’s Golden Door.”

Today, Jersey City consistently ranks as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the entire United States. More than 75 different languages are actively spoken across the city, and approximately 42% of Jersey City’s residents were born outside of the United States. It’s a little melting pot in Hudson County!

While I’m still exploring so much of Jersey City, this weekend guide will mainly focus on the Downtown/Waterfront area.

Your Jersey City Weekend Guide

Bagels

A great weekend starts with a great breakfast. If you’re in Jersey, that typically means coffee and bagels. These are my go-to spots for a great bagel and caffeine to get the day started.

• Cheech’s Bagels (176 Erie Street): My favorite bagel in all of Jersey City. The bagels are all made in-house, and the sandwiches are delicious. My personal favorite is a classic Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese on an Everything Bagel. (Yes, we call it Taylor Ham on this site.)
• O’Kafe (331 Marin Boulevard + 230 Pavonia Avenue): Your go-to caffeine stop. Tons of great coffee and iced tea (my personal favorite), as well as tons of pastries and a tasty food menu.
• B Bagels (367 Grove Street): Another solid choice for bagels in Jersey City with a ton of options to choose from. There’s almost always a line on weekends, so I highly recommend getting up early to get your coffee and bagel before the breakfast rush.

Outdoors

When the weather is nice, the only place to be is outside. Check out these spots:

• Liberty State Park: This park has amazing waterfront views of all the boats on the Hudson River, the skyscrapers that make up Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty looking out for Ellis Island. It elevates any outdoor run, walk, bike, or picnic plans. Highly recommend making Liberty State Park part of your running route if you’re training for a half-marathon, or any other race.
• Local Farmers Markets and Festivals: Weekends are the perfect time to stroll down to the Grove Street PATH Station Plaza and check out the markets and festivals. The farmers’ markets are perfect for picking up fresh food and other tasty treats. Historic Downtown Jersey City has a ton of events planned for the summer, including activities centered around the World Cup (that international soccer tournament will be taking over Hudson County for all of June). My favorite is the All About Downtown Street Fair that takes over several blocks of Jersey City in September!
• The Honorable William Wall: Seven days a week, crews run a taxi boat out to the floating bar on the Hudson, commonly known as The Willy Wall. You can bring your own food on board, grab a drink at the bar, and take in the amazing views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. On Sundays, they have a band on board playing live music. Make sure to buy tickets online ahead of time!

Drinks

A beverage is necessary to cool off on a hot summer day. There are a ton of cute cocktail spots and fun bars to check out around Jersey City.

For cocktails:

• dullboy (364 Grove Street): My favorite time to visit is during happy hour for the $10 classic cocktails (margarita time!) It runs Tuesday through Friday from open until 6pm. If you’re looking for more of a weekday activity, the bar hosts movie nights once a week on the outdoor back patio, announcing showtimes on their Instagram.
• Maxwell Alley (12 Coles Street): The bar has excellently crafted cocktails that go well with the seasonal rotating food menus. Enjoy your drinks with friends on their huge outdoor patio or inside the trendy restaurant.
• The Life of Reilly (8 Erie Street): A cute speakeasy under San Patricios (see below) that’s become a new favorite among my crew. Tons of tasty cocktails that use local Jersey-grown ingredients in all of their drinks, except (of course) for the pints of Guinness. If the cocktail menu isn’t grabbing you, go “off-script” by telling the bartender what kind of drinks you typically like, and they’ll whip up something special for your taste buds.

For pints (because I am your favorite Guinness Girl, so I have to tell you where the best pints are in JC):

• San Patricios (8 Erie Street): From the team behind Dead Rabbit in NYC comes this fun Mexican-Irish fusion bar. The pints are cold and tasty, and pair well with their version of an Irish spice bag or some tacos and guacamole.
• Grace O’Malleys (140 Newark Avenue): A great bar if you’re looking to watch a sports game (Go Yankees!) with a cold pint.
• Dagda (123 Newark Avenue): Easily one of the best pints of Guinness in Jersey City. A pint pairs perfectly with their smash burgers and fries. Pro tip: order a Guinness, then play your favorite song on their TouchTunes.
• Ed n Mary’s (174 Coles Street): A neighborhood favorite that serves a perfect pint in the Hamilton Park area. The bar hosts tons of fun events throughout the year, from Karaoke nights, 9-9-9 challenges, Drag Bingo, and even Split the G competitions, typically benefiting different charities in the area.

Other Eats

Whether you want a sit-down meal or a quick bite, I love these Jersey City spots.

• Razza (275 Grove Street): The best pizza in Jersey City. The menu features artisan, wood-fired pizzas as well as other small bites. Your best bet is to try to get a reservation ahead of time so you don’t get stuck waiting outside.
• Cangiano’s Marketplace (225 Pavonia Avenue): My go-to spot for a fresh sub in Jersey City (We love a chicken cutlet with fresh mozzarella and red peppers). A cute Italian market/deli that has tons of fresh-baked bread, prepared dishes, cannolis, and other fun treats.
• Lokal (2 2nd Street): A cute waterfront restaurant serving fresh seafood dishes and cocktails.
• Taqueria Downtown (236 Grove Street): Great tacos and great margaritas. The wait for a table gets long on nice summer days, but you can always put your name down and grab a drink at the bar.

There are also tons of other great spots that I could go on about, but for starters, I’ll keep it to these favorites. If you’ve visited or lived in Jersey City, what’s your go-to recommendation for visitors?

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Check out my other weekend guides here.