Brian Nagele
Jersey City, affectionately known as Manhattan’s sixth borough, is a beautiful area where many immigrants arrived after Ellis Island. It’s known for its rich history, connection to Manhattan, music, and food scene.
If you plan a trip to Jersey City, you won’t get bored or hungry. There are some of the best restaurants around in Jersey City; you just have to know where to look.
There’s nothing like a delicious brunch on vacation, incredibly close to Manhattan. To save you some time searching, check out my list of the best brunch in Jersey City, NJ.
Best Brunch in Jersey City
- Sam AM
- Cafe Dolma
- Satis Bistro
- Skinner’s Loft
- The Cliff
- Amelia’s Bistro
- Fire & Oak
- City Diner
- Snapdragon Coffee + Social
- Cafe Alyce
- Cafe Peanut
- Fox + Crow
- The Hutton
- Madame Claude
- Mathews
- The Kitchen Step
- The Franklin
Sam AM
112 Morris St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-432-2233
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Sam AM is a short, four-minute walk from Morris Canal Park. The beautiful brick building on the tree-lined street is a quaint and relatively quiet place to grab brunch in Jersey City.
If you happen to visit when the weather’s nice, you have to sit on their outdoor patio.
I love Sam AM because they use fresh, seasonal ingredients for their menu, and everything’s delicious. The menu features all your favorite classic breakfast and lunch dishes with fun touches.
While the menu is impressive, I love the crab cake and grits with a mimosa or two.
Cafe Dolma
270 Grand St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-433-6391
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Just south of Downtown Jersey City is Cafe Dolma. It opened in 2018 but has quickly become one of the best spots for brunch in Jersey City.
The restaurant is small, with minimal indoor searing and plenty of tables outside, surrounded by greenery in the spring and summer. It’s bustling but still cozy.
Cafe Dolma’s menu is large, with many different brunch options. You can choose between different omelets, sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, and delicious pastries.
Their steak and eggs are popular, but I recommend trying the poached eggs and smoked salmon. As for the drinks, they have a large coffee selection to choose from.
Satis Bistro
212 Washington St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-435-5151
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You’ll find Satis Bistro a short walk from the Paulus Hook Pier. I love this spot for brunch because it’s the perfect spot to get a little dressed up on a Sunday, but you don’t have to be over the top.
The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff is terrific, and the vintage decor on the walls adds plenty of charm.
Satis Bistro’s brunch menu is available from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu has some unique brunch items, so I recommend dining with a friend and trying a few things.
I love their chicken cutlet sandwich, parmesan scramble, and lamb burger. As for drinks, their bellinis are top-notch.
Skinner’s Loft
146 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-915-0600
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If you’re looking for a great brunch spot in Downtown Jersey City, Skinner’s Loft is a great option. The restaurant is family owned and operated.
It’s the perfect combination of casual and upscale without the pretentiousness. You’ll feel like the most important guest there, whether you’re sitting inside or out.
You can order from their brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find menu items like pancakes, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, and more.
I love the spinach and tomato omelet and the cornflake-crusted stuffed French toast. They have all your favorite brunch beverages, but their bloody Maria is a real hit.
The Cliff
38 Congress St, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Phone: 201-626-4046
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Up on Congress Street is The Cliff. This adorable little brunch spot is bright, welcoming, and has a great atmosphere.
Even though it’s in Jersey City, it’s closer to Hoboken but still not far from Downtown Jersey City. My favorite part of this brunch spot is the patio because brick walls and colorful umbrellas above surround you.
The Cliff has a variety of food items on their brunch menu, so whether you’re traveling alone or with friends, everyone can find something they’ll enjoy here.
Their salads are some of their best sellers but they have French toast, omelets, and more. The apple and goat cheese salad, as is their matcha latte, is delicious.
Amelia’s Bistro
187 Warren St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-332-2200
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Amelia’s Bistro is in the Paulus Hook neighborhood of Jersey City. The restaurant is in a prime location if you love eating great food, drinking, and people-watching.
This New American restaurant is cozy, with wood fixtures everywhere and white linen tablecloths.
The menu at Amelia’s Bistro is everything you’d expect from an American restaurant that serves brunch. They have all your favorites and a full bar to enjoy a drink if you want on Saturday or Sunday.
I recommend trying their fried chicken and waffles or their breakfast flatbread. Whatever you order, be sure to grab a mimosa too!
Fire & Oak
479 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310
Phone: 201-610-9610
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You’ll find Fire & Oak inside the Westin Luxury Hotel on Washington Boulevard. The restaurant exudes elegance and has knowledgeable staff.
This is the brunch spot you go to when you want to impress people or get dressed up and enjoy a high-quality meal.
Fire & Oak’s menu is vast, so choosing just one thing to eat is hard. Some top options are their warm donut bites, cast iron buttermilk pancakes, steak and eggs, and their raw bar.
I always start with the raw bar and a bottle of champagne to share with friends, but they also have brunch and non-brunch cocktails.
City Diner
31 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-721-5331
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City Diner is a go-to brunch spot less than a five-minute walk from J Owen Grundy Park. It has everything that you love about a classic breakfast diner but a little more upscale in decor and atmosphere.
I recommend getting a reservation as they’re swamped on the weekends for brunch.
What I and the locals love about City Diner is that they have a little bit of everything. Their menu features several omelet recipes, egg benedict recipes, sandwiches, and more.
I suggest building your own omelet or ordering strawberry and banana pancakes with a side of their homemade corn beef hash.
Snapdragon Coffee + Social
190 Monticello Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304
Phone: 201-878-3413
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You’ll find Snapdragon Coffee + Social near McGinley Square, less than two miles from Downtown Jersey City.
This brunch spot has more of a coffee shop vibe, with strong coffee aromas, brick walls, and eclectic furniture that doesn’t match yet somehow goes together. It’s one of the coziest brunch spots, perfect for a quick bite.
When you visit Snapdragon, you can’t forget to order coffee. They have a lot of options and specialty coffee drinks to choose from. I love their cold brew and turmeric latte.
For food, they have a few breakfast sandwich options, pastries, and bagels. The Lox bagel is fantastic, as is their spinach quiche.
Cafe Alyce
641 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: 201-434-9583
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Just west of Jersey City’s historic downtown area is Cafe Alyce. The restaurant is the perfect combination of industrial and rustic.
Most of the walls are brick with high ceilings, beautiful artwork, and staff who are more than knowledgeable about the menu.
My favorite part of this restaurant is that it’s the best BYOB (bring your own booze) spot in Jersey City.
While they don’t have a specific brunch menu, you can order from their breakfast and lunch menus around brunch time.
They have breakfast sandwiches, entrees, soups, salads, and more. If you want breakfast, I recommend the crispy bacon fried rice.
Cafe Peanut
586 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: 201-721-6270
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Cafe Peanut is in between the Hilltop and Five Corners neighborhoods in Jersey City. It’s another quaint spot for a quick brunch before heading off to whatever else you have going on.
The cafe is bright, has beautiful decorations, plenty of plants, and a unique atmosphere.
Coffee is the main reason to pop in here, but they also have some delicious salads, sandwiches, pastries, and other things to munch on.
I suggest trying a lavender or sloppy Nutella latte if you need a caffeine kick. The breakfast quesadilla is popular, but their pesto grilled cheese and chicken salad sandwiches are perfect if you don’t want breakfast.
Fox + Crow
594 Palisade Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07307
Phone: 201-984-2775
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Fox + Crow is just south of Washington Park and is the place you go for brunch if you want more of a bar vibe for your weekend brunch.
You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a wall and door with bright paint. It looks like a classic bar with wood floors, walls, and furniture.
Their brunch menu is small, but quality over quantity here. Some of the most popular brunch items are their savory ricotta toast, the brunch burger, and the sunrise tostadas.
They have a full bar, so you can order whatever beverage you want for brunch. A spicy bloody Mary goes well with everything they have.
The Hutton
225 Hutton St, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Phone: 201-356-9169
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The Hutton is next to Leonard Gordon Park, just west of Hoboken. This is an elegant spot for brunch, so you’ll want to make a reservation, especially if dining with a larger group.
There are huge windows, beautiful tile flooring, and an upscale atmosphere.
The food here is fresh, and they use local ingredients whenever possible. They have salads, small plates, eggs, and more. I recommend sharing the apple guacamole with friends, the full Irish breakfast, and the impossible burger.
You should try their homemade red sangria or the maple bourbon sour if you want an adult beverage with your meal.
Madame Claude
390 4th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-876-8800
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Madame Claude is on 4th Street, in the Village. This beautiful brick restaurant makes you feel like you’re simultaneously in Jersey City and France at the same time.
It’s dimly lit, cozy, and has an open kitchen, so you can see chefs preparing your food from most places in the restaurant.
The menu at Madame Claude is a combination of American and French cuisine. Their brunch is one of the most popular times people in Jersey City like to dine here.
They don’t have a specific brunch menu, but it’s still delicious. I love the beef tartar, escargot, and short rib pasta.
Mathews
351 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-333-1258
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Mathews is in the heart of Downtown Jersey City. The restaurant is bright white outside, with a beautiful wood door.
When you walk inside, the natural light brightens the space, making it an excellent option for brunch. I love their outdoor seating when the weather is nice, but the inside is just as lovely.
The menu at Mathews is sophisticated, yet they still offer brunch classics you know and love. They have everything from avocado toast to pancakes to skillets and more.
The sweet potato and andouille sausage hash is my favorite, but their lemon ricotta pancakes are a close second. Try the peach bellini or Irish coffee if you want a brunch beverage.
The Kitchen Step
500 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-721-6115
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The Kitchen Step is a rustic brunch spot on Jersey Avenue, just two blocks from Van Vorst Park. This American restaurant is a bustling brunch joint on the weekends.
The lively atmosphere, combined with great food and excellent service, make it one of the best brunch spots in Jersey City.
The brunch menu is broken down into small plates for sharing, large plates, toast, and brunch cocktails. I love getting a few things and sharing them with friends.
Some foods I like are their cheese plate, the crispy Brussels sprouts, and the maple chipotle BBQ wings. Whatever you order, you have to try their orange beer-sicle. It’s an IPA with vanilla vodka and OJ.
The Franklin
159 New York Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
Phone: 201-653-4710
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The Franklin is about 1.6 miles west of Hoboken and 2 miles north of Downtown Jersey City. It’s in the Heights and is known as one of the best BYOB brunch spots in town.
It’s a cozy Italian joint with warm navy walls, wood floors, and natural light.
Even though their regular menus are filled with Italian classics, their brunch menu has plenty of American brunch items. Most people come here for their various egg benedicts.
I’ve tried the chorizo and guacamole eggs benedict and the crabcake. They’re both divine and worth trying if you’re in town.
