Erin Lanahan 
Public transportation makes exploring Jersey City + Hoboken a breeze (as long as the trains and buses are running on time.) The NJ Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line runs through Downtown Jersey City and includes a stop at Jersey Avenue. Whether that’s your neighborhood or you’re looking to explore a new part of Hudson County, we rounded up a couple of spots and sights to check out within walking distance of the light rail station. Here’s our guide to different things to do near the Jersey Avenue Light Rail stop in Jersey City.
Coffee Shops + Cafes
B18 Coffee Kitchen | 18 Park View Avenue
B18 is owned by the same people who run Beechwood Cafe on Grove Street. The BYOB cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner all week long. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the Jersey Avenue Light Rail stop to a cozy cup of coffee and a flavorful meal.
Read More: What to Do Near the Liberty State Park Light Rail Stop in Jersey City
Brewshot – Liberty Harbor | 9 Regent Street
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Just around the corner from the Light Rail stop is Brewshot. The cafe is open seven days a week and serves a variety of drinks, including iced teas, espressos, and coffee drinks. Plus, the menu includes several types of sandwiches, wraps, and breakfast foods. It’s barely a three-minute walk from the Light Rail station.
Cafe Dolma | 270 Grand Street
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A five-minute walk from the Jersey Avenue Light Rail is Cafe Dolma. The cafe opened in 2018 and serves brunch, including some gluten-free specials. The cafe has a cute patio space for guests to enjoy their coffee and pastries outside on a nice day.
Sugartown Bakery Cafe | 437 Jersey Avenue
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Further down Jersey Avenue is Sugartown Bakery Cafe. For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, the family-owned cafe sells cookies, cakes, pies, and more. It takes about five minutes to walk to this cafe from the Light Rail.
Bars + Restaurants
Wonder Bagels, Wurst Bar, Sober Shot, Franklin Social, Subia’s Vegan Cafe
Cavany Foods | 235 Grand Street
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Foodies on a health kick can find foods made with organic ingredients at Cavany Foods. There are several salads available, a pasta bar, soups, and the option to build your own bowl at this restaurant. It’s a five-minute walk from the Light Rail and open all week.
Crepe Guru | 110 Bright Street
Crepe Guru has both savory and sweet crepes available at the location on Bright Street. It’s a short walk from Jersey Avenue. The menu has dozens of different options for every crepe enjoyer to choose from, like Chicken Cesar or the Brownie Crepe.
Itto Sushi JC | 239 Barrow Street
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This sushi spot on Barrow Street is BYOB and has take-out and delivery services. When the weather is nice, guests can dine outside. On Tuesdays through Saturdays between 11:30AM and 2PM, and Sundays from 12PM to 2PM, there are several lunch specials available to order.
Kung Fu Pho | 257 Grand Street
Kung Fu Pho serves up both Pho and Pizza at this little spot on Grand Street. The Vietnamese restaurant is open Monday through Sunday and is only a few minutes from the Light Rail.
Life Pancake Company | 426 Jersey Avenue
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Families looking for breakfast or lunch can visit Life Pancake Company on Jersey Avenue. Some of the dishes on the menu include vegan pancakes, wraps, paninis, and more. The spot gives off Jersey diner vibes and is just around the corner from the Light Rail station.
Maddy Rose Restaurant at Liberty House | 76 Audrey Zapp Drive
Photo Credit: Maddy Rose Restaurant
The Maddy Rose Restaurant at Liberty House is located towards the water along Liberty State Park. The restaurant has a raw bar, sushi, steak, cocktails, and more. With the NYC skyline in the background, it’s a lovely setting for a nice dinner with friends or a romantic night out. From the Light Rail station, it’s about a 25-minute walk.
Surf City | 1 Marin Boulevard
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When the weather is nice during the summer, it’s time to visit Surf City. The waterfront bar is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On the menu are frozen cocktails, lobster rolls, and other burgers and sandwiches. It takes about 12 minutes to walk from the Jersey Avenue Light Rail to Surf City.
Taqueria Downtown | 236 Grove Street
This spot in downtown Jersey City has tasty margaritas and tacos for a Taco Tuesday. While the wait times can get a little long when the weather is nice and everyone wants to sit outside, it’s about a five-minute walk from the Light Rail stop. HG Pro Tip: Order a marg on the rocks (salt rim of course) to pair with carnitas and chorizo tacos.
The Brightside Tavern | 141 Bright Street
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A ten-minute walk from the Light Rail stop is The Brightside Tavern. This neighborhood spot has a full bar and a brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. It hosts several events throughout the week, including jazz nights, open mic nights, karaoke nights, and comedy nights.
Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden | 88 Liberty View Drive
Zeppelin Hall has a large beer hall space and an outdoor biergarten. The menu has tons of burgers, BBQ, and other German-style fare ready to order. Happy hour is on Wednesdays to Fridays from 4PM-7PM, and it’s $2 off all draft beer, wine, and seltzers.
Parks
Liberty State Park | 1 Audrey Zapp Drive
There’s plenty of space to sprawl out and soak up the sun during a summer day at Liberty State Park. The park has picnic tables, grill space, a playground, and beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty + NYC. The boardwalk is a great spot for long runs or bike rides around the park.
Morris Square Park | 410 Jersey Avenue
After riding the Light Rail, walk the kids over to the playground at Morris Square Park. The cute space has plenty of room for kids to run around and burn off some energy before bed. It’s only a five-minute walk from the Light Rail stop.
Van Vorst Park | 257-287 Montgomery Street
A little further uptown is Van Vorst Park. This historical park was originally landscaped in 1851 and then renovated in 1999. There are Citi Bikes, a playground, and plenty of green space to bring a blanket and have a picnic with family and friends.
Farmers Markets
Paulus Hook | Washington Street, South of Dudley Street
The Paulus Hook Farmers Market runs on Saturdays from April through December, close to the Morris Canal State Park and Korean War Memorial. Stony Hill Farm provides the market with tons of seasonal produce, plus shoppers can usually find a good selection of meat, seafood, and baked goods.
Van Vorst Park | 257-287 Montgomery Street
On Saturdays all year round, local vendors take over Van Vorst Park. From 8AM to 3PM, residents and visitors can shop around and find local produce, trinkets, baked goods, and sometimes cool art.
Activities
Evolve Med Spa | 263 Grand Street
One of Evolve Med Spa’s Jersey City locations is just a short walk from the Light Rail. The spa provides different treatments, such as facials, chemical peels, facials, and more. It’s open Monday through Saturday, and appointments can be made online.
The Honorable William Wall | 140 Dudley Street
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The large boat with a bar, informally known as The Willy Wall, is just a short walk from the Light Rail. Guests take a short boat ride out to The Honorable William Wall, where they can take in NYC skyline views and enjoy a drink. The Manhattan Yacht Club on Dudley Street built the boat in 2002 as a platform to start and finish sailboat races. Now, guests can watch sailors race on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. It’s strongly encouraged to buy tickets online in advance, and Admiral’s Launch, the shuttle that brings patrons to the Willy Wall, departs every half hour from the Manhattan Yacht Club.
Jersey Jet Ski | 37 Marin Boulevard
For those looking to get their adrenaline pumping on the water, consider renting a jet ski from Jersey Jet Ski. It’s a short walk from the Light Rail stop. Patrons can tour around NYC landmarks or the Statue of Liberty with friends and family.
Jersey City Public Library | 472 Jersey Avenue
The Jersey City Public Library has a handful of locations around the city. This location near Van Vorst Park is the Priscilla Gardner Main Library. Along with an extensive library of books, DVDs, and other media, the library also holds special events throughout the year. HG Pro Tip: On a rainy day, consider walking over to explore the Jersey Floor. It’s the third floor of the library that has a ton of resources about Jersey City and the Garden State.
NYC Hot Tub Boat Tours | 84 Audrey Zapp Drive
This company gives guests the opportunity to cruise around Manhattan while soaking in a hot tub. The boat has two hot tubs on board that fit 10 people each. Tours run during the day and into the night, so guests can soak in the sun or take in the skyline views at night. Booking in advance online is required. Coolers, ice, and cups are provided at no additional cost. There is private space to change into a swimsuit or out of wet clothes, and towels are available to rent for a fee. It launches from the Liberty Landing Marina and provides excellent photo opportunities throughout the ride.
NYC Cycle Boats | 15 Marin Boulevard
A short walk from the Light Rail stop is NYC Cycle Boats. It’s a fun way to see both the Jersey City skyline and the NYC skyline. Tours are BYOB, last about an hour and a half, and guests can either pedal to power the boat or sit back and take in the views. It’s a fun way to celebrate a birthday or other special events.
See More: A Guide to the Best Downtowns + Main Streets of Northern New Jersey
Statue of Liberty | Liberty State Park
It’s hard to miss Lady Liberty watching over the tri-state area. For those looking to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty, there are ferry services that leave from Liberty State Park. There are several different types of tours that will take people to both the Statue and Ellis Island.
