Stephanie Brown 
One of the best parts about living in Jersey City + Hoboken is the incredible waterfront views that we get to enjoy. While we love looking over the Hudson during our waterfront runs or Pier A Park picnics, there’s something special about taking in the Manhattan skyline while dining. Tons of excellent restaurants right on the water provide opportunities to soak in this view while sharing a meal with loved ones or clinking cocktails. The next time locals plan a date night, happy hour hang, a family dinner, or even a self-date, they should consider these waterfront restaurants in the area. Keep reading to learn more about the best restaurants with skyline views in Jersey City + Hoboken.
Hoboken
The Ainsworth | 310 Sinatra Drive
The Ainsworth is a great option for elevated American bar food with an impressive view of Manhattan. Brunch is served on the weekends, with the option to add bottomless mimosas. Happy hour is available at the bar on weeknights starting at 4PM.
Blue Eyes | 525 Sinatra Drive
This appropriately named Italian eatery, located in Sinatra Park, serves a menu of pasta and wood-fired pizza from the all-season patio. Seeing the view of Manhattan while eating pizza cooked in an oven made from bricks specially flown in from Naples is unbeatable. It’s a first-come, first-served restaurant, so diners may need to wait for a spot outside during warmer months.
Del Frisco’s Grille | 221 River Street
Hoboken’s outpost of this national steakhouse chain serves elevated brunch and dinner menus along with some tempting desserts. The Hoboken waterfront provides a stunning backdrop for diners at Del Frisco’s Grill. Heads up, reservations are accepted, and the restaurant requires an upscale dress code.
Halifax | 225 River Street
Halifax is a sleek eatery in the W Hotel with a focus on farm-to-table dishes. From the dining room and sidewalk seating, diners are able to soak in the Manhattan skyline view. The drink menu includes a long wine list and craft cocktails. Private dining is available for anyone looking for a stunning venue for a wedding reception, baby shower, or another special event.
Read More: 40 Hoboken + Jersey City Restaurants Where You Don’t Have to Shout
The Lola | 102 Sinatra Drive
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This Mile Square brunch and cocktail spot is a great place to take in the NYC views, as it has an outdoor patio overlooking the river. Located across the waterfront of Hoboken, The Lola serves American-style small plates, sandwiches, entrees, and more.
Turning Point | 1420 Sinatra Drive North
Turning Point is a charming, family-friendly brunch spot with a huge menu of breakfast favorites. Omelets and Bennys are great, but diners can’t go wrong with the pancake stack, especially with flavors like cinnamon roll and lemon blueberry. Guests can see the view of the Hoboken waterfront and the Manhattan skyline from the dining room.
Jersey City
Battello | 502 Washington Boulevard
With its location at the end of the Newport Marina, Battello provides one of the best skyline views in Jersey City. The menu includes a seafood tower, prime ribeye, Littleneck clam risotto, plus an exceptional wine list. It’s available for private events for those looking for an impressive venue.
Blue Anchor Bar + Kitchen | 166 River Drive
This seafood-forward restaurant is located in The Beach complex on the Jersey City waterfront. With a menu that features locally-sourced seafood, craft cocktails, and more, Blue Anchor is all about coastal dining.
The Feathered Fox | 84 Audrey Zapp Drive
The Feathered Fox, located along the Hudson River inside Jersey City’s Maritime Parc, is known for its extensive wine list, imported sushi, craft cocktails, and expertly charred steak cuts + chops. Plus, the outdoor patio overlooking the river provides a coastal-town experience.
Felina Steak | 2 Chapel Avenue
Felina Steak is an upscale steak restaurant from the Landmark Hospitality Group, and the Stork Club is its chic rooftop cocktail bar. Both spaces have incredible views of the NYC skyline. There are even fire pits on the rooftop for those chillier nights.
The Honorable William Wall | 140 Dudley Street
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The Willy Wall is the Manhattan Yacht Club’s floating clubhouse open from May to October. Anyone can purchase a ticket to visit the Willy Wall for a low-key night on the water. No food is available on board, so guests are invited to bring their favorite snacks or picnic items to enjoy while getting drinks from the full bar. Many people enjoy going on Tuesdays to watch sailboat races from the water.
Hudson + Co. | 3 2nd Street
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The waterfront views from Hudson + Co.’s dining room and seasonal patio seating are hard to beat. Soak in the sights while enjoying an elevated brunch, lunch, or dinner. This eatery also features a kids’ menu along with a variety of desserts, like the tempting warm cookie skillet.
Liberty House | 76 Audrey Zapp Drive
Liberty State Park’s stunning event venue also operates as a sleek New American restaurant. Between the incredible skyline views and the menu of exceptional farm-to-table fare, this spot is perfect for a special celebration. Reservations can be made online to secure a table.
Lokal Eatery + Bar | 2 2nd Street
Next to Hudson + Co., JC locals will find this excellent global eatery. With huge windows, the skyline view sets the scene as guests browse the menu and choose which small plates to share. Lokal also serves weekend brunch and happy hour specials from Tuesday to Sunday. The cocktail menu features some intriguing drinks, including the Elliott Stubb, which combines yuzu, aquafaba, blueberry honey syrup, verjus, blanc vermouth, bee pollen, and your choice of tequila or bourbon.
Maritime Parc | 84 Audrey Zapp Drive
Fine dining, an incredible bar, and a million-dollar view of NYC, this spot has it all. This spectacular restaurant is a perennial favorite for celebrations like baby showers and birthday parties, and it’s also a great spot for a night out.
RoofTop at Exchange Place | 1 Exchange Place
The RoofTop at Exchange Place provides a slightly different view than the other spots on our list. Instead of staying on the ground level, here diners can take in the Manhattan skyline from the terrace or rooftop. The rooftop menu includes small plates and cocktails, while the terrace dining room features a full food menu. Both are great options for a GNO or a romantic night out. When it’s not too chilly, we recommend sitting around the rooftop fire pit for happy hour.
Surf City | 1 Marin Boulevard
Surf City is another great seasonal spot on the Jersey City waterfront. Burgers, seafood, and tropical frozen drinks are served waterside in a relaxed, scenic setting. The marina and skyline views make this a must-visit at least once a season.
See More: 27 Montclair + Essex County Spots That Have NYC Vibes
Bonus
Blu on the Hudson | 1200 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken
Blu on the Hudson is an upscale waterfront restaurant in Weehawken. The menu includes a raw bar, sushi menu, cocktail list, and more. Additionally, the restaurant plans to soon add an 8,000-square-foot rooftop balcony that will overlook the Hudson River.
DRIFT Restaurant + Bar | 1200 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken
Photo Credit: Vanessa Deleon Design + Zilkz Studio
DRIFT Restaurant + Bar is located in the Lincoln Harbor area of Weehawken. DRIFT is the latest project from the mind of restaurateur Jeremy Casilli, who also owns Hudson + Co at 3 Second Street in Jersey City, Pier 115 at 115 River Road in Edgewater, as well as two New York restaurants. The spot boasts modern American cuisine with global influences and an emphasis on seafood, crafted by Executive Chef Bryan Noury. The menu consists of small plates, sushi + hand rolls, a raw bar, line-caught fish, steaks, flatbreads, and more.
