Stephanie Brown 
This cozy, dimly lit bar on Grove Street serves the best cocktails in Jersey City according to our 2022 voters. Once you step inside dullboy (yes, that lowercase d is correct) you’ll quickly notice a literary theme — the walls are decorated with classic books and typewriters. Find a seat at the bar or ask for a table to sit and enjoy a meal and your drinks. For a different experience, head to the backyard Pala Bar which has more of a tiki vibe. On Sunday nights, the Pala Bar transforms into an outdoor cinema where you can catch classic films throughout the year. Keep reading to learn more about this exceptional cocktail bar and the Sunday night film series at dullboy in Jersey City.
dullboy Basics
dullboy is a restaurant and cocktail bar located at 364 Grove Street in Jersey City. It is currently open Tuesday to Saturday from 4PM to close, and Sunday from 2PM to close.
The team behind NYC’s The Garret opened dullboy in 2015. Since then, dullboy has served an innovative menu of cocktails and elevated small plates in a space perfect for a date night, celebratory meal, or GNO.
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The Menu
dullboy serves drinks and food — with an emphasis on small plates. We tried a few different items and, honestly, everything was delicious. Here’s a peek at some of the food menu highlights but you can pursue the full menu on the dullboy website:
- Chicken meatball skewers
- Coconut shrimp tacos
- Fried cheese sticks
- Pulled chicken empanadas
- Arepas
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Craft cocktails are the name of the game at dullboy and the expert bartenders create both signature and classic cocktails for thirsty patrons. Here are some of the standout drinks:
- The Corita — Palomo mezcal, Uruapan Agricola rum, St. Lucia rum, Caffo red bitter, pineapple, lemon, agave, and pink peppercorn
- The Paper Plane — bourbon, Aperol, blood Amara, and lemon
- The Hot Penicillin (a hot cocktail perfect for winter movie nights) — Monkey Shoulder blended scotch, honey-ginger, lemon
Not in the mood for a cocktail? dullboy’s menu also includes a selection of beer and wine by the glass.
The Vibe
dullboy’s main dining room has a cozy speakeasy vibe. It’s dimly lit by candles and Edison bulbs and while there’s a sizable bar, there are only about a dozen or so tables. Reservations are accepted online via OpenTable if you want to secure a spot in advance.
This spot could easily fit in Brooklyn but we are so glad it’s here in Jersey City. It’s the kind of place where you just feel cool sitting and sipping a drink. The bartenders are incredibly knowledgeable and everyone we’ve encountered at dullboy has been welcoming and friendly. We love bringing our city friends to dullboy to really show off what Jersey City can offer.
dullboy’s outdoor space, called The Pala Bar, has a different but equally enticing feel. This backyard is more vibrant and colorful with accents of pink and blue everywhere. We especially love hanging out here in the summer but in the winter the heat lamps keep this space very cozy.
Movie Nights
Every Sunday night dullboy shows a movie in the outdoor Pala Bar. Keep an eye on dullboy’s Instagram for updates on the showtime — which seem to vary seasonally.
The selection is announced on Instagram and past films have included Cocktail, The Sandlot, Space Jam, + more. It’s free to attend and reservations are not required but if you decide to make a reservation be sure to specify seating in The Pala Bar in the reservation notes.
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Keep an eye on its Instagram for other special one-time events. And if you’re looking for a place to host your own private event, dullboy does that, too.
