11 Best Things to Do in Hoboken, New Jersey

Hoboken, New Jersey, offers stunning views of Manhattan, as well as unique attractions, museums and restaurants. View contemporary art at Barsky Gallery, learn how to make amazing cakes at Carlo's Bakery, go on a food tour or take a kayaking class. Best things to do in Hoboken, NJ with kids include the Hoboken Historical Museum and the Hoboken Farmers' Market. Photo: Samuel Borges/Fotolia

Barsky Gallery is Hoboken's gallery of contemporary art, representing a mix of young and emerging as well as established artists from all corners of the world. The gallery shows regular exhibitions of art of diverse techniques and styles. The gallery assists private and corporate clients in choosing or commissioning a piece of art that would suit their needs.

The gallery is also a popular and elegant venue for private events. Public events help expose visitors to contemporary art and artists and entice them to see art as part of their home or corporate space. You can visit the gallery to see their rotating group exhibit.

49 Harrison St, Hoboken, NJ, Phone: 888-465-4949 Photo: Barsky Gallery

Established in 1986, the Hoboken Historical Museum is located in what the residents call today The Shipyard, one of the celebrated old buildings on Hoboken's colorful waterfront. The building used to be the machine shop for Bethlehem Steel. The Museum is dedicated to collecting, displaying, preserving, and interpreting artifacts and oral histories both modern and historic, which reflect the city and its inhabitants.

The Museum organizes educational programs, tours, lectures, films, and plays. Some of the current exhibitions celebrate Hudson River native Frank Sinatra and the role of baseball in the Hoboken history. For those interested in history, this is one of the best things to do in Hoboken, New Jersey.

1301 Hudson St., Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-656-2240 Photo: Hoboken Historical Museum

Since being featured on TLC’s Cake Boss show, Carlo’s Bakery has become a household name. This venerable bakery and cake shop makes wedding cakes that appear in popular magazines like The Knot and Modern Bride, so when they start a cake decorating school, people pay attention.

Who would not want to learn to make a piece of art out of a simple, modest cupcake? The classes are currently held in four locations in New Jersey and last about two hours. Carlo’s Bakery decorators will make a cake decorating master out of anyone ten years or older. You get to keep and eat your cake. They also sell baking supplies.

95 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-659-3671 Photo: Carlo's Bakery Classes

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You cannot see the Manhattan skyline from Manhattan – you have to go to Hoboken, and Blue Eyes Italian Restaurant and Café offers front row seats. Located on the Hoboken Hudson River waterfront on Sinatra Drive, this charming, modern, and tastefully decorated eatery celebrates Hoboken’s most famous native son Frank Sinatra, as well as traditional Italian food that never goes out of fashion.

The wood-fired oven produces not only delicious pizzas but also baked pastas, fish, and chicken. If you are looking for romantic date ideas, this is a great place to visit. Leave room for dessert; you cannot eat in a true Italian restaurant without sampling their canoli. Blue Eyes also has great dessert coffees.

525 Sinatra Dr., Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-683-6861 Photo: Blue Eyes Restaurant

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Every Saturday at 2 pm, Avi Ohring or Patricia Samperi will take you on a walking and eating tour of Hoboken. For three and a half hours, you will be eating your way through Hoboken’s history and culture by trying its favorite food and eateries. You will also learn a bit about each business you visit, pick up some fun trivia facts, and experience behind-the-scene world of making Italian food.

The tour takes its guests to Cake Boss’s Carlo’s Bakery, Lisa’s and Fiore’s mozzarella shops, and Grimaldi’s pizzeria. You will also get to try some red velvet cupcakes at Sweet and have a cup of coffee or tea at the Empire.

800-595-4849 Photo: spiritofamerica/Fotolia

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Every Thursday from June to October and from 2 to 7 pm, farmers from all over the Garden State come to the corner of 13th Street & Hudson in Hoboken to offer their freshest and the most delicious products. Tomatoes could not be any more delicious than when they still smell of the vine, and the corn is at its best when the husk is still green and fresh.

Come and meet bread bakers, pickle makers, tomato growers, farmers and fruit growers, mozzarella makers, and other food growers and artisans who work hard so that Hoboken residents can eat healthy and fresh. Taste their goodies on the spot and get supplies for the next week’s meals until you can come again.

13th St at Hudson St., Hoboken, New Jersey Photo: Hoboken Farmers' Market

Maxwell’s has been around since 1940’s. It has always been a popular neighborhood eatery and music club as well as a place to go for good food, to meet friends, and to hear the latest musician or group. A good number of well-known names have passed through, from the Rolling Stones and Nirvana to Justin Timberlake.

The Village Voice even describes Maxwell’s as “a good reason to leave Manhattan for an evening.” The space is attractive and has a true tavern feel, enormous gorgeous brass bar, and a lot of original art hanging on the exposed brick walls. The portions are far more substantial and the food is amazing, perhaps more so than you would expect from a pub grub.

1039 Washington St, Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-653-7777 Photo: Maxwell's

There is nothing as soothing and relaxing as spending an early morning slowly paddling on the water. Hoboken residents will be happy to know that Hudson River is now clean enough for water activities, and the Resilience Paddle Sports offers classes and tours for visitors to enjoy the river and improve their fitness.

They work together with Pier 13 Boating Club to offer paddle boarding and kayaking classes for adults and children and provide a number of fun tours along the Hudson River. Their goal is to promote Hoboken residents to engage in better fitness practices, as well as increase awareness of the river environment and the need for its stewardship. Photo: Resilience Paddle Sports

Tony Boloney brought a breath of fresh air to the world of traditional Italian pizza in Hoboken. In fact, his pizzas are anything but traditional; they are so unimaginable that people come just to try them, and they fall in love. Tony Boloney’s makes their own mozzarella and their own yeast.

The fillings range from Bangkok Boardwalk (Thai spicy sauce, hand-battered fried chicken, cilantro, fresh jalapenos, cilantro, crushed honey-roasted peanuts, and toasted black sesame seeds), to French Bird (cordon bleu pizza - chicken stuffed with ham, melted Havarti, and blue cheese).

263 1st St, Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-222-8669 Photo: Tony Boloney's

The Brass Rail is old-world chic, a characteristic noticeable in its huge downstairs bar and upstairs elegant dining room, which feature dark woods, brass details, padded leather benches, and antique photos. It is a popular place to come to cure your hangover, have a boozy brunch, or an elegant lunch or dinner with business partners.

Executive Chef Douglas Gough offers his own take on modern American cuisine with delicious surprises such as Grilled Chicken Panini with Brie and apples and herbed mayonnaise on multigrain bread. Ingredients are fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced. The Brass Rail has a decent wine list, and some of their wine is even on tap. They also have an excellent selection of craft beers from around the country.

135 Washington Street, (corner of 2nd Street), Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-659-7074

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How do you know that a Cuban restaurant is really good? When you see Cuban expats going there to get a taste of home. Chef and owner Omar Giner combines his mother’s and grandmother’s Cuban home cooking with his professional training to bring us his down-to-earth delicious take on the popular Nuevo Latino cuisine that is all the rage in New York.

The cheerful and colorful dining room will make you feel like you are really on the island. The restaurant is packed come breakfast time, because word has gotten out about Chef Omar’s French toast with strawberry and guava cream cheese stuffing in cinnamon batter and sprinkled with almonds and corn flakes.

104 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, Phone: 201-659-8197 Photo: Daniel Ronneberg/Fotolia