Bwe Cafe has two locations in Hoboken, both of which have ample space for camping out with one of their seasonal lattes and your laptop. Their cold brew is some of the best in town, and there’s a solid collection of pastries if you want to meet up with a coworker you actually like over a chive and cheese scone. The newest location on Adams Street is attached to a pop-up retail space and satisfies every urbanite's three most primal needs: good coffee, pantry staples, and plants.

There are lots of old-school red sauce joints in Hoboken, but Augustino’s is the best. The cash-only spot does all of the Italian American classics right, from Sunday sauce to linguine and clams to calamari to veal parm. The exposed brick walls and warm lighting set the stage for a romantic date, but you could also take your parents here for a meal that neither feels fussy nor too laid-back. Whatever you do, order the killer ice box cake for dessert.

Entering Uncle Milton’s, an LGBTQ-friendly cafe, feels like walking into a sitcom scene where strangers might strike up spontaneous conversation about what sandwich to order. There are only a couple stools inside, but when the weather’s nice, there’s plenty of patio space to enjoy sandwiches like the Gobble Gobble (turkey with bacon, lettuce, and tomato) and the Peppa with ham, lettuce, and mayo. If you’re having a rough morning, order the pernil, egg, and cheese on a toasted Portuguese roll.

La Isla has two locations in Hoboken, but you want to go to the one downtown. It’s a classic Cuban diner complete with brightly colored wallpaper, an eat-in counter with swivel stools, and softball-sized papa rellenas. La Isla not only serves up excellent Cubanos, but it also has incredible people-watching. Folks from all walks of life pass through, like local day workers grabbing some lunch to Wall Street commuters taking advantage of their BYOB policy on their way home from the PATH.

Karma Kafe is a great Indian spot that serves portions large enough to share and dishes that’ll hit all your warm, comfort food cravings. Come here for classics like samosas, chicken tikka masala, and lamb curry, but do try one of each of the tandoori breads, biryanis, and vegetarian options. This is another great takeout and delivery option, but they also have a small dining area that’s ideal for grabbing a quick dinner after watching your niece’s soccer game at Sinatra Park.

Dear Maud feels like it’s trying to hit all of the squares on a 2023 restaurant Bingo card—there are various shades of sage green everywhere you look, earth-toned leather booths, and a menu that includes a Korean fried chicken sandwich, flatbreads, and nachos. But what really stands out here are the cocktails. Order your own cold brew martini or their namesake cocktail that’s a spin on a margarita with mezcal, tequila, pineapple, and a tajin rim.

Sometimes, you just want a special omakase where you drop an entire week’s paycheck on 14 courses of nigiri with just a whisper of soy brushed onto its surface. And then sometimes, you just want to order a five-piece lunch special for under $20 to eat on the couch while tuning out your partner’s daily virtual stand-up meetings. Okinawa sushi should be your go-to for the latter, and you can get some extremely high-quality sushi for less than $30 a person.

Hoboken is known for its old-school Italian delis that specialize in sandwiches and perfectly briney housemade mozzarella. Fiore’s is one of them, and it’s famous for its hot roast beef special with mutz and gravy. There are no written menus—instead, the deli clerk will guide you through ingredient options and daily specials, and if you’re lucky, hand you a chunk of housemade mozzarella for you to taste. Bring cash, and ask for extra napkins.

Biancamano is Hoboken’s other top-tier Italian deli. This family-owned, old-school joint is also known for its housemade mozzarella, and it’s worth checking out both Biancamano’s and Fiore’s for an Italian hero showdown. Unlike Fiore’s, Biancamano also has a few tables with red and white checkered tablecloths where you can enjoy your loaded-up Italian sub. You’ll be surrounded by various Italian pantry goods, sun-faded photos, and hanging hunks of cured meat.

If you’re looking to do a triple crown of Italian sandwiches, which we’d like to nominate as the official sport of New Jersey, you should check out Vito’s after you hit up Fiore’s and Biancamano. Take a second to soak in all the information on the chalkboard menu, and make note of the daily specials before deciding what to order. Come with a group, or plan on a few return trips so you don’t have to choose between their Cuban, Italian, and eggplant parm sandwiches.