Journal Square Cafe Introduce
Introduction / Overview: Your Chill Jersey City Cafe Destination
For residents, commuters, and students who make up the vibrant tapestry of Journal Square, finding a dependable and relaxed spot for everything from a quick lunch to a late-night treat is essential. The Journal Square Cafe, located right on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, is precisely that place. It offers a wonderfully casual atmosphere that immediately makes locals feel at home, whether they are settling in for a focused work session or meeting up with a group for a comforting meal.
More than just a quick-stop coffee shop, the Journal Square Cafe serves a diverse menu built around satisfying comfort food, alongside a notable selection of hot and cold beverages. This makes it a popular choice for all dining occasions—lunch, dinner, and dessert. It’s particularly recognized for catering to the modern urban lifestyle, offering a welcoming environment for solo dining and those who need a reliable spot to work on their laptop, thanks to its convenient amenities. The offerings lean towards small plates and quick bites, making it perfect for a fast, flavorful meal or something more substantial like a delicious plate of Chicken, Kofta, and Kebda (Egyptian beef liver) as noted by enthusiastic patrons.
In the bustling Journal Square area, this cafe stands out by delivering a consistent, friendly, and practical dining experience that caters to the diverse tastes and schedules of the Jersey City community.
Location and Accessibility: Right on JFK Boulevard in Journal Square
The Journal Square Cafe is conveniently situated at 2881 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306, USA. Its prime location on a major avenue in the heart of Journal Square makes it extremely accessible for the thousands of people who traverse this transportation hub daily. Jersey City’s Journal Square is a major transit center, meaning the cafe is exceptionally well-positioned for those traveling via the PATH train, NJ TRANSIT buses, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, all of which converge nearby.
For commuters heading to or from work in Manhattan or other parts of New Jersey, or for students attending the nearby Hudson County Community College, the location is a straightforward stop. While direct on-street parking along JFK Boulevard can be limited, as is typical for this dense, high-traffic urban area, there are numerous paid parking garages and lots within a short walking distance of the Journal Square Transportation Center, making it manageable for those arriving by car. However, given its central position, the cafe is best accessed by local residents and public transit users, ensuring it remains an integral part of the immediate neighborhood.
Services Offered
The Journal Square Cafe provides a comprehensive range of services to accommodate various customer needs throughout the day and into the evening:
- Dine-in Service: Featuring comfortable seating and table service for lunch, dinner, and dessert.
- Takeout: Quick and easy pickup options for all menu items.
- Full Menu of Offerings: Including comfort food, quick bites, small plates, and vegetarian options.
- Beverage Service: Offering a selection of hot drinks (like Tea and Shalab) and cold drinks (like Homemade Lemonade and Water).
- Late-Night Food: Catering to night owls and those working late with specialized offerings available into the evening hours.
- Reservations Accepted: Allowing groups to plan their visit in advance, though the casual atmosphere also welcomes walk-ins.
- Amenities: Providing free Wi-Fi and restrooms for customer convenience.
- Kids' Menu: Ensuring that the youngest members of the community are catered to with appropriate selections.
Features / Highlights
Journal Square Cafe’s distinct features are what make it a beloved local gathering spot in Jersey City:
- Ideal for Working on a Laptop: With available Wi-Fi and a casual, welcoming atmosphere, the cafe is highly rated as an excellent place for solo workers and students needing a productive off-site office.
- Great Tea Selection: A highlighted feature, the cafe is recognized for offering a quality and potentially diverse selection of teas, a refreshing alternative to traditional coffee houses.
- Comfort Food Menu: The emphasis on comforting and satisfying meals—including items like Chicken Fingers and Mozzarella Sticks, alongside more unique, flavorful dishes like Stuffed Grape Leaves, Humus, and the popular Kofta and Kebda—provides familiar and enjoyable dining options.
- Late-Night Availability: Serving late-night food makes it a crucial resource for the Journal Square area, where options can become limited after typical dining hours.
- Relaxed, Casual Atmosphere: The vibe is non-intrusive and laid-back, perfect for both quick stops and extended stays, appealing strongly to a diverse local crowd including groups and solo diners.
- Customer Favorites: The mint lemonade is frequently mentioned in reviews as a delicious and highly-recommended cold drink, providing a flavorful counterpoint to the rich comfort food.
Contact Information
For inquiries, reservations, or to place a takeout order, please use the following contact details:
Address: 2881 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306, USA
Phone: (201) 217-4411
Mobile Phone: +1 201-217-4411
What is Worth Choosing: Productivity, Comfort, and a Local Vibe
For anyone in the Jersey City area—be they a local resident, a student, or a busy commuter—the Journal Square Cafe offers an unbeatable blend of convenience and quality that makes it worth choosing. The most compelling reasons to visit center on its dual appeal as a productive workspace and a reliable comfort food provider.
Firstly, the cafe is a celebrated local haven for laptop workers and solo diners. In a city where good Wi-Fi and a comfortable seat are often hard to find, the Journal Square Cafe provides a consistent and friendly environment, encouraging patrons to linger, work, or simply enjoy their meal without feeling rushed.
Secondly, the menu is distinctly comforting and satisfying, blending American favorites (like Chicken Fingers) with flavorful Middle Eastern-style appetizers and specialties (like Humus and Stuffed Grape Leaves). The ability to order a complete meal—such as the highly-praised Chicken and Kofta dishes—alongside a refreshing beverage like the delicious mint lemonade, elevates the experience beyond a typical cafe stop. The presence of a Great Tea Selection further ensures that beverage aficionados have quality hot options.
It must be noted that the cafe is a Cash-Only establishment for payments. While some customers have reported isolated concerns regarding service quality or atmosphere, the general and consistent praise highlights the delicious food, excellent drink options, and the general "chill environment" as the main draw. By offering lunch, dinner, dessert, and even Late-Night Food, this cafe is truly an all-day, all-occasion anchor for the Journal Square community.
Journal Square Cafe Food & drink
Delights, Appetizers, and Salads: Delights
- Chicken Fingers $6.00
- Mozzarella Sticks $6.00
Delights, Appetizers, and Salads: Appetizers
- Stuffed Grape Leaves $4.00
- Humus $4.00
Delights, Appetizers, and Salads: Salads
- House Salad $3.00
- Chicken Caesar $8.00
Drinks: Hot Drinks
- Tea $3.00
Mint, green, or bag
- Shalab $5.00
Drinks: Cold Drinks
- Lemonade $5.00
- Water $3.00
Journal Square Cafe Details
Service options
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Great tea selection
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
Offerings
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- Groups
- Locals
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Cash-only
Children
- Kids' menu
Journal Square Cafe Photos










Journal Square Cafe Location
Journal Square Cafe
2881John F, John F. Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306, USA
Journal Square Cafe Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Very chill environment. Had a delicious set of chicken, kofta, and kebda (Egyptian beef liver). Also their mint lemonade was delicious. Really great meal!
March 06 · Kevin M.I'm hesitant to play the antisemitism card, but wow, I will definitely be letting the Antidefamation League know tomorrow about the decreasingly servicable and kind sercice climaxing tonight and building recently. A few hours earlier, a drunk acquaintance made a little mess stepping out the passenger seat (several cars further down the street than the car) and after I'd dropped him off, I returned to try and help cleanup. So all's good the first afw times with brush and vacuum to be a thoughtful neighbor. The third time I'd forgot my lighter - usually they're happy to offer a hot hookah coal.I have progressed from an infrequent to nearly daily customer for coffee over recent years - it may have been my foolish vision to try and freely express my faith on Yom Kippur last year wearing a Kippah & Talis - that deadpan the acting manager looked at me and said no cigarette smoking is allowed [Meanwhile the majority of their clints & staff chain-smoke cigs there every day] or the day inwhen a loved one passed I reluctantly war a Yarmulka, or perhaps my Chai neckless had accidentally slipped from No explaination - the acting manager just askes me again to grab my bag and leave an and I proceed to leave cordially.But I think this has nothing to do with faith or religion but clearly in their eyds, It's me as a white non-Muslim African Anmerican
April 05 · J [Redacted]Good Hookah. Great food. Great service. Nice place to relax and watch the game or listen to music.
November 28 · MiaThis is place is visited by my roommates and I on a weekly basis. Prices are quite affordable and they have an amazing selection of hookah and appetizers/sandwiches. I will say their dessert selection is not too great and there is poor ventilation on the weekends when it tends to get crowded. Otherwise, this place is a great place to enjoy some apps and relax over some shisha. The Rose Paan and Blue Mist hookah are my personal favorites.
November 06 · Samil TabaniAside from it being kind of difficult to find if you’ve never been here before (walk into the building with the door reads 2881 next to the McDonald’s and go up the staircase). The hookah was good, they had games (backgammon), and the food was authentic (they had kebda iskanderani! (Alexandrian liver)). Service was great too!
July 29 · Adham Abdelraouf
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