Melanie Wexler Bergen County has more New York City energy than it gets credit for. Without ever crossing the Hudson River, Bergen County residents have easy access to downtown shopping destinations, cafés that feel like Brooklyn, waterfront dinners with skyline views, late-night cocktail bars, and hidden speakeasies with Manhattan vibes right here in the Garden State. Read along for a list of 20+ places that bring a bit of NYC to Bergen County.
AWE & WONDER | 35 Highwood Avenue, Tenafly
AWE & WONDER in Tenafly is giving Brooklyn coffee shop vibes, with its minimalist aesthetic, specialty coffee offerings, and premium matcha. Opened in 2023, the local business has earned praise for its high-quality coffee, comfortable atmosphere, and bright, natural light-filled space.
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Bar Boutique | 110 East Main Street, Ramsey
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Bar Boutique is a small family business located on Main Street in Ramsey, and it feels like an upscale New York City cocktail bar. It combines Manhattan chic with a modern local vibe, offering unique cocktails, curated wine selections, small bites, and intimate mood lighting. The space also features a wine retail store.
Bar Mutz | 90 Center Avenue, Westwood
Bar Mutz, an Italian trattoria and mozzarella bar, opened in February 2025. This spot brings the energy of a trendy Brooklyn-style lounge to New Jersey, right in the heart of Westwood. The cocktail bar adds to the vibe, serving Italian-inspired and classic drinks.
Bogota Press Cafe | 1000 West Fort Lee Road Suite C, Bogota
Bogota Press Cafe feels like a neighborhood café you’d find in Brooklyn or the West Village, located in the tight-knit community of Bogota. It’s known for its fresh food, specialty coffee, welcoming vibe, and pet-friendly atmosphere.
Concourse Club | 379 NJ-17 South, Wood-Ridge
The Concourse Club in Wood-Ridge creates a social experience that feels more like city nightlife than suburban New Jersey. Located atop the Element by Westin, the chic rooftop venue offers craft cocktails, small plates, and an upscale atmosphere.
Don Coqui | 541 River Road, Edgewater
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Don Coqui in Edgewater is one of Bergen County’s most NYC-like dining destinations. Situated along the Hudson River at Edgewater Commons, it’s known for its authentic Latin Caribbean cuisine, energetic crowd, waterfront setting, and breathtaking Manhattan skyline views.
Downtown Ridgewood | East Ridgewood Avenue
Along East Ridgewood Avenue, between Maple Avenue and Broad Street, Downtown Ridgewood mirrors areas like the Upper West Side or parts of Brooklyn. With its mix of cafés, boutiques, and restaurants, it carries the same energy as a busy New York City neighborhood street while still maintaining a suburban setting.
Downtown Rutherford | Park Avenue, Rutherford
Downtown Rutherford in Bergen County feels like a quieter New York City neighborhood street. Strolling along Park Avenue, you’ll find a mix of local restaurants, cafés, bars, and small shops. Transit access gives it a subtle New York City commuter-town feel, without losing its small-town charm.
Elia Mediterranean Restaurant | 240 Hackensack Street, East Rutherford
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Elia Mediterranean Restaurant in East Rutherford mirrors a trendy, upscale New York City dining scene, whether you’re visiting for brunch or dinner. The restaurant is known for its stylish interior décor, electric atmosphere, and fresh Mediterranean cuisine. A live DJ keeps the energy going on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays beginning at 7PM., as well as Sundays from 11AM. to 4PM
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Iconic Coffee | 157 Main Street, Hackensack
Iconic Coffee in Hackensack has the kind of vibe you’d expect to find in Williamsburg or Park Slope, Brooklyn. The shop features a cozy wooden interior, and one of its most best fferings is a noise-isolated workspace and meeting booth that can be reserved for up to four people. While Iconic Coffee is known for its specialty coffee, it also serves pastries, sandwiches, small bowls, and other treats.
Kuppi Coffee Company | 725 River Road #47, Edgewater
Kuppi Coffee Company in Edgewater combines stunning Manhattan skyline views with an industrial-chic, Brooklyn-style interior. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the Hudson River and New York City skyline, creating a coffee shop experience that feels distinctly New York.
LaNoma Italian Steakhouse | 2010 Hudson Street, Fort Lee
LaNoma Italian Steakhouse has created a NYC-style fine dining experience in the heart of Fort Lee. The menu features premium steaks, handmade pastas, fresh seafood, and a carefully curated wine selection. Known for its elegant, spacious interior, lively music, and bar scene, LaNoma is the kind of destination restaurant you’d find in Midtown or the Upper West Side.
Lefkes | 495 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs
Lefkes in Englewood Cliffs feels like a trendy Manhattan restaurant, serving traditional Greek classics with a modern twist. As the evening progresses, the restaurant transforms from an upscale dining destination into a lively social scene, featuring top DJs and entertainment.
Mitsuwa Marketplace | 595 River Road, Edgewater
Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese marketplace in Edgewater mirroring an international New York City food hall. At Mitsuwa, you can hop from counter to counter ordering matcha, fresh sushi, ramen, and more. The location blends urban dining, global convenience, and skyline views of Manhattan.
ORA FreeStyle Italian | 304 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell
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ORA FreeStyle Italian in Oradell has become a popular spot for brunch, dinner, and nights out. It serves traditional Italian dishes with New American flavors, and locals and food critics often say ORA feels like a premium Manhattan restaurant dropped into the Bergen County suburbs.
PlantShed with Englewood Florist, Inc. | 47 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood
In 2020, PlantShed’s New York City floral-café concept partnered with Bergen County flower shop Englewood Florist, bringing New Jersey its first PlantShed experience. PlantShed with Englewood Florist blends a Manhattan-style retail experience with a café serving seasonal drinks, espresso, matcha, tea, and fresh pastries from New York bakeries such as Ceci-Cela. At PlantShed, guests can sip coffee surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers, creating a unique experience that feels straight out of Manhattan.
Sofia | 36 Engle Street, Englewood
Sofia in downtown Englewood is best compared to chic Italian restaurants found in New York City’s NoMad, Flatiron, or the Upper East Side. Sofia is known as a modern Italian farm-to-table steakhouse and speakeasy-style cigar lounge. The atmosphere is lively, and the kitchen centers on dry-aged USDA Prime steaks, seafood flown in daily, and house-made pasta.
Sushi Kai | 206 Main Street, Fort Lee
Sushi Kai in Fort Lee mirrors the experience of an exclusive omakase restaurant in Manhattan. It focuses on a chef-driven tasting menu, where guests are served a curated selection of premium sushi and Japanese dishes. Plus, it’s BYOB, allowing guests to bring their own sake, wine, or beer with no corkage fee.
Taverna Veranda | 725 River Road, Edgewater
Taverna Veranda is a stylish waterfront restaurant in Edgewater that blends Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with entertainment. Its Hudson River location and Manhattan skyline views create an atmosphere that feels like a night out in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, all from the convenience of New Jersey.
Rancho Deli | 163 Hudson Street, Hackensack
Rancho Deli in Hackensack feels like the kind of neighborhood bodega you’d find in New York City. Known for its Latin American dishes, sandwiches, and grab-and-go options, it’s a bustling local spot where customers come and go, creating the same sense of community found in many of the city’s boroughs.
The Craftsman | 1609 Maple Avenue, Fair Lawn
The Craftsman in Fair Lawn is a gastropub that mixes a casual atmosphere with American comfort food, quality steaks, fresh seafood, and premium drinks. By day, it’s a family-friendly restaurant. At night, the space takes on a different energy, with live DJs, bottle service, and dancing creating a vibe similar to many Manhattan restaurants and lounges.
The Modern | 800 Park Avenue, Fort Lee
The Modern in Fort Lee is home to the tallest high-rise in Bergen County, and feels more like a pair of New York City skyscrapers than a New Jersey apartment building. Some architectural sources have described The Modern as the highest residential building in New Jersey because it sits atop the Palisades Cliffs, elevated high above the Hudson River. In terms of actual building height, however, several New Jersey skyscrapers are taller.
The Roosevelt | 356 Paterson Avenue, East Rutherford
The Roosevelt in East Rutherford is a combination of a fine-dining restaurant, lounge, and downstairs speakeasy, similar to a hidden New York City establishment. The Roosevelt encourages guests to channel their inner Gatsby, as the restaurant’s décor has a Roaring ’20s vibe. It serves craft cocktails, including the Roosevelt Margarita, and premium dishes such as fresh oysters, steak, and halibut.
Tutto A Modo Mio | 482 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield
Tutto A Modo Mio is an old-school authentic Italian restaurant with a bit of an Arthur Avenue, Bronx feel. Just minutes from the GWB, the dining room is usually lively and filled with regulars and families. It’s also BYOB, something that’s pretty common in New York City’s outer-borough Italian spots.
VENTANAS Restaurant and Lounge | 200 Park Avenue, Fort Lee
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VENTANAS Restaurant and Lounge is a massive, 7,000-square-foot ground-level space between the two luxury residential towers of The Modern in Fort Lee. The spot feels like a lavish Manhattan hotspot, where on weekends the dining room transforms into a high-energy lounge with live music, guest DJs, and dancing.
130 Club | 130 County Road, Tenafly
130 Club in Tenafly is most directly compared to 4 Charles Prime Rib in the West Village, since the restaurant’s founding chef previously worked at the legendary New York City spot. To get into the dining room, you walk through a hidden doorway disguised as a bookshelf. The menu features elevated steakhouse staples like 10-hour slow-roasted prime rib, roasted bone marrow, and the popular 130 Cheeseburger.
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