Skinner's Loft

Returned after more than a decade to end a birthday evening on the Williamsburg-esque rooftop. Friendly bartender, easily accommodates based on diet. Enjoyed the evening and laid back vibes. It would be cool to add to the ambiance with silent movies projected on the bare white buildings that encompass the rooftop. *Did not order food this time around. Will return.

I’m rating this solely based on the food, which was honestly delicious—even after it had cooled down. My boyfriend brought me a chicken dish from here after dining in with a friend on May 23, 2025, and I really enjoyed it. However, I was disappointed to hear about the poor customer service he experienced during his visit. As someone born and raised in Jersey City, currently back in town for a wedding, I take pride in how our local businesses treat guests. It’s disheartening to hear about bad service in a place I call home. To the business: I encourage you to ensure every customer receives the same level of quality service as they do food.

We unfortunately did not eat here, but judging from the locals that piled into this restaurant and were greeted by the staff with warm and extended conversations, we'd say this restaurant is a special place. Even if we missed seeing the family atmosphere, the simple menu alone tells you this is a serious food place. They're not trying to sell you everything but the kitchen sink, just the good stuff, consistently and deliciously prepared (from what was saw:) Whomever designed the place, the lighting, the warmth, really knows how to seduce and create an environment out of a movie. You just wanna go in there. The staff is beyond friendly and not at all surprised we instantly fell in love with the place, "Hey! It's Skinner's, an institution in these parts."

Not an expert of Jersey City…..yet. First day here and was excited to start searching for good places to eat. I wanted Salmon and saw a photo of their Salmon with garlic Spinach and lentils, so - I headed to Skinners loft. I would rate my dining experience a 4.7. Let’s breakout down 1. Ambiance - 5 Stars. Loved the diversity of bar, outdoor and the loft (indoor). Some historical look to the loft and I appreciated being away from the bar to read. 2. Food - 5 Stars. Also had the buffalo egg rolls. Their blue cheese dipping with a little buffalo sauce on the rolls were awesome. The garlic on the sautéed Spinach…… Que Rico!!!! 3. Service - 4.5 Stars. Main server had to be supplemented by another for refills on beverages but they were polite and kind. Soft spoken and wanted more recommendations but solid Did see the restroom. Love more character, but it was clean which is more important. I’d return. Give it a go.

Me and my wife went for an early dinner. The server was pretty dry and direct with little personality but he wasn’t bad. We had the Beef Brisket potato rounds, Cauliflower Steak and Brisket Sandwich. Everything was properly cooked, being just a tad under seasoned all around. Nothing bad about the experience but it didn’t impress us and with the slew of restaurants near Grove, nothing makes this place be the #1 choice. I hear the rooftop bar is the highlight but I didn’t get to see that this trip.

My husband and I had a beautiful, intimate wedding ceremony/dinner on the rooftop! The view was amazing, the staff was exemplary and they sent out some fantastic dishes on the house. We are so so grateful for this perfect evening 💝💕

Punch drunk love cocktail 🍸 was good. The food was okay. Tad over priced in my opinion, for a $45 steak and fries that was kinda lackluster. Perfectly cooked but not much flavor. The salmon was alright as well. Again cooked great, but nothing really special. Thank you for the experience.

Delicious! We came here for a Sunday brunch and both the tostada and breakfast sandwich were delicious. The little muffins they bring to your table were such a nice (and tasty) touch as well! The atmosphere is trendy and fun too.

Came to Skinner's on a Saturday night. We were sat right away. The service was excellent. Very attentive and on the spot with the recommendations. I was feeling the Chopped Salad and Buffalo Spring Rolls. My wife had the Steak Frittes. Both dishes were very good. The steak was cooked to perfection and the Salad was a good portion with great flavor. The Buffalo Spring Rolls stole the show. Definitely recommend Skinner's Loft while in Jersey City.

Cute rooftop patio with smaller bar with great limited options. Got an olive appetizer and drinks. Warm Punch Drunk was the best on a chilly night and the Spicy Fruit Margarita was good and touch spicy. Try the patio but stay for the food and bar downstairs!

Delicious spot with brunch. Went here with a couple friends on a Sunday. No wait and the service was quick. Highly recommend the tarragon chicken salad sandwich.

Super underrated brunch spot! Make sure to sit upstairs for the ambiance of feeling like you're in an 1800s townhouse, turned restaurant. Wait staff is really polite and accommodating every time we come here, with coloring paper, stickers and a plastic sippy cup for our kid. The brunch always hits the spot, including some unique breakfast sandwiches (from the pepper salami egg sandwich on ciabatta, to the porchetta egg sandwich), to the cornflake crusted French toast. Never too busy either, so good spot for a bigger party too. Highly recommend!

Really nice ambience right in downtown Jersey City! I appreciated the prompt service when I told them I didn't have much time. My waitress was very attentive. And the brunch menu? So many things I wanted to try, but I settled on the pork belly polenta to start.. I'll be back for sure!

We had a lovely weeknight dinner on the rooftop at Skinner's Loft last Monday! We went for the rooftop, but would go back for the food, ambiance and service. They also have a good variety of vegetarian and vegan options that are all clearly labeled.  We ordered: Parmesan Herb Fries: So good! We were low key fighting over the last fries.  Spicy Vegan Bean Chili: Decent, but would have been better with more ingredients (corn, chilis, etc). Otherwise, it's just beans with a slight kick.  Vegan Cauliflower Steak: Best dish of the night!! The arugula pesto was delish. Organic Mushroom Risotto: Good but not great. The flavor was a bit flat and could have used some more seasoning; a little garlic could go a long way! Verdict: Skinner's Loft is a great option in Jersey City! The service was amazing, they have plenty of veggie options and a low key but lively atmosphere (at least on a Monday; I can't speak to the weekend). The rooftop is cozy and intimate and the interior is decorated with a sense of fun and whimsy. I'll definitely be back!  PS - The rooftop does have a slightly abridged menu, but I think this mainly applies to drinks

Skinner's Loft is a fun place for happy hour drinks and apps with friends! Service was very fast and friendly and the ambiance was also really nice. I enjoyed the music. The food and drinks were great! Between my friend and I, we got 4 apps to share and it was more than enough for the both of us. I also ordered the $1 oysters on the menu and they were delicious. I highly recommend it. They tasted clean and fresh. I will say though, I was a little disappointed with the fried calamari. It was a bit over cooked. Overall, I'd come back again!

tried this place for brunch on saturday. maximalist vibes - stain glass windows, lantern lamps, glass bead dividers. There is bar downstairs. We sat upstairs....it was lightly packed with quite a few empty tables. Drinks were good. We tried bloody maria and gentleman's mimosa. Food is good, portions are decent. But hostess said they could not make simple changes substituting a protein for chicken. Also, while taking the order she said I had choice of parm fries but returned to tell me that they can't make it as it is dinner-only item. How hard is it to make regular fries parm fries - add cheese and some herbs? Service was OK. I would have given another star had they adjusted for few of the food requests.

We had a fabulous breakfast there. This place was was good and served great breakfast meals. The restaurant was absolutely fantastic and nice pleasant atmosphere. The food was fresh and delicious with more big portion. The food we ordered was always well-done. We like the Filet Mignon sliders, French toast, and Eggs Benedict which taste really good and so delicious. Everything was well-seasoned and friendly service.

This meal started off strange and never quite recovered. The bread came with a mystery spice that, once mixed in with the oil, turned oddly sweet. It was less "flavor journey" and more choose your own misadventure. Oysters without hot sauce? That's not refined--it's criminal. I tried them bare, and honestly, they tasted like regret on the half shell. The barrel-aged Negroni was the biggest letdown of the night. Strong? Yes. Balanced? Not even close. It drank like an Old Fashioned in a Negroni costume--boozy, flat, and missing all the bitter-sweet complexity it promised. Even as it watered down, it managed to stay bad. Aged to imperfection. Then came the salmon. Cooked beautifully--crispy skin, silky center--but someone served it with beans and broccoli rabe like they pulled sides from a fridge roulette wheel. Butter, lemon, legumes... bean there, ruined that. There's ambition here, but no cohesion. It feels like a place that thinks it's being clever, when really it's just trying to distract you from the food.

Stopped by quick to grab a bite and was glad we did! Cute ambience, they have bar seating, roof seating, inside and outside also - great options! We sat inside near the bar and tried Tarragon Chicken Salad Club. It was pretty large- came with bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado. (Heavy on the mayo, so heads up if that's not your thing) fries were good! We didn't try any cocktails- but I'd stop back in! Solid location and nice service.

Really friendly staff who know their stuff. The kitchen stays open pretty late with a sign saying 'Best food in JC." My cheeseburger and buffalo chicken spring rolls live up to it. It's a cozy little bar with a few tables on the main floor. Super comfortable vibe and also cool that they have non-alcoholic beer options. Since this is located on Jersey City's Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza please remember, when using ride share services set pick up location to one of the surrounding blocks open to vehicles.

Still love coming to Skinners after all of these years. Only ever had one meal I wasn't satisfied with and I've eaten here a lot! Love that there are no tv's and music is never so loud that you have to scream into a persons ear to have a conversation. Service at the bar or at the tables is good and I'll be back this Sunday.

Always a vibe! A quaint little spot great for catching up and nice tapas. Food is very good, but portion size is very small for the price. Go for jazz night!

Skinner's Loft is a cute and classy spot right on Newark Ave in Downtown Jersey City. Food: Food and drinks are great here - You can tell everything is made with quality ingredients and the flavor palettes and textures are well thought out. They definitely craft their dishes here well. Service: Have always received top tier service here - Wait staff is kind, personable, and happy to give recommendations and accommodate. Seating: For weekends, definitely make a reservation - Have had luck with walk ins on weekdays! NOTE - If you need accessible seating, or someone in your group may have trouble with stairs, would reserve and call ahead to see if you could be seated downstairs! They have live jazz upstairs during the week sometimes, which I would definitely recommend checking out!

Absolutely delicious food, especially the Octopus and Calamari. Very friendly staff and quick service. Awesome rooftop. Warm and elegant bar type atmosphere. Very highly recommend.

The place has a cool vibe with some decent food and good service. Apps - definitely get the buffalo chicken egg rolls, calamari was a little bland. Drinks - Dirty Martini was eh, but the espresso martinis were good Dinner - Beef Brisket was good and a large portion size but nothing I'd rush back for. The mashed potatoes it came with were top notch! The table next to us got the salmon and it did look a little small and weak (they sent it back lol), but no one I was with got it so can't fully comment.

Skinner's Loft can potentially be a nice place to go to get drinks and some appetizers as the arancini was good. The drinks were inconsistent with the pour as one drink was too strong and another drink didn't taste like anything. Maybe coconut water in a cocktail isn't the way to go as the Isla Bonita didn't taste like anything but their Painted Desert cocktail was strong but tasty. The main meals mainly the mushroom risotto had no seasoning. The brisket was mainly fat but the bbq sauce on the meat parts tasted okay. It was not the best experience but maybe other items in the menu are better.

Had brunch here a few times in the past. Service is always good along with the food. Has an upscale pub vibe, which I like. There is an upstairs and roof top bar, which I haven't seen before. Great spot for a drink, lunch, or dinner - maybe a combination of all 3. If you haven't been, you're missing out!

From the outside, this spot looks like a typical bar, but once you enter, you realize it's a renovated 3 story house with delightful decor. We came for brunch and had the delicious muffin basket. Latte was solid and then I also had the salami, pepper, and scrambled egg sandwich. The brunch menu had a lot of great looking options and I'd be interested in returning to try more items.

Pleasantly surprised with my experience at Skinner's Loft. I was searching places for brunch with a friend and stumbled upon this place to try and we weren't disappointed. I got the Pancakes (8/10) and my friend got the Salami, Pepper, and Scrambled Egg sandwich which was 10/10! He let me try it and OMG instant jealousy. I would come back over and over just for that sandwich. We also had a nice waiter who was in control of the music and we were vibing out. I would definitely recommend this spot and can't wait to go back!

This place is worth checking out for brunch. Greeted with homemade muffins and fresh squeezed OJ. Followed by homemade buttermilk biscuits in the Benedict dishes. Service was great and would come back if we find ourselves in the area again.

The food quality and service are exceptional, they also offer a wide variety of drinks and cocktails perfect for brunch. The place has two floors, the second floor gives a home feel,the first floor is where the bar and bathroom are located.

The ambiance of this restaurant is really nice and is in that part of Jersey City where no cars are allowed through. We went for dinner and I ordered the Whiskey Smoked sugar rubbed barbecue brisket as my main. This dish was just okay to me. The beef itself had a lot of fat and I mostly just tasted BBQ sauce. In my opinion, it was a good dish but nothing special. The spinach and mashed potato sides were very tasty though - good amount of flavor and added more taste to the beef when you eat them together. We also saw $1 oysters on the menu and ordered a dozen. This I would highly recommend! They were cheap and really tasty and fresh! Sometimes with $1 oysters they can taste grainy/gritty but these oysters were really well cleaned and had a great texture.

11/10 rooftop brunch. Even today which is overcast and close to rain. Just me and the bartender and he's killing the service, menu recommendations, and playlist. Total jams. I can't wait to come back.

Not a good night. 20 minutes for first drink. Martini came out wrong. Appetizers were ehh. Oysters were tiny and over priced. Calamari was over breaded. Main course. Salmon was dry and over cooked. Brisket was fatty. They were out of 2 items on the menu. Mussels and Malbec. Offered to refill our waters and never came back. Great restaurant street. I would not choose this one.

Very nice casual spot on an otherwise busy Newark Avenue pedestrian path full of restaurants and bars and people and dogs. The brisket here was surprisingly very good and the burgers and fries were decent as well but nothing too out of the ordinary. We opted to sit on the street level instead of upstairs so we could people watch which was nice. The vibe is very casual and the place itself is not too huge which is good if that's the kind of vibe you're looking for.

I have been looking forward to trying this restaurant and was not disappointed! Four of us had a reservation and we're seated outside quickly. The waiter was very attentive and checked in with us often. For drinks I ordered a Kentucky Buck and my friend ordered a margarita - this wasn't on the menu but they were able to make her a strawberry marg. As an appetizer we ordered the fried calamari and cheddar and corn fritters. Everyone said the fried calamari was good and the corn fritters were super crispy, light, with a great chewy middle. It also came with a cilantro aioli that paired really nicely. For the main, I got the zucchini and mushroom sandwich that came with parmesan fries and truffle aioli. The sandwich was flavorful with a balsamic glaze and the fries were amazing! I loved the truffle aioli. My boyfriend got the cacio e pepe - he said it tasted really good but the portion size was ridiculously small and was probably approx 1 cup. My friend got the pork ragú which she really liked and her boyfriend got the beef brisket which he enjoyed as well. Overall I was impressed with the food and would recommend to any friends who visit!

Love the music and the food. Service is very friendly, fast and knowledgeable. Food is exactly what's described and prepared well. The drinks are delicious, I like the margarita! Really nice ambiance, I love the upstairs. I wish we could split the check, not sure why it's so hard for some places, they should improve their point of sale system to make it easier.

The place is ok, but boring. Feels sad in here. It could still get 4 stars, but it gets a 1 star review because the main bartender (middle-aged blonde on level 1) is horribly rude, nasty and has a very bad attitude. The place is unsafe too. I had a very hard fall at the entry to their rooftop dining. The door sill there is very high. Knocked the living daylights out of me. I was trying to be friendly, but the bartender had no manners or friendliness. The hostess was unconcerned. Instead of being friendly and offering me something, they asked me to get out and never come back. A complaint with the city hall might be of some use, Someone that nasty should not be in the service business..

The service needs improvement they sat us down right away and then took a while to give us just our menus. We got our drinks and food right away. No one came to check on us ever. Then we waited forever for the check. Food was great, service was not. You'll just be waiting.

This place really made my day. I highly recommended. I rarely do reviews, but this spot was awesome.. The service was outstanding. The food was good. The drinks were amazing. My bartender, Joshua was very knowledgeable and friendly. He made me something which I'm not too sure what it was. He did explained it to me, but I didn't retain any of the information, but it was delicious. It got me up after a rough day. I can't wait to go again!

Went to brunch with some girl friends and got a phenomenal brunch. I ended up getting the salami sandwich, with hash browns! For $17 deff worth the price. The food came out fast and all together which was a plus for a 6 person group! Our waiter was attentive and was always checking in also even with how busy it was. We were sitting in the upper level of the restaurant which was also great. There is a bar down stairs and some more larger tables on the second floor. I wish we could have sat outside on their roof but that is more for smaller groups. Probably if we planned a little more in advance it would've worked out. Overall will come back!

Came here with some friends when we were visiting Jersey City. I visited on a Saturday evening, and I called in early to reserve for a table of 4. I absolutely love the vibes of this place. Since it was the evening, the lights were dim and the tables had candles on them. The staff were also very friendly and accommodating. We ordered a Truffle French Onion Pizzetta to share amongst the four of us. It was very delicious and flavorful. The dish was served on a plate with the design of a loose-leaf paper which I thought was very cute. For my main entree, I got the Hot Sopressata and Manchego Grilled Cheese. This was so good! The soppressata and manchego went hand and hand with each other, and overall, was outstanding. Absolutely loved the food, drinks, and service here! Would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area!

I had whiskey smoked sugar rubbed beef brisket. It was so juicy and very flavorful. The portion is just right and service was excellent too. I made a reservation in advance but looked like it wasn't very packed, may be able to walk in if you are lucky (I went for Saturday dinner).

Delicious! Even though the regulations for COVID. I took the wife to dinner. The pints are cold and the jalapeño margarita is very good. The Buffalo chicken egg rolls were very good. The the snte fe wrap was delicious. Staff was very friendly.

The owners are very nice, the food is good but I'm giving one star because of the blond bartender downstair. she is very rude! I'm not going back because of her. she is there way too long and has a horrible attitude.

We were in need of some brunch on a Saturday morning and decided to check out Skinner's Loft. It's a very pretty and comfortable place with an antique/pub vibe. There are two floors and the views on the second floor are really nice, although you get the check out their cool bar if you're staying on the first floor. I ordered eggs Florentine and my boyfriend had a breakfast burrito. Both come with a side of potatoes (which are amazing!). Some reviews mention that the fries were oily, but ours were not oily at all, so I think it depends on the day haha. They also brought out a complimentary muffin basket. Those muffins were so soft with a crisp top. They went so good with the coffee (which is from local roasters, so definitely get a cup!...or two) Overall experience was great, will definitely come back to check it out for dinner. The staff was super nice and I liked that we weren't interrupted while eating.

Loved the complimentary muffin basket! We came for brunch and my Benedict was delicious, but the homefries were very oily. Everybody else seemed to enjoy their dish. We walked in Sunday around 12:15pm and we were the first people there. It got slightly busier when we were there. This is also a great place to check out by yourself as I noticed a few people dined solo at the bar

Skinners Loft is pretty good- just pricey. I'm used to NYC metro area prices, but Skinner's just doesn't pack the same punch as some of the similarly prices places across the Hudson. The burger was just fine, the corn cake appetizer was good if not a small portion, and the salmon was decent. Creme brulee was fantastic too. Cocktails are super pricy as well. Service was good and good ambiance for a date night, just wish it had the extra something to justify the price tag

Skinner's Loft is one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to visit. Skinners makes an honest Irish Coffee, a wide selection of liquors, has an impressive list of local and imported beers on tap, and a decent food menu too. I do not like brussel sprouts at all but I tried theirs and they were delightful... One of my favourite restaurants!

Skinner's Loft, we met you by accident, but I'm so happy we crossed paths. Came here on New Year's Day with 3 people. I was in town visiting a friend and we walked to a few other places that were only accepting reservations for the day. Skinner's Loft had a few tables available and they were serving brunch so it couldn't have been more perfect. Our waitress was Ashley. Props to her for immediately serving us glasses of water because she knew we were dehydrated from the night before. She was awesome the whole way through. We started off with coffees after the water. Coffee was good; the only thing I didn't care for was the tiny amount of creamer that was provided. I prefer the individual creamers. Ashley brought over some delicious, warm biscuits that came with a mini jar of jam and some butter. I had a sweet tooth on this particular day, which is odd, because I normally crave a savory breakfast so I ordered the Corn Flake Crusted Stuffed brioche French toast. The inside was cream cheese mixed with raspberry preserves. The most decadent French toast I've ever had. I'd love to try to recreate this French toast at home. Definitely impossible. My boyfriend ordered Eggs Benedict. Came with home fries. He said it was really good. Great service and spectacular dishes on their brunch menu. You can't go wrong! I'm glad I started off the year 2020 at Skinner's Loft.

If you're cravingSteak & Eggs this is the place to visit. The steak was cooked perfectly, the eggs were just right, and the home fried potatoes were deliciously seasoned.

Went their for dinner- food was horrible, service was even worse, but the ambiance was ok. The server was rude from the beginning, and frankly shocked they let him be a waiter with that attitude. Not surprising since it seemed like a lot of open seats during a Friday night dinner time

Looked up brunch places and picked this one to try on Labor Day. My friend and I were impressed by the decor and layout of the restaurant since we didn't expect it to expand three floors. We got seated right away on the second floor. Service was good, our server took our order and the food runner brought out biscuits for us to start our meal immediately. That was a nice surprise and kept us entertained till our entrees arrived. Reasonable price of ~$15/dish. I got the chicken salad sandwich while my friend got the vegan banh mi. Unfortunately my chicken salad sandwich was too mayonnai-ni for my liking as i prefer the less drippy, waldorf style. It just didn't have enough flavor for me, but it did come in good portion. My friend's vegan banh mi with tofu was much better and flavorful. I also saw some egg benedict plates pass by which looked delicious. Overall I had a good experience dinning in this literal loft restaurant. Would try some other dish next time and skip the chicken salad sandwich.

I've been here quite a few times and I've always enjoyed myself! Skinner's Loft has a great vibe. I drank a Jack and Coke. Although it's a simple drink, it was perfect. Strong enough to feel it, but still tasted great. As appetizers we had the wings and Buffalo chicken spring rolls. The wings were solid and the Buffalo chicken spring rolls were out of this world. Definitely recommend them. For my main course, I had the lemon chicken with broccoli. It was a very strong lemon taste, so don't order it if you're not a fan of lemon. I'd like to add that the chicken was juicy and soft. Was super easy to cut and a filling portion

AMAZING BRUNCH SPOT IN JERSEY CITY!!! My boyfriend and I decided to try this place out for brunch this Sunday and I'm extremely glad we did! We have always walked past this place for so long and the time finally came to give it a try. We came to the restaurant just a couple minutes from opening time and the place was not really crowded whatsoever. Though as soon as we ordered our food, within minutes the place quickly got packed lol. What we ordered: For drinks, we went with the Fresh OJ Mimosa and the Gentleman's Mimosa. We both enjoy our drinks which is always a plus! For food: My boyfriend ordered the Eggs Benedict with a substitute of Mushrooms which he had asked the waiter if it was possible to do and low and behold they pulled through on the request! For my dish, I ordered the Eggs Benedict and we both agreed that it had been one of the best, if not the best, Eggs Benedict we have had in NJ (or in general)! This place is definitely a must try for brunch and I would most definitely recommend it to anyone! A 5/5 rating from my boyfriend and I!!!

I have an updated experience since covid: Brunch wasn't the same experience as it used to be for now anyway. I'll be patient. I miss the biscuits and brownies/muffins that used to be served with brunch. So much so I even asked the server if I could purchase a side of biscuits to accompany my meal & he asked the chef who said no, there is only a specific amount portioned for a biscuits and gravy dish but you could not purchase the biscuits. Too bad. Brunch hours have changed for now to sundays. It is nice they are open on mondays as industry people need more options to eat out those days than what is offered in JC. The brunch menu has been reduced for now from the old offerings. I really hope to see this place bounce back after covid bc it used to be in my top 3 brunch spots. I'll remain hopeful and check again in a few months.

Upon entering my buddy and I were warmly greeted by a gentleman and shown to our seats on the second floor. I'd totally recommend the second floor as it actually looks nicer than the first floor with high ceilings and nice large windows. Glows: -Menu fairly priced and reasonable in terms of portion size. I was a bit worried because i hate leaving places still hungry lol but everything was fine. -Service was fairly quick in terms of getting the food. -Ambiance -Savory food Grow: -Drinks took forever - we ordered two beers. -Server appeared twice. I would've liked a second beer, but I was worried that it would take too long so I decided not to. Overall, definitely coming back. The food was yummy and the place had a lot of fun stuff to look at.