THOUGH JERSEY CITY-ITES LIVE within spitting distance of one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, we rarely think of our hometown as a tourist destination. Some 2.5 million people a year visit the Statue of Liberty, and our proximity to New York City makes us a prime locale for business travelers. Many stay in our downtown waterfront hotels and want to know what else they can do for fun in Jersey City. Whom do they ask? The concierge.
ANN MARIE SOOHOO IS PRESIDENT of Tavent Hospitality, which handles concierge services for both the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson and the Westin Jersey City Newport. She says that higher-ups at Hyatt are required to learn first-hand how things operate, “which is why I sit at the concierge desk two days a week,” she says. “Dining is huge, and people pop over from New York just to look at the views from our side. We should have a culinary tour of Jersey City.”
Soohoo, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has high standards when it comes to food. “Hotel guests everywhere tend not to leave a six-block radius of the hotel to eat,” she says. “We’re fortunate to have a fantastic restaurant on Montgomery Street —O’Connell’s—which will close to the public for groups. Padraig [the manager], who is from Ireland, will regale diners with great stories about Ireland. The food and the chefs are fantastic.”
She also tells guests about C-Side, which has views of New York City. “C-Side has outside dining and will close off the restaurant for groups. Their chef offers a tasting menu with anything a group wants.”
Locals will remember Pronto Cena on Sussex Street, which is now John’s Pizza, another spot that Soohoo recommends to hotel guests. It’s owned by the same John who is famous for his pizza restaurants in New York. “They have a great menu with great food that attracts lots of families. It’s warm and homey and friendly in an old historic setting in Paulus Hook, and they will absolutely do private events.”
For a different ambience, she sends folks to City Vino on the ground level of Liberty Towers, which, she says, “has an ambitious menu, with bottles of wine floor to ceiling. They have tastings and wine events, and great sommeliers. You’d expect it in New York but it’s right here in Jersey City.”
And if you want to swing way over to the other side of the dining continuum there’s the Flamingo Restaurant, “a 24-hour diner with no atmosphere but good food,” Soohoo says. The Flamingo made headlines more than once when it fought off developers to maintain its 40-year tradition of serving classic diner food to locals and out-of-towners who find their way to the corner of Montgomery and Greene.
“As the waterfront changes more and more, we have more options to give guests,” Soohoo says. “I love the new pier amphitheater, (J. Owen Grundy Park next to the Hyatt) and the views from the Hyatt and the Westin are spectacular.” She cites The Vu Restaurant at the Hyatt and the Half Moon at the Westin.
“Guests also enjoy anything historic, such as the Paulus Hook Memorial,” she says, “and we have great picture-taking opportunities. Brides and grooms take pictures on the waterfront near both hotels, and I send everyone to Warren Street to get great pictures of the Statue of Liberty. I’m thinking of moving to Jersey City, it’s such a cool city.”
MOVING NORTH ALONG THE WATERFRONT, you come to Doubletree Hotel Jersey City. The hotel doesn’t have a concierge per se but hotel staff is well versed in the entertainment options Jersey City has to offer.
“If they come with kids, we send them to the Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park,” says one hotel staffer, “and of course they can go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from there. The light rail goes directly from here to the park, and they can either walk from there or take a shuttle into the park.”
When folks visit in winter, the Doubletree sends them to Newport Skates, which is within walking distance and has great views of New York. “It’s also close to the South City Grill, one of the restaurants we recommend,” the staff member says. “We first promote our own restaurant (Harsimus Cove Bar and Grill) and then give other options, such as South City, which has great seafood, Porto Leggero, Edward’s Steak House, Confucius for Chinese, and Amiya for good Indian food. If they want to see rock bands, we send them to Maxwell’s in Hoboken, where they can go by PATH or light rail.”
Visitors are also told about AMC Cinemas in Newport Centre Mall.
Some guests are adventurous enough to visit Journal Square, taking in the historic Loews Jersey Theatre and Stanley Theatre, both beautifully restored buildings.
Doubletree staff tells them not to be afraid of the mom-and-pop places, such as Mr. Gusto on JFK Boulevard, which has great rice and beans and is very affordable. And on Newark is Monteleone Bakery right near Casa Dante restaurant. Some New Yorkers even want to go to White Castle, while a lot of Indian people want to go to Little India. The hotel prides itself on having guests from all over the country and all over the world.
DEB WANKO IS SENIOR SALES MANAGER at the Courtyard by Marriott Jersey City-Newport, but one colleague calls her the mayor of Jersey City because of her love and knowledge of the city.
“During the week we are a corporate hotel, and on the weekend, leisure and family,” she says, “and sometimes local people just want to get away without going away. Though we don’t have a concierge desk, all the front desk staff are highly qualified, knowledgeable, and trained to recommend the best places to dine, shop, or sightsee along the Jersey City waterfront.”
Wanko cites the museums, such as the Jersey City Museum and the Liberty Science Center, and the many art galleries. The Jersey City Artists Studio Tour, she says, attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year. For those who want to learn more about our local history, she’ll take corporate groups in cars for historic tours. She also refers them to Hudson County Cultural Affairs ((201) 459-2070) and destinationjerseycity.com.
“The Newport Mall is across the street,” she says, “and guests can send their purchases via UPS. I’ll also send people to the Experience Spa and Salon.” Both are conveniently located in the Newport area.
Wanko likes to capitalize on the hotel’s waterfront locale. Guests can enjoy a latte on Starbuck’s outdoor patio overlooking the river walk, which leads to the lighthouse and the ferry slip and has views of the Newport marina and New York City. “There are evening dinner cruises and statue cruises,” she says, citing cruise companies like Smooth Sailing Celebrations. And around the corner is Newport Swim and Fitness, a state-of-the-art facility with outdoor rooftop tennis courts.
Of course, most tourists want to know the best places to eat. “We have great restaurants,” Wanko says, “many with ethnic food.” She’ll refer guests to Restaurants at Newport, Dining on the Hudson, a directory of nearby eateries. “If guests don’t want to spend $15.95 for breakfast in our restaurant,” she says, “I send them across the street to Cosi, which is group friendly.”
Says Wanko, “I am so proud of this community. We’re a great alternative to New York City and just a stone’s throw away.”—Kate Rounds
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