Hello, fellow foodies! I’ve been exploring town in search of the perfect hidden cafe, and along the way, I’ve slightly rekindled my old affection for coffee. I mean, how can you resist a banana pancake latte? Keeping an open mind, I explored a few cozy hideaways and found some real gems around Hoboken. Honestly, each spot had its own personality, but a few stood out for their food and atmosphere. Out of Empire Coffee & Tea, Yuki’s Coffee & Bakery, and The Hive, my favorite was Yuki’s Coffee & Bakery for the quality and taste of the food. Despite their differences, every cafe offered something unique, and let me tell you, they were drastically different, especially in terms of aesthetic, flavors, and target audience. After trying various menu items from each to see which best represented the cafe’s vibe, I still think Yuki’s came out on top.
I went to Yuki’s Coffee & Bakery, and it had such a cozy, homey feel. It’s quite a walk from campus, but if you’re willing to trade a little energy and time for delicious, comforting food to sink your teeth into, it’s definitely worth it. I ended up getting some jalapeño and tomato focaccia bread, and it was ginormous. Although focaccia itself is super soft and fluffy with lots of big air bubbles and a good golden crust, it creates the best bite of airy, soft, and chewy. That, paired with the sharp taste of jalapeño and the specific tomatoes Yuki’s used, made it a euphoric blend of flavor. Don’t even get me started on that pistachio croissant. It was the best croissant I’ve had to date, and I’m totally not saying this because it reminds me of one of my favorite Greek desserts, baklava, but that’s the best description I could think of. It had a sweet syrup, but the croissant still remained flaky, and the crunch of the pistachio nuts with the sweet, sticky syrup made it so scrumptious.
Next, we have Empire Coffee & Tea. The shop itself perfectly embodied Old Hoboken vibes. It had a bit of a maximalist feel, with the old commercial photos on the walls, coffee bean bags scattered across the floor, and plenty of fall decorations. The green and brown exterior, along with the slightly vintage atmosphere, made it feel like stepping back in time. It had Luke’s Diner vibes from Gilmore Girls. The second time I went to Empire Coffee & Tea, I got a pumpkin spice latte — classic for fall. I realized they really stand out when it comes to coffee, which should’ve been obvious from the start, considering all the coffee bean bags stuffed in the cafe. The baristas are super friendly and kind, which makes the place feel extra homey, and you can easily strike up a casual conversation with them if you want.
As for The Hive, I absolutely adored their cozy, modern aesthetic with wavy blue lines, pink accents, and geometric touches. They carried this fun energy into their food too. The peanut butter s’mores cookie bar that I got was amazing — a decadent blend of everyone’s favorite desserts, packed into a peanut butter chocolate chip blondie baked like a bar with melted marshmallows on top. The banana pancake latte, on the other hand, actually delivered the banana pancake flavor, which tasted very banana-y and slightly like oat pancakes. The Hive is definitely experimental with their drinks, like the PB&J matcha, which stood out even if it wasn’t my thing. They also have fun options like the cereal milk latte and babyccino, and I almost got the maple staple latte for fall. Out of all the treats I tried, the pistachio croissant was the real showstopper, one I would happily make the walk for again in a heartbeat.
