Where to Drink Right Now: Leo’s Grandevous

Everyone who is familiar with Hoboken knows about Leo’s Grandevous on 200 Grand Street. Founded in 1939 by an old pal of Frank Sinatra, Leo DiTerrlizzi, Leo’s is still family-owned and is still very much a restaurant of the past (in a good way). Anyone who grew up in this area going to the old-school restaurants in Jersey City, Bayonne, and Hoboken will find the layout and decor of Leo’s pretty familiar (even after a relatively recent remodel at Leo’s).
The food, of course, is still famous—classic red sauce Italian fare directly from Tessie DiTerrlizzi’s recipe book. There’s nothing revelatory on the menu, but it’s solid, well-made, and delicious stuff and something of a tradition in the Mile Square (and rightly so). Any night of the week that you’re itching for some great Italian food, Leo’s is a fine choice.
Slightly less obvious is the fact that Leo’s is a great bar for meeting up for some cocktails, snacks, and conversation.
In fact, Leo’s claims to be the oldest restaurant in Hoboken, and we can’t argue, and their web site reports that Men’s Journal once named Leo’s one of the 50 greatest bars in the United States, though we can’t find a link to support that. No reason to doubt it, though; while Leo’s wine list and liquor stocks aren’t filled with unusual choices, it’s one of the most comfortable and reliable spots for a drink in town. The bartenders are friendly without being intrusive, and are happy to offer advice on wines and cocktails.
What’s truly remarkable about sitting at the bar at Leo’s is the sense of connection to an earlier age; the photos of Leo and his family, of Sinatra, of other Hoboken notables throughout the years all serve to remind you that this is a place that generations of Hoboken residents have discovered, loved, and enjoyed—a place where the seat you’re occupying as you sip your beer or glass of wine was occupied decades ago by someone else making their way through Hoboken Life.
Bottom line: Next time you’ve got a date night, a meeting over drinks, or just some time to kill, stop by Leo’s whether you’re hungry or not. An hour spent sitting at the half-moon bar listening to Sinatra tunes and sipping a drink won’t be wasted.

Old School Cool
The bar hasn’t changed much in nearly eight decades. It’s still the same semi-circle, with some additional seating space. It’s actually kind of refreshing how simple it is: You walk in, there’s this big spacious bar, lots of light and elbow room. It’s one of those spots where people still sit down in order to chat with whoever happens to walk in, not scream over pounding club beats and order sixteen variations on vodka cranberry.

- Jeffrey Somers
Latest Articles
Best places around town
Lifestyle
The Guide to Moving to Hoboken
Jeffrey Somers
Food & Drink
Hoboken’s Best Bar for ...
Jeffrey Somers
Community
The Mystery of the Boat Graveyard
Jeffrey Somers
Shopping
Best places around town
On Sale!
New Item In Stock from Your Local Store
$29.99
$29.99
On Sale!
New Item In Stock from Your Local Store
$29.99
$29.99
On Sale!
New Item In Stock from Your Local Store
$29.99
$29.99
What We Are Working On
We are bringing you a different experience to help you live your best life in Hoboken NJ.
2020
Government & City Data
Stay informed with local city data to help you understand what our local government is up to.
2020
Non-Profit Directory
A directory of non-profits for positive change around the Hudson County and beyond.
2021
Network & Social Events
Meet your neighbors and join us for special events around town and around the year.
2020
City Status & Portal
Our portal enables everyone to connect and stay informed about our city through a central online portal.
2020
Community Forums
A place to meet, ask, and discuss important topics around town in a civil online forum.
2020
Local History & Culture
A great historical map and timeline of Hoboken's history and more.
2020
Podcast & Local Radio
Listen to the best of local music and community programming brought to you by Hobokenites.
2020
Community Tools
A useful list of apps by local developers to help you live your best life in Hoboken NJ.
Editorial
Articles
Editor's Pick
Trending
City Guide
Sections
City
CityStatus
Weather
Resources
Guides
Traffic & Transit
Police & Fire
Discover
Events
Places
Food
Partners
OpenTable
Groupon
Booking.com
Become A Partner
Contribute
Add Events
Add Coupons
Add Places
Send Story Idea
Resources
HobokenNJ.gov
hMag.com
HobokenPatch.com
HobokenReddit
Docs
Platform
About Us
Mobile App
Customer Portal
Contacts
Advertise
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Network
VisitHoboken.org
JerseyCityLife.com
More
Reader Center
Tools & Services
Events Guide
Multimedia
Photography
Video
Store
Subscribe
Manage My Account
Feedback
Site Map
HobokenLife
News & Lifestyle
CityPortal News, Lifestyle, Events, Food, Drink, Music, Nightlife, Arts, Entertainment, Fitness, Directory, Maps, Classifieds & more.

Copyright © 2012-2020 · HobokenLife™ News & Lifestyle · Presented By Hoboken Cloud