Leo’s Grandevous – Hoboken NJ

The oldest still operating restaurant in this “mile square city”, Leo’s is one of the few places in Hoboken where the spirit of it’s most famous son, Frank Sinatra is still felt. Regardless of how you feel about Ol’ Blue Eyes, this place is a great place to get that stepped back in time feeling of how things used to be in this quickly gentrifying neighborhood adjacent to New York City.

Opened in 1939 as a men-only bar room, there’s a legit reason for the Sinatra-love here, because founder Leo Di Terlizzi was once a pal of Frankie. Sinatra tunes are still heavily featured on the jukebox, and patrons have added pieces of “Sinatrabilia” to the collection lining the walls here. The restaurant is still in the family, run by Leo’s grandchildren Grace and Nick.

An old school Italian restaurant with some modern menu touches, Leo’s is the place old timers and people with old souls go when we want a taste of the past. Family recipes have been handed down for their meatballs, lasagna on Wednesdays and Italian meatloaf. Stuffed calamari has been a Friday special for over 70 years. “New Hoboken” can find a place at the table too, as they offer osso buco and their famous mussels in addition to bar pie pizza and pastas.

For the most authentic vintage experience, sit in the back dining room or along the curved bar, raise a glass up the spirit of Hoboken past at Leo’s, and do it yooooour waaay!

Hoboken renamed a street as a tribute to Leo’s - look for the sign on the corner

There are a few vintage signs to photo in town, go ‘sploring and tell me what you find

Did you see the 2 places where LDT is in mosaic at your feet? Ask!