As Easter approaches, one of the most popular delicacies in Italian culture will be in high demand. Italian rainbow cookies are small, sweet treats decorated in the colors of the Italian flag – green, red, and white. Many locally-owned Italian outposts offer their own versions of the cookie, which is perfectly paired with an espresso-based beverage. Read on to see where to get the best Italian rainbow cookies in Hoboken and Jersey City.
Alessio’s | 539 Park Avenue, Hoboken
Shoppers can pick up Italian cheeses, freshly brewed coffee, and more at this Hoboken mainstay. The eatery has food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, meaning an Italian rainbow cookie can be both an on-the-go sweet tooth satisfier or an end-of-meal-bite. Mix and match a $2.50 cookie with a bombole, croissant, or muffin.
Cangiano’s | 225 Pavonia Avenue, Jersey City
This Italian marketplace is a one-stop-shop for goodies of all kinds. Pick up a fresh sandwich or bagel, snag some hand-sliced cold cuts, and grab a selection of Italian cookies and pastries for dessert. Italian rainbow cookies are available but head there early as they often sell out quickly.
Read More: These Are the Must-Try Pasta Spots in Jersey City
Carlo’s Bakery | 95 Washington Street, Hoboken
Of course, Carlo’s is one of the most famous eateries in Hoboken, finding success after TLC’s Cake Boss. The bakery offers a wide range of Italian desserts, including rainbow cookies. Other sweet treats including beaver tails, rainbow cake, and chocolate chip cookies are also available alongside Carlo’s Bakery merch.
Dolce & Salato | 1101 Grand Street, Hoboken
This bakery’s name translates to ‘sweet and salty’, perfectly describing its offerings. A range of sandwiches and desserts are available every day. Italian rainbow cookies are often on the menu, served up in a modern, decadent setting. Pair it with a cappuccino or latte and enjoy a quiet coffee with a friend.
See More: The Best Spots for Gnocchi in Hoboken + Jersey City
Rizzo’s Bakery | 208 Central Avenue, Jersey City
Known for its huge $2 pizza slices, Rizzo’s also has an array of Italian delicacies and dessert foods available. Pick up a pizza, pasta, or dinner item and pair it with an Italian rainbow cookie. But, note that the cookies can only be grabbed in-store and not ordered on SliceLife.
Vito’s Deli | 806 Washington Street, Hoboken
Vito’s is one of the most authentic Italian bakeries in the area and it offers a little sampling of everything. Pick up fresh sandwiches, imported olive oil, and a dessert at this one-stop-shop. Dessert options include cannoli and, of course, fresh Italian rainbow cookies.
Hoboken to Hold Public Hearing About Former Uptown Pizzeria Space
In April 2024, the abrupt closure of Uptown Pizzeria at 54 14th Street in Hoboken left residents with many questions. After following a paper trail, The Hoboken Girl confirmed that the once-beloved spot was permanently closed. In February 2024, an application to demolish the site and replace it with high-rise condos was submitted to Hoboken's Zoning Board of Adjustment. There have been no developments regarding this situation — until now. According to a notice sent by the Zoning Board, there will be a public hearing to discuss and review the existing application on February 25th, 2025. Read on for what we know about the recent developments to convert Uptown Pizzeria's former location at 54 14th Street in Hoboken into high-rise housing.
The Details
Uptown Pizzeria, the once go-to spot for all of Hoboken's pizza cravings, suddenly closed for good in April 2024 with the plan to turn the 54 14th Street location into a six-story building.
The application was submitted by the property's owner and proposed to knock down the existing structure and "build a six-story mixed-use development with ground floor and basement-level commercial spaces and residential dwelling units on each upper floor," according to the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment's meeting agenda for February 27th, 2024.
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Within the past few days, nearby Hoboken residents have received a notice from the board informing them about a public hearing to discuss this application, which they have kindly shared with The Hoboken Girl.
As per the notice, the application has changed to five stories instead of six and four residential dwelling units instead of five. The commercial space is also now confirmed to include a restaurant with a kitchen and a vent for the restaurant's exhaust, which residents are concerned could omit odors into the courtyard at 1400 Hudson Street and neighboring apartments.
According to the ZBA agenda item, the applicant, NTT Properties LLC, is seeking variances to allow the property to have zero parking spaces instead of the required one, be 55 feet tall, exceeding the permitted height of 52 feet, have 100% lot coverage on the ground floor and 85% in the upper floors when 60% is the maximum allotted, have a 0% rear yard setback of lot depth while 40% is the required minimum, and include 20.8% aggregate coverage of roof appurtenances when 10% is the maximum.
This public hearing will take place in person at 7PM on February 25th at Hoboken City Hall, located at 94 Washington Street. Hoboken residents are encouraged to attend and ask questions or give comments regarding the application.
The Hoboken Girl has reached out to 2nd Ward Council Person Tiffanie Fisher and will update this piece with any further information.
About Uptown Pizzeria Closure
On April 1st, 2024, HG received a DM from a reader, saying “Just saw that Uptown Pizza was closed and it looked like it may be permanent.” Looking to confirm or deny the news, we called the pizza spot but were met with a Verizon message saying that the call could not be completed and the line was dead. We then reached out to Uptown Pizzeria's sister location in Dumont, Uptown Pizzeria II, but the employees were not able to share whether or not the Hoboken location had closed.
The Hoboken Girl then took the investigation on foot. Upon walking by the 14th Street location, we confirmed that the restaurant was closed for good. There was nothing inside the storefront but empty pizza boxes and on the outside of the door, we saw a a water service termination notice.
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