Our guests come from all over: from Canada, from across the country, from the next state over. Almost all of them pass through Newark Penn Station on the way into New York. And almost none of them know that one of the best places to eat in the whole region is right behind it.
That place is the Ironbound, the neighbourhood directly east of the station. It has been Newark's Portuguese neighbourhood for more than a century, and Brazilian and Ecuadorian families have added to it since. Ferry Street, its main street, is lined with grills, seafood houses and bakeries. Take the station's Ferry Street exit and you're there in a few minutes.
These are the places we send our own guests to. All of them were open when we checked in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you go, especially on Mondays.
Sit-down dinners
Fornos of Spain · 47 Ferry St
About two blocks from the station, so it's the easiest first stop. Spanish food, known for its paella and sangria. Book ahead on a weekend. $$$
Seabra's Marisqueira · 87 Madison St, at Ferry St
A Portuguese seafood house that has been here since 1989. Order the grilled octopus, the garlic shrimp or the clams in green sauce. Busy, loud and worth it. $$
Adega Grill · 130 Ferry St
The special-occasion choice: Portuguese and Spanish cooking, seafood, and a long Portuguese wine list. Good for an anniversary or the last night of a trip. $$$
Sol-Mar · Ferry St
Family-run since 1957, with a patio in warm weather and a private room for groups. Portuguese and Mediterranean seafood. $$
Good for groups of four to six
Casa d'Paco · 73 Warwick St
A Spanish gastropub with tapas, paella and sangria, and a flamenco night on Thursdays. Easy to share plates, which makes it ideal for a group that can't agree on one dish. $$
Mompou Tapas Bar · 77 Ferry St
Tapas and wine: tortilla, albondigas, patatas bravas. A relaxed place to end a long day in the city. Check the hours first. $$
Quick, cheap and filling
Sabor Unido · 77 Jefferson St
Brazilian and Portuguese comfort food. Feijoada (the black bean stew) and moqueca (a fish stew). Eat well for a small price. $
Hobby's Delicatessen · 32 Branford Pl, downtown
On the other side of the station, downtown. A Newark institution for pastrami and corned beef, honoured by the city in 2026. Weekday lunch only, roughly 8am to 2:30pm. $$
Coffee and something sweet
Teixeira's Bakery · Ferry St
The pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) are the reason to stop. Opens early, so it's perfect on the way to a morning train. $
Our rule for first-time guests: walk Ferry Street once in the evening before you decide. Half the fun is following the smell of the grills.
Getting here from our place
Take the local 39 bus straight into Newark Penn Station, then walk out the Ferry Street side. The full route, with fares, is on our getting-around page. Heading on into New York afterwards? The same station has trains to New York Penn in about twenty minutes.
Stay with us, and we'll tell you where to eat
We're the hosts who live on the property, with two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a 4.74-star rating on Airbnb. Book direct for a few nights, or stay by the month from $2,400 furnished, lights, gas and internet included.
Check availabilityOr call or text 800-422-2082. Planning a holiday trip? Read the holidays in New York, from Newark.
Written by the team at H1 Enterprises, hosts in Newark, New Jersey. Nobody paid to be on this list. If a place on it closes or changes, tell us and we'll update the page. Own a rental in Newark? See how we help owners.