The Alps — Restaurant in Jersey City

Made it to a soft-opening on a Saturday with a few of my best friends whom I grew up skateboarding with. One of our friends is a partial owner here so it was an amazing reunion. He more than took care of us helping to navigate some very unique and tasty wines that aren’t so easy to find, some from the actual region of the Alps. This was the 3rd night they were open and it was full of interest, lots of folks popping in and out to check the vibe. The stock was nearly wiped out from what I heard and I was so happy for the crew running the show, that’s a great job. We tried most of the small plate appetizers and were pleased. I liked the patties the most and who doesn’t like little goodies like cornichons and real Gruyère on toasted baguette rounds? The atmosphere is chalet-like and spacious but not gargantuan, so it felt intimate. It’s a super clean and light aesthetic, not heavy and dark. It could easily be an airport bar. An added fireplace would make this an ideal AirBnB for me. Music isn’t blaring at you and you can hear your conversations. The back section is a lounge area which was well populated. I had to check out the pinball machine there which was a nice little break from my chatty crew. Go for the eclectic wines, friendly crowd, soft lighting, gorgeous bar and...

I’ve frequented Riverview Wine and love their unique selection of wines, along with spot-on recommendations by the guys who work there. This was my first visit to The Alps, and, oh man, what a great experience! The bar stools are the most comfortable I’ve ever sat in, the design of the place is stylish and attractive, the staff are friendly and helpful.

I asked for a white wine and was given a taste of two so I could narrow down my search. I went with the Trebbiano Abruzzo, which was both refreshing and full bodied - perfect for a hot summer day! Complemented by a generously portioned cheese plate, I enjoyed my wine in good company. The bartender, Lavender, was lovely and very attentive. She moved about with grace and always kept an eye on what might be needed.

The menu is a hit! So many good options. Looks like they stock artisanal and small-batch spirits, which makes the menu an adventure. Prices are decent and they also sponsor pop-up kitchens, to which they tailor drinks that night. I am so grateful to have a fly, low-key local place like this. It’s creative and inspires connection within the Heights community. Looking forward to...

IMO this place is a welcomed addition to the Heights if you like craft cocktails. The vibe is decent, the music is decent, the cocktails are decent and the trapper keeper menus are cute touch. The bartender was great. However, the bartending and the acoustics could be better. Adding few decorative sound panels could help the sound reverberation be more palatable. As for the cocktails, I had "Remember the Maine" and " The Alps Martini #1". Both were pre-made and poured from a pre-made bottle, which was disappointing but eh... I guess it's fine ... not what you want to see at a cocktail bar...

Two things that could make this spot better are actually crafting drinks in the moment and having a better accoustic set up so you can hear more of the music and bartenders (when at the bar) rather then the many conversations of every single person/patron around, reverberating off the walls.

Overall, I'm glad this place exists. Looking forward to revisiting in the future. And looking forward to cocktails made to order and better accoustics....