(Dined/Drank 09/22/2026 TU @ 5:00pm): A tiki bar "hidden" in this cellar located at 335 Newark Ave!…read more
In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City and specifically the Heights, I was excited to visit the only tiki bar in the area... Cellar 335. If you knew me, I was all about the tiki culture, aloha shirts, boardshorts, and flip-flops. So, when I found out about this place at the 2025 All About Downtown Street Fair, I made a point to get here the next time I was in town. Founded by renowned chef Jamie Knott and business partner Bob Palmer in 2016, they were celebrating their 10-year anniversary as of this review. Would I return to this cellar address for some exotic escapism!?
PURCHASE(S)
Brain Freeze Frozen Daiquiri Cocktail ($5.00 HH): Made with Probitas rum, lime, and spirulina, this was an interesting intro to this place, but I rolled with it. I loved the color while the drink itself was fine.
Korean Style Chicken Wings w/Garlic-Soy 6pc ($10.00 HH): Honestly, these were da bomb! Plump, an amazing crispy crunch, and juicy tenderness paired with the finger-licking sauce I chose, one order was perfect, but another would've been diabolically perfect!
Avocado Fried Rice Shared Plate ($10.00 HH): Made with napa cabbage, egg, sesame, and soy sauce all topped with thin slices of avocado, I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size, the tastiness of this dish, and the avocado added such an intriguing flavor. Fried rice shouldn't be praised to the tiki gods, but this dish deserved to be!I wasn't sharing this with anyone.
Shaken Daiquiri Cocktail ($5.00 HH): A straight-up daiquiri made with light rum, lime, and sugar, it wet my whistle, but I wanted something more.
Mango Crusader Cocktail ($14.00): Made with mango, allspice, citrus, and rum, you had me at mango! Seriously, this tropical elixir was mangonificent!
Coconut Buster Cocktail ($14.00): Made with guava, almond, orange, coconut, and rum, the almond flavor (orgeat?) stood out the most for me... and I was fine with that.
Housemade Cornbread Snack ($6.00): Made with honey, butter, parmesan, and scallion, this was the furthest from anything tiki, but this tropical take on a southern peasant dish did right by me with its moistness and the dried coconut shavings.
SERVICE
I was warmly greeted by a friendly woman whom I believed was the manager, and a young man fresh on the job behind the bar when I casually staked a barstool close to the end of the bar. While my drinks and food orders, respectively, were dealt with swiftly, the woman provided cool information about the place. After a couple hours of enjoying the atmosphere, I settled the bill and said my salutations - mahalo!
PARKING
(FREE; N/A this instance): This was a moot point since I walked the flat 20-minute distance from my friend's place. No parking lots in sight, there seemed to be random spots along the main drag of Newark Ave. and all surrounding side streets - 'nuff said.
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
A cavernous-like dark spacious cellar with a festive long bar directly on your left and a room filled with a ton of tables and some cool framed pictures and murals on the walls. Minimal natural lighting came through the front door and windows while dim electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. I didn't notice any TVs nor recall any background music except for the growing conversations as people rolled in.
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in an aloha shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
OVERALL
I would definitely return to Cellar 335 to try more of their cocktail concoctions and delectable dishes. I lived a sort of tiki lifestyle, this place did a very good job representing that, and they were the only tiki-specific place in town as far as I knew. Also this first visit was strictly to check out the limited happy hour (MO-TH 5pm-6pm), I was sold on what they were offering. I loved the two dishes and traditional tropical cocktails I ordered, but the daiquiris kind of fell flat for me. The prices were elevated, the service was friendly and personal, and the experience was chill and laid back (as it should be!) as I spoke with strangers who sat next to me. Oddly enough, I felt the place wasn't kitschy enough. Plus, I always preferred to support small mom & pop businesses. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $69.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS