Hungry for something new? Welcome the newest Jersey City restaurant addition, Raval, a Barcelona-inspired tapas bar and cocktail lounge that opened on Wednesday, June 3^rd at 136 Newark Avenue.

Raval Jersey City is based on its historic counterpart, El Raval in Barcelona. Although the original location is known for its nightlife, cabarets and mischievous past, it has recently transformed into a popular destination for trendy Jersey City diners. Similar to Jersey City, the Spanish district of Barcelona has a diverse community and is home to many hip bars, art galleries, music venues, restaurants and nightlife spots.

Part-owner Michael Garcia divulged his long-term plan for the restaurant: "It's more of a tapas bar and cocktail lounge, so downstairs we're going to have some deejays and we're going to lay out a late-night menu.” The owners are also rolling out a brunch menu at the end of June, which will be offered on weekends from 11 AM to 3 PM.

The unique two-level layout of the restaurant features artwork from local Jersey City artists, including the hanging pieces that were hand-painted by Garcia’s father.  The majority of the bench designs and wall artwork in Raval were also painted by Lucky 7‘s bartender, Audrey Ryan. 

Executive Chef Michael Fiorianti designed Raval’s menu, which was inspired by a food-and-culture journey he took through Barcelona and Sevilla. With the help of Chef Ed Radich, former owner of Ox, they’ve created a menu of modern Spanish tapas, charcuterie, paella, sangrias and more. With a selection of more than 80 Spanish wines, Raval is a wine-lovers dream, too. 

Check out the menu here: http://ravaljc.com/menus/dinner-menu/. 

Raval is currently open from 5PM to 11PM Monday through Wednesday and from 5PM to 1AM Thursday through Sunday.

We’re definitely adding Raval to our must-try list this summer!

Website: www.ravaljc.com

Address: 136 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Phone: (201) 209-1099

Online Reservations: http://ravaljc.com/reservations/ 

Looking for the best Jersey City restaurants and bars for your next night out? Read our articles on things to do in Jersey City and more on living in Jersey City.