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Where to eat in Princeton
Princeton is a small New Jersey town around the university, with most of its eating on Nassau Street, Witherspoon Street and Palmer Square. It eats hoagies at Hoagie Haven, pancakes at PJ's, thin-crust pies at Conte's and scratch-made ice cream at The Bent Spoon. Dinner means Scott Anderson's Elements and Mistral on Witherspoon, or Agricola's farm cooking.
Princeton at a glance What to eat Late-night hoagie; Thin-crust pizza; Ice cream; Pancakes and crepes; Farm-to-table dinner. When to go Best: May and September–October. Also good: April, June and November. Hardest: January–February. Top tables This guide lists 4 award-winning restaurants, starting with Elements, Mistral, Agricola and The Bent Spoon. Where locals eat Local favorites off the prestige lists include Hoagie Haven, PJ's Pancake House, The Bent Spoon and Thomas Sweet. Markets West Windsor Community Farmers Market, Princeton University Farmers' Market and Princeton Farmers' Market. 25 places in Princeton, ready to save to your trip
What is in the 25 4 award-winning11 local favorites2 hot right now3 markets5 walking tour stops9 chef's picks2 sandwich shops5 romantic dinners5 breakfast spots3 new openings14 dish spots
Browse all 25
Food walking tour: A day on Nassau and Witherspoon: pancakes, a hoagie, ice cream and a Witherspoon dinner 12.0 hours on foot, 5 stops, in eating order. Add the whole tour to your trip, then give it a day.
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Chef Amazing picks: where to eat in Princeton Scott Anderson's two restaurants at 66 Witherspoon, Agricola's farm cooking, the late-night hoagie and The Bent Spoon's ice cream, then a 1950 pizza bar, Nassau Street pancakes, a Reuben to go, chicken shoyu ramen and Thomas Sweet's blend-ins.
The well-known five Elements Downtown
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best New American tasting menus $$$$
Order: The tasting menu
Scott Anderson's tasting-menu room, on New Jersey Monthly's statewide best list.
Best for: celebration dinner · Reserve: book ahead · Hours: Dinner Wed-Sat
66 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
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Mistral Downtown
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Small plates $$$
Order: Several plates to share
Scott Anderson's shared-plates room below Elements.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: book ahead
66 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
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Agricola Downtown
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Farm-to-table American $$$
Order: Vegetables from Great Road Farm; cinnamon rolls at brunch
Fenwick Hospitality's dining room, cooking from its own farm in Skillman.
Best for: dinner or brunch · Reserve: book ahead
11 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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Hoagie Haven Nassau Street (east end)
Hoagies $
Order: The Phat Lady or a Sanchez
The town's late-night hoagie, run by the Maltabes family since 2005.
Best for: late night · Reserve: walk-in
242 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ
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The Bent Spoon Palmer Square
Thrillist best ice cream shops in America Ice cream $
Order: The newest seasonal flavor; hot chocolate in winter
Scratch-made ice cream from local farm ingredients, on Thrillist's national best list.
Best for: dessert · Reserve: walk-in
35 Palmer Square W, Princeton, NJ
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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The discoveries Conte's Pizza Witherspoon Street
Pizza $$
Order: Thin-crust pepperoni pie
Princeton's first pizza, served in 1950; it marked 75 years in August 2025.
Best for: dinner · Reserve: walk-in (put your name in and order)
339 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
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PJ's Pancake House Nassau Street
Breakfast $$
Order: Pancakes, or the Trenton pork roll, egg and cheese
On Nassau Street since 1962.
Best for: breakfast · Reserve: walk-in
154 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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Purinsu Ramen Witherspoon Street
Ramen $$
Order: Chicken shoyu ramen
A small ramen shop just off Nassau Street.
Best for: lunch or dinner · Reserve: walk-in
32 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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Thomas Sweet Nassau Street
Ice cream $
Order: A blend-in
Toppings mixed into the ice cream to order.
Best for: dessert · Reserve: walk-in
183 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ
Worth confirming: hours and that it is still open.
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Showing only the picks we could confirm are open. The rest are still being checked.
New and buzzing in Princeton Restaurants that opened or relaunched recently, from current opening guides. In no ranked order.
Hudson Table New opening reported
Princeton Shopping Center · Cooking school and restaurant
A cooking school with a dining room at the Princeton Shopping Center.
Order: A cooking class, or dinner
Food Street New opening reported
Nassau Street · Halal
A halal spot on Nassau Street, tucked behind Thomas Sweet.
Order: Halal plates
Bread Boutique New opening reported
Witherspoon Street · Bakery
A bakery moving downtown.
Order: Bread and pastry
16 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ
New places change fast. “Provisional” means a guide or directory lists it as new but we have not confirmed the opening date. Check hours and book ahead before you go.
Memorable breakfasts in Princeton Five places chosen for the food, the room, the history or the local character. In no ranked order.
PJ's Pancake House Nassau Street
Order: Pancakes
A Nassau Street breakfast since 1962.
Weekend lines.
Small World Coffee Witherspoon Street
Order: A coffee roasted in Rocky Hill
Princeton's coffee house since 1993, with a second cafe on Nassau Street.
Jammin' Crepes Nassau Street
Order: A sweet or savory crepe
A crepe cafe on local breakfast lists.
Agricola Downtown
Order: Cinnamon rolls at brunch
Farm cooking at weekend brunch.
Book ahead.
The Perch at Peacock Inn Bayard Lane
Order: Weekend brunch
Brunch in the Peacock Inn's dining room.
Weekends only.
Orders are suggestions, not guaranteed menu items. Confirm opening hours and morning service before you go.
Sandwich shops in Princeton Five sandwich counters worth the trip: delis, bakeries, market stalls and local styles. In no ranked order.
Hoagie Haven Nassau Street
Hoagie shop Order: The Phat Lady
Princeton's late-night hoagie
PJ's Pancake House Nassau Street
Breakfast sandwich Order: Trenton pork roll, egg and cheese on a kaiser roll
New Jersey's breakfast sandwich at the pancake house
Picks come from press and guide coverage. We have not confirmed opening hours or current menus for every shop, so check before you go.
Romantic dinners in Princeton Ten tables that come up again and again for date night, anniversaries and quiet candlelit evenings. In no ranked order.
The Perch at Peacock Inn Bayard Lane
Romantic dinner Elements Downtown
Romantic dinner Mediterra Palmer Square
Romantic dinner La Mezzaluna Downtown
Romantic dinner Yankee Doodle Tap Room Palmer Square (Nassau Inn)
Romantic dinner Picks come from romantic-dinner lists on booking and review sites. Confirm dinner service, menus and availability before you book.
Food walking tour
A day on Nassau and Witherspoon: pancakes, a hoagie, ice cream and a Witherspoon dinner Pancakes at PJ's, a hoagie at Hoagie Haven, coffee at Small World, a scoop at The Bent Spoon and dinner at Mistral, all on foot.
Start 8:30 at PJ's Pancake House, 154 Nassau StTime 12.0 hoursDistance about 3.0 kmBest days A fall weekday, or a Wednesday in September and October when the campus farmers market is on.
Princeton's eating sits on two streets that meet at Palmer Square. Start with pancakes on Nassau, walk east for a hoagie, come back for coffee on Witherspoon, cross to Palmer Square for ice cream and end at Mistral.
1
PJ's Pancake House Sit-down Nassau Street
Order: Pancakes
A Nassau Street breakfast since 1962.
The line: Weekend lines
Around 8:30 · 60 min · $$
154 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ 9 min · 700 m on foot (approx.): East along Nassau Street past the campus.
2
Hoagie Haven sandwich Nassau Street (east end)
Order: The Phat Lady or a Sanchez
Princeton's hoagie counter, run by the Maltabes family.
The line: A line on weekend nights
Around 12:00 · 30 min · $
242 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ 16 min · 1300 m on foot (approx.): Back west along Nassau Street, then right onto Witherspoon.
3
Small World Coffee Cafe Witherspoon Street
Order: Coffee roasted in Rocky Hill
Princeton's coffee house since 1993.
Around 14:30 · 40 min · $
14 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08542
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ 3 min · 200 m on foot (approx.): Around the corner onto Palmer Square West.
4
The Bent Spoon Street food Palmer Square
Order: The newest seasonal flavor
Scratch-made ice cream from local farm ingredients.
The line: A line on warm days that moves fast
Around 16:00 · 30 min · $
35 Palmer Square W, Princeton, NJ 08542
Worth confirming: opening hours.
↓ 6 min · 450 m on foot (approx.): North up Witherspoon Street past the library.
5
Mistral Sit-down Downtown
Order: Several small plates to share
Scott Anderson's shared plates, on New Jersey Monthly's statewide best list.
The line: Book ahead
Around 18:30 · 105 min · $$$
66 Witherspoon St, Princeton, NJ 08542
Worth confirming: opening hours.
Pacing: Split the hoagie; it is big, and dinner is small plates.
Plan B: No Mistral table: a thin-crust pie at Conte's, a ten-minute walk up Witherspoon.
Avoid: Reunions weekend in late May and Princeton home-football Saturdays, when tables are scarce.
Bring: Comfortable shoes and room for two desserts.
Skip it if: Skip Hoagie Haven on a hot day and go straight to The Bent Spoon.
Ends at: Mistral, 66 Witherspoon St.
Walking times and distances are approximate, and opening hours change: confirm before you go.
Hot right now in Princeton What people are lining up for and posting about this month. Entries expire after about four months unless they are reported again.
Hot now Reported 2026
Hudson Table Princeton Shopping Center
The thing: Cooking classes and dinner
New in 2026, per the Princeton Echo.
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Always a line Last confirmed Aug 2025
Conte's Pizza Witherspoon Street · $$
The thing: Thin-crust pies
The line: 30 minutes to an hour on weekend nights
Marked 75 years of serving Princeton's first pizza in August 2025.
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Crazes move fast. “Just spotted” means one report so far, and most entries rest on a single source: confirm hours and expect a wait.
Tell us what is hot in Princeton Plan my days in Princeton Tell us what you like and we will line up the places on this page into a day-by-day plan. Only places from this guide, never anything else.
What to eat in Princeton, and where Each dish comes with the places that do it best. Tap Add to my trip on the ones you want, or find them on the map above.
Late-night hoagie Overstuffed Nassau Street hoagies, some with fries inside
The best place to eat it in Princeton
1 Hoagie Haven
Nassau Street (east end) · $
Order: The Phat Lady (cheesesteak, fries, mozzarella sticks) or the Sanchez
The Princeton hoagie, best late at night.
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Thin-crust pizza Crisp bar pies and wood-fired pizza
The 3 best places to eat it in Princeton
1 Conte's Pizza
Witherspoon Street · $$
Order: Pepperoni pie
Thin, crisp bar pies since 1950.
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2 Nomad Pizza
Princeton · $$
Order: A wood-fired pie
Named in the student paper's cheese-pizza comparison and pictured in New Jersey Monthly's Princeton guide.
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3 Pizza Den
Princeton · $
Order: A plain pie
Named best pizza in Central New Jersey by a national website.
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Ice cream Scratch-made seasonal scoops and blend-ins
The 3 best places to eat it in Princeton
1 The Bent Spoon
Palmer Square · $
Order: The newest seasonal flavor
Scratch-made with local ingredients; hundreds of flavors have rotated through.
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2 Thomas Sweet
Nassau Street · $
Order: A blend-in
Toppings mixed in to order.
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3 Halo Pub
Hulfish Street · $
Order: A hand-scooped cone
A small shop by the public library.
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Pancakes and crepes Princeton's weekend breakfast
The 2 best places to eat it in Princeton
1 PJ's Pancake House
Nassau Street · $$
Order: Pancakes
Since 1962, with weekend lines.
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2 Jammin' Crepes
Nassau Street · $$
Order: A sweet or savory crepe
A crepe cafe on local breakfast lists.
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Farm-to-table dinner New Jersey produce on Witherspoon Street
The 3 best places to eat it in Princeton
1 Agricola
Downtown · $$$
Order: Whatever Great Road Farm is growing
Cooking from its own farm in Skillman.
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2 Elements
Downtown · $$$$
Order: The tasting menu
Scott Anderson's seasonal tasting menus.
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3 Mistral
Downtown · $$$
Order: Small plates to share
Anderson's shared plates downstairs.
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Ramen Two noodle shops a block apart
The 2 best places to eat it in Princeton
1 Purinsu Ramen
Witherspoon Street · $$
Order: Chicken shoyu ramen
A small shop off Nassau Street.
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2 Ani Ramen House
Nassau Street · $$
Order: Ramen with house-made broth
BYOB, with weekend brunch.
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The most celebrated tables The top 4 restaurants in Princeton, per 2026.
More award winners
Elements Downtown (Witherspoon St) · New American tasting menus · Chef Scott Anderson · $$$$
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey
Scott Anderson's tasting-menu room upstairs at 66 Witherspoon; named on New Jersey Monthly's statewide best list (Patch report, year not given).
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Mistral Downtown (Witherspoon St) · Small plates · Chef Scott Anderson · $$$
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey
Scott Anderson's shared-plates restaurant at street level, below Elements; on the same statewide list.
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Agricola Downtown (Witherspoon St) · Farm-to-table American · $$$
New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey
Fenwick Hospitality's dining room, cooking from its own Great Road Farm in Skillman.
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The Bent Spoon Palmer Square · Ice cream · $
Thrillist list of the best ice cream shops in America
Named on Thrillist's national list, as reported by 6abc.
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When to go and what is in season Princeton food calendar: month by month → What is in season, what to eat and the food festivals each month.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Peak May, Sep–Oct Shoulder Apr, Jun, Nov Hard Jan–Feb
Why these months Fall brings the Wednesday university farmers market, the Saturday West Windsor market and Bent Spoon's apple, cranberry and pumpkin flavors. Late May is Reunions, when alumni fill the town. Summer is quieter downtown with sweet corn ice cream. Princeton Restaurant Week ran March 1 to 7 in 2026.
In season Sweet corn ice cream Jul–Aug A summer flavor at The Bent Spoon. Apple, cranberry and pumpkin ice cream Oct–Nov The Bent Spoon's fall flavors. New Jersey produce May–Nov At the Saturday West Windsor market, May to November. Food events Princeton Restaurant Week Mar The 2026 edition ran March 1 to 7. West Windsor Community Farmers Market May Saturdays 9am to 1pm, May 3 to November 22, 2026, at Princeton Junction station. Princeton University Farmers' Market Sep Wednesdays on campus; the fall 2026 season ran September 2 to October 28. Closures to plan around Elements serves dinner Wednesday to Saturday only. The Perch at Peacock Inn is closed Monday and Tuesday for dinner; check before going. PJ's Pancake House and Jammin' Crepes are breakfast and lunch places. Hoagie Haven's hours are shorter than its old 1am closing; check before a late visit. From published guides and tourism boards. Months are our mapping of how guides describe the seasons; 2027 event dates are expected, not confirmed. Prices come from single sources of varying age, so treat them as a rough guide. Compare cities by month
Every place we have in Princeton (25) Search or filter, then tap Add to my trip. Places you add go straight into your trip planner.
All 25 Award-winning 4 Local favorites 11 Hot right now 2 Markets 3 Walking tour stops 5 Chef's picks 9 Sandwich shops 2 Romantic dinners 5 Breakfast spots 5 New openings 3 Dish spots 14
All neighborhoods Nassau Street (4) Downtown (Witherspoon St) (3) Palmer Square (2) Princeton (2) Witherspoon Street (2) Bayard Lane (1) Downtown (1) Hulfish Street (1) Nassau Street (east end) (1) Palmer Square (Nassau Inn) (1) Princeton Shopping Center (1) Witherspoon Street and Nassau Street (1)
Agricola Award-winning Dish spots Chef's picks Breakfast spots Downtown (Witherspoon St) · New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey · Farm-to-table American · $$$
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Elements Award-winning Dish spots Chef's picks Romantic dinners Downtown (Witherspoon St) · New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey · New American tasting menus · $$$$
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Mistral Award-winning Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks Downtown (Witherspoon St) · New Jersey Monthly 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey · Small plates · $$$
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The Bent Spoon Award-winning Local favorites Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks Palmer Square · Thrillist list of the best ice cream shops in America · Ice cream · $
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Ani Ramen House Local favorites Dish spots Nassau Street · casual
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Conte's Pizza Local favorites Hot right now Dish spots Chef's picks Witherspoon Street · classic
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Halo Pub Local favorites Dish spots Hulfish Street · street-food
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Hoagie Haven Local favorites Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks Sandwich shops Nassau Street (east end) · sandwich
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Jammin' Crepes Local favorites Dish spots Breakfast spots Nassau Street · cafe
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Pizza Den Local favorites Dish spots Princeton · casual
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PJ's Pancake House Local favorites Walking tour stops Dish spots Chef's picks Sandwich shops Breakfast spots Nassau Street · classic
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Purinsu Ramen Local favorites Dish spots Chef's picks Witherspoon Street · casual
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Small World Coffee Local favorites Walking tour stops Breakfast spots Witherspoon Street and Nassau Street · cafe
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Thomas Sweet Local favorites Dish spots Chef's picks Nassau Street · street-food
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Hudson Table Hot right now New openings Princeton Shopping Center · Cooking classes and dinner
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Princeton Farmers' Market Markets Farmers market
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Princeton University Farmers' Market Markets Farmers market
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West Windsor Community Farmers Market Markets Farmers market
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La Mezzaluna Romantic dinners Downtown · Romantic dinner
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Mediterra Romantic dinners Palmer Square · Romantic dinner
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The Perch at Peacock Inn Romantic dinners Breakfast spots Bayard Lane · Romantic dinner
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Yankee Doodle Tap Room Romantic dinners Palmer Square (Nassau Inn) · Romantic dinner
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Bread Boutique New openings New opening
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Food Street New openings New opening
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Nomad Pizza Dish spots Princeton · Thin-crust pizza
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Show 25 more Secret discoveries
Locally loved places that are not on the big prestige lists.
sandwich
Hoagie Haven Nassau Street (east end) · $
Order: The Phat Lady (cheesesteak with fries and mozzarella sticks) or a Sanchez
Princeton's late-night hoagie counter, run by the Maltabes family since 2005.
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classic
PJ's Pancake House Nassau Street · $$
Order: Pancakes, or the Trenton pork roll, egg and cheese
On Nassau Street since 1962; students and families line up on weekends.
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street-food
The Bent Spoon Palmer Square · $
Order: Whatever seasonal flavor is new that day, and hot chocolate in winter
Ice cream made from scratch with local farm ingredients by Gab Carbone and Matt Errico; the flavors rotate constantly.
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street-food
Thomas Sweet Nassau Street · $
Order: A blend-in: toppings mixed into the ice cream to order
A Nassau Street ice cream shop known for its blend-ins.
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street-food
Halo Pub Hulfish Street · $
Order: A hand-scooped cone
A small scoop shop tucked next to the public library, tied to Halo Farm.
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classic
Conte's Pizza Witherspoon Street · $$
Order: Thin-crust pepperoni pie and a cold, crisp salad
Served Princeton's first pizza on October 13, 1950; a bar with thin, crisp pies.
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cafe
Small World Coffee Witherspoon Street and Nassau Street · $
Order: Coffee roasted by Small World in Rocky Hill
Opened at 14 Witherspoon Street in December 1993; a second cafe on Nassau Street opened in 2006.
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cafe
Jammin' Crepes Nassau Street · $$
Order: A sweet or savory crepe
A breakfast and lunch crepe cafe that keeps turning up on local breakfast lists.
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casual
Purinsu Ramen Witherspoon Street · $$
Order: Chicken shoyu ramen
A small ramen shop on Witherspoon just off Nassau.
Seen in
NJ 101.5 · worth confirming hours before you go
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casual
Ani Ramen House Nassau Street · $$
Order: Ramen with house-made broth, and bao
A BYOB ramen house at 140 Nassau Street with weekend brunch.
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casual
Pizza Den Princeton · $
Order: A plain pie
Named best pizza in Central New Jersey by a national website, per Community News.
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Food markets in Princeton
Plan a food trip to Princeton
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More in North America
Awards come from the guides named on each listing (2026). Researched November 7, 2026. Restaurants change; confirm hours, reservations and current stars before you go. Some addresses, phone numbers and websites come from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), so call ahead to confirm. Local favorites are editorial picks, not rankings.
Chef Amazing’s lists for Princeton : where locals eat, new openings, romantic dinners, ice cream, cooking classes and more, each place with what to order. Cooking classes in Princeton : who teaches, what you cook, how long and how to book.
Every place in this guide, A to Z (22) 