Guidebook for Gainesville
Food Scene
2 minute drive from our house. True international-level gastropub with full bar. Filled with friendly people and a grreat outdoor area for kids. It has quickly become many Gainesville foodie's favorite place these last few years.
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Public & General Restaurant
1000 NE 16th Ave2 minute drive from our house. True international-level gastropub with full bar. Filled with friendly people and a grreat outdoor area for kids. It has quickly become many Gainesville foodie's favorite place these last few years.
A Gainesville institution, smack in the middle of downtown. Great for brunch and dinner. Huge menu with nice burgers, pastas, and grill. Big, fun bar on one side of the restaurant. As one of Gainesvilles most popular restaurants, be prepared to wait if going on a Friday or Saturday night.
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The Top
30 North Main StreetA Gainesville institution, smack in the middle of downtown. Great for brunch and dinner. Huge menu with nice burgers, pastas, and grill. Big, fun bar on one side of the restaurant. As one of Gainesvilles most popular restaurants, be prepared to wait if going on a Friday or Saturday night.
Perhaps Gainesville's most iconic restaurant. An incredible amount of creativity and thought was put into the restaurant's construction, where you can dine in a hollowed out-van, catch local music in lounge made from re-purposed materials, or chill out in a greenhouse surrounded by stain glass.
Delicious pizza made-to-order, great salads, homemade sodas. If it's too crowded just order it takeout and wait int he back at the lounge, where there are plenty of table, a full bar, and live music on most nights.
No better place to bring kids in Gainesville in our opinion.
135 polecane przez mieszkańców
Satchel's Pizza
1800 NE 23rd AvePerhaps Gainesville's most iconic restaurant. An incredible amount of creativity and thought was put into the restaurant's construction, where you can dine in a hollowed out-van, catch local music in lounge made from re-purposed materials, or chill out in a greenhouse surrounded by stain glass.
Delicious pizza made-to-order, great salads, homemade sodas. If it's too crowded just order it takeout and wait int he back at the lounge, where there are plenty of table, a full bar, and live music on most nights.
No better place to bring kids in Gainesville in our opinion.
As someone who spent most of his twenties in China, I can say that this is the place to go if you want real Chinese food in Gainesville. They have hot pot, dry pot (gan guo), and lots of authentic dishes from a variety of regional cuisines. In particular, they excel most at Hunanese and Sichuanese dishes. Good value for real Chinese.
Gator Suyaki
As someone who spent most of his twenties in China, I can say that this is the place to go if you want real Chinese food in Gainesville. They have hot pot, dry pot (gan guo), and lots of authentic dishes from a variety of regional cuisines. In particular, they excel most at Hunanese and Sichuanese dishes. Good value for real Chinese.
One of Gainesville's most beloved restaurants. Cheap, authentic Mexican food. This isn't tex-mex, it's what a Mexican grandmother might cook for you.
Big menu with cheap prices. Tacos, soups, steaks, and so much more. The center of Gainesville's Mexican expat community.
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La Tienda
2204 SW 13th StOne of Gainesville's most beloved restaurants. Cheap, authentic Mexican food. This isn't tex-mex, it's what a Mexican grandmother might cook for you.
Big menu with cheap prices. Tacos, soups, steaks, and so much more. The center of Gainesville's Mexican expat community.
Best sushi in town right in the middle of downtown. Nice bar and cocktails also.
Big tip: Go there from 5-7 on Monday-Thursday for happy hour. It's one of the best deals in town. There is a sushi happy hour menu and very good cocktail deals. It's possible to fill up on sushi and have a few high-quality cocktails for $25-30 USD per person
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Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company
201 SE 2nd AveBest sushi in town right in the middle of downtown. Nice bar and cocktails also.
Big tip: Go there from 5-7 on Monday-Thursday for happy hour. It's one of the best deals in town. There is a sushi happy hour menu and very good cocktail deals. It's possible to fill up on sushi and have a few high-quality cocktails for $25-30 USD per person
Real great bakery near our house. Homemade sourdough bread, nice coffee, pastries, and a great place to sit and talk or work on a laptop.
21 polecane przez mieszkańców
Vine Sourdough Bakery
627 N Main StReal great bakery near our house. Homemade sourdough bread, nice coffee, pastries, and a great place to sit and talk or work on a laptop.
This is a really cool complex in North Gainesville.
It has a vegan restaurant which is easily one of the best veggie options in town. Really nice and casual selections -- recommend the thai curry roti or the jackfruit quesadilla.
The complex also has a separate coffee shop. I would rank it the second best coffee in town but with the best ambiance.
There also is a gallery and vintage shop in the complex. You can google search curia on the drag for a list of events at the gallery. Lots of nice shows and other events.
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Curia On The Drag
2029 NW 6th StThis is a really cool complex in North Gainesville.
It has a vegan restaurant which is easily one of the best veggie options in town. Really nice and casual selections -- recommend the thai curry roti or the jackfruit quesadilla.
The complex also has a separate coffee shop. I would rank it the second best coffee in town but with the best ambiance.
There also is a gallery and vintage shop in the complex. You can google search curia on the drag for a list of events at the gallery. Lots of nice shows and other events.
Classic breakfast right next to the house. Very nice, well lit interior. Definitely a step above average breakfast food in America, but for roughly the same price. Good for kids, lots of veggie options.
Note that it is closed on Saturdays!
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East End Eatery
1202 NE 8th AveClassic breakfast right next to the house. Very nice, well lit interior. Definitely a step above average breakfast food in America, but for roughly the same price. Good for kids, lots of veggie options.
Note that it is closed on Saturdays!
A classic high-end coffee shop serving the best coffee in town. Pour-overs, ridiculously fine hot chocolates, the finest espressos, a little bit of attitude if you ask to add milk...
Every town has to have a place like this, and I still can't help but love it. In the downtown area, good ambiance inside.
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Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate
48 SW 2nd StA classic high-end coffee shop serving the best coffee in town. Pour-overs, ridiculously fine hot chocolates, the finest espressos, a little bit of attitude if you ask to add milk...
Every town has to have a place like this, and I still can't help but love it. In the downtown area, good ambiance inside.
Drinks & Nightlife
Gainesville's fine cocktail bar. Cozy atmosphere and really good drinks. Cocktails prices are good by international standards but a little pricey for Gainesville.
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The Dime
4 E University AveGainesville's fine cocktail bar. Cozy atmosphere and really good drinks. Cocktails prices are good by international standards but a little pricey for Gainesville.
Come here if you like both drinking and gaming! Really cool bar with three levels, two bars, and all sorts of old and new school arcade games.
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Arcade Bar
6 E University AveCome here if you like both drinking and gaming! Really cool bar with three levels, two bars, and all sorts of old and new school arcade games.
In my opinion, this is one of Gainesville's most important bars and community centers. The proprietor Jacob is a former pastor and family counselor who has devoted himself to bringing Gainesville closer together through this place.
There is live music there every night, events and community meet-ups earlier in the evening almost every night, and some of the friendliest bartenders in town.
The best place in town for solo travelers looking to make friends and find conversation. Also very family friendly.
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The Bull
18 SW 1st AveIn my opinion, this is one of Gainesville's most important bars and community centers. The proprietor Jacob is a former pastor and family counselor who has devoted himself to bringing Gainesville closer together through this place.
There is live music there every night, events and community meet-ups earlier in the evening almost every night, and some of the friendliest bartenders in town.
The best place in town for solo travelers looking to make friends and find conversation. Also very family friendly.
We love this bar. There is live music and events there frequently, and it's outside in a park with a large beer garden, nicely lit in the evenings. Such a good place for families. Parents can have a drink, kids can run around in the park, and both can enjoy live music!
9 polecane przez mieszkańców
Boxcar Beer and Wine Garden
201 SE Depot AveWe love this bar. There is live music and events there frequently, and it's outside in a park with a large beer garden, nicely lit in the evenings. Such a good place for families. Parents can have a drink, kids can run around in the park, and both can enjoy live music!
Very unique music venue. Bar on outside, soundstage on the inside where the audience watches acts in silence in the classic theatrical way. For music lovers who want to enjoy local and regional acts in as intimate of a setting as possible. Check out the schedule on their website : https://heartwoodsoundstage.com/ .
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Heartwood Soundstage
619 S Main StVery unique music venue. Bar on outside, soundstage on the inside where the audience watches acts in silence in the classic theatrical way. For music lovers who want to enjoy local and regional acts in as intimate of a setting as possible. Check out the schedule on their website : https://heartwoodsoundstage.com/ .
This is the place to drink if you like to play pool or ping pong!
24 polecane przez mieszkańców
Palomino Pool Hall
19 SE 2nd PlThis is the place to drink if you like to play pool or ping pong!
This is the place to go for local music - punk, funk, jazz -- so much more. Check out the schedule at its website.
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The Atlantic Nightspot
15 N Main StThis is the place to go for local music - punk, funk, jazz -- so much more. Check out the schedule at its website.
A local brewery with really nice beers. Large and open space with games, outdoor space, and sometime live music. Really nice for families. I'm a fan of dark beers and really like their porter.
55 polecane przez mieszkańców
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company
1001 NW 4th StA local brewery with really nice beers. Large and open space with games, outdoor space, and sometime live music. Really nice for families. I'm a fan of dark beers and really like their porter.
Probably my favorite local brewery in town. They have a huge selection of beers and a really large family-friendly space. The proximity to Deport Park is another plus. So many great beers, but if you have a thing for sour beers try their hoppy golden sour. Very interested yet well-balanced and drinkable brew.
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First Magnitude Brewing Company
1220 SE Veitch StProbably my favorite local brewery in town. They have a huge selection of beers and a really large family-friendly space. The proximity to Deport Park is another plus. So many great beers, but if you have a thing for sour beers try their hoppy golden sour. Very interested yet well-balanced and drinkable brew.
Parks & Nature
This is a really great park with something for everyone. Kids love it for its open spaces and large playground. Adults love it because there is a bar next to the playground (boxcar) and a bodega with really nice food (pop-a-top).
It's also the beginning of the Hawthorne Bike Trail. So you can bring your bikes and bike for a bit on the thirty mile trail.
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Depot Park
874 SE 4 StThis is a really great park with something for everyone. Kids love it for its open spaces and large playground. Adults love it because there is a bar next to the playground (boxcar) and a bodega with really nice food (pop-a-top).
It's also the beginning of the Hawthorne Bike Trail. So you can bring your bikes and bike for a bit on the thirty mile trail.
Incredible aqua and teal spring north of town. The best swimming hole in the area. One of the best experience this area has to offer.
It has a standard FL state park entrance fee.
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Stanowy Park Gilchrist Blue Springs
7450 NE 60th StIncredible aqua and teal spring north of town. The best swimming hole in the area. One of the best experience this area has to offer.
It has a standard FL state park entrance fee.
One of the classic North-Central Florida experiences. I have tubed down tropical rivers in Thailand and Laos that draw millions of visitors. This is better with way less people, although it does get crowded during the summer. Tip: come earlier in the day.
You should read a guide before doing it, like this one: https://www.jaxmomsblog.com/things-to-do/10-tips-for-tubing-the-ichetucknee-springs/ .
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Ichetucknee Springs
One of the classic North-Central Florida experiences. I have tubed down tropical rivers in Thailand and Laos that draw millions of visitors. This is better with way less people, although it does get crowded during the summer. Tip: come earlier in the day.
You should read a guide before doing it, like this one: https://www.jaxmomsblog.com/things-to-do/10-tips-for-tubing-the-ichetucknee-springs/ .
This is close to the house and a really nice place to go for walk around sunset. You are very likely to see lots of wildlife here from the raised boardwalk trail, including gators, wild boar, countless birds, and sometimes even wild bison and horses.
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La Chua Trail
La Chua TrailThis is close to the house and a really nice place to go for walk around sunset. You are very likely to see lots of wildlife here from the raised boardwalk trail, including gators, wild boar, countless birds, and sometimes even wild bison and horses.
Huge prairie area south of town good for bike-riding and walking along trails. Also lots of picnic areas.
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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
100 Savannah BlvdHuge prairie area south of town good for bike-riding and walking along trails. Also lots of picnic areas.
One of my favorite activities in Gainesville. It's a 16-mile paved trail that runs from Gainesville to the nearby city of Hawthorne, the entirety of which goes through stunning natural areas (32 miles in total -- you take the same trail back). You will pass by prairie, lakes, swamps, and so much more all while seeing lots of wildlife. The trail starts near Depot Park. Tip: Get some ice cream or other snacks at Pop-a-Top in Depot Park when you finish with the trail.
Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail
Gainesville-Hawthorne State TrailOne of my favorite activities in Gainesville. It's a 16-mile paved trail that runs from Gainesville to the nearby city of Hawthorne, the entirety of which goes through stunning natural areas (32 miles in total -- you take the same trail back). You will pass by prairie, lakes, swamps, and so much more all while seeing lots of wildlife. The trail starts near Depot Park. Tip: Get some ice cream or other snacks at Pop-a-Top in Depot Park when you finish with the trail.