Whether it’s UF students drunkenly complaining as they wait in hour-long lines outside of crusty midtown bars (while refusing to go anywhere else) or complacent citizens who have yet to sip a cocktail in a new location since the summer of ’88, people talk a lot of shit about Gainesville nightlife.
This guide is not for those people.
This guide is for the people who embrace our growing city and love it for its quirky, disjointed awesomeness. This guide is for the people that respect the local nightlife spots (and the hard-working people who run those spots) that make downtown Gainesville, well, downtown Gainesville. This guide is for the people who will smile knowingly at the places on the list they already love and curiously venture over to the places on the list they haven’t yet tried.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of every single bar/club/venue in downtown Gainesville. These are places picked by the GainesvilleScene team. We don’t recommend places we haven’t been to or don’t enjoy.
The Atlantic
The Atlantic answers the question “Where can I be as sloppy as I want to be, but still be a snob about the music and draught beer?” It’s a funky night club filled with good vibes and good dance moves (or at least when you’re drunk they seem good).
Rockey’s Dueling Piano Bar
For those of you who love to sing and know absolutely no person should hear you (sober or otherwise), this is the place for you. The dueling piano venue boasts lively musicians that play both classics (Bohemian Rhapsody is always a favorite) and current Top 40 by request. It’s a bit classier than a dive bar, but you can still wear jeans and keep it casual. Ladies, you can drink free 8 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays. Now that’s something worth singing about.
Tall Paul’s Brew House
Tall Paul’s combines a jazzy indoor/outdoor feel with a wide selection of brews from both near and far. Bring a group of friends and challenge each other to a friendly game of foosball or jumbo-sized connect or simply try a beer you’ve never had and listen to the band. Head there on a Thursday night to take advantage of their $10 all-you-can drink specials from 8 to 10 p.m.
The Dime
The little retro bar tucked beside the Pop-a-Top on 4 East University Ave. is must-try spot in downtown Gainesville. The grey, black and red patterned decor, old school chic atmosphere and amazing cocktails define this tiny bar. Come with a few friends or chill alone and watch one of the knowledgable bartenders tend the bar like a boss.
Whiskey House
The owners of WH really know their stuff and love talkin’ booze. It’s a great place to learn about what makes a whiskey good, bad, strong, weak, etc. There’s usually some low-key live music and a lot of space to relax in the lounge-y area. There’s also Tyrone. He’s a pug who hangs out in their bar. Who could say no to that?
The Midnight
This is an uber laid back spot where anything goes. You can grab a stein of beer and play games with friends, sip some sangria and do arts & crafts or simply hang out with the retro juke box. Their late night food menu is inexpensive and provides a solid base for craft brew consumption.
The Top
This delicious restaurant transitions into a fresh, friendly bar in the evenings. Token Tuesdays have become a staple for locals looking to barter their wooden chips for another mixed drink. The crowd is always diverse and easygoing and the bartenders are efficient and patient (most of the time). The Top is an all-around solid spot for nightly debauchery.
The Backyard/Palominos
For the indecisive nights when you want it all, make this your go-to destination. You can drink outside while listening to anything from a local band to bad karaoke covers of “I Will Survive.” Then you can go inside, drink some more, and play pool, darts, and foosball without having to wait forever. Repeat all of the above over and over any night of the week, and it will feel like a new experience each time.
High Dive
High Dive has been around forever under various different names, but one aspect has remained consistent: music is the heart and soul of the place. A ton of local bands play shows there and big name artists make their Gainesville pit stop at High Dive as well. Cheap beer, good tunes and the occasional food truck rally make High Dive a seriously cool downtown venue.
Mother’s Pub (preferably on a Tuesday)
Dark oak, dim lighting and Irish filled decor creates the ideal sports bar setting for $2 domestics, $3 crafts and $3.50 doubles – providing all the false confidence required to power through a serious round of trivia with friends.
Arcade Bar
With three floors, plenty of beer and more old school arcade games than you can count, Bar Arcade is a lively joint with epically fun energy. All you need to enjoy yourself is a playful, competitive spirit and a fistful of tokens. Let the tipsy skee ball tournament commence.
The Bull
This cozy little bar is the spot for a mellow night of craft beer, wine and organic coffee. You can admire the local art on the walls, chat with a friendly bartender or just enjoy the sounds of live music. The atmosphere gets two thumbs up.
If we forgot one of your favorite spots in downtown Gainesville, give us the where and why in the comments.
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