Nightlife
Going out for cocktails in Jacksonville can be a challenge since many of the most popular hangouts are far apart. This means that your designated driver could clock some significant mileage if you’re bar hopping from one side of town to the other. But new clubs are opening all the time, especially in the Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and Downtown areas, so you can bar hop within a certain neighborhood, minimize your travel and still have a good time.
As is the rule nationally, patrons must be 21 to buy alcohol in Florida, though 18- to 21-year-olds are permitted inside some clubs; they just can’t consume any alcoholic drinks. Many of Jacksonville’s best nightspots are also popular restaurants, so be prepared to share space with diners. We’ve noted cover charges when they apply and also the general type of crowd each club attracts.
In the Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, Downtown, and Southside areas, club attire is hip and fashion-forward. At many Beaches bars, flip-flops and jeans are OK, but as more and more upscale clubs open at the Beaches, that standard of dress may evolve. (Maybe not; Beaches residents do tend to operate under the “No shoes, no shirt, no problem” motto.)
Finally, some people enjoy Jacksonville’s casino ships where the slot machines and blackjack tables open for business once the ships are a mile offshore.
If the hours are unusual, we have listed them. Otherwise, most clubs stay open until 2 a.m.
1. Casbah Cafe
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 981-9966
Address: 3628 St. Johns Ave.
Description: Looking for something different? Check out the Casbah, a popular Middle Eastern–style cafe where you can smoke flavored tobacco (apple, banana, grape, etc.) in a hookah, a large pipe with several hoses. Single flavors are $12; blends are $15. Hookah fans say they’re hooked on this smooth way to enjoy tobacco. Belly dancers keep patrons entertained Thursday through Saturday, and mouth-watering vegetarian dishes are par for the course. The Casbah also offers a large selection of global beers like a Kingfisher from India or an Almaza from Lebanon. There’s usually a nice crowd here in the evenings, mostly young professionals.
2. First Fridays In Five Points
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Description: Considered both an arts event and a nightlife event, First Fridays in 5 Points bring out Jacksonville Insiders in droves. This year-round, boozy mash-up of art, music, and food signifies the best of what’s happening in the city’s grassroots arts scene and provides great cause for optimism. Ignore the fact that the event starts at 5 p.m.; it doesn’t really get going until around 7 p.m. or after the sun goes down. Five Points businesses put on the dog with hors d’oeuvres, wine, and arts happenings of all kinds. Be sure to check out The Underbelly (inside Anomaly), Blu salon, and Flat File Gallery at the 5 Points Theatre, all of which use the event to promote art by emerging artists.
3. The Metro
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 388-7192
Address: 2929 Plum St.
Description: There’s always something going on at Metro, Jacksonville’s number-one gay and lesbian club. Located in Riverside, close to the intersection of College Street and Willowbranch Road, the club is popular with every aspect of the rainbow—from average Joes to well-heeled impersonators. On Thursday, female impersonator Sondra Todd hosts Sondra Todd’s Star Search, popular with emerging talent of all persuasions. Metro opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sunday.
4. Steamworks
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 329-4724
Address: 822 Lomax St.
Description: Think of Steamworks as a dance spot-cum-British pub, inspired by Jacksonville’s indie clubs of yesterday (The Milk Bar and Art Bar), where artists can meet, network, and perform. Food is available, but the club finds its greatest identity as a place for the 18 and over crowd to dance, hear music, and hook up with friends. The club’s most popular dance nights, Thursday and Friday, feature an indie rock DJ. Stop by on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for an eclectic musical selection. Tuesdays are pure rockabilly. The club is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with a $3 cover after 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday through Friday Steamworks hosts a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.
5. Walkers
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 894-7465
Address: 2692 Post St.
Description: Jacksonville needed the dose of urban design brought to town by Walkers Bar. Drawing inspiration from the chic urban landscapes of New York and Boston, Walkers breathed new life into a 1929 gas station, updating the space to accommodate wine lovers from all neighborhoods. Think exposed brick and visible ceiling beams. At this printing, the owner plans to feature a 100+ bottle selection with new wines coming into the rotation all the time. Wines by the glass start at a reasonable $5, and bottles of champagne can be found for around $20. Look for a tapas menu and live music on the weekends. For a real kick try the pear sake-tini. Open 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
6. Club Tsi Discotheque
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 424-3531
Address: 333 East Bay St.
Description: Looking for an underground club in the Downtown area where the music is fresh and the crowd is cool? Head over to club TSI for karaoke with Ugly Ed every Tuesday night, and Dance Party with DJ Nick Fresh every Friday. Located just off the St. Johns River, TSI attracts local, national, and international shows every week of the year and hosts their own eclectic lineup of indie club nights throughout the rest of the week. It is, without a doubt, the place in Jacksonville for the newest in music.
7. The Ivy Ultra Bar
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 356-9200
Address: 113 East Bay St.
Description: One of the nicer night spots in Jax, The Ivy runs on par to Mark’s in terms of hipness, but has the dubious advantage of being bigger. The Ivy offers complimentary valet, which is nice, and does not charge a cover. The combination of location and chic-ness draws an under-40 crowd. Happy hour is from 4 to 8 p.m., with different drink specials every day of the week.
8. The London Bridge English Pub And Eatery
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 359-0001
Address: 100 East Adams St.
Description: London Bridge has long been a favorite after-work and weekend hangout for the city’s young professionals and Downtown urbanites. The beer selection is over 50-long and the kitchen serves classic British bangers and mash, fish-and-chips, cottage pie, and Scottish eggs. London Bridge serves lunch and dinner daily, and there’s live music every Monday, Friday, and Saturday. Stop by every second and fourth Wednesday for karaoke, or on Thursday for Open Mic night.
9. Mark’S
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 355-5099
Address: 315 E. Bay St.
Description: A notable newcomer to the upscale Downtown club and lounge scene, Mark’s caters to a hip and fabulous 30-something clientele with Indie Lounge Tuesdays, Acoustic Wednesdays, and weekday happy hour from 4 to 7:30 p.m. And for Pete’s sake, please dress appropriately. The attire is chic, so leave the sports T-shirts and baseball hats at home. Mark’s opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
10. The Pearl
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 791-4499
Address: 1101 North Main St.
Description: The Pearl draws an edgy young crowd to Springfield with its DJs, dance floor, drink specials, great staff, outdoor patios, and über-hip location. Be warned that this is for hipsters, not oldsters, who would probably feel out of place. On Saturdays at The Pearl, DJs spin everything from new wave to synth pop. Wednesday night is both Ladies Night and karaoke time. Expect a modest cover charge.
11. Shantytown Pub
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 798-8222
Address: 22 West 6th St.
Description: Not your parents’ pub, Shantytown brings it with Metal Mondays, Random Control Tuesdays (with trivia), Vinyl Wednesdays (records, not clothes), Thursday night Shenanigans, live music on Friday and Saturday, a soul/funk cookout every Sunday (bring your own meat and/or veggies), and serious drink specials every night. The Springfield location keeps it edgy, the Insider vibe keeps it real.
12. The Sinclair
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Address: 521 W. Forsyth St.
Description: A new Downtown hot spot, The Sinclair puts a chic spin on what some have referred to as Sherlock Holmes–style decor. With artwork by Jacksonville artist Ryan Strasser and music played low enough so that you can flirt without having to yell, the Sinclair adds much-needed depth to Jacksonville’s on-the-town offerings.
13. Three Layers
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 355-9791
Address: 1602 Walnut St.
Description: The Downtown/Springfield in-the-know crowd loves Three Layers, named by the owners for its three separate identities, all housed under one roof. First, the coffeehouse serves up memorable desserts and coffee—think red velvet or orangesicle cake in a loft-like space complete with Wi-Fi. Second, the Cellar wine bar draws oenophiles with its laid-back neighborhood charm, and the outdoor Zen garden is magically landscaped and provides the perfect spot to unwind in the later evening. The crowd tends toward 30- and 40-somethings who appreciate the extraordinary desserts and local artwork. Come by on Sunday for soup and salad and watch the movies playing all day long on the big screen in the coffeehouse.
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Address: 2578 Atlantic Blvd.
15. Endo Exo
City: Jacksonville, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 396-7733
Address: 1224 Kings Ave.
Description: Endo Exo describes itself as “more South Beach than San Marco.” The club has three areas: the main bar, where most people hang out; the outside patio, where smokers gather; and a dance floor sporting big couches and a bed. Come here for Open Mic Mondays and Island Explosion Wednesdays. Endo Exo likes to think of itself as a place for the 21-to-55 crowd, not for teenyboppers, so come dressed stylishly, which the owner says means no hats, no T-shirts, and no flip-flops. Expect to pay a cover charge of around $5 to $10 depending on the night. Check out Endo’s MySpace page to learn more.