1. The Lemon Bar
City: Neptune Beach, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 246-2175
Address: 120 Atlantic Blvd. (Behind The Sea Horse
Description: The Lemon Bar, tucked away behind the Sea Horse Oceanfront Inn, is as Insider as Insider can be. A popular hangout for Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach locals who show up on bicycle, The Lemon Bar also attracts folks from all over town. Located right on the ocean, the bar is run by the motel but manages to feel hip and separate from it. Listen to the waves crash on the beach while you sip frozen drinks and flirt with local beach bums. The bar is known to close during winter months and rainy periods, so call to make sure it’s open before heading out.
2. Pete’S Bar
City: Neptune Beach, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 249-9158
Address: 117 First St.
Description: Author John Grisham turned Pete’s Bar into a national icon when he made it a featured locale in his book The Brethren. Pete’s was the first bar to open in Duval County after Prohibition, and it no doubt has some regulars who’ve been coming ever since. The crowd here is very mixed: neighborhood residents who play pool and drink longnecks and tourists who’ve read that no bar-hopping excursion to the Beaches is complete without a stop at Pete’s. This place can get mighty crowded, which makes it difficult to find a seat. Oh, and if you value your life, try not to bump into a pool player while he or she is taking a shot. They’re not very gracious about it.
3. Sun Dog Diner
City: Neptune Beach, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (904) 241-8221
Address: 207 Atlantic Blvd.
Description: As the name suggests, this is largely an eatery (see the Restaurants chapter), but after 9:30 p.m. it’s also a club with a full bar, dance floor, and live music. Sun Dog is located a block from the ocean, across the street from the Ragtime Tavern and Seafood Grille. Locals come to hear friends play music—everything from acoustic guitar to modern jazz. The decor is part of the charm; it’s a new diner built to look like an old one.