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Guide to Greater Gainesville

Where to Eat, Drink and Play in Gainesville, Florida

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There’s more to this college town than keg stands and sweltering game days. An eclectic food scene brews at the University of Florida’s backyard. The city boasts culinary gems that reflect the university’s diverse student body. From dim sum to craft beer breweries, there are enough dining options to last students at least four years. Midtown bars can wait. Go eat good food.

Note: Restaurants are listed in geographical order from north to south. The numbers are not rankings.

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Uppercrust Productions

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This artisan bakery has been serving the community since 1981, making it a true Gainesville institution. From the yellow-tinted lighting, to the baguettes sitting in woven baskets, everything in the shop gives it a distinct European feel. Breads, croissants and pastries are baked daily to ensure their freshness.

Yelp

Satchel's Pizza

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Eat pizza in a van, in a greenhouse or under a plane at this eccentric spot. Satchel’s is known not only for its killer pies but also for the repurposed items that decorate the interior and exterior of the establishment.

Atlanta Magazine

The Top

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Former Gators need little introduction to The Top. It’s a Gainesville staple and a popular spot for vegans, vegetarians and eclectic individuals looking for good eats. Grab a drink at the beer garden or sit inside to enjoy the eccentric décor. The menu boasts American fare prepared with ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible.

The Top Facebook

Manuel's Vintage Room

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It may be unassuming, but Manuel’s Vintage Room makes some of the finest Italian cuisine in the city. The 12-table restaurant is almost always packed, so reservations are a must. The menu is unmistakably Italian, but enjoys some French influence with dishes like the vintage duck served with a blackberry porcini mushroom sauce or the pear-filled pasta, which is topped with an herbed brown butter sauce.

TripAdvisor

Alpin Bistro

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Order some wine and talk the night away at this intimate French bistro located in Downtown Gainesville. Its shabby chic interior and habitual crowd of master’s students make it feel pleasantly out of place among the dive bars and clubs that surround it. Think croque monsieurs, homemade quiches and charcuterie. It’s open for brunch on Saturdays and frequently hosts live music.

Gainesville Downtown

Crane Ramen

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With its modern dining room and top-notch food, this trendy ramen shop in Downtown Gainesville makes guests feel like the swamp is a major city. The menu features seven types of ramen from shio to shoyu and allows guests to add extra toppings like pork belly, six-minute eggs and bok choy.

Google Maps | Peter Brezny

Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate

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At Volta, coffee is treated the same way a white truffle would be treated in a restaurant kitchen. These people are serious about their java. The coffee shop’s ever-changing coffee options, weekly cupping events and artisanal chocolate selection make it the ideal spot to—ironically enough—slow down and enjoy an espresso, cappuccino or latte.

Gainesvilleian.com

Original American Kitchen

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With a wall of self-service beer taps, board games and a shuffleboard table, OAK has more than enough ways to entertain. Drink specials are available throughout the week, but note that Moscow mules are $5 on Mondays. Naturally, there are plenty of snacks and burgers on the menu to go with those drinks.

Google Maps

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

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Located in the heart of Downtown Gainesville, Dragonfly Sushi is a prime date-night spot. It draws in crowds every weekend with its stylish interior and tapas-style Japanese fare. Try the sushi or ramen, but always end the meal with the tempura fried ice cream.

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

First Magnitude Brewing Company

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Named after first magnitude springs—the most powerful type of freshwater springs—this friendly brewery has plenty of board games and good vibes to last the whole night. Take a brewery tour, join a yoga class or catch a local band playing in the beer garden, all while enjoying one of its 12 craft brews.

Guide to Greater Gainesville

Adam's Rib Co.

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Adam’s Rib Co. has been feeding the Gator Nation for more than 10 years. Offering Southern barbecue favorites from slow-smoked ribs to juicy brisket, this barbecue hot spot is a perfect introduction to the region’s culinary staples.

Yelp

La Tienda

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With so many Tex-Mex options out there, authentic Mexican food is hard to come by, but La Tienda certainly delivers. Located roadside on Southwest 13th Street, this spot offers Mexican classics like carnitas, tacos al pastor and of course plenty of Jarritos. Need to cure a hangover, or just miss mom’s chicken noodle soup? Order the sopa de pollo, which comes with sliced avocados, cilantro, lime and corn tortillas.

Yelp

Yummy House

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Forget the on-campus Panda Express; this is the place to go for authentic Cantonese food. Dim sum—essentially Chinese tapas—is served daily between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Carts roam from table to table offering traditional favorites like honey glazed barbecue pork buns, steamed dumplings and fried taro cakes. Guests choose small plates off the carts—priced around $2 to $4 each—until they’re full. Couldn’t make it in time for dim sum? No worries. The regular menu is also praiseworthy.

Google Maps | Calvin Ho

Lollicup

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This chain of teashops is popular on the West Coast, but Gainesville hosts the only store in the Southeast. It offers bobba teas, slushies, shaved ices and Vietnamese desserts. With a newly renovated interior and a recently added self-serve mochi bar, Lollicup is hotter than it’s ever been.

Google Maps | Dana Massaro

Embers Wood Grill

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A Gainesville go-to for upscale dining, Embers Wood Grill even attracts guests from Ocala and High Springs. Start the meal with a blue crab bisque and then explore the rest of the surf ‘n’ turf menu. Reservations are highly encouraged, especially during graduation season.

Pach Adams, Inc.

Indian Cuisine

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Behind its strip-mall façade and succinct name lies some of the best Indian food in the city. The menu features a large assortment of traditional curries, one more delicious than the next. Luckily, the restaurant hosts a buffet lunch daily, so guests can sample all of them along with freshly baked naan bread and tons of basmati rice.

Indian Cuisine

Swamp Head Brewery

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Swamp Head’s brews pay homage to Florida. Using local honey, blueberries and spices, the brewhouse produces five core beer that are available year round and up to 25 more brews that are available seasonally. Of course, a brewery wouldn’t be complete without food trucks. Look here for the food truck schedule.

WUFT

Haile Village Bistro

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Located in the picturesque neighborhood of Haile Plantation, this mom-and-pop bistro packs Italian, British and Mediterranean flavors. From the shepherd’s pie to the chicken kabobs, everything on the menu is top notch. Pro tip: burgers are $5 every Monday from 5 p.m. to closing.

Google Maps

Uppercrust Productions

This artisan bakery has been serving the community since 1981, making it a true Gainesville institution. From the yellow-tinted lighting, to the baguettes sitting in woven baskets, everything in the shop gives it a distinct European feel. Breads, croissants and pastries are baked daily to ensure their freshness.

Yelp

Satchel's Pizza

Eat pizza in a van, in a greenhouse or under a plane at this eccentric spot. Satchel’s is known not only for its killer pies but also for the repurposed items that decorate the interior and exterior of the establishment.

Atlanta Magazine

The Top

Former Gators need little introduction to The Top. It’s a Gainesville staple and a popular spot for vegans, vegetarians and eclectic individuals looking for good eats. Grab a drink at the beer garden or sit inside to enjoy the eccentric décor. The menu boasts American fare prepared with ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible.

The Top Facebook

Manuel's Vintage Room

It may be unassuming, but Manuel’s Vintage Room makes some of the finest Italian cuisine in the city. The 12-table restaurant is almost always packed, so reservations are a must. The menu is unmistakably Italian, but enjoys some French influence with dishes like the vintage duck served with a blackberry porcini mushroom sauce or the pear-filled pasta, which is topped with an herbed brown butter sauce.

TripAdvisor

Alpin Bistro

Order some wine and talk the night away at this intimate French bistro located in Downtown Gainesville. Its shabby chic interior and habitual crowd of master’s students make it feel pleasantly out of place among the dive bars and clubs that surround it. Think croque monsieurs, homemade quiches and charcuterie. It’s open for brunch on Saturdays and frequently hosts live music.

Gainesville Downtown

Crane Ramen

With its modern dining room and top-notch food, this trendy ramen shop in Downtown Gainesville makes guests feel like the swamp is a major city. The menu features seven types of ramen from shio to shoyu and allows guests to add extra toppings like pork belly, six-minute eggs and bok choy.

Google Maps | Peter Brezny

Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate

At Volta, coffee is treated the same way a white truffle would be treated in a restaurant kitchen. These people are serious about their java. The coffee shop’s ever-changing coffee options, weekly cupping events and artisanal chocolate selection make it the ideal spot to—ironically enough—slow down and enjoy an espresso, cappuccino or latte.

Gainesvilleian.com

Original American Kitchen

With a wall of self-service beer taps, board games and a shuffleboard table, OAK has more than enough ways to entertain. Drink specials are available throughout the week, but note that Moscow mules are $5 on Mondays. Naturally, there are plenty of snacks and burgers on the menu to go with those drinks.

Google Maps

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

Located in the heart of Downtown Gainesville, Dragonfly Sushi is a prime date-night spot. It draws in crowds every weekend with its stylish interior and tapas-style Japanese fare. Try the sushi or ramen, but always end the meal with the tempura fried ice cream.

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

First Magnitude Brewing Company

Named after first magnitude springs—the most powerful type of freshwater springs—this friendly brewery has plenty of board games and good vibes to last the whole night. Take a brewery tour, join a yoga class or catch a local band playing in the beer garden, all while enjoying one of its 12 craft brews.

Guide to Greater Gainesville

Adam's Rib Co.

Adam’s Rib Co. has been feeding the Gator Nation for more than 10 years. Offering Southern barbecue favorites from slow-smoked ribs to juicy brisket, this barbecue hot spot is a perfect introduction to the region’s culinary staples.

Yelp

La Tienda

With so many Tex-Mex options out there, authentic Mexican food is hard to come by, but La Tienda certainly delivers. Located roadside on Southwest 13th Street, this spot offers Mexican classics like carnitas, tacos al pastor and of course plenty of Jarritos. Need to cure a hangover, or just miss mom’s chicken noodle soup? Order the sopa de pollo, which comes with sliced avocados, cilantro, lime and corn tortillas.

Yelp

Yummy House

Forget the on-campus Panda Express; this is the place to go for authentic Cantonese food. Dim sum—essentially Chinese tapas—is served daily between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Carts roam from table to table offering traditional favorites like honey glazed barbecue pork buns, steamed dumplings and fried taro cakes. Guests choose small plates off the carts—priced around $2 to $4 each—until they’re full. Couldn’t make it in time for dim sum? No worries. The regular menu is also praiseworthy.

Google Maps | Calvin Ho

Lollicup

This chain of teashops is popular on the West Coast, but Gainesville hosts the only store in the Southeast. It offers bobba teas, slushies, shaved ices and Vietnamese desserts. With a newly renovated interior and a recently added self-serve mochi bar, Lollicup is hotter than it’s ever been.

Google Maps | Dana Massaro

Embers Wood Grill

A Gainesville go-to for upscale dining, Embers Wood Grill even attracts guests from Ocala and High Springs. Start the meal with a blue crab bisque and then explore the rest of the surf ‘n’ turf menu. Reservations are highly encouraged, especially during graduation season.

Pach Adams, Inc.

Related Maps

Indian Cuisine

Behind its strip-mall façade and succinct name lies some of the best Indian food in the city. The menu features a large assortment of traditional curries, one more delicious than the next. Luckily, the restaurant hosts a buffet lunch daily, so guests can sample all of them along with freshly baked naan bread and tons of basmati rice.

Indian Cuisine

Swamp Head Brewery

Swamp Head’s brews pay homage to Florida. Using local honey, blueberries and spices, the brewhouse produces five core beer that are available year round and up to 25 more brews that are available seasonally. Of course, a brewery wouldn’t be complete without food trucks. Look here for the food truck schedule.

WUFT

Haile Village Bistro

Located in the picturesque neighborhood of Haile Plantation, this mom-and-pop bistro packs Italian, British and Mediterranean flavors. From the shepherd’s pie to the chicken kabobs, everything on the menu is top notch. Pro tip: burgers are $5 every Monday from 5 p.m. to closing.

Google Maps

Related Maps