The 28 Best Drinks in Jacksonville
After a long day there is nothing more satisfying than sitting down at a local #OnlyinJax bar and sipping on a hand-crafted beverage.
Southside
The Southside area offers shopping, riverfront outdoors activities and historical sites.
The mostly residential areas of the Southside are brimming with history and nature and boast some of the most stunning river views in Jacksonville.
The Southside has blossomed into a bustling business center. The St. Johns Town Center - a 1.1 million-square-foot, open-air lifestyle center offering innovative new retail, residential, hotel, and dining choices for Jacksonville shoppers is one of the highlights of the area. Just around the corner, the Tinseltown area is hopping with a movie theater, restaurants, specialty shops, and thriving nightlife. The area is also home to the large yet elegant Avenues Mall.
Eat & Drink
Explore Southsides expanse of local restaurants, specialty dishes, and multicultural flavor. Mix and match your favorite flavors and try something new in south Jax!
Some of the Best Bites include Culhane's Irish Pub - An upbeat Irish pub in Tinsletown, you’ll go for the drinks, but you’ll keep coming back to Culhane’s Irish Pub for its stew. As well as The French Pantry - One of, if not the, most popular lunch spots in Jacksonville. This cozy little pantry has a menu that changes daily, but whatever the offering of the day is – you know it will be fresh, made from scratch and absolutely delicious. The bruschetta is the most popular among locals. They have several options to try. Also, be sure to enjoy a slice of cake, their wedding cake is one to remember.
See & Do
Southside is one of Jacksonville's busiest neighborhoods. With ample shopping, entertainment and dining, it is no wonder that so many residents call Southside home.
Once a wide expanse of dairy farms and beautiful marshes, Southside would be unrecognizable to those farmers today. With 2 premier malls, endless dining options and entertainment complexes, you're sure to find something to enjoy. Southside is a perfect place to stay to get a full view of the city life since it is only a short drive to either downtown or the beaches.
Where to Stay in Southside
Get a look inside the hotels of Southside through our 360 tours!
Southside Neighborhood Historic Facts
1. Brackridge Park
Address: 8650 Newton Rd Jacksonville, FL 32216
Duval County purchased the land for the park in 1954 from the Skinner Family, who by 1905 had accumulated 30,000 to 40,000 acres on the Southside. Initially a soil borrow pit and then a sanitary landfill, the property was developed and opened as a park in 1974.
2. University of North Florida
Address: 1 UNF Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32224
The University’s campus was first established in 1969 when 1,000 acres between Downtown Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach were set aside for development of the University. Construction on classrooms and buildings began in 1971, and UNF opened its doors to 2,027 juniors in the fall of 1972.
3. The Orange T-Rex
Address: 10150 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32246
Leftover from the 1970’s Goony MiniGolf Course, this large concrete dino has stood tall since the early 1970’s. The T-Rex is the last remaining artifact from the era. In 2007, UNF’s building and construction management students gave the orange beast a makeover. To this day, the T-Rex can be seen from Beach Blvd and at night, its eyes glow red.
4. Mayo Clinic
Address: 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224
In 1986 Mayo Clinic brought 40 medical and surgical specialties to North Florida. Their development in the 1980’s has led to the growth of Jacksonville’s Medical Tourism industry. Jacksonville's Davis family originally donated the 400 acres of Southside land – just west of San Pablo Road to the Mayo Clinic.
5. St. Johns Town Center
Address: 4663 River City Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32246
The land that is now home to the St. Johns Town Center was once private land owned by the Skinner family. This land was used by the family as hunting grounds and cattle-grazing territory. Through the development of the mega shopping center, the cattle history remains. There is still a cattle tunnel that leads the from the westside of the town center under J Turner Butler Blvd. Every shop and dining experience you can think of is at the St. Johns Town Center.
