Good night spots for 21-28 crowd?

[ben says]

Hi,

I have a few cousins from Miami and New York coming in town next weekend. One is 24, one is 26. Need a good bar or lounge to take them to. Nothing too intense (like a club)...as intense as I'd want would be a loud, crowded bar, and as 'layed-back' as I'd want would be more of a lounge setting, like a Grotto style place.

I only just moved back to Jacksonville, and when I lived here, I never 'went out'.

Thoughts?!

Any help would be appreciated!

[tufsu1]

Dos Gatos downtown might be the best choice....and if it is still early in the night (before 10pm)   Marks (downtown), Square One (San Marco), and the new Suite (Town center) are also good choices.

[RiversideLoki]

What he said!

[ben says]

Dos Gatos downtown might be the best choice....and if it is still early in the night (before 10pm)   Marks (downtown), Square One (San Marco), and the new Suite (Town center) are also good choices.

What happens to Dos Gatos after ten? Die out, get sketchy, etc?

I've heard good things about Square One, and it's a lot closer to me than the town center. (I live in 5 Points).

Also...what's the 'deal' with Starlight and O' Brothers? I see they are always crowded, but that may be more a product of their location?

What about the bars on King Street?

Thanks for your help!

[letters and numbers]

No dos gatos is good all night! Poppy love smoke and marks too. All the bars in riverside are cool like rouge kickbacks and o brothers. Three layers is good for pregaming I think too in springfield before you go out.

[TheProfessor]

Dos Gatos, Dive Bar, Mark's, The Loft, Kickbacks, Park Place

[Shwaz]

The Casbah in Avondale is a nice lounge and maybe pregame spot before hopping bars downtown. 

[simms3]

There aren't very many intense clubs in Jacksonville, and the ones we do have are sleazy places.

I don't know your cousins' style, but coming from Miami and New York, they might be more used to/impressed by a place like TeraNova on the Southside near ScanDesign (Phillips and Baymeadows area).  It is like a more modern, upscale lounge that could be found in larger cities and the music is more electronic.

I also second Suite.  It is at the Markets at Town Center near several other bars like Whiskey River and BlackFinn (across from the Ethan Allen at the St. Johns Town Center and near Chipotle and Best Buy).  It is similar to Tera Nova above in sophistication, music, and crowd.

Finally, you do have to make it downtown at least once.  Mark's and the Ivy are downtown's top nightspots, but are next to Dive Bar, TSI, Northstar Substation, Lit, and Dos Gatos.  You could make your rounds.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I would start with a late dinner at Orsay in the back lounge - awesome food and the type of drinks that I would think they're accustomed to, and then move to Bay St. (Mark's) from there.

[tufsu1]

Dos Gatos downtown might be the best choice....and if it is still early in the night (before 10pm)   Marks (downtown), Square One (San Marco), and the new Suite (Town center) are also good choices.

What happens to Dos Gatos after ten? Die out, get sketchy, etc?

nope...Dos gatos if fine all night....I was noting the other spots as pre-10pm because they become more club-like later in the evening...and you said there was little interest in clubs

[The Ivy]

Being a little biased on the subject, I would suggest bringing your friends downtown for a little bar hopping. There are several top notch establishments that you can visit in one night and most of them do not charge a cover. It will really depend on what your friends from Miami want to experience. Downtown will have more unique owner operated bars versus the Town Center's cooperate venues. Either way, dinner at Orsay is a must.

-Lee

[ben says]

Dos Gatos, Dive Bar, Mark's, The Loft, Kickbacks, Park Place

Where is The Loft?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

King St @ College.

It's an awesome strip of bars clustered together - The Loft, Kickbacks, The Rogue, Park Place, Walkers and walkable to Intuition Ale Works and even to an extent -Bold City (a good hike, though)

[Captain Zissou]

I'm sure Stephen or Field can give you an additional comprehensive list which will probably be better, but here's mine:

Dos Gatos:  More on the lounge side of being a bar.  Great decor, talented and friendly staff, wonderful drinks.  The front room can get a bit hectic, but the back room is very relaxed and not too noisy.

Lit:  Great decor, friendly staff, good drinks.  There are fewer seats here unless you'd like to be at the bar.  It's a self described dance club, but it's small enough to still have a bar/ lounge atmosphere.

Rogue:  My favorite spot on King Street.  A whiskey bar with adequate seating, bar games, and a really fun atmosphere.  The servers are great and do a great job with their drinks.

Loft: Lounge upstairs, dance floor downstairs.  Adjacent to Rogue on King Street, this place has one of the coolest interiors and most upbeat vibes in town.  You can dance on the first floor or relax in the custom made lounge upstairs while overlooking the rest of the club.

Independent:  The coolest place in town, and the future of Jacksonville night life.

Kickback's:  If you're going to be out late, you have to end the night at kickback's.  Delicious food and tons of beers to choose from.  The worst part about kickback's is deciding which beer to try, and which to save for next time.

Casbah's ok, but I'd save it for a week night.  You'll end up waiting for 40 minutes for the same product that you'd get at Layla's.  As far as Hooka bars go, they're both great, just not necessarily worth waiting for.  

If you're getting dinner and drinks, Orsay can't be beat.  Other notable options are the Brick, Biscotti's, and Taverna.  Upstairs at Blue Fish serves the stongest drinks you'll find anywhere, so you might be able to get those downstairs as well.

You seem to already be familiar with square 1 and the Grotto.  Both are great, but you already know that.

I'd pass on most of the Bay Street bars, except for maybe Dive Bar.

Poppy Love Smoke is supposed to be wonderful, but I've never been.

The Pearl is a lot of fun, depending on how 'alternative' you're looking for.


Also check out the breweries (Bold City and Intuition) in the afternoon  for some good beer and great food.  I just gave myself a craving for Jolly Mon's chicken wings.  Pele's Fire pizzas are amazing as well.

[ben says]

Fantastic reply, Zissou.

One more question...where exactly is Independent?