University of Florida - Nightlife

A one-time Playboy College Bar of the Month, Bank is a little more upscale than its G-ville neighbors, though it still attracts a primarily college crowd. Good Martini variety available.

Fat Tuesday has a Mardi Gras theme (obviously), and is especially popular on Thursday nights, when Daiquiris are $1.50 from 10 until close. Tuesdays typically feature live music and $1 drinks all night long.

Gainesville’s gay and lesbian club, which features drag shows on Thursday nights. Happy hour is 5 p.m.–9 p.m. every weeknight during which University Club offers (varying) drink specials and free pool.

Line dancing all night, and one of the best places for it in Gainesville—assuming you don’t mind the occasional awkward synthesis of hip hop and country. Thursday is Ladies’ Night; women and cheap drinks all around.

A popular Greek hangout, the Swamp can be an oddly expensive place to grab a drink, despite its dive-ish atmosphere. Still, if you don’t mind $3 beers in a town where you’ll usually pay $1, the Swamp is a popular, crowded, and often fun place to spend an evening.

A true dive, Grog House is a packed, cheap, fun college hangout (if that’s your scene, anyway). The place can get somewhat sketchy after last call, but with a different drink special every night, the Grog House remains one of the cheapest places to get a drink in Gainesville.

Affectionately referred to as “CJ’s” by UF students, Calico Jack’s is one of Gainesville’s most popular nightspots and restaurants, especially to catch a game. The cheap wings and oysters—particularly the latter—are excellent, and the occasional live music only makes the place even more popular.

Every college town seems to have some establishment that offers a “best pint of Guinness,” and in G-ville, that’s Durty Nelly’s. The Irish pub-style atmosphere makes the place a little more upscale than some of the other area bars, but Durty Nelly’s still attracts quite a big college crowd.

Gator City offers cheap food and drinks throughout the week and several plasma TVs for watching sports. Wednesday is Ladies’ Night (free well drinks for ladies, $1 Bud bottles for everyone else). Obviously, there are a few pool tables, too, and you can use them for free before 7 p.m. on weeknights.

Half of this establishment is an English pub, while the other half is a dance club, so the place attracts a varied crowd depending on the night. Some nights feature live blues, while others spin ‘80s dance mixes.

Possibly the most popular bar in Gainesville, the Salty Dog serves up inexpensive drinks all day, every day (particularly domestic pitchers). There’s no particular atmosphere or vibe to the place, just a general come-and-hang-out mentality that consistently attracts bargoers every night of the week. The place also offers an enormous beer selection.

Rue Bar has five bars, an outdoor courtyard, and several VIP sections. Ladies night is on Thursdays, and has live music and a free keg. There's a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays.

Side Bar doubles as a bar and live music venue, though some might say it’s a little too small to be effective as the latter (and they’d have a point). Still, the music is usually excellent, and the beer is usually really cheap. Cover varies depending on the particular band, but it’s usually around $5 or less.

The Top offers sort of an alternative vibe, probably due to its extensive vegetarian menu. Known more as a restaurant during the day, The Top does offer decent drink specials and an extensive wine list, making it a popular place among students during weeknights.