University of Florida - Nightlife

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Primary Areas with Nightlife		Downtown Midtown University Avenue
Student Favorites		8 Seconds (:08) Grog House Bar & Grill Rue Bar University Club
Other Places to Check Out		101 Cantina Atlantic Balls Beef 'O' Brady's BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Brophy's Irish Pub Chili's Grill & Bar EndZone Bar & Grill Gator's Dockside Liquid Miller's Ale House Mother's Pub & Grill Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar Rue Bar Sharab Lounge Skyy Night Club Spannk Status Nightclub Stubbies & Steins The Vault Nightclub & Lounge The Venue
Favorite Drinking Games		Beer pong Flip cup Ring of Fire
Useful Resources for Nightlife		The Independent Florida Alligator INsite blog (www.insitegainesville.com/blog)

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Who’s Lady Pearl? Do you want to go around the world at the Salty Dog? Why is that building painted like a Holstein cow? You’ll discover the answer to all of these questions in downtown Gainesville. Just try and use the buddy system—you won’t break the heel of your new Steve Madden’s as easily if you have someone helping you drunkenly stagger down University Avenue to catch the last Later Gator at 2 a.m. There are also plenty of house parties propagating the stereotypical keg-induced debauchery. You should probably have an invite for these, though sometimes one is not required. If you’re absolutely desperate to forget about that calculus test you just took, check out The Courtyards, an apartment complex on 13th Street across from Tigert Hall. These apartments are notorious for numerous parties every weekend and even weekdays. The fraternities on campus frequently hold parties, too. But sorry guys—unless you’re in the frat hosting the party, you’ll probably be turned away.

If you are under 21, though, you can always go to the bars in Midtown, except for the Salty Dog or Balls. They will use an industrialized size Sharpie and draw giant "X's" on your hands, signifying that you cannot drink. If you do rub them off or try to for that matter, you will be kicked out immediately if you are caught.

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Nightlife at University of Florida

fuzzikiwi

'16

Pharmacy Studies

A

Party Any Day of the Week in Gainesville

Students in Gainesville love to party (probably why we've made the list of top party schools in the nation!) and no matter what night of the week it is you can find people drinking up at the bars and clubs. The most noteworthy parties in Gainesville would have to be our giant paint parties at :08, foam parties, and most importantly The Estates pool parties. Gainesville students take their physique very seriously and all the guys and girls come out looking their best in their swimsuits during these pool side events. There is always free pizza, free beer, and usually a new type of alcoholic energy drink up for sample. Usually there is a performer (like Mayday Parade or Hot Chelle Ray) and always a DJ keeping the vibe of the party great:)!

Feb 08, 2012

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Nightlife at University of Florida

jsscbillings

'15

English

A-

Lots of Underage Rage

MANY people are out almost every night downtown. Everyone has a fake ID. If you live off campus, everywhere there is usually partying any day of the week. I mean, if you like getting wasted and sweating on a dance floor, Gainesville is for you.

Jan 10, 2012

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Nightlife at University of Florida

hmoralesforbes

'15

Chemical Engineering

B-

Average

To be honest, going out at night to parties or clubs and bars was not a big thing this past semester. I have gone out with friends on some occasions, but in general, I would give nightlife in Gainesville an average score, as it is hardly any different from my hometown with even less variety.

Dec 22, 2011

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

The first thing to keep in mind in Gainesville is that many clubs follow the “here today, gone tomorrow” routine. The second thing to remember is that drink specials and cover charges also vary widely, so you’ll just have to check them out yourself. You can get into a lot of these clubs even if you’re not 21, and don’t forget to bring lots of money for additional charges.

Bar Prowler

Bars tend to stick around a little longer than clubs, but they do change their specials pretty frequently. Although you can go to a lot of these places before you’re 21, almost all of them have 21-and-over nights. Something else to remember is that even though the following places are in the “bar” section, a lot of them offer “club-type” dancing as well.

Closing Time

2 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Grog House Bar & Grill

Organization Parties

University academic departments and clubs do have parties—they're typically more along the lines of a picnic at the lake.

Club ListingsWhat's This?

University Club

Gainesville’s gay and lesbian club, which sometimes features drag shows.

18 E. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 378-6814

ucnightclub.com

Eight Seconds

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.

201 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 384-0888

Bank at 22

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.

22 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 271-0333

www.thebanklounge.com

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Salty Dog Saloon

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 bar-goers every night of the week. The place also offers an enormous beer selection.

1712 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 375-6969

saltydogsaloon.com

The Swamp

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.

1642 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 377-9267

swamprestaurant.com

The Top

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.

30 N. Main St.

Gainesville

(352) 337-1188

Grog House Bar & Grill

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.

1718 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 378-7033

www.groghouse.com

Calico Jack’s (CJ’s)

Affectionately referred to as “CJ’s” by UF students, Calico Jack’s is one of Gainesville’s most popular night spots 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.

3501 SW Second Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 371-1675

www.calicojacks.net

Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub

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.

208 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 374-9567

www.durtynellys.us

Gator City Sports Grill

Gator City offers cheap food and drinks throughout the week and several plasma TVs for watching sports.

1728 W. University Ave.

Gainesville

(352) 377-7333

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at UF

Name: Chris Kirschner

Hometown: Bronx, NY

Major: Journalism

Grad Year: 2014

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Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Bar Prowler

Closing Time

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Organization Parties

Club ListingsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at University of Florida

Nightlife at University of Florida

Nightlife at University of Florida

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Bar Prowler

Closing Time

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Organization Parties

Buy The Guidebook

Most Recent Student Author

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Scholarships

Reviews

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University of Florida
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