Getting to know historic Springfield and Jacksonville
Food scene
Lovely woman-owned bakery and bodega. My kids LOVE the grilled cheese and I am a big fan of the cardamon cinnamon rolls.
31 locals recommend
1748 bakehouse
1748 N Main StLovely woman-owned bakery and bodega. My kids LOVE the grilled cheese and I am a big fan of the cardamon cinnamon rolls.
Our neighborhood wine bar is Instagram-worthy. Reserve a hurt, order the champagne brunch or enjoy live music under the oak trees. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
28 locals recommend
The District
2026 Walnut StOur neighborhood wine bar is Instagram-worthy. Reserve a hurt, order the champagne brunch or enjoy live music under the oak trees. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
Seriously good BBQ. And don't forget the banana pudding.
17 locals recommend
Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ
1417 N Main StSeriously good BBQ. And don't forget the banana pudding.
A Baja coastal Mexican-style, specialty restaurant, bar & lounge located on the 7th floor of the VyStar Credit Union campus in Downtown Jacksonville. It is a 5-minute drive from our apartment down Laura Street.
10 locals recommend
Estrella Cocina
100 West Bay StreetA Baja coastal Mexican-style, specialty restaurant, bar & lounge located on the 7th floor of the VyStar Credit Union campus in Downtown Jacksonville. It is a 5-minute drive from our apartment down Laura Street.
Locally owned, micro brewery, combined with fabulous, creative food and tons of tvs for watching games.
35 locals recommend
Strings Sports Brewery
1850 N Main StLocally owned, micro brewery, combined with fabulous, creative food and tons of tvs for watching games.
The Bread & Board
100 West Bay StreetGreat food and drinks with a bodega for to-go items.
In the heart of San Marco, this place is excellent for a date night dinner.
56 locals recommend
Taverna
1986 San Marco BlvdIn the heart of San Marco, this place is excellent for a date night dinner.
Cowford Chophouse
101 E Bay StBest view of the river and top notch steaks too. (Note: $$$$)
Dark, cozy and dreamy vibe - great for drinks before dinner.
37 locals recommend
Town Hall Restaurant Jacksonville
2012 San Marco BlvdDark, cozy and dreamy vibe - great for drinks before dinner.
Drinkers and non-drinkers alike will find this kitschy place fun!
Wildcrafters Booze-Free Bar Tea | Kava | Cocktails
2105 Park StDrinkers and non-drinkers alike will find this kitschy place fun!
One of my favorites Italia spots in Jax. About a 25 minute drive from our AirBnB, reservations suggested.
30 locals recommend
Mezza Luna Ristorante
110 First StOne of my favorites Italia spots in Jax. About a 25 minute drive from our AirBnB, reservations suggested.
Restaurant Orsay
3630 Park StAlways rated one of the to 5 places to eat in Jacksonville.
Great ol' fashioned ice cream parlor, only 5 minutes from our place, across from Strings.
73 locals recommend
Springfield Scoops
1807 N Main StGreat ol' fashioned ice cream parlor, only 5 minutes from our place, across from Strings.
If soft-serve is more your style, you cannot go wrong with Dreamette. Their cones are HUGE!
Dreamette Ice Cream Springfield
If soft-serve is more your style, you cannot go wrong with Dreamette. Their cones are HUGE!
Don't let the facade fool you. This place is EPIC. This cozy little restaurant has a menu that changes daily, but whatever the offerings of the day are – you know they will be fresh, made from scratch and absolutely delicious. Their bruschetta is a local favorite as they have 10 different options to choose from regularly. Only open weekdays. Get there before noon to get a table.
23 locals recommend
The French Pantry
6301-1 Powers AveDon't let the facade fool you. This place is EPIC. This cozy little restaurant has a menu that changes daily, but whatever the offerings of the day are – you know they will be fresh, made from scratch and absolutely delicious. Their bruschetta is a local favorite as they have 10 different options to choose from regularly. Only open weekdays. Get there before noon to get a table.
Biscottis is well known throughout Jacksonville for its decadent desserts, but really, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
100 locals recommend
Biscottis
3556 St Johns AveBiscottis is well known throughout Jacksonville for its decadent desserts, but really, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.
This establishment has been around since 1938 so you know they are doing something right. It is now a chain, but this is the original location. The chicken and waffles with their strawberry butter is simply delicious.
89 locals recommend
Metro Diner
3302 Hendricks AveThis establishment has been around since 1938 so you know they are doing something right. It is now a chain, but this is the original location. The chicken and waffles with their strawberry butter is simply delicious.
Congaree and Penn takes farm-to-table to a new level. While dining outside, you can see their farm from your table. Spend some time on a farm tour and then relax with their homemade hard cider and some dinner including the savory Roasted Local Mushrooms. This is about a 25 minute drive from our place.
6 locals recommend
Congaree and Penn
11830 Old Kings RdCongaree and Penn takes farm-to-table to a new level. While dining outside, you can see their farm from your table. Spend some time on a farm tour and then relax with their homemade hard cider and some dinner including the savory Roasted Local Mushrooms. This is about a 25 minute drive from our place.
Dine on the intercoastal marsh at one of the area's oldest and most respected spots. Marker 32 is a staple of the Jacksonville culinary scene.
57 locals recommend
Marker 32
14549 Beach BlvdDine on the intercoastal marsh at one of the area's oldest and most respected spots. Marker 32 is a staple of the Jacksonville culinary scene.
Sightseeing
Only about 10 minutes from our place, this museum has wonderful permanent collections, as well as great traveling exhibits. In addition, stroll the historic gardens along the St. Johns River, including the Olmstead garden designed by the same person who created Central Park in NYC. Admission is FREE every Tuesday and Friday night from 4 to 9pm as well as the first Saturday of each month from 11am to 4pm.
328 locals recommend
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
829 Riverside AveOnly about 10 minutes from our place, this museum has wonderful permanent collections, as well as great traveling exhibits. In addition, stroll the historic gardens along the St. Johns River, including the Olmstead garden designed by the same person who created Central Park in NYC. Admission is FREE every Tuesday and Friday night from 4 to 9pm as well as the first Saturday of each month from 11am to 4pm.
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
370 Zoo PkwyA must-do for families, and great for grown-ups too!
With great beaches to the north and south of Jax beach, you'll be centrally located for just about everything.
86 locals recommend
Jacksonville Beach Pier
503 1st St NWith great beaches to the north and south of Jax beach, you'll be centrally located for just about everything.
Every Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge, come for farmer's best veggies, produce and plants, as well as crafts, arts, and live music/entertainment.
173 locals recommend
Riverside Arts Market
715 Riverside AveEvery Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge, come for farmer's best veggies, produce and plants, as well as crafts, arts, and live music/entertainment.
The Talbot Islands State Park consists of four islands located North of the St. Johns River. The parks offer over five miles of beautiful beaches, a campground, nature trails and picnic pavilions.
Little Talbot Island, Jacksonville, FL 32226, USA
The Talbot Islands State Park consists of four islands located North of the St. Johns River. The parks offer over five miles of beautiful beaches, a campground, nature trails and picnic pavilions.
The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy. From the trailhead next to the parking lot, a stabilized walkway encircles a beautiful two-acre lake. This trail gently descends about 25 feet to the foot of the lake and then returns up a gentle slope on the opposite side to the trailhead. Interpretive signs and over 100 labeled plants enhance the loop. In addition, over three miles of rustic hiking trails wind quietly through a series of distinct ecological habitats.
61 locals recommend
Jacksonville Arboreteum & Gardens
1445 Millcoe RdThe Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy. From the trailhead next to the parking lot, a stabilized walkway encircles a beautiful two-acre lake. This trail gently descends about 25 feet to the foot of the lake and then returns up a gentle slope on the opposite side to the trailhead. Interpretive signs and over 100 labeled plants enhance the loop. In addition, over three miles of rustic hiking trails wind quietly through a series of distinct ecological habitats.
The open-air St. Johns Town Center has more than 175 of the best retailers and restaurants, including Restoration Hardware complete with a rooftop terrace, restaurant Tesla, Apple, Sephora, The Capital Grille, Tiffany & Co., Banana Republic, PF Changs, Louis Vuitton and more.
418 locals recommend
St Johns Town Center
4663 River City DrThe open-air St. Johns Town Center has more than 175 of the best retailers and restaurants, including Restoration Hardware complete with a rooftop terrace, restaurant Tesla, Apple, Sephora, The Capital Grille, Tiffany & Co., Banana Republic, PF Changs, Louis Vuitton and more.
Neighborhoods
The other historic neighborhood in Jacksonville. Originally constructed in the 1920's, this strip of retail stores on St. Johns Avenue still brings in the crowds with a diverse collection of upscale specialty retail boutiques, restaurants, and galleries.
77 locals recommend
Avondale
The other historic neighborhood in Jacksonville. Originally constructed in the 1920's, this strip of retail stores on St. Johns Avenue still brings in the crowds with a diverse collection of upscale specialty retail boutiques, restaurants, and galleries.
Springfield is an up-and-coming neighborhood with many 100-year-old houses is being renovated and others patiently waiting their turn.. Less than a mile from I-95 and UF Health hospital, it is arranged around the intersection at Main and 8th Street, and has a growing commercial corridor with many new businesses.
We have three new breweries, two ice cream parlors, and a great pizza parlor as well as a bakery/ bodega, an ax-throwing business, an art store, and a full service salong. And there are more on the horizon. The District, a wonderful neighbor-owned Wine Bar, has a speakeasy style with a full menu, a large outdoor patio, and Yurts which are available by reservation.
23 locals recommend
Springfield
Springfield is an up-and-coming neighborhood with many 100-year-old houses is being renovated and others patiently waiting their turn.. Less than a mile from I-95 and UF Health hospital, it is arranged around the intersection at Main and 8th Street, and has a growing commercial corridor with many new businesses.
We have three new breweries, two ice cream parlors, and a great pizza parlor as well as a bakery/ bodega, an ax-throwing business, an art store, and a full service salong. And there are more on the horizon. The District, a wonderful neighbor-owned Wine Bar, has a speakeasy style with a full menu, a large outdoor patio, and Yurts which are available by reservation.
Venues
Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Everbank Stadium (formerly TIAA Bank Field), is a 5-7 car ride from our AirBnB. Go DUUUUVAL!
134 locals recommend
TIAA Bank Field
1 EverBank Stadium DrHome of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Everbank Stadium (formerly TIAA Bank Field), is a 5-7 car ride from our AirBnB. Go DUUUUVAL!
This retro-style baseball park is home to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp!
25 locals recommend
Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
301 A Philip Randolph BlvdThis retro-style baseball park is home to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp!
Concerts, hockey, basketball, arena football - the Veterans arena hosts it all.
62 locals recommend
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
300 A Philip Randolph BlvdConcerts, hockey, basketball, arena football - the Veterans arena hosts it all.
Home of the Jacksonville Symphony and the FSCJ Broadway series.
47 locals recommend
Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
300 Water StHome of the Jacksonville Symphony and the FSCJ Broadway series.
Lovingly restored, this theater hosts concerts, plays, forums and more.
99 locals recommend
Florida Theatre
128 E Forsyth StLovingly restored, this theater hosts concerts, plays, forums and more.
City advice
Book before you go
About historic Springfield
Please note: the apartment is near the urban core, only 1 mile north of downtown and you will see people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and various income levels including homeless people. The homes are in historic district. As you might imagine, there are not perfectly manicured lawns as you would see in a gated community, the suburbs, or on a golf course.
There are more than 80 Airbnbs in the historic Springfield neighborhood, and visitors return time and time again to take advantage of the neighborhood's wonderful character, friendly people, and exciting growth.