Exploring Downtown Gainesville

I recently spent several days exploring downtown Gainesville while my kids were attending science camp at the Cade Museum of Creativity and Invention. The weeklong day camp lasted from 9am-2pm, so instead of driving back to Ocala, I decided to stay in Gainesville during that time. I am so glad I did because I found several new (to me) spots to share with you today.

While Gainesville is only 35 minutes from Ocala, it has such a different vibe. Because it is the home of the University of Florida and Shands Research Hospital, it is a much younger, academic-focused and health conscious city. This is evident in the amount of locally owned restaurants and coffee shops that flourish here.  Also the plethora of vegan and vegetarian friendly spots. As a former resident of Gainesville, I amazed how many local places are still thriving after many years…Amelia’s, Emiliano’s, Paramount Grill, Harvest Thyme Cafe,  and The Top just to name a few.

Here are a few of the downtown spots I’ve visited recently.

Downtown Gainesville Drinks:

Coffee with almond milk at No Where Coffee

No Where Coffee – The first couple of days I worked on my laptop at Starbucks, just because it is an atmosphere I am used to working in. I love independent coffee places, but sometimes, they lack in environment. After a few days of Starbucks, I decided to give No Where Coffee a try. It was a good choice. No Where has a rotating coffee selection based on their partner roasters. Once you choose your bean, you have 4 options for how you want your filtered coffee, or you can have it cold brewed or espresso. For the tea drinkers, they have a nice selection as well. The coffee was excellent, but what really sold me on the place was the fact that they didn’t blink twice when I asked for almond milk. The presention of my coffee on this simple little acacia tray was the icing on top.

Volta Coffee

Volta Coffee, Tea and Chocolate – After a good experience at No Where Coffee, I was up for trying another local coffee joint the next day. My friend Julee recommended Volta, so that’s where I went. Volta is a bigger space than No Where. Maybe a bit better of an atmosphere if you are going with a few friends. Volta also has a bit more selection when it comes to treats, and they sell a curated selection of fine chocolates and teas as well. The coffee was excellent, but they didn’t have almond milk, so it lost a few points there 😉 If I had to choose, I would say Volta wins for atmosphere and No Where wins for the actual coffee. But not by much. They were both great choices.

First Magnitude Brewing Company

The tap room at First Magnitude

First Magnitude Brewing Company – Before your opinion of me goes into the tanker, I promise I didn’t visit First Magnitude Brewing while I was waiting for the kids to get out of camp. We actually came a few weeks before, and again last weekend. First Magnitude is a family-friendly craft brewery located in downtown Gainesville. When you come, you will feel right at home. Although they just serve beer in their tap room, the food truck parked outside has tacos, burritos and more they do have a food truck parked outside to get some food during your visit. The warehouse area when you walk has corn hole set up, giant Jenga and giant Connect Four for anyone to play. Inside the tap room there is a table with every possible board game you can think of. From Cranium, Trivial Pursuit to dominoes, the games are there to encourage community and fun.

Downtown Gainesville Eats:

Pop-a-Top Corner Store

Pop-A-Top – My friend and Gainesville native Julie recommended Pop-A-Top when I mentioned that I was going to be exploring downtown Gainesville. Pop-A-Top isn’t a restaurant…it’s more like a hipster bodega. You know, those little convenience stores you find in bigger cites? This is similar in that it is tiny and sells similar items….sodas, coffee, beer, candy, snacks, etc. What makes this place different is their selection. To give you an idea, in addition to Coke and Lay’s potato chips you can also get kombucha, craft beer, and locally roasted coffee here. They also have a small selection of prepared salads and sandwiches, many of which are vegan. The day I went, I grabbed a brussel sprouts salad and a sweet potato salad from the cold case and ate it outside in their little seating area.

Burrito Brothers

Burrito Brothers – While I am not sure Burrito Brothers would  qualify as a downtown Gainesville establishment, I grabbed lunch here on one of my days so I will include it. Burrito Brothers has been a Gainesville staple for a looooong time. If you are used to the hole in the wall place of the past, you will be surprised when you come to the newly renovated location. It is modern and air-conditioned. I did miss the jicama-lime salad that I used to get was no longer on the menu. The chicken and black bean tacos was spot-on though 🙂 Warning: If you visit Burrito Brothers, get ready to drive around for a long time looking for a parking spot.

After-camp treat at The Hyppo

The Hyppo – Our family is big fans of Hyppo popsicles. Ever since their first tiny little location on Hypolita Street in St Augustine, we will beeline it to any Hyppo location we are close to. It was a happy day when The Hyppo opened its doors in Gainesville a few years ago. Before heading home from camp each day, the kids and I would get a popsicle treat at their downtown location. Any excuse to eat their popsicles is a good excuse. The flavor combinations at The Hyppo are always unique and changing with the seasons.  Choosing a favorite flavor is difficult, however I am definitely partial to all the pistachio and coconut ones. Dipped in dark chocolate, of course.

The Daily Green – The Daily Green caught my eye on Yelp. I have noticed that Gainesville is a haven for vegetarians and vegans. Daily Green has very high marks on Yelp, so I decided to give it a try. This little unassuming little restaurant blew me away. They had very creative healthy offerings. Smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, kombucha on tap, house-made dressings, just to name a few. I ordered their kale salad and walnut lentil burger, swapping out the bun with a collard leaf. It was sooooo good. In fact, I liked Daily Green so much, I went back for lunch again the next day. This time I ordered their special, which was a polenta stack that was amazing. If you are into healthy food, I cannot recommend Daily Green more. Even though they offer a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options, they do have dishes for meat lovers too.

More to Explore:

By no means is this all that is available in downtown Gainesville. Two new (to me) places that we want to try very soon are Crane Ramen and Jones B Side Eatery. Apparently, The Jones has been around a long time, but I have never been. The menu looks right up my alley. Palomino Pool Hall looks like a fun pool hall to check out as well.

One other place I am super excited to visit in downtown Gainesville is Depot Park. Depot Park is located off of Main Street with a grand opening slated for August 20th. I drove around the park when I was there and I cannot wait to come back after it opens. There is an awesome playground, a splash pad zone and an amphitheater which will hopefully host some great music soon. The other exciting bit coming to Depot Park is the Cade Museum of Creativity and Invention. Our boys have loved attending the STEAM-focused camps at the temporary location across the street for years. The new museum will surely be the shining star of Depot Park when it is completed next summer.

The amount of local establishments and community pride in this area of Gainesville is commendable. I see our town slowly heading in the same direction, which is so exciting and encouraging. Have you been to downtown Gainesville lately? Did I miss any other local “must-try” spots?

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