Five Points

Hawker’s – Best Five Points Bars

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Right on the corner of Post and Park, it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect spot for a Five Points restaurant, bar, and hang-out.  A walk across the street from the greens of Riverside Park, Hawker’s Asian Street Food is situated in the heart of Jacksonville and brings out the best possible atmosphere for Five Points and indeed all of Duval to celebrate good food, good beer and great times when hanging out at Hawker’s, walking Five Points, or just hanging out at the park.  Because at Hawkers, they strive to bring you great food mixed with the flavor of the community they are immersed in and you don’t get more flavor that Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Hawker’s

Hawker'sWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Hawker’s in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Hawker’s

We were part of a walk from Memorial Park to Riverside Park and though it is a short distance, the scent and flavors available along that route were multiple and tempting. We decided to step indoors at Hawker’s Asian Street Food and the rest, as they say, is history. Hawker’s quickly became a regular haunt for us, the food is fast and flavorful, the drinks cold and imaginative.

Multiple plays on the “tiki” culture had our friend hooked at the start and for us personally, the options of Japanese Whisky was an unexpected surprise that took our breath away. The Yamazaki 18 year will match any bottle we’ve had in recent memory, and if we’re wrong, we’d be glad to dop another tasting! The deep wells of the bar were a welcome staple for what we thought was just a restaurant and turned this one-time stop into a regular bar hop for us. Hawker’s is more than it appears, and is well worth the discovery.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Crane Ramen – Best Five Points Bars

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Starting with the outward appearance, Crane Ramen immediately strikes you as the place where you are going to try something new, as you are well aware that the menu is going to present options to you that you hadn’t known about before walking through the doors.  Ramen noodle bars have been a “thing” in many cities, and Jacksonville should welcome Crane Ramen as a gateway into experiencing this new cultural point in the fantastic Five Points area.  Try some of the Pork Buns, get a bowl of Tonkotsu, with come extras added on, and sit back with a frothy Kirin Japanese beer, or a selection from the sake menu.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Crane Ramen

Crane RamenWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Crane Ramen in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Crane Ramen

Okay, yeah we know, we’re supposed to be advocating bars in and around Jacksonville, but Crane Ramen has one drink that we absolutely have to get to before we can mention the remainder of the options.  The Sake-Apple Soda, a non-alcoholic option and therefore safe for anyone who wants it, is by far or favorite thing on the entire menu, and with Crane Ramen offering so many delectable options, that really is saying a lot. 

The Rice and Kimchi Donburi is a personal favorite but we’ve been back several times and tried several dishes on the menu and can tell you that without fail, Crane Ramen brings you the best available options and you can’t pick anything that falls short from their menu.  The bar has the conventional draft and wine options, but get something unusual, Mexi-Coke if you’re not a drinker and the Toki Highball if you are.  Pickle juice and Tequila will never taste the same again and you’ll love it.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Prospect – Best Five Points Bars

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  • Hours: Mon- 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Wed – Thu: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Fri – Sat: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
    Sun: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Address: 1521 Margaret St Jacksonville, FL 32204
  • Phone: (904) 503-3430
  • Website: https://prospectfivepoint.com/

The bar and restaurant itself claims its own degree of incredulity in opening in a new city during a crazy pandemic, but they believed in their abilities so much that they took the chance and the wonderful diverse area of Jacksonville gave them a try, found this place to its liking and immediately welcomed them into the close knit Five Points community as a great entry into the fantastic fabric of what makes the melting pot of Five Points work. A slightly higher class establishment, Prospect is no dive bar, but feels just as welcoming as any local watering hole you’d visit as such.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Prospect

prospectWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Prospect in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Prospect

The new kid on the block always has something to prove and Prospect ignored that age old wisdom and just did “their thing” and that turned out to be the perfect recipe for success. We came across Prospect upon a friend’s recommendation and now that we have found that recommendation to be a success, we pass that on to you. Highly enjoyable as a bar and restaurant, Prospect turned out to be a fantastic way to pass the evening with good friends, great drinks and even better food.

The Meat and Cheese Boars was a great way to start the evening and by the time our chicken and ricotta gnocchi came out, we had to share it around the table to finish it off. The well runs deep here at Prospect and drinks are strong even when not specifying top shelf spirits, indicating Prospect takes their place as a bar and restaurant in Five Points as a way to earn their place through service and reputation.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Birdies – Best Five Points Bars

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More than twenty drafts on tap at all times, more available in the cooler, and several bottles deep in the bar, Birdies offers more than you could hope for in a local bar’s ability to make any bar patron happy whether they are a plain-jane beer type or the fancy exotic cocktail type. The bar staff at Birdies is more than capable and more than happy to create whatever concoction you could conjure up, and the entertainment schedule is always there to keep the crowd happy. The outside bar patio is a great way to enjoy some people-watching on the Five Points strip.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Birdies

BirdiesWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Birdies in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Birdies

Strolling down beautiful Park Street in Jacksonville’s historic Five Points, you come across such an eclectic culture mash-up, one can hardly help but feel open to new and interesting things, even on a whim. That is how we first wandered into Birdies, just an evening walk and quick dip into a bar we hadn’t been to before. Once inside, we understood how Birdies has become an icon of the neighborhood, a touchstone of the culture and a leader in the local community.

The bar was a great place to meet new and interesting people, chat up ideas and opinions, and enjoy the immersion in a culture that we didn’t quite live within. The warm and friendly welcome, the fabulous conversation, and the great beer on tap was a great way to spend the afternoon and we’ve been back to play pool and shoot the breeze with our new friends over and over again. Once you’re at Birdies, you become family.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Rain Dogs – Best Five Points Bars

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Park Street in Five Points offers plenty of places to stop in for a brew, and all of them have their attractions, but Rain Dogs has the entire package of the local neighborhood bar rolled into a popular music venue showcasing local artists from Hip-Hop DJs, to poets or comics, to metal bands. The all-encompassing nature of the bar is a welcome melange of the diverse neighborhood and offers something new and something familiar to everyone. Behind the bar are some of the friendliest bartenders that you’ll find in Jacksonville or any other city, they truly enjoy their work.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Rain Dogs

Rain DogsWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Rain Dogs in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Rain Dogs

The first time we came in to Rain Dogs was to see a band. We didn’t know much about the venue and had no expectations other than seeing the band play. Once we arrived, we vowed Rain Dogs would not be a one-off for us, we must return, and often at that. The bar staff were happy to serve and were quick on the draw, even with a packed house.

We made good on our promise to return and as we write this we can promise you, Rain Dogs is a great spot, whether you’re looking for cold beer, good music, or a warm atmosphere. We can get behind any bar that supports their local community, but this place does it with style and grace. They have plenty of new drinks to try, a great bar kitchen, and no matter which day you visit, there will be a showcase of local talent. We want to live in a world with more Rain Dogs.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Escape Restaurant and Bar- Best Five Points Bars

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Hidden among the eclectic storefronts of the main Five Points drag on Park Street is one of Jacksonville’s emerging gems. Escape Restaurant and Bar is one of those little known local spots that deserves to be visited and revisited again. The staff is eager to please and ensure your experience is flawless. 

The diversity in the menu ensures everyone at the table will be able to find something they want to try, no matter how selective their tastes may be. The main dining area is perfect for lunch or dinner, but if you’re looking for a great place to enjoy a cocktail, head out back to the patio!

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Escape Restaurant and Bar

escape restaurant and barWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Escape Restaurant and Bar in Five Points.

Our Recommended Drinks

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Our Recommended Eats

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Our Thoughts on the Escape Restaurant and Bar

Some places tell you they have “world cuisine” because they offer one or two unusual dishes, but Escape Restaurant is one of these rare gems that deliver on the international promise. We didn’t even know what a Khachapuri was before we saw it on the menu but now we’ll be back to enjoy it again over another local craft brew from the bar.

Well represented in local food and drink, the menu also has wide selections of Mediterranean dishes with South European and Arabic origins as well as some fantastic Philippine creations! The bar stocked with all the bottles you’re looking for and knowledgeable bartenders that are willing to mix you anything you ask for.

The outside patio hosts the party atmosphere of the restaurant, a more lively spot with live music and a dedicated bartender. Hookahs are available on the back patio, but the open air makes for a breezy space so the smoke won’t billow out on the non-smokers in the area.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

River & Post- Best Five Points Bars

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River & Post Restaurant and Rooftop Lounge is a success story of blending the modern funk with clean and classy lines. The spacious dining room is furbished with decorative exposed pipes and reclaimed wood giving it the desired effect without crossing the line into “too much” atmosphere.

The food is exquisite and some of the freshest seafood dishes you’ll find in Jacksonville and the weekend brunch is a regular gathering of people who have come to know River and Post offers great food, a knock out Bloody Mary or Mimosa, and a rooftop view overlooking the five downtown bridges and cityscape beyond.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at River & Post

River & PostWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at River & Post in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the River & Post Bar

Our original visit to River and Post was for dinner and we were highly impressed with the service and overall “feel” of the establishment. Feeling classy but falling short of stuffy, it was a great evening out. The lights of the city dazzled below us as we dined on generous portions and perfectly cooked food. Where the kitchen really shined through was the seafood selections.

The wide choice and superbly prepared dishes will tantalize you to return and try something new on your next visit. The brunch occasion is really something to experience. The menu offers something for everyone, but the view is the main attraction. The bar does have a fantastic Bloody Mary, and the rest of the cocktails are just as inviting.

There are private party spaces available, including the rooftop lounge which is the main reason to visit. The food is great and the bar is good, you can sip a martini anywhere, but why not do it with a fantastic view?

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Black Sheep- Best Five Points Bars

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  • Hours: Wednesday – Thursday: 5pm – 9pm Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10:00pm Sunday: 10am – 9pm
  • Address: 1534 Oak St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
  • Phone:(904)-380-3091
  • Website: blacksheep5points.com

Dedicated to bringing you the finest “farm to table” dining experience, the staff at Five Point’s “Black Sheep” Restaurant is eager to please and highly knowledgeable about the seasonal offerings from the latest updated menu. 

No matter if you’re stopping in for brunch or dinner, the kitchen creates culinary delights that showcase some of the finest ingredients available from local farms and fill the heartiest of appetites. The creativity doesn’t stop at the dining table, the bar has many custom drinks that blend some of the more exotic and unusual components into cocktails you’ll enjoy as you look out over the city from the rooftop lounge.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Black Sheep

Black SheepWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Black Sheep in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Black Sheep Bar

Black Sheep is one of the original “foodie” anchors in the Jacksonville renaissance. The atmosphere in the iconic building is clean and classy with plenty of natural lighting and a fabulous panoramic view from the rooftop lounge. The menu is stacked with heavy hitting meals and small plates alike, offering options for those looking for a meal or just a nibble.

Each dish is a creation rather than “just some food” and you will get the sense that the chef genuinely hopes you enjoy the meal. Hearty home-style foods reinvented as fine dining through the magic of a creative use of locally sourced ingredients. The bar is well stocked with new wines for you to explore, old favorites to enjoy, and a wide selection of staff-invented cocktails that push the limits on what you thought a cocktail should be.

Black Sheep is one of the “must-dine” restaurants not only in Five Points, but in all of Jacksonville.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Hoptinger- Best Five Points Bars

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  • Hours: Monday – Friday: 11am – 2:00am ,Saturday – Sunday: 10am – 2:00am
  • Address: 1037 Park Street Jacksonville, FL 32204
  • Phone: (904)-903-4113
  • Website: http://hoptinger.com/

This is not a German restaurant, this is not an American restaurant, Hoptinger Bier Garden and Sausage House comes to us from the imaginary land of Bruvania, a place where beer and sausage is taken as serious as life itself and the recipes have been handed down through the ages where we can now enjoy the benefits of generations of beer and sausage making traditions! 

More than 60 taps all in a row each pouring fine brews from around the country and around the world. When the beer flows, order some of their fine sausages. They have burgers, salads and other fine fare, but you owe it to Colonel Falke to try the roulette wheel of sausage…

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Hoptinger

HoptingerWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Hoptinger in Five Points.

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Our Thoughts on the Hoptinger Bar

This might be the most fun we’ve had in Five Points in a while. The full immersion into the Bruvania legend is a creative and fun way to present your craft, and when your craft is entertainment, food and drink, we were completely satisfied even without the adorable trappings of the surrounding legend. 

Just to give you an idea of how dedicated Hoptinger is to the bar, the drink menu is four pages long. There are more than 60 revolving taps with crafts from all around. The shelves are deep from popular favorites to the premiums you’ll want for special celebrations. 

The second floor bar has some selective specials available to its patrons and when you reach the rooftop lounge, you’ll find another eleven taps, a dedicated special drink menu, and a limited bar food offering for snacking while enjoying the garden views and fine libations. Hoptinger has a second location out at Jax Beach, but we can’t wait to revisit the Five Points location as soon as we can; maybe even tonight.

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area

Root Down Jax- Best Five Points Bars

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It doesn’t take Morpheus from the Matrix to explain this, but ‘what if I told you’ that a local bar can be exciting, refreshing, and an excellent evening out while serving only wine and beer? Yeah, that’s what we thought too. But it’s true!

The bartenders at Root Down have perfected some fine shim cocktails with aromatic ingredients that blend in such a way that will have you happily giving up the hard stuff and longing for another of their fabulous wine creations. The staff is the liveliest and happiest bunch of bartenders you’ll find in Five Points and you are sure to enjoy their company.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Root Down Jax

Root Down JaxWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Root Down Jax in Five Points.

Our Recommended Drinks

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Our Thoughts on the Root Down Jax Bar

Setting out for an evening of cocktails at a beer and wine bar wasn’t high on our list to do, but we’re sure glad we did! The staff at Root Down Jax knows any good bar doesn’t depend on how deeply the shelves are stocked, but how interactive and friendly the atmosphere is.

The place is jumping with friendly and happy faces. The dance floor is active and sometimes eerily quiet with the “silent disco” spinning tunes on the headphones! There is an outdoor patio area where you can sit and take in some fresh air when you need to get some space. The party is happening indoor and out, and all with some of the best service we’ve experience in Jacksonville.

The craft beer list is extensive and the wine list is complimented with creative low alcohol cocktails seemingly designed to make you wonder who thought to add this ingredient to that drink, but one sip in and we were glad they did!

Other Recommended Bars in the Five Points Area