San Marco

Pink Salt – Best San Marco Bars

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  • Hours: Tuesday- Thursday: 2:30 pm – 9:00pm, Friday: 2:30pm – 10:00pm, Saturday: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
  • Address: 1430 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
  • Phone: 904-551-4289
  • Website: https://www.pinksaltrestaurant.com/

Right on their website Pink Salt tells it like it is; this place is not for everyone. Pink Salt is an adults only upscale restaurant serving an exquisite fusion of Caribbean island food and serving it with the finest cocktails and wines. If you’re willing to come through the doors and leave your expectations behind, Pink Salt will delight you with flavor profiles that whirl and blend with one another to bring a fantastic experience to your palate. Chef Robinson has cultivated his menu through decades of cooking and creating to bring Jacksonville the intent behind the flavors, and not merely a recreation of those dishes.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Pink Salt

Pink SaltWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Pink Salt in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Pink Salt

We have to admit, we blushed a bit when we ordered the “Stroke My Bamboo” from the cocktail menu, but we haven’t had a good Big Bamboo in a while and this place has all the right Caribbean vibes so we tried it, despite (or because of) the suggestive name. It came out perfectly mixed and perfectly portioned, it was a fantastic way to start the evening. Drinks at Pink Salt seems almost as an afterthought as the real star is the island fusion food.

Leave any expectations at home, the flavors don’t belong to any one island in particular, the chef creates a fabulous melange of the islands that comes through in every bite. The braised rabbit and collard greens was a perfect example of blended cultural cooking that nearly had us licking the plate. Pink Salt is a wonderful restaurant and wine bar where you can get a new look at new flavors you won’t get anywhere else.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Posting House – Best San Marco Bars

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  • Hours: Monday – Thursday: 2:00pm – 10:00pm, Friday – Saturday: 2:00pm-12:00am, Sunday: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Address: 2018 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
  • Phone: 904-738-7106
  • Website: https://www.posting.house/

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 Posting House

posting houseWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Posting House in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Posting House

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 San Marco Area

bb’s Restaurant and Bar – Best San Marco Bars

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  • Hours:Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 10:30pm, Friday -11:00am-12:00am, Saturday: 10:00am- 12:00am
    Sunday: Closed
  • Address: 1019 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
  • Phone: 904-306-0100
  • Website: https://bbsrestaurant.com/

Sometimes you’re not in the mood for loud bars and being surrounded by celebratory patrons. Sometimes you want to enjoy a fine meal, sip on fine wines and cocktails while kicking back and taking in a more refined atmosphere. Not that a crowded bar can’t be fun, but bb’s Restaurant and Bar is a more sophisticated bar, one where you won’t need to shout to be heard but can still laugh with friends over a drink after work, or before headed out for the evening. The menu is top-notch and many of the kitchen ingredients are grown in house, or rather, on the house, in the rooftop garden.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at bb’s Restaurant and Bar

bb's Restaurant and BarWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at bb’s Restaurant and Bar in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the bb’s Restaurant and Bar

Our friend was going over to bb’s Restaurant and Bar for her wedding cake tasting and asked us to come along. We had dined at bb’s once before and we loved the food so we agreed without hesitation. The brunch menu is exquisite, and the regular dinner menu is world-class, but what we didn’t know was bb’s Restaurant and Bar has their bakery and catering business and that is worth a visit in and of itself. Sitting down over cocktails and the deep dessert menu could be a reason to visit, even of you never order an entree, but then you’d be missing out there as well.

bb’s Restaurant and Bar is the full experience of fine dining, a great bar, and an unbelievably decadent dessert menu that will add inches to your belt simply by perusing the offerings. The table ordered burrata before the meal and it was a pleasant experience, then the entrees came out and we were soon overwhelmed by the savory scents that rushed over the table. We’ll be back to bb’s Restaurant and Bar often just to try more of the options.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Sherwood’s – Best San Marco Bars

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Seated in the center of the Baptist and Wolfson’s Hospital complex, Sherwood’s is a neighborhood bar and lounge that caters to the locals as well as visitors from around the city who find themselves in search of entertainment. Hoping to cling to the identity of a “dive bar”, Sherwood’s is a clean and nicely lit bar that sadly is far too nice of a joint to be classified as a “dive” but they retain the sincerity of your local hangout dive bar. Trivia nights, live Jenga, poll tables and dart boards, Sherwood’s is a great way to spend a few hours playing in mild competition with friends, strangers, and enjoying some drinks.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Sherwood’s

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

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Our Thoughts on the Sherwood’s

Sherwood’s was an impulse visit while we were turning around in the area. Just under the expressway, you won’t find Sherwood’s unless you’re looking for it and that’s a shame because we really enjoyed our time there and can’t wait to get back over there. The bar staff were all smiles, enjoying their work about as much as the patrons on the other side of the bar.

The drinks we got were properly stiffened and we can appreciate any bar where they don’t short change you on the spirits, Sherwood’s pours heavy and then some, so be prepared to enjoy great drinks. Even with a simple shot, my Laphroaig went into a tumbler and was far more than a shot by any measure. A few games of pool, a couple drinks passed, and by the end of the evening, we looked around and saw nothing but happy customers, happy bartenders, and that means Sherwood’s is doing something right.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Locals’- Best San Marco Bars

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You don’t have to search far and wide to find the right words to describe Locals’ Bar. It is the small bar with the big reputation that brings a sense of community to the neighborhood. San Marco has plenty of upscale establishments, and plenty of trend-setting pubs. When you want the real deal and enjoy a drink with no pretense, come to Locals’ and grab a seat at the bar. A great selection of spirits behind the bar, and enough of a beer selection to keep any beer sipper happy, Locals’ Bar is a great choice to enjoy as your new favorite bar.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Locals’

Locals'We would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Locals’ in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Locals’

Next door to Locals’ is a pretty good BBQ restaurant and every time we’ve met friends there for lunch or an early dinner, we see the parking lot of Locals’ just popping off with music, drink, and dancing. Even when it doesn’t spill out into the parking lot, the inside of Locals’ screams “fun” to anyone within a mile radius, so it wasn’t long before we decided we had to try it out for ourselves.

Our only regret is that we hadn’t been in there sooner! Locals’ is a high energy, fun loving place that flies under the radar of most people simply because it’s not in their neighborhood. The bar staff was extremely friendly and made us feel part of the family and the drinks came nearly before we finished making the order. Cold brews, warm people, and plenty of fun-loving smiles to go around, Locals’ is definitely a return engagement bar.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

The Parlour- Best San Marco Bars

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Before we get too excited, keep in mind this place is currently closed and under remodeling due to the pandemic, so you can’t visit right now, but oh boy are you going to want to come out for a night at The Parlour. Vintage speakeasy vibes with modern dance club feeling makes for a sensational evening of spectacle and sensational fun. 

The old fashioned drinks mixed into the menu with the modern takes on old classics makes for a well-rounded bar that caters to everyone’s tastes whether you’re looking for something comforting, or out for a night of trying something new.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at The Parlour

The ParlourWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at The Parlour in San Marco.

Our Recommended Drinks

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Our Thoughts on the The Parlour Bar

The Parlour was one of our favorite places to visit in San Marco when we were out for a night of drinks and dancing with a little bit of vintage flair. The speakeasy entrance was a fun way to start your evening after a drink or two at GGX, and then you enter The Parlour through the bookcase and a quick Facebook search for the daily password. 

Once you step inside, the dance floor was energized with great music and happy people dancing the night away. The bar had great bottle options if you’re drinking premiums straight up or house mix in an exotic experimental drink that you’re willing to try. 

The bartenders were always so happy to please and the bar just felt like a fun underground club that no one, yet anyone, knew about. The GGX has expanded into the space now but we still hold out hope for the revisit of the old “hidden” nature of The Parlour as it was a fun way to spend the evening.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Grape & Grain Exchange- Best San Marco Bars

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On the southern side of San Marco where it joins Hendricks, the Grape & Grain  Exchange has found its niche among the crowd that loves to come together for fun and drinks without the dark corners of a traditional bar setting. Clean and clear, the floorspace at GGX is open and inviting to regular and newcomers alike. 

You don’t need a PhD in mixology to navigate the drink choices, but it may help. GGX offers traditional cocktails as well as exciting new drinks of their own invention. With craft brew as well as old standbys on tap, there is something for everyone at Grape and Grain Exchange.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Grape & Grain Exchange Exchange

Grape & Grain ExchangeWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Grape & Grain Exchange in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Grape & Grain Exchange Bar

Okay, this may sound condescending, but hear us out; the space at Grape & Grain Exchange on San Marco looks like the lounge area of a high end hotel’s bar. However, that’s not a bad thing in this case, trust us! It’s a clean and inviting lounge that makes you feel warm and happy. 

While many bars go for that traditional “dark” look, GGX goes with the clean grey lines that create a wonderful spot for a few drinks and some great fun among friends new and old. Everyone interacts a little easier in this open space and the drinks are some of the better we’ve tasted in Jacksonville. 

Shelves full of bottles remind you you’re in a bar that wants you to try new and exciting flavors, give that unknown drink a chance. Like GGX, it may surprise you in how it delivers fantastic flavors and happy vibes beyond what you expected from our expectations. While not exactly a “hidden” gem, GGX is deserving of more notoriety as a great bar.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Bistro Aix – Best San Marco Bars

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  • Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30am – 3:00pm; 5:00pm – 10:30pm ,Fri: 11:30am – 11:00pm ,Sat: 5:00pm – 11:00pm , Sun:  Closed
  • Address: 1440 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207
  • Phone: (904)-398-1949
  • Website: http://3.84.76.128/

With such a fancy sounding name and tossing around words like Bistro and cuisine, you may begin to worry that this place takes itself too serious, but worry not, Bistro Aix in San Marco is one of the better fine dining establishments in Jacksonville where you can get exotic cuisine, rich and fancy drinks, without having to step into a world of snobs above your station. 

At Bistro Aix, they provide great food, great drinks and still know how to provide a great time. This is the place where you can get VIP wine locker service, but also a cocktail with the Lucky Charm marshmallows in the whipped cream. There is nothing snobby about this fantastic restaurant

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Bistro Aix

Bistro AixWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Bistro Aix in San Marco.

Our Recommended Drinks

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Our Thoughts on the Bistro Aix Bar

Have you ever stepped into a restaurant or bar and just felt like this is the place that “gets it”? That is exactly how we felt when we stepped into Bistro Aix on San Marco Boulevard. Just a block down from the hospital, this French restaurant has class and well earned status, but it never takes itself too seriously. 

For all the pomp and circumstance, every moment we spent in the restaurant and the OnyX Lounge bar felt like we were among friends enjoying a fine evening out with great food and even better cocktails. The wine list is extensive and the bar well was deep and varied. The food was delectable and superbly prepared, the drinks were potent and tasty and the desserts were worthy of a return visit to have just a dessert and coffee, and then again, maybe another fine cocktail or two. 

Bistro Aix is a fine restaurant and bar that offers top end dining while leaving behind all the trappings of fine dining.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Beer:30 San Marco – Best San Marco Bars

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Partly a local pub hangout and partly a beer schoolhouse, Beer:30 sits quietly on San Marco Boulevard waiting for you to discover its magnificent depth of beers. Open daily for traditional store hours, not bar hours, this quiet tasting house will grant you a well rounded knowledge of the beers we love. 

Beer:30 procures craft beer from around the First Coast and far beyond. More than a dozen rotating taps and hundreds upon hundreds of choices upon the shelves, try new flavors and styles, discover the joys of beer drinking with their taste flights and event nights. You’ll find yourself stopping by more often just for the good company.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Beer:30 San Marco

Beer:30 San MarcoWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Beer:30 San Marco in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Beer:30 San Marco

The sign outside was clearly marked, this is definitely the right location for Beer:30 San Marco, but when we stepped inside, we were happily surprised at how bright and clean the bar was. San Marco’s Beer:30 calls itself a craft beer store, but there is plenty of seating in the breezy and open lounge or you could take a seat at the bar. 

Having simple but specific taste desires for beer, we found ourselves in conversation with the friendly bartender and after a few questions, found several new brews that expanded our beer palate. Small taste flights and some friendly banter made this visit an exceptionally happy experience, one that we can’t wait to revisit. The taps were clean and full of local IPAs and exotic brews. 

The shelves surrounding you are stocked full of funky and interesting bottles and cans from all over the place, each of them offering you a new adventure, with the amiable staff behind the bar ready to help guide you along.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area

Sidecar- Best San Marco Bars

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A well-groomed beard or sharply pressed fedora is not required for entry at Sidecar Jax, but you get the feeling it may be beneficial. The place is filled with locals in the know that have come out for a night of good drinks among good people. 

Once you step into the place, you instantly become friends with the joyous bar staff who are knowledgeable in every mixed drink and eager to serve you something new, or comfort you with your favorite standby. Sidecar Jax is one of those bars where you step in for a drink as an outsider, and are instantly immersed into the world of cocktails and friends.

Top 5 Drinks and Eats at Sidecar

sidecarWe would be remiss if we didn’t break down our thoughts on the five best food and drink options available at Sidecar in San Marco.

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Our Thoughts on the Sidecar Bar

Imagine our surprise when we stopped in for a drink only because it was adjacent to the next door pizza shop and suddenly we found ourselves immersed in a world of knowledgeable cocktail mixing and friendly scotch banter. 

We entered Sidecar quite by accident and now that we look back we are so happy we did. Seek it out as this bar is well worth exploring for an evening out on the town for drinks and fine cocktails. The scotch options were pleasantly wide, and the bartenders were helpful in suggesting inventive cocktails for other patrons who knew what they liked but wanted to try something new. 

If only every bar had such friendly and knowledgeable staff! We stumbled in as strangers, came out as friends, and now discovered we’re looking forward to becoming regulars, as Sidecar has standby traditional cocktails, exciting new mixes, and next door the scent of some of the pizza and bar-style dishes waft through the bar enticing you to stay, enjoy dinner and another drink. We did, you should too.

Other Recommended Bars in the San Marco Area