Jacksonville Nightlife: Starter List

A club that has booked original bands for twenty-five years, two downtown rooms that run to 2 a.m., and the oldest bar at the beach.

Some rooms are a restaurant at eight and a different building at midnight. These five are built for the second shift.

Jack Rabbits on Hendricks has booked original bands for more than twenty-five years in a 300-capacity room. In Murray Hill, The Walrus books local live music, keeps pool tables and an arcade, stays open late, and serves only plant-based food, which makes it the one late room where the vegan in the group is not the one compromising. Downtown, Dos Gatos is the late room across from the Florida Theatre, and The Volstead posts hours to 2 a.m. every night. We have seen one report that The Volstead may be closing, so it is marked for re-checking; confirm before you plan around it.

At the beach, Pete's Bar has been pouring since Duval County issued it license number one in 1933. It is not trying to impress anybody, and it does not need to.

This list is short because we only tag a room as late-night when something first-hand backs it up. Know a room that belongs here? Submit it.

Venues in this guide

Jack Rabbits

San Marco · $

A 300-capacity club on Hendricks, across from the Balis Community Center, that has been booking original bands for more than twenty-five years. Beer and wine only, and all ages, which is part of why it has lasted.

The Walrus

Murray Hill · $ · juice, sandwiches

A Murray Hill bar that serves only plant-based food, pours beer and wine, books local live music, and stays open late, with an arcade and pool tables. The rare room that belongs on a vegan list and a nightlife list at the same time.

Dos Gatos

Downtown · $$

A cocktail lounge on Forsyth across from the Florida Theatre, open since 2009, which in downtown Jacksonville bar years is a long time. The pre-show and post-show room for anything at the Theatre.

The Volstead

Downtown · $$

A Prohibition-style whiskey lounge on Adams Street, named for the act that made it illegal. Its own posted hours run to 2 a.m. every night, which is the whole case for it on a list about late rooms.

Pete's Bar

Neptune Beach · $

Duval County liquor license number one, issued in 1933 the year Prohibition ended, in a building that was Jensen's Market before that. Cash, pool tables, and no interest whatsoever in being discovered.