Things To Do
Taqueria Cinco
One of our favorite places in the world, Cinco is very special to us. Everything is good. Seriously. We go here every Friday. If it's a Friday or Saturday get the Al Pastor. We also love the brunch menu on Sundays. If you go to one place from this list, go here. You're welcome. David's Order: 2 Al Pastor tacos with extra pineapple, a Modelo Sam's Order: Chorizo Quesadilla, a Pacifico, chips and salsa for the table
Perfect Rack Billiards
There are not sufficient words in the English language to describe how we feel about the Rack. You'll be dumbfounded at how incredible the food is at billiards bar. Great for game days or late night hangouts. David's Order: 5 Count of Chicken Tenders with Honey BBQ, Side of Tots, Modelo Pitcher Sam's Order: French Onion Soup, 6 Wings - naked double sauced in Garlic Parm & Medium Buffalo, Half of David's Tots, Coors Light
mesa
Mesa has one of our favorite menus in Jax. The food is south Indian cuisine, so not your normal takeout Indian dishes. The atmosphere is upscale without feeling stuffy, and the Executive Chef is David's former classmate. Perfect for a date night or happy hour drinks. David's Order: Kerala Beef Puff, Salmon Molee, Orange Blossom Pilsner (x3) Sam's Order: Mesa Wings, Mesa Burger, Orange Blossom Pilsner (x3) Disclaimer: Sometimes we order 4-5 small plates instead of entrees. We recommend this approach for first-timers :)
Chancho King
The first time we went to Chancho King it was a food truck behind Aardwolf Brewing, now it's a James Beard nominee! Can't say enough good things about the food here. We switch up our orders here pretty often but we have our mainstays. Ceviche bar on Sundays rocks, so does their special "Late Night" menu on Fridays. To Share: 1/2 dozen oysters, sometimes a full dozen if we're feeling crazyyy David's Order: Pork sandwich, whatever the soup of the day is, Slowking Pilsner Sam's Order: Fideo Verde Con Carne, a glass of natural wine
flamingo coffee
Best coffee in Jacksonville, hands down. David will fight anyone regarding that statement of fact. Serves all your usual coffee shop favorites, along with breakfast sandwiches (before they run out!) and pastries, also serves beer and wine at 7am. Piper loves going to the Flamingo and scouting for any floor scraps. David's Order: Iced Vanilla Latte, Miller Lite, Breakfast Sandwich Sam's Order: Iced Oat Milk Latte, Miller Lite, and a sweet treat :)
Keg & Coin
A locals barcade! Tons of options to choose from for your entertainment: classic pinball machines, modern hits, the biggest Pong machine you've ever seen, and beer. They're got 15 rotating taps along with over 100 other drinks in package or in beer coolers. Most of their machines require quarters for operation so bring some cash to exchange with their machines! David's Order: Whatever pilsner they have on draft or an Orange Blossom Pilsner Sam's Order: A kolsch or an Orange Blossom Pilsner, Sam Adams Cold Snap in the chilly months Game of Choice: Pong
Memorial Park
A beautiful place to take an walk after a meal, or a great way to spend a few hours watching the world pass you by. Memorial Park is a short walk from 5 Points.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
The Cummer Museum is a quaint fine art museum located in Riverside. Perfect place to spend two hours looking at their permanent collections as well as their rotating exhibits. Incredible scenery and can't-miss views are found in their gardens! They've also got a cute museum cafe serving up snacks and beverages :)
St. John's River Walk
Walk next to the St. Johns River to stretch your disco legs. The current River Walk runs up and down Riverside Avenue, but is soon to get an expansion that'll connect the Riverside portion with Downtown Jax. The River Walk also has an access point for a walking bridge that runs parallel to I-95, allowing you to cross the St. Johns over into the San Marco area.
Southern Crossing Antique Mall
You can find anything and everything at Southern Crossing. Make sure you hydrate and have a snack beforehand, it's bigger than you would think!
The Literary Lounge
A woman owned, local bookstore that we absolutely adore! The Literary Lounge is owned by two gals that David grew up with! Great place to stop by after eating at Chancho King or Perfect Rack.