Thousands of students are drawn to the streets of downtown and midtown Gainesville every night. They come in droves, staggering out of the student ghetto, fumbling their way from the dorms and cruising out from the various apartment complexes that litter this college town.
This list serves as only a sampler of the clubs, venues and bars available in Gainesville. More information on local nightlife happenings can be found simply by grabbing a flier in Turlington Plaza or glancing at the overlapping posters on bulletin boards around town. There is always something to do here.
Common Grounds
Common Grounds is the definitive Gainesville live-music venue, known for bringing big-name, national acts to the college town. The building houses two bars, one indoor and one outside dubbed The Porch. One thing to look forward to is Monday karaoke night. Before the singing starts, the venue serves free beer from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. -- a brilliant strategy that gets people loose behind the microphone. Local heroes Against Me! and Less Than Jake are just some of the bands that have frequented this venue. All shows at Common Grounds are 18 and older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Prices for shows and events fluctuate from free to $15.
Market Street Pub
The place is always packed. Market Street Pub has a unique history that dates back to the turn of the 20th century, when it was mainly a brewery, a tradition which it carries to this day. The pub, located on Southwest First Avenue, is famous for its home-brewed beers and countless taps. It houses both a bar and lounge area, which are easily accessible for those who like to switch between dancing, drinking and shooting darts. The building is like a chameleon and reinvents itself each night with different themes and music styles. There is also live music all week, with a healthy balance of cover bands and original material. Cover is usually free but can be around $5 or $6 for shows. The place is 21 and older most nights.
1982
1982 is a smaller, recently revamped venue that sits on West University Avenue. Both national and local acts perform here. It is an all-ages venue, so do not be surprised if you find yourself wading knee-deep in swarms of high school students. The many great qualities of 1982 outweigh any inconveniences brought on by this mix of demographics. It is one of the closest music venues to UF, save for the unfair comparison of the on-campus Orange and Brew. In the event of sudden bouts of hunger between band sets, both Wing Zone and Checkers are conveniently close and open late. The music is great, and the prices are fair. Admission is usually between $5 and $10.
The Atlantic
It is the hip, indie place to be at the moment. Located on North Main Street, The Atlantic is the illegitimate brainchild of the people behind No Idea Records, which guarantees that quality music will be played. It has the slick atmosphere of an Italian independent film, with quirky, romantic paintings and knickknacks adorning the walls. By rule of thumb, The Atlantic is a dance club during the week and a live venue during the weekend. Motown and '80s music are among the genres played during the themed dance nights. Cover charge ranges between $5 and $10.
The University Club (UC)
If nothing else, go here for The Lady Pearl Show. This gay- and lesbian-friendly bar hosts a weekly drag show by the charismatic Lady Pearl herself, happening every Thursday and Friday night. The three-story building has a comfortable atmosphere, and is filled with multiple bars, pool tables and balconies. Cover for admission is usually about $5 or $6. The club is located on East University Avenue.
The Swamp
The Swamp Restaurant, known to many as a Greek hangout and named after the field it sits near, is always jam-packed with students. It gets particularly full on game nights. This restaurant and bar is highly accessible, located right across from campus on University Avenue. The two-story building has a bar on each floor and serves food all day. Gators memorabilia adorns its walls, and there are plenty of televisions to watch Gators sports. Outside, there is a patio and front lawn. The Swamp Restaurant boasts that it is "the number one college establishment in the country." Once the sun goes down, the place is guaranteed to be shoulder to shoulder with people looking to drink $5 pitchers and mingle.
8 Seconds (:08)
For the cowboys and cowgirls in Gainesville, there is 8 Seconds. It is the one dance club in this town where full western garb will not stick out like a sore thumb among popped collars and sleek "Night at the Roxbury" dress shirts. 8 Seconds is all about line dancing and is described as "the true country experience." The building is hard to miss as it is covered in cow spots. The top floor has pool tables, and the bottom floor has a large wooden dance floor with a beer tub. Fridays and Saturdays have two step and line dance lessons from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays are $20 all you can drink. Cover is $5 to $7.
XS
XS is one of the more traditional dance clubs and bars on this list. A fairly recent addition to the Gainesville night life, it shares a building with Grog House, Salty Dog Saloon, Balls and Gator City Sports Grill. Friday night is '80s night with $2 pitchers. Dig out your Spandex and perfect your side ponytail for this dance party. Ladies night is Wednesday, when a live DJ plays hip-hop and dance. The building features new lounges and a small "VIP" section.
