The Jacksonville Beach area has several different towns along the beautiful coast to explore!
Jax Beach Tips:
The beaches here are nice and also are dog friendly during the off season.
I found the Jax Beach area to not be super pedestrian friendly. It would be tough to get around without a car and when I did walk from one spot to another there were generally not a lot of crosswalks.
I was disappointed in the lack of oceanfront restaurants/breweries/bars/coffee shops. Personally when I go on a beach trip I want to see the ocean as much as possible without always having to be sitting on the beach sweating. Spots with a view were few and far between.
I’d recommend checking out the Amelia Island area while you’re in Northern Florida, recommendations are below. It is a cute little coastal town with great vibes.
Skip the city of Jacksonville itself and hang at the beach, but if you do venture into the city I have some recommendations on that below.
Jacksonville Beach Area:
Hit the beach! That’s probably the reason you’re in the area, and Jax Beach is really nice. There are public restrooms and parking near Oceanfront Park but things are more limited near the fishing pier and pavilion end.
Southern Swells Brewing: The best brewery in the area, hands down. They have a cute little taproom in a strip mall with a small patio out front. I was thoroughly impressed with all of their beers, no matter the style.
Jax Beach Brunch Haus: A very popular spot for brunch. Expect a wait, but the vibes are great and the food is good. Their team is incredibly nice!
9 Zero Pour: A beer bar and bottle shop with 16 taps and cans/bottles. They’ve got a great selection on tap and in package.
Engine 15 Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a large tap list including several guest taps. They also have a full food menu. The vibes here are very “Florida dive bar” but I was impressed with their beer.
Hoptinger Bier Garden and Sausage House: A beer bar and restaurant with a full food menu and large tap list. They also have a location in downtown Jacksonville.
Round Bird Coffee: A South African inspired coffee shop close to the beach. They’ve also got a full food menu with unique offerings.
Ink Factory Brewing: An average brewery with a large tap list and wide variety of beers brewed. They also have a coffee shop.
Green Room Brewing: An average brewery with lots of games such as ping-pong, darts, Golden Tee, and more. Heads up this spot gets pretty crazy late in the evening.
Southern Swells Brewing Company
Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach area:
The beach here is nice and there are a plethora of access points along the coast. The only con to these beaches is that you have to pay for parking past 11am. Pro-tip there is a somewhat hidden public bathroom behind the police station.
Reve Brewing: A great brewery with Bones Pizza inside. Their Sours and Stouts are particularly delicious and the pizza was also good.
The Local: A great spot for brunch with a nice patio. They also offer lunch and dinner. The prices are great, especially for being at the beach. I went here twice during my trip because I enjoyed it so much!
Southern Grounds: A coffee shop with a full food menu and even alcohol too. They have a large patio and are just a couple blocks from the beach.
The Local
Jacksonville Area:
I found Jacksonville itself to be pretty rundown and not the nicest city, so I would definitely recommend spending your time at the beach towns in the area instead.
Cultured Collective: A great brewery in Orange Park. They have an open air space which is great for the Florida weather and their Sours in particular are delicious!
Aardwolf Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a huge tap list pouring a wide variety of beers. It’s a great spot to grab a flight since they do so many different styles. They have a nice outdoor space and a permanent food truck onsite.
Friendship Fountain: A popular park and large fountain that is one of the main attractions in Jacksonville.
King Maker Brewing Company: An average brewery with a wide variety of taps. Choose to sit inside the taproom or in the warehouse space to the right which has some games and and is open air. They also have an onsite food truck.
Strings Sports Brewery: An average brewery with a nice beer garden space and games in the taproom. They are located right downtown and they have a kitchen with a large menu. Hyperion Brewing and Historically Hoppy are right here too if you’re doing a crawl.
Amelia Island Brewing Company
Amelia Island Area:
Hit the beach! At Seaside Park you can drive onto the beach and at Main Beach Park there is ample parking and public restrooms.
Mocama Beer Company: A beautiful brewery in a converted car dealership with great beers. They also have a coffee shop and are adding a kitchen in the future, along with opening a second location in the Wildlight neighborhood. They mainly focus on Lagers and IPAs but they brew a lot of small batches so there is always something on tap for every palate. Their team is super nice and they also host a lot of fun events.
Amelia Island Brewing Company: A popular brewery in the heart of downtown. Choose to visit The Alley, a beer garden style space with a smaller tap list and snack menu or The Tavern next door that is a restaurant-style space with a full bar.
Amelia River Cruises: This is an awesome way to get out on the water and see more of the area. The guides are entertaining and share interesting facts and information along the way. There are several different cruise options and they are BYOB and dog friendly.
First Love Brewing: A solid brewery with a full food menu. Their Sours are what I enjoyed most!
