Guidebook for Gainesville
Food Scene
Eclectic coffee shop on the square. Visit Inman Perk for a coffee or to sneak some work in!
14 locals recommend
Inman Perk Coffee - Gainesville
102 Washington St NEEclectic coffee shop on the square. Visit Inman Perk for a coffee or to sneak some work in!
Great little spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Wine & beer only. Their courtyard is a good outdoor dining spot, when weather permits, of course! Walkable from the house.
20 locals recommend
2 Dog
317 Spring St SEGreat little spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Wine & beer only. Their courtyard is a good outdoor dining spot, when weather permits, of course! Walkable from the house.
This Mellow Mushroom is located on historic Green Street. Fun atmosphere, great pizza, and in the neighborhood! Their greek salad and hummus appetizer are both yummy, too!
37 locals recommend
Mellow Mushroom
700 Green St NEThis Mellow Mushroom is located on historic Green Street. Fun atmosphere, great pizza, and in the neighborhood! Their greek salad and hummus appetizer are both yummy, too!
You MUST get the Poor Richard's salad with their hot bacon salad dressing. It's delicious! We personally recommend sitting the basement. It's a bit like going back in time...but great food! Don't forget to order the salad!
9 locals recommend
Poor Richard's Restaurant
1702 Park Hill DrYou MUST get the Poor Richard's salad with their hot bacon salad dressing. It's delicious! We personally recommend sitting the basement. It's a bit like going back in time...but great food! Don't forget to order the salad!
Donuts, donuts, donuts. Gainesville's only locally owned donut shop and we love it!
9 locals recommend
Dannys Donuts
417 Main St SWDonuts, donuts, donuts. Gainesville's only locally owned donut shop and we love it!
This new restaurant is owned by a family and serve up fresh, delicious gyros. They also offer authentic greek desserts and other dishes. Not much for atmosphere, but the family treats you as if you're a guest in their home!
Alpha Gyro Grill
215 Jesse Jewell Pkwy SEThis new restaurant is owned by a family and serve up fresh, delicious gyros. They also offer authentic greek desserts and other dishes. Not much for atmosphere, but the family treats you as if you're a guest in their home!
Recess, Yellowfin, and Novella's are share owners. All are conveniently located just off the main downtown square.
Recess dishes up southern-inspired eats, while Yellowfin steers more towards seafood, and Novella's is freshly made Italian.
Recess also has live music. Be sure to check their entertainment schedule!
34 locals recommend
Recess Southern Gastro-pub
118 Bradford St NERecess, Yellowfin, and Novella's are share owners. All are conveniently located just off the main downtown square.
Recess dishes up southern-inspired eats, while Yellowfin steers more towards seafood, and Novella's is freshly made Italian.
Recess also has live music. Be sure to check their entertainment schedule!
Looking for fine dining? Scott's features seafood, chops, wine & cocktails in a warm, intimate interior.
16 locals recommend
Scott's Downtown
131 Bradford St NELooking for fine dining? Scott's features seafood, chops, wine & cocktails in a warm, intimate interior.
Luna's offers american fare served in a white-napkin, low-key setting, with live music in the piano lounge on weekends. We love to have a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge, listening to the live music, and then mosey over to the restaurant side for dinner.
21 locals recommend
Luna's Restaurant
200 Main St SWLuna's offers american fare served in a white-napkin, low-key setting, with live music in the piano lounge on weekends. We love to have a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge, listening to the live music, and then mosey over to the restaurant side for dinner.
This is a great little lunch spot on the square. Salads, soups, sandwiches!
12 locals recommend
Sweet Magnolia's Cafe & Bakery
118 Main St SWThis is a great little lunch spot on the square. Salads, soups, sandwiches!
Consuelo
Delicious, authentic Mexican food + great craft cocktails.
Cotto Modern Italian
Yummy Italian food with a great ambiance.
TaqueriaTsunami
Change it up with this Mexican-Asian infusion menu. Tip: try their cocktails!
Diletto Bakery, Llc
528 Bradford St SWCoffee, pastries, fresh breads.
Boarding Pass Coffee - Gainesville,GA
Coffee spot on the square.
Ice cream, candies, and sweet treats, on the square.
Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge, Ice Cream - Gainesville
Ice cream, candies, and sweet treats, on the square.
Homemade ice cream, including options for "buzzed" (alcohol-infused) ice cream.
Buzzed Bull Creamery - Gainesville, GA
Homemade ice cream, including options for "buzzed" (alcohol-infused) ice cream.
Parks & Nature
Gorgeous views. The 4.4 mile hike is rated "more difficult", but well worth the climb! Afterwards, have lunch (or a beer) in Helen, a mountain town in northeast Georgia. It's known for its vineyards and Bavarian-style buildings. We recommend Big Daddy's (great food/bar).
45 locals recommend
Yonah Mountain
Gorgeous views. The 4.4 mile hike is rated "more difficult", but well worth the climb! Afterwards, have lunch (or a beer) in Helen, a mountain town in northeast Georgia. It's known for its vineyards and Bavarian-style buildings. We recommend Big Daddy's (great food/bar).
Linwood Nature Preserve
415 Linwood DrFlat & easy trail that leads you back to a view of Lake Lanier.
Don Carter offers up a large beach area nestled on Lake Lanier. It's a great spot for a picnic lunch and swimming for the kids!
23 locals recommend
Don Carter State Park
5000 N Browning Bridge RdDon Carter offers up a large beach area nestled on Lake Lanier. It's a great spot for a picnic lunch and swimming for the kids!
One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda. A paved path follows an on old railroad bed, perfect for strollers and bicycles, while mountain bikers can test their skills on a challenging 10 mile trail.
236 locals recommend
Tallulah Gorge State Park
338 Jane Hurt Yarn RdOne of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda. A paved path follows an on old railroad bed, perfect for strollers and bicycles, while mountain bikers can test their skills on a challenging 10 mile trail.
Botanical garden & park with a model-train garden, amphitheater & many community events. We've seen a couple of good concerts at their outdoor amphitheater! Good place to take a stroll, or the kiddos.
46 locals recommend
Atlanta Botanical Garden, GAINESVILLE
1911 Sweetbay DrBotanical garden & park with a model-train garden, amphitheater & many community events. We've seen a couple of good concerts at their outdoor amphitheater! Good place to take a stroll, or the kiddos.
Shopping
Cute boutique for more mature women, 30+. Also a great place to grab a gift for a friend!
Queen City Mercantile
110 Bradford St NECute boutique for more mature women, 30+. Also a great place to grab a gift for a friend!
Style Collectif
1062 Thompson Bridge RdUpscale women's clothing boutique.
Essentials
Publix Super Market at The Village
1236 Thompson Bridge RdThis is the biggest grocery store! If you need it, they have it. And, my ultimate favorite part: Clicklist! Order your groceries online, pull in to the side of the store, call to let them know you've arrived, and wait for them to load your items in the trunk. Easy cheesy!
11 locals recommend
Kroger Marketplace
1931 Jesse Jewell PkwyThis is the biggest grocery store! If you need it, they have it. And, my ultimate favorite part: Clicklist! Order your groceries online, pull in to the side of the store, call to let them know you've arrived, and wait for them to load your items in the trunk. Easy cheesy!
Elevation Fitness
1210 Thompson Bridge RdJ. A. Walters Family YMCA
2455 YMCA DrPlanet Fitness
1025 John W Morrow Jr PkwyFrancis Meadows Aquatic Center
1545 Community WayPaddleboard Rentals
Contact Zach Greene 678-617-1029 for pricing and availability.
Kids need to release some energy? This gymnastics venue allows for open play for ages 16 mo's to 12 year olds. Be sure to phone ahead, or check their website, as open play times do vary day-to-day.
FlipNFun Gymnastics
150 Pearl Nix PkwyKids need to release some energy? This gymnastics venue allows for open play for ages 16 mo's to 12 year olds. Be sure to phone ahead, or check their website, as open play times do vary day-to-day.
Great spot for the kids! INK is a hands-on Children’s Museum where children can role play and learn through practical experiences. All exhibits are designed to provide a unique experience and to actively engage young minds (not to mention, it’s just plain fun!)
14 locals recommend
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK)
999 Chestnut St SEGreat spot for the kids! INK is a hands-on Children’s Museum where children can role play and learn through practical experiences. All exhibits are designed to provide a unique experience and to actively engage young minds (not to mention, it’s just plain fun!)