The Riverside & Avondale Neighborhoods

Walkable historic districts, with unique shopping and dining options.

Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, Riverside is one of Jacksonville’s oldest and coolest neighborhoods. Voted as one of the country’s top 10 Great Neighborhoods, Riverside & Avondale have a unique mix of history, culture, charm, and modern design--find out more information through Riverside Avondale Presevation Society. This is a hip part of town with a young population. Million dollar waterfront homes and upscale apartment buildings are the norm, but there is nothing pretentious about the area, instead the vibe here is that of community, urban living, and keeping it local. The world-class Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is also located in the Riverside neighborhood, and the gardens overlook the St. Johns River.

Riverside's Five Points area is a bohemian neighborhood with funky coffee shops, outdoor cafés, one-of-a-kind shopping, nightclubs, antique stores, and more. In the last few years, a new food & beer district has emerged on King Street, locally owned restaurants, bars and breweries are calling the street home and bringing in hundreds of visitors of all ages every weekend. Some of the options include Intuition Ale Works Brewery, Bold City Brewery, The Garage,  Lola’s, and Kickbacks.

Getting Here From Downtown: Riverside is just a quick Take Riverside Avenue (State Road 221) southwest for two miles. For the Five Points shopping area, turn right onto Post Street and then to Park Street. To Avondale, continue on Riverside Avenue and take a left on King Street to St. Johns Avenue. Or hop on the Riverside Trolley. 

5 RIVERSIDE & AVONDALE ATTRACTIONS YOU CAN’T MISS

Check out these five neighborhood attractions.

1. Memorial Park in Riverside

This is the perfect spot for a quiet picnic under the shade of an old oak or perhaps for a fun game of flag football. Designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers, responsible for New York City’s Central Park, Memorial Park sits next to the St. Johns River and gives visitors gorgeous views of the water while offering an oasis of peace and calm just feet away from the hustle and bustle of Margaret Street.  The park is open from dusk till dawn seven days a week. Riverside Avondale Preservation offers self-guided podscast and neighborhood tours, check it out here. 

2. The Riverside Arts Market

Held under the Fuller Warren Bridge every Saturday, the market is a great place to find unique local art pieces, enjoy live music, taste fresh foods, and buy organic produce. You can take the trolley or the water taxi from downtown or drive and park for free at nearby garages. The Riverside Arts Market is open from 10 to 4 p.m. every Saturday March through December.

3. The Shoppes of Avondale

High-end boutiques, antique stores, and upscale dining options can be found along St. Johns Avenue in the core of Historic Avondale. At The Shoppes of Avondale, you can find everything from gardening supplies, bicycles, shoes, jewelry, children’s clothes, and home décor to chocolate and specialty spices. After all that shopping it’s time to eat! Try a new dining option at the Shoppes called W90+, a store dedicated to fine wines, cheeses, and bread. Stop in for lunch at The Brick and sample their delicious dishes. For dessert, head over to Biscotti’s for a slice of cake.

4. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

The Cummer is the largest fine art museum in Northeast Florida. The permanent collection encompasses more than 6,000 works of art dating from 2100 B.C to the 21st Century, including Old Master and American paintings and a world-renowned collection of Meissen porcelain. The spectacular gardens are equally impressive. There are three flower gardens on the museum grounds, the oldest dating back to 1903. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is closed Mondays and free to the public on Tuesdays from 4 to 9 p.m.

5. King Street Food & Beer District

There are so many options on King Street that you will have to spend a few days here to indulge in all of them. From great lunch options like Whiteways Delicatessen and Carmine’s Pie House, to fun and unique dining destinations like Lola’s Burrito Joint, The Blind Rabbit, and Kickbacks Gastropub and its extensive beer list. And speaking of beers, on King Street there are over 600 taps and you can find two of Jacksonville’s breweries, Intuition Ale Works and Bold City Brewery. There are also several bars and clubs that sell local beers including The Garage, The Loft, and Dahlia’s Pour House, which has 14 different Florida breweries and 85 taps! The District begins at 1522 King Street and ends on 720 King Street Jacksonville, FL 32204.