Riverside & Avondale
Two adjoining historic districts along the St. Johns, where oak-shaded brick streets, an art museum, indie shops and rooftop river bars make for Jacksonville’s best neighborhood stroll.
Updated June 2026
Jacksonville’s leafy, historic heart
If you only have one afternoon to feel like you actually know Jacksonville, spend it here. Riverside and Avondale are a pair of adjoining National Register historic districts strung along the St. Johns River, where 1910s and 1920s bungalows and brick storefronts sit under a thick canopy of live oaks. This is the part of town where art, brick boutiques and riverfront bars share the same shaded sidewalk.
The two halves have their own personalities. Riverside — and its bohemian Five Points pocket — skews artsy, walkable and a little funky, with galleries, vintage shops and the city’s liveliest nightlife. Avondale leans more polished, all upscale boutiques, brunch spots and tree-lined St. Johns Avenue. Together they suit just about anyone who wants a real neighborhood day over a strip-mall one: art lovers, brunchers, craft-beer drinkers, architecture fans, and couples after a relaxed afternoon.
It’s an easy add-on to the rest of the city, too. You’re minutes from downtown and a quick hop from Five Points and San Marco across the river — see all our neighborhood guides to mix and match.
Best for a stroll
Park once, walk everywhere. Art in the morning, boutiques and brunch midday, a rooftop cocktail at golden hour — all under the oaks along the river.
What to see & do
From Northeast Florida’s biggest art museum to a Saturday market under a bridge, here’s how to fill your day in the historic districts.
Want more big-ticket attractions and tours beyond the historic core? Browse the full things to do in Jacksonville hub, or head to the water on our beaches & outdoors guide.
Where to eat & drink
Riverside and Avondale punch well above their weight on food — French-Southern bistros, rooftop bars over the river and one of the city’s original craft breweries.
Still deciding where to make a reservation? Our citywide where to eat in Jacksonville guide rounds up the best of the rest.
Shop the brick streets
Skip the mall. Both districts are built for slow browsing in locally owned storefronts.
A perfect half-day
Best on a Saturday, when the Arts Market is up and brunch is in full swing. Here’s the route we’d send a friend on.
- Start your Saturday morning at the Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge (10am) for coffee, local makers and live music.
- Walk or drive a few minutes to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens for the collection and the riverfront gardens.
- Head into Five Points for lunch and a browse, ending with a drink on the rooftop at Black Sheep or River & Post.
- Finish in the Shoppes of Avondale, strolling the St. Johns Ave boutiques with a stop at Southern Grounds.
- Cap the day with dinner at Restaurant Orsay in Avondale.
Making a weekend of it? Pair this with our picks for where to stay in Jacksonville and check the calendar of events before you set the date.
Keep exploring
Riverside and Avondale are just one corner of the Bold City. Here’s where to wander next.
Five Points
Go deeper into Riverside’s funky, bohemian pocket — the bars, vintage shops and late nights.
MARCOFL
San Marco
Cross the river to San Marco Square — Mediterranean-style architecture, lions and easy dining.
Common questions
What is there to do in Riverside and Avondale, Jacksonville?
Spend a day strolling the oak-shaded brick streets between the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, the Saturday Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge, the boutiques of the Shoppes of Avondale, and the funky shops and nightlife of Five Points. It's also full of riverfront parks and rooftop bars over the St. Johns.
Is the Cummer Museum free in Jacksonville?
Admission to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is free the first Saturday of every month. Just note it's closed on Mondays, so plan your visit around both.
When is the Riverside Arts Market open?
The Riverside Arts Market (RAM) runs every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, rain or shine, under the Fuller Warren Bridge at 715 Riverside Ave. It's free, with 100+ local artists and makers, plus food trucks and live music.
Where can I find the best sunset and rooftop bars in Riverside-Avondale?
Head to River & Post in Five Points, where the 9th-floor rooftop lounge has fire pits and wide-open views over the St. Johns, or up to the rooftop bar at Black Sheep on Oak St. For a free option, Memorial Park on the river is one of the best sunset spots in the city.
Where should I park in Riverside and Avondale?
Both districts are best done on foot, and there's free on-street parking throughout, plus a few small lots. In Avondale aim for the side streets off St. Johns Ave near Ingleside, and in Five Points use the streets around the Park/Margaret/Lomax intersection. Spots fill fast on Saturday mornings and at weekend brunch, so arrive early.