Date night in Gainesville: dinner at Mildred's, Blue Gill or Dragonfly, a wine bar, a show at the Hippodrome or Phillips Center, and the Harn open late Thursdays.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Restaurants and venues are listed from their own websites, with addresses and hours as each one posts them. Hours change, so call or book ahead. We do not rank restaurants; this is a list of options in different parts of town.
A Gainesville date night can be as simple as dinner and a show downtown or a sunset with the bats on the UF campus. Here are restaurants, a wine bar, the theaters and the late openings, each with an official link.
Quick picks
- Dinner and a show downtown: Dragonfly Sushi, then the Hippodrome
- Wine bar: Raise Your Glass, off Tower Road
- Free and late: the Harn’s Art After Dark, 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays
- Outdoors at dusk: the UF bat houses on Museum Road
Restaurants
| Restaurant | Address | Notes | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonfly Sushi | 201 SE Second Ave., Suite 104, downtown | Sushi; reservations online | 352-371-3359 |
| Mildred’s Big City Food | 3445 W. University Ave., Westgate Regency Shopping Center | American; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday; reservations | 352-371-1711 |
| Blue Gill Quality Foods | 2917 SW 35th Drive, Suite 20 | Southern restaurant; reservations | 352-872-5181 |
| Northwest Grille | 5115 NW 39th Ave. | Seafood, steaks and burgers | See website |
Dragonfly and the Hippodrome are both downtown. Mildred’s is in the plaza just west of SW 34th Street on University Avenue, with parking out front.
Wine bar
Raise Your Glass Wine Bar, 7415 NW Fourth Blvd., Suite 30, in the Tower Road shopping center by Home Depot. Open 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday, and Tuesday is for private events. It takes reservations at 352-231-3215 and holds ticketed pairing dinners.
Theaters and shows
| Venue | Address | What |
|---|---|---|
| Hippodrome Theatre and Cinema | 25 SE Second Place | Plays, musicals and films downtown |
| Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts | 3201 Hull Road, UF | Touring shows, music and dance; administration 352-392-1900 |
| Acrosstown Repertory Theatre | 3501 SW Second Ave., Suite O | Plays |
| Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall | 3000 NW 83rd St. | Jazz, choral and orchestra concerts |
For live music and bars, see our live music and nightlife guide.
Late openings and evening ideas
- Harn Museum of Art: free, with Art After Dark from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Parking is free after 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.
- UF bat houses: arrive before sunset on Museum Road across from Lake Alice; the bats emerge 15 to 20 minutes after sunset on warm, calm evenings. Free.
- Free Fridays at Bo Diddley Plaza: free outdoor concerts downtown.
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens: a daytime option, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Thursdays.
What this means for you
- Book restaurants ahead on show nights and on Gator home weekends.
- Downtown parking is free on weekends except in the SW Downtown Garage.
- A free date: the Harn on a Thursday evening, then the bats at sunset.
Related: Valentine’s Day, brunch and downtown Gainesville.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good date night in Gainesville?
Pair dinner downtown or on West University Avenue with a show at the Hippodrome or the Phillips Center, or go to the Harn Museum of Art, which is free and open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays.
Is there a wine bar in Gainesville?
Raise Your Glass Wine Bar, 7415 NW Fourth Blvd., Suite 30, off Tower Road, is open Wednesday to Sunday, until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It takes reservations.
Where can we see a play in Gainesville?
The Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place downtown, stages plays and musicals, and the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, 3501 SW Second Ave., also stages plays.
What is open late on a weeknight in Gainesville?
The Harn Museum of Art runs Art After Dark from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, and Free Fridays concerts at Bo Diddley Plaza run into the evening.
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