I absolutely love box car. It is the perfect chill place to go on a pretty weekend day. You can…read morewalk around the park, grab a drink, grab a pizza from Humble Woodfire, and enjoy! My favorite thing on their menu is the white sangria. It is SO amazing. Not too sweet. It has a citrusy vibe that makes it really light and refreshing. The red sangria is amazing as well. They have a great selection of IPAs and other beers too. I seriously miss living by this place so much.

Great ambiance and good beer selection. Awesome spot for a happy hour. Highly recommend on a day…read morewhere you want to sit outside.

This is such a great option if you're looking for a space to host an event/gathering/reception in…read moreGainesville. We had food catered from The Top right next door, which you can never go wrong with as they have such a great selection from meatballs, the corn nuggets (the best!!!), hummus, and more! There is ample space both standing room, and seating, as well as a stage! An open bar is also available for events.

I don't know much about Gainesville and what's there other than when I visit a couple friends there…read moreI go and do whatever they suggest. I was in town recently for a friend's birthday and she rented out The Wooly for her party. The space is really neat and can be divided up easily like my friend did. The front leads into a reception area, and she used a chunk of it to get a photo booth for the night. Go a little further and there's a small bar on the left, some seating on the back wall, and on the right an entire dance floor (or space to set up seating) and slightly raised stage. She hired a DJ and had some catered hors d'oeuvres on tables between the bar and dance floor. The folks at the bar were nice and it wasn't stupidly expensive if you wanted to get a mixed drink. The venue had some really nice textures and lighting (separate from my friend's over the top decor) that made it feel more upscale in a college town. I have no idea what it cost her or how easy it was to coordinate with the venue, but as a guest I had a great time! The only downside is you'll likely have to circle around a couple times for street parking if you don't want to pay for the garages nearby.

We areived, because my photography friend and I wanted s9me amazing pictures. There was a wedding…read moregoing on as we arrived, so we walked down the path of the UF conservation area. Other people had the same Idea, several were fishing or just enjoying the warm spring sun. At the chapel, we saw a young alligator as well as lots of bird life. It really is a special spot.

Beautiful place for many types of events nice inviting and clean . The acoustics are amazingread more

Overall I had a great stay for my 4 nights at the Hilton. I attended a research conference and…read morespent 90% of my time in the hotel attending sessions and eating food at the hotel lounge and receptions and a banquet. First this is a great location to walk to fast food, local diners or short car or uber ride. The front desk staff were very friendly to me and others in my party. My favorite part of stay was the pool area which I barely got to enjoy. The room was comfy and the bedding (real cotton) felt luxurious. I couldn't provide 5 stars due to the way the housekeeping is set up. Even if you ask for it (a requirement) it's not clear that they can guarantee you'll get it when you need it. Thus could be communication or staffing. I made a total of 4 requests (in person and on the app) and did get it the day request but the following day. Lastly compared to previous conference hotels it seems like you have to ask for water. I'd recommend (as it is Florida) to have a water with lemon or cucumbers for all guests at least in busy weekends. I left very dehydrated even tho I bought lots of water using instacart (a new thing for me). Also late checkout when available is $50. So that's another unexpected change. But these were minor inconveniences. I'd definitely recommend this hotel if your at UF or planning z big event of 200 or more.

I travel to Gainesville every year and stay mostly at a Marriot hotel nearby. Unfortunately this…read moretime was booked solid and had to try another place. I decided to give a chance to this Hilton hotel. It looks to be a nice place and very centric. Upon arrival around 5:30pm on April 10, 2026 I was received with the longest line for checking in I ever saw in my life and with the news that my room was not ready yet. The customer service clerk apologize many times, but when I asked what she thinks would be a solution for this, nothing came from her mouth. I even asked to be moved to a double bed if that was going to accelerate the process of quickly unpack in a room. After all, we were passed the check in hour, and I believe they would not have any problems leaving us in the lobby for a couple of hours until a room shows up. Her reply was that they were booked solid. Then, mine was that I would accept any room available and that the hotel should compensate for downgrading to a lesser room. The clerk promptly told us to wait for the other clerk and quickly went to serve the person behind us, which by the way also had the same problem. The new lady clerk found us the king size room that we originally booked in less than 30 seconds. Now, once inside the room, the horror begins. The room was very old and tired. It looks like it did not had a renovation in at least 25 years. Bathroom tiles were moldy and the handle for cold water in the sink was not working. Questionable spots near the bed and where the bed skirt is supposed to be were seen. I quickly called the front desk and let them now about it. They told me a person will go quickly to the room. Well, It was about dinner time and we left the room and went to the downstairs restaurant. Very nice and delicious by the way. After dinner we went to the room and noticed that nobody came to fix the problem. Next morning went down to the front desk and spoke to the customer service clerk which she apologize and told me that she will tell the management about it and that some points can be included for the inconvenience. Well, I asked if indeed the problem is going to be solved with points or I can really wash my hands and face, and brush my teeth with cold water from the sink not the filthy shower. She reply that someone will take a look at it. The day went by and around 5pm we were back to the hotel. Nobody fixed the sink. Had to call and talk for a 3rd time about the problem. A gentleman came to our door 30 minutes later and fix the problem in only 10 minutes. It took 24 hours and three conversations at the front desk to solve this problem. I truly believe management should be taking care of their customers better. It was a waste of time and money staying in this hotel. Management should give a refresh to their rooms a make them clean and more suitable. The way they took care of the problems was just ridiculous and disrespectful. I believe Hilton should not even apologize at this time. There was a time for that and to make amends. That time was when I was staying at their place. Shame on you for this terrible experience. Shame on me if I repeat it.

Absolutely gorgeous venue! The building itself is beautiful... but then you go inside and BOOM!…read moreThis is the spot to hold your wedding or reception. If you want to impress, book it!

This is my favorite venue in Gainesville! The architecture is amazing and a beautiful blend that…read morehonors the old while also highlighting modern enhancements. The team, especially Kristin, are absolutely amazing. Keith is also very generous with charities in Gainesville. They helped to make our company party a night to remember and the best holiday celebration in our organization's history. Could not provide higher recommendation for the 1908 Grand!

On the third floor, you can pay only $60 for year-long pass to Sweetwater Wetlands Park!! Some…read morepeople go there to jog, some people go there to bird with binoculars, and some go birding with camera equipment, like me. It's $5 per visit by car and $2 per visit on foot or by bike. The lady who waited on my was so nice! She told me about one of her visits there! Whatever your reason, go to the Thomas Center and get your year pass!! Do it!!

I've attended many Wine & Cheese parties here over the years and the space is perfect for special…read moreoccasions as well as . This is a historic landmark well over 100 years old which was originally a private residence, then a hotel, a community college and now a cultural community center in the heart of Gainesville. The Center has a beautiful courtyard, sprawling trees, manicured lawns, elegant architecture, and plenty of space for large groups. The Thomas Center also boasts two art galleries and open cultural center available for all who come to this quaint college town. They offer seasonal concerts, community guided tours and self-guided garden tours. Overall, a wonderful gem in downtown Gainesville. If you ever get a chance to come here for any reason, definitely go. It's one of the hidden treasures of this town and must be experienced to really appreciate it.

The Straughn Center is a wonderful location to rent from. Gabi, the current coordinator for the…read morespace, is absolutely wonderful. She's very quick to respond and always willing to help out all of her clients and provide them with the best experience possible. However, please note that this space isn't available for highly social functions like weddings or receptions. It's more geared for meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, and other professional experiences. Audio-visual services are included (microphones, projectors, screen, in-house computer). Rectangles tables and chairs are also included, but if you want to have round tables you will need to rent them. Overall, wonderful place and all I've ever encountered with the space has been entirely positive! You won't regret using this location for your next meeting. :)

My wife and I had a wonderful time doing the splatter room! Highly recommend this place.read more

I did the splatter room here and had such a great time. The staff were super friendly and…read moreexplained the whole process really well, which made it easy to just relax and have fun. The space was clean and organized, and I appreciated that they had everything ready to go when I arrived. They give you protective gear (which you definitely need!) and you "gear up" before walking in by wearing a mesh suit, hair net and cover your shoes too but you can take them off and just slide on their "socks" they give you . Once you're in there, it's just a blast--literally throwing paint on the canvas, the walls, and maybe a little on yourself too. It's messy in the best way, and weirdly therapeutic. You can also use their Alexa to play music of your choice and make it a fun vibe and have your own mini party. I really liked that you get to take home your canvas afterward, it's such a cool keepsake. You wait 24 hours to come back and once it is fully dry you can take it home. It's not something I'd do all the time, but for a creative, out-of-the-box experience, it's totally worth it. Highly recommend if you're looking for something playful and a little different to do in Gainesville. I love that they have so many options such as acrylic projects, string projects, painted glasses and other DYI experiences. You can set an appointment and come in at your reserved a lot. I'll 100% be coming back and already want to try one of their other DIY experiences!