Welcome! Are You Hungry?
Located in the heart of Northern Florida, the city of Gainesville is home to beautiful natural scenery, rich culture, and, of course, the Florida Gators. There are countless things to love about life in Gainesville, from a lively and youthful social scene to numerous student involvement opportunities both on and off campus. When it comes to eating, there are endless opportunities for general enjoyment. However, as a gluten-free student at UF, it is particularly difficult to find places to eat in the city that are not only safe to eat but offer options that do not taste like cardboard or cost 5 extra dollars. Centered around the heart of bustling Downtown Gainesville, this route will take you through a full day of gluten-free eating (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Snack, and Dinner) at local spots that are both safe and delicious. Grab your walking shoes and an appetite and prepare to find your new favorite food spots!
Route Overview
- Location: Downtown Gainesville
- Cost: Each location offers a variety of options; however the average price range is around $5-$15
- Stops: 4
- Length: The route is designed to take you through a full day of eating at your own pace, however, if you wanted to hit all the stops at once, it would only take 16 minutes!
- Getting Downtown: If you're on campus, easily get downtown by boarding the RTS 5 Bus that departs from the Anderson Hall Stop on the north end of campus. Exit the bus at the AT&T building, just a 4-minute ride away. Go south 0.3 miles on SW Third St, and take a left on SW Fourth Ave (route pictured below). You will then find yourself at our first destination!
BReakfast:
4th Ave Food Park
- 409 SW Fourth Ave, Gainesville, Fl 32601
- HTTPS://www.4thavefoodpark.com
What better way to start your morning than with some fresh air, a good bagel, and some caffeine? At 4th Ave Food Park, you can find all of these things and then some. Located a few blocks behind University Ave, 4th Ave is a beautiful outdoor space home to 7 local Gainesville businesses. Whether you're craving a sweet or savory breakfast, 4th Ave has an option for you, from breakfast tacos at Muñecas to a bagel at Humble Wood Fire. The gluten-free options here are truly amazing. Far on the left corner of the park, you will find Humble Wood Fire, a local Pizza and Bagel business that hand-rolls all their bagels and spreads in-house. They offer an extensive menu and can make any of their melts/sandwiches gluten-free. To the right of the Opus Airstream, SquareHouse Pizza offers gluten-free waffles, and a gluten-free square pizza customizable to your tastes. If you're craving something more savory to kickstart your morning, Muñecas offers both gluten-free tacos and bowls.
In need of a caffeine boost? 4th Ave Food Park is home to one of the first and most iconic Opus Coffee locations: Opus Airstream. All of the coffee that they serve is roasted right there in the park, and they offer a wide variety of hot and cold beverages for your choosing. Building off the idea of travel ignited by the Airstream bus, this Opus location offers a specialty menu known as the "Adventure Series," featuring internationally-inspired beverages such as "The Costa Rican Cooler" or the "Panama Go." All of their drinks can be made gluten-free, and they offer a wide variety of dairy-free milk alternatives as well. Not a fan of coffee? Opus offers an amazing variety of teas, tea lattes, and even a sparkling water spritzer for you to explore and enjoy.
Lunch:
Gainzville Hub
- 21 SW Second St, Gainesville, FL 32601
- IG: @Gainzvillehub
We continue the day by taking an 8-minute walk to our next destination. Start by walking east on SW Fourth Ave, and then take a left on SW Second St. In 0.2 miles, you will see our destination on your right: Gainzville Hub (Pictured Left)
At Gainzville Hub, eating GF does not mean sacrificing good quality ingredients. This cozy and inviting local cafe is home to delicious, health-oriented food options for UF students and Gainesville locals alike. Upon entering, you will be greeted by the mellow hum of coffeehouse music and the quiet bustling of students socializing and studying for their next exam. First time in? The staff is very friendly and happy to walk you through the menu and its gluten-free options. Whether you're craving something refreshing like an Acai bowl, or something warm and comforting like protein waffles, Gainzville Hub offers a variety of GF, customizable options made with clean ingredients and a good amount of protein. This spot is the perfect place to catch up with friends or pop in your AirPods for some uninterrupted focus time. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy your delicious meal. They also offer an array of coffee, tea, and energy drinks infused with Aloe Vera and immunity boosters to keep you feeling energized and ready to take on the tasks of the day.
Afternoon snack + Coffee:
Maude’s
- 101 SE Second Pl, Gainesville, Fl, 32601
- IG: @maudes_cafe
As you exit the doors of Gainzville Hub, take a left onto SW Second St, moving south. In ~400 ft, turn left onto SW Second Ave, and then in another 500 ft take a right on S Main St. In just 200ft, take a left on SE second place, moving east until you see this building (pictured L) on your right.
You have now arrived at our next stop for the afternoon: Maude's Classic Cafe.
Whether your goal is to cram a semester's worth of calculus formulas into your brain before an exam or just immerse yourself in the world of a good book on a cloudy afternoon, Maude's Cafe offers a nurturing and productive study atmosphere, reminiscent of a Rory Gilmore library. It offers both cozy indoor seating for intense focus, and and a sun-dappled outdoor patio where you can enjoy fresh air and good company. The cafe has an eclectic, cozy vibe and friendly staff that is happy to accommodate any gluten-free requests. They offer lattes and teas that can be made hot or iced, and other afternoon pick-me-up beverages for your choosing.
In need of something to munch on as you study? Maude's can make any sandwich or wrap gluten-free and offers several GF pastries for you to enjoy.
Dinner:
Dragonfly Sushi
- 201 SE Second Ave, Unit 104, Gainesville, FL 32601
- https://www.dragonflyrestaurants.com/gainesville-florida/about/
All that studying make you hungry? Just steps away is one of Gainesville's top-rated dinner restaurants: Dragonfly Sushi.
Leaving Maude's, go straight on SE First Street, pass the Starbucks, and find yourself standing in front of our next stop (on your right). Offering farm-fresh produce and fresh seafood flown in from Japan, Dragonfly provides its customers with innovative and creative high-quality dishes and an ambient, artistic environment for the perfect night out with friends or family. Best known for its high-quality sushi rolls, Dragonfly has both raw and cooked options that can satisfy even the biggest sushi hater. Wash your dinner down with a wide variety of cocktails (21+) or enjoy any cocktail on the menu sans alcohol.
The staff is highly knowledgeable on the gluten-free diet and happily provides a dedicated gluten-free menu guide, as well as GF soy sauce/tamari upon request. If you are dying to try an item on the regular menu that is not on the gluten-free menu, the servers will work with the kitchen to create a modification of that dish to the best of their ability.
Are you full yet?
Hopefully this walk left you with a full belly and some new favorite spots to enjoy. There are so many more gluten-free hidden gems nestled throughout the city, so make this your sign: Get outside! Explore! Who knows? Your next favorite gluten-free destination could be right under your nose, waiting for you to uncover it.
Walk Resources
- https://www.4thavefoodpark.com/
- https://www.dragonflyrestaurants.com/gainesville-florida/about/
- Instagram.com
- Apple Maps
Created by Kaia Del Carpio
#glutenfree #Gainesville #Floridagators #glutenfreegainesville #gainesvillefoodrecs