Where to Stay in Jacksonville: Neighborhood Guide & Top-Rated Accommodations

Whenever I need a neighborhood that feeds both my body and soul, I head straight to Riverside. This historic district, with its oak-lined streets and stunning mix of architectural styles, reminds me of those healing spaces where old wisdom and modern energy converge.

The Five Points area serves as the bohemian heart of Riverside, where you'll find independent coffee shops, vintage boutiques, and some of the city's most innovative restaurants. My partner and I once spent an entire afternoon just wandering between the Cummer Museum's gardens and the eclectic shops, stopping for impromptu tastings at local breweries.

For accommodations, the Riverdale Inn offers a quintessential bed and breakfast experience in a restored 1901 mansion. The rooms feature period-appropriate furnishings while offering modern comforts. I particularly love their veranda for morning coffee—something about watching the neighborhood wake up while sitting in a historic space centers me before a day of exploration.

Alternatively, consider booking one of the many beautifully restored Airbnbs in the area. During my last visit, we stayed in a converted carriage house that gave us the perfect balance of privacy and neighborhood immersion. After long days exploring, we'd return to unwind on our private patio, listening to the subtle sounds of this living, breathing neighborhood.

Riverside is also home to the Riverside Arts Market on Saturdays, where local artisans, farmers, and food trucks gather under the Fuller Warren Bridge. It's the perfect place to source ingredients for a picnic at Memorial Park, a beautiful green space designed by the Olmsted Brothers that offers stunning views of the St. Johns River.

Downtown Jacksonville has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. As someone who's witnessed similar urban renewals across North America, I can tell you that JAX's downtown core has that electric energy of a place in the midst of rediscovery.

The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront stands as one of my top recommendations for couples who want to be in the center of everything. With panoramic views of the St. Johns River and easy access to the Northbank Riverwalk, it's perfectly positioned for urban exploration. The rooms offer that perfect balance of comfort and functionality that I've come to appreciate after years of travel—plus the sunset river views can be absolutely medicinal after a day of sightseeing.

For a more boutique experience, the Lexington Hotel offers recently renovated rooms with a stylish, contemporary feel and direct riverwalk access. During my stay there last spring, I appreciated how the staff seemed genuinely invested in helping guests discover the best of Jacksonville.

The emerging Brooklyn neighborhood, just west of downtown, represents Jacksonville's future. This formerly industrial area now houses some of the city's most exciting new restaurants and the Unity Plaza outdoor event space. I've found myself drawn to this area repeatedly for its vibrant energy and the way it seamlessly blends Jacksonville's industrial past with its creative present.

From either neighborhood, you're just steps away from MOCA Jacksonville (Museum of Contemporary Art), the Florida Theatre, and the weekly Riverside Arts Market. After a medical conference last year, my colleague and I extended our stay specifically to catch a performance at the historic Florida Theatre—the ornate Mediterranean Revival architecture alone was worth the ticket price.

The healing properties of salt water and sea air are well-documented in both modern medicine and traditional healing practices. As someone with Mi'kmaq heritage who grew up near the Atlantic in Halifax, I feel an immediate sense of homecoming whenever I'm near the ocean. Jacksonville's beach communities—Jax Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach—each offer their own distinct coastal personality while sharing that restorative oceanfront energy.

For accommodations, the One Ocean Resort & Spa in Atlantic Beach represents the height of beachfront luxury. Their philosophy of personalized service reminds me of the individualized care we strive for in emergency medicine—anticipating needs before they're expressed. The spa incorporates sea-inspired treatments that I found particularly effective after a long day of beachcombing. Their oceanfront rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize the healing presence of the Atlantic.

For a more intimate experience, the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn in Neptune Beach offers direct beach access and a more relaxed vibe. The rooms are simple but comfortable, and the oceanfront balconies provide the perfect setting for morning meditation or evening reflection. During my stay there with my cousin (also an EMT), we developed a ritual of early morning beach walks followed by coffee on our balcony—a practice that centered us both for the day ahead.

Jacksonville Beach itself offers the most active atmosphere of the three communities, with a lively boardwalk, fishing pier, and numerous beachfront restaurants. For couples seeking adventure, consider renting bikes to explore the entire stretch of beaches—the wide, packed sand makes for excellent riding conditions at low tide. After a particularly stressful period at work last year, I spent three days alternating between beach yoga, swimming, and exploring the coastal communities by bike. The beach cruiser I rented became my trusted companion, allowing me to cover significant ground while still feeling connected to my surroundings.

Don't miss the Beaches Town Center, straddling Atlantic and Neptune Beaches, for some of the area's best dining. North Beach Fish Camp serves seafood so fresh it reminds me of my childhood summers in Nova Scotia, while Pete's Bar offers an authentic local experience as the oldest tavern in Duval County.

San Marco reminds me of those European squares where ancient wisdom and modern living coexist in perfect harmony. This charming neighborhood, built in the 1920s around a distinctive square inspired by Venice's Piazza San Marco, offers some of Jacksonville's most elegant accommodations and dining experiences.

While San Marco doesn't have the large hotels found downtown or at the beaches, it compensates with charming bed and breakfasts and boutique vacation rentals. During my last visit researching traditional healing gardens, I stayed at a beautifully restored 1930s cottage just blocks from the square. The private garden featured native Florida plants arranged in patterns that reminded me of the sacred geometry I've studied in healing spaces across cultures.

The San Marco Hotel (a converted historic apartment building) offers spacious suites with full kitchens—perfect for couples who enjoy preparing meals together using ingredients from the nearby Farmers Market. What I appreciate most about staying in San Marco is the walkability—within minutes you can stroll from your accommodation to the neighborhood's iconic bronze lion statues, then continue to some of Jacksonville's finest restaurants.

Matthew's Restaurant offers an elegant fine dining experience that rivals anything I've found in much larger cities. For something more casual but equally delicious, Taverna serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a Southern twist. Their outdoor seating area, with its string lights and casual elegance, creates the perfect atmosphere for reconnecting conversations.

Don't miss Theatre Jacksonville, the oldest continuously operating community theatre in Florida. Checking their schedule before your trip might reward you with an intimate theatrical experience in a historic venue. After catching a performance of a Tennessee Williams play there last fall, my partner and I walked back to our rental under a canopy of oak trees, discussing the universal themes in a way that felt both intellectually stimulating and emotionally connecting—exactly what travel should facilitate.

While I typically gravitate toward neighborhoods with distinct historical or natural character, Jacksonville's Southside area—particularly around the St. Johns Town Center—offers a completely different advantage for travelers: modern convenience paired with surprising pockets of natural beauty.

This area houses Jacksonville's premier open-air shopping destination along with some of the city's newest hotels. The Hotel Indigo Jacksonville Deerwood Park stands out for its unique design that incorporates elements of the surrounding natural environment into its modern aesthetic. During a conference stay there, I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful integration of local art and the staff's knowledge about nearby nature preserves.

The Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park offers a more contemporary vibe with its urban-inspired design and social spaces. Their outdoor pool area provides a welcome respite after a day of exploration, and I've found their bar to be an excellent place to connect with locals and get insider tips.

What many visitors don't realize is that this seemingly commercial area is actually surrounded by several beautiful nature preserves. The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is just a short drive away, offering ancient coastal dunes, wetlands, and forests that have been sacred to indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Walking those trails, I felt that familiar connection to the land that often eludes us in more developed areas.

For couples, I recommend balancing shopping and dining at the Town Center with explorations of these natural spaces. After a particularly intense shopping session last year (I needed to replace my hiking boots before heading to New Zealand), my partner and I spent the afternoon kayaking through the nearby Theodore Roosevelt Area, watching ospreys dive for fish and discussing the importance of preserving these wild spaces alongside our urban developments.

The Southside area also offers easy access to some of Jacksonville's best international cuisine. I've had remarkable Ethiopian food at Ibex Ethiopian Kitchen and authentic Venezuelan arepas at Arepa Please—both offering the kind of globally-influenced comfort food that I'm always seeking out in my travels.