The 29 Best Drinks in Jacksonville
After a long day there is nothing more satisfying than sitting down at a local #OnlyinJax bar and sipping on a hand-crafted beverage.
Mandarin
The Mandarin area offers shopping, riverfront outdoors activities and historical sites.
The mostly residential areas of the Mandarin area are brimming with history and nature and boast some of the most stunning river views in Jacksonville.
Named for the Mandarin orange in 1830, this neighborhood on the St. Johns River just south of San Marco was once described as “a tropical paradise” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Both Harriet Beecher Stowe, and painter Lee Adams once lived here. Mandarin is characterized by its magnificent oak trees hung with dramatic Spanish moss and boasts some of the best views of the St. Johns River in greater Jacksonville. Once an important river port for shipping oranges and other citrus fruit northward, today Mandarin is a blend of residential areas and shopping centers. Don't miss the Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park. The 10-acre riverfront site is home to an 1876 farm complex with picnic areas as well as a citrus grove.
Eat & Drink
Don’t be fooled, despite the ample presence of nationally known restaurant chains, Mandarin has plenty of locally owned spots to enjoy.
Some of Mandarin's locally owned restaurants include Julington Creek Fish Camp, Picasso's, Enza's and Wicked Barley Brewing just to name a few.
Many southern cities will lay claim to Shrimp and Grits, but no one does it quite like Jacksonville. With fresh, locally caught Mayport shrimp and a white wine butter sauce, Julington Creek Fish Camp’s dish is a shining example of a local favorite.
Take a step into Mandarin’s slice of Parisian cuisine at Le Petit Paris. Their traditional French quiches come highly recommended, along with their decadent breakfast croissant sandwiches. Stop by and check out this unique spot!
Founded in 2005, Blue Bamboo marries hip Asian fare with classic Southern favorites. Jacksonville native Chef Dennis Chan found his love of food in his grandfather’s kitchen as a child and cultivated it at University of Florida, The Culinary Institute of America and Ming Tsai’s restaurant, Blue Ginger. Dishes such as the Red Curry Shrimp and Grits, Panko-cheese Tomatoes and Food Truck Short Rib Tacos meld the culinary influences in Chan’s life.
See & Do
Historically known for its many acres of orange groves, visit one of the many parks in the Mandarin neighborhood.
Walter Jones Historical Park has an abundance of history to explore and is open from 6 AM- 9 PM every day. Also, make sure to visit the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society while you are there. Their hours of operation are only Wednesday-Saturday from 10 AM-4 PM.
Mandarin holds a lot of rich family history and throughout Mandarin you will find the namesakes of a lot of those family’s legacies. Mandarin was once a small town, later incorporated into Jacksonville.
Below are some of the Annual Mandarin Festivals:
Mandarin Art Festival – April – The Mandarin Art Festival, a high-quality juried fine art event, enjoys thousands of visitors who return year after year for their favorite artists or to see the array of creations by artists new to the festival. For many this has become an Easter weekend tradition.
Winter Celebration – December – This event brings 1000 people into the Walter Jones Historical Park to enjoy some old-fashioned fun. We have a great day planned for our visitors, all thanks to about 100 volunteers from MMHS and other non-profit community organizations who will be conducting all kinds of educational and fun activities for all ages.
Miss Aggie Day – Held Annually in March – “Miss Aggie” Day is celebrated, and an award is given annually to a resident who has contributed to the Mandarin community in the areas of business, civic, educational or charitable accomplishment. The candidate’s contributions may be specific deeds or an accumulation of actions over a period of time. Recipients need not be “experts” in any particular area but might be known or recognized for their sense of community, their caring attitude or individual accomplishments.
Tours & Itineraries
Explore the historic, picturesque neighborhood of Mandarin. The tree-lined streets give us hidden local spots to eat, sit on the water, and just enjoy the view.
A Day At Walter Jones Historical Park
Walter Jones Historical Park holds an abundance of history to explore.
