Lemon Bar
PETE’S BAR
117 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-9158 After the restaurants and waterfront bars shut down, stop into Pete’s for a late night drink in some ice-cold AC. By far the oldest bar in the area, Pete’s has become legendary among locals, keeping the same name and family ownership since 1933. It’s got a comfortable dive bar vibe with pool tables, darts and ping pong, and is the place to go if you want a beer or a stiff drink instead of a fruity frozen cocktail. Try to order a margarita, and even the bartender will tell you, “It’s not very good here.” It’s also probably the only place at the beaches where you’ll hear country music more often than reggae blaring from the juke box speakers.
BO’S CORAL REEF
201 Fifth Ave. N., Jax Beach, 246-9874 Feel like catching a drag show on your way back home from the beach? Bo’s hosts one nearly every night of the week, and offers club-goers a large dance floor and killer DJs to help you sweat out some toxins before driving back into town. The bartenders are superfriendly and keep the entertainment going between shows. If you feel like taking a break from the crowd, you can enjoy a game of pool in the back room or lounge on the tree-covered outside patio.
MANGO’S BEACH BAR & GRILLE
602 First St. N., Jax Beach, 246-4200 Mango’s is a decidedly divey biker bar right off First Street in the heart of downtown Jax Beach. On weekdays, the crowd skews older, mostly burly guys in trucker hats and leathery old ladies worn down by years in the sun. On the weekends, the younger beach-goers come out for karaoke and cheaper drinks than what’s served at nearby clubs. It’s also one of the last holdouts in the war against indoor smoking, so be warned that busy nights can be rough on a non-smoker’s beautifully pink lungs. Janet Harper mail@folioweekly.com MAY 21-27, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19