Snowbirds from across the U.S. flock to Florida’s Gulf Coast for the sugar-sand beaches, but Pensacola transcends this obvious appeal. The city has created a unique sense of place, valuing local input as it has revitalized blighted areas and reimagined historic buildings. The result is newly vibrant neighborhoods such as the East Garden District (EGD to the locals), which now features luxury lodging and a hip dining and drinking scene.
The Kennedy
The venerable Blount Building, which was rebuilt in 1906–07 after a previous iteration burned down in a Halloween-night fire, became home to this cocktail bar in 2019. Historian and owner Katie Garrett fell in love with the drinking culture of the 1950s and ’60s, and she created a space that’s rife with nostalgia, from the elegant, vintage glassware to the mid-century-accented decor.
Union Public House
This popular restaurant moved to EGD last August. “Top restaurants, breweries, and markets will make this the new hub of downtown Pensacola,” says chef/owner Blake Rushing. “How could we say no?” The kitchen specializes in upscale takes on Southern classics, such as the not-to-be-missed crispy pork shank with umami-rich bacon-onion marmalade.
The Well
Perennial Hospitality Group has led the charge in revitalizing the neighborhood with establishments such as this bar, which opened in 2021 in a space that has 1950s-Miami vibes. “The historic buildings we operate in give us the perfect canvas to share our handcrafted drinks, food, and Florida hospitality,” says PHG CEO Jacob Landry. “We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Garden & Grain
Another PHG property, this open-air bar serves garden-inspired drinks, as well as tacos from the El Camino food truck. In a nod to the historic gardens that British military officer and city surveyor Elias Durnford established here back in 1764, the owners commissioned a mural depicting a hummingbird flitting through impossibly tall flowers.
Odd Colony Brewing Company
At its location in a cavernous 1930 building, Odd Colony makes beers that feature local and seasonal ingredients such as oyster shells and scuppernong grapes. “Partnering with local artists and purveyors is a cornerstone of what we do,” says co-owner Blake Foster. “It’s been exciting to see how the community embraced us.”
Lily Hall
In 2023, this small hotel opened in the former home of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, a historic African-American house of worship. “When we found out this building was on the [John Sunday Society’s] Seven to Save list, we knew we could save it,” says co-owner Nathan Weinberg. A speakeasy bar now occupies the basement, where Sunday school classes were once held.
