Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Florida Theatre

    4.3 (179 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Florida Theatre Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Florida Theatre

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Stage
    Joe M.

    Magnificent historical venue. Really enjoyed a rock concert here. Comfortable seats and good acoustics. Friendly staff and volunteers. Parking garage across the street with only $5 charge for event parking. Nearby bars and restaurants. Looking forward to returning.

    Stacy J.

    The theater has been totally renovated inside and while it maintains its authentic Beauty the update makes it just much more comfortable. The Acoustics are absolutely phenomenal no matter where you are sitting. In fact, I was sitting towards the back which usually I hate and I felt like the sound was just as great there. They had an updated light system which really added to the show and it was really pretty. They had three bars outside so there was hardly any way to get refreshments. The bathrooms were spotless and somebody was inside cleaning them at all times. There was a little line for check-in but it went smoothly and efficiently. The experience was phenomenal and I am so happy I was able to see Chicago there! I can't wait to return to see another show!

    Stage
    Kristy A.

    I think everyone must be familiar with the Florida Theatre. It's a beautiful venue. We were recently there for a tribute concert featuring Elton John sound alike performer. It was a great performance but this review is for the venue. Parking can be tricky, but there are several nearby garages usually charging $10.00, bring cash. Street parking is free after 5 or 6 and always for disabled. We parked a block away. We dined nearby, there are several restaurants/bars, with different price points from inexpensive to fancy. I love Casa Dora Italian, see related review. There are no elevators, so balcony seating is limited. The main seating is at a steep slope in my opinion and I found it a little difficult to navigate, with my cane. I was fine though. Seating is on the low side, with ample room. I did not have any discomfort for the 2 hour show. The bathroom wait is long, especially at intermissions. They offer snacks, sodas and adult beverages. All in all it's a beautiful venue and they have some awesome talent and performances.

    The architect and art on the balcony level
    Douglas J.

    Every time I come to this place is always a breath of fresh air. When you walk through the venue, they will have a security point up to make sure everyone that's coming in isn't bringing any weapons. But soon as you walk in the bars to your right and the restrooms are to your left. The bar does except cash and card and they do have a few snacks such as like chips and candy. But no real food is served at this place. The venue is very huge downstairs has a lot of air condition and even when you go up two flights of stairs to the balcony you feel a fresh breeze. Even if you're sitting at the back of the theater you still feel like you're in the front the echo and acoustics are amazing here. I have been here many times such as to see Disney Junior live in different orchestras. This place is amazing.

    Rachel D.

    What a charming historical theatre this place is. A gem to our city where many community acts and talents were performed at. I was able to visit the Florida theatre during the Vienna Austria candlelight ceremony. Which the show was indeed so beautiful. As they sang and played music I loved how the sound echoed through the theatre. Though the theatre is not that big it's intimate and comforting. Some say that a refurbish needs to be done and others say not to since it would loose its authentic vintage charm. Inside the wooden doors the theatre had a Floridian vintage decor to it. Old iron thin swirl railings and star lanterns that hand from the ceiling give it character. Definitely a place to visit for seeing an event. Still running strong from 1927z

    Sec 300 Row T
    Magan D.

    I always enjoy a show at the Florida Theater. This was my first time back since they updated the seats and repainted. They did a fantastic job and it is beautiful. The bar offerings are limited but nice. Offering snacks and drinks you can enjoy during your show. The bathrooms were clean. I find that the second floor bathroom are less crowded than the first floor.

    Dianna B.

    Friends of mine gave us tickets to see a show at Jacksonville theater so we made w night of it. The theater is lovely, has a turn if the century kind of feel. Truly reminds me of Tampa theater. The bar service was awesome. Very promt and courteous. The ushers were helpful. My husband and I are Large folks and thr seats were not uncomfortable. The sound and lighting for the show, Scott Peterson's Post Modern Jukebox was phenomenal! I really enjoyed said show. I also think its haunted! I kept feeling/seeing in my peripheral vision an old fashioned style Usher. What do you know about this?

    Rick P.

    What can you say. Venue is old but spectacular. Service is great. Acoustics are outstanding. They normally have great shows to entertain the masses. An iconic place in the jacksonville area

    Steve G.

    I love the old theaters... and this one is a true treasure. Opened in 1927 and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982, it was beautifully restored in 2023 and looks fantastic. The acoustics in these classic venues are always special... there's nothing quite like them. When I noticed that Itzhak Perlman going to perform here, I had to make the trip to Jacksonville. This wasn't just a concert... it was a reflection on a remarkable 80-year life. Widely considered one of the greatest violinists of all time (and I completely agree), it was incredible to see him so close in such an intimate setting. I saw him at Carnegie Hall twice before, years ago. At 80, he's still playing with breathtaking purity and control... the sound as beautiful as ever. Almost everyone working at the theater is a volunteer, which makes the experience even more special. I went up to the top level to give a view from up there. I'd say the 200 level is very good, 300 a bit far away. Highly recommend this venue... a truly special place to experience live performance.

    Kelly T.

    We saw a show here tonight and really enjoyed it. The place is classic old theater. We were in row z but still felt like these were good seats. There is a parking garage just across the street.

    Stage
    Joyce S.

    We attended the Florida Theater Classical Christmas Show and it was breathtaking! I haven't been there in a few years, what a beautiful theater! Stunning! The show was awesome. The orchestra and singers outstanding!

    Interior lobby at Christmas
    Alexa A.

    Always a wonderful time at the Florida Theatre! It's a lovely theatre inside very beautifully decorated and not a bad seat in the house! Recently saw Michael W Smith and Rilee Clemmins for the Christmas concert. If you are a member there is a members only entrance and you get to vote on who gets to play at the theater

    Balcony view of the stage
    Ramses C.

    I've had the pleasure of seeing the shows here over the past few years. Have loved every single one of them. Hassan Minhaj, Marlon Wayans, and most recently Trevor Wallace. They bring big names to Jacksonville Florida. They have a wide variety of shows throughout the year but I've only attended to see comedians. It's a big enough stage for a great crowd reaction while still cozier than an arena set up. This makes it easy to check in and out of the shows without navigating massive crowds. They offer bar service on both floors making it convenient to grab them on the way to your seats. Ushers located throughout take the doubt and hassle of locating your seats. Bathroom lines can get a bit long, especially at the very end of the show but amenities are clean. Great location downtown with a parking garage with plenty of readily available parking just one block away. Will continue to attend future comedy shows here without a doubt! They have a full calendar nearly a year out online so you can always see future bookings and plan well in advance.

    So excited for Vitamin String Quartet tonight!

    See all

    Photo of Gail C.
    22
    163
    15968

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rick P.
    153
    513
    1928

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dana S.
    325
    114
    312

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Enjoyed watching a play at this lovely theatre. Highly recommend for date or family event.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 1
    Love this 18
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Service seating and First Class Performances! Always a Great time and a Beautiful Theatre.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    This ornate theater is 97 years old! Tastefully decorated, we saw The Nutcraacker there and thoroughly enjoyed it!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adinah J.
    8
    108
    115

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nia M.
    293
    411
    3274

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Great theatre, doesn't seem like a bad seat in the house. Nearby parking garage is a plus!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    Florida Theatre Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Florida Theatre

    Review Highlights - Florida Theatre

    The Florida theater is absolutely one of my most favorite places to go in Jacksonville hands down.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Ruby Beach Brewing - Frozen cocktails

    Ruby Beach Brewing

    4.5(87 reviews)
    0.1 miLaVilla
    $$

    Ruby Beach Brewing Company is located in downtown Jacksonville across from Yates Municipal…read morebuilding. It is reasonable paid parking, about $2 and hour. Inside is a little tight, but it is an old building with naked bricks, historic decor, a good sized bar and tables inside. Outside is a deck with covered tables, another area for corn hole and a food truck which has all the major bar food groups including churros. Sean was my beertender and he really was the best. They have a policy of holding your card for tabs which I really hate, but he made me feel comfortable about leaving my life in his hands. When I first walked in on a weekday during happy hour, it was pretty light, but around 4:30p the place started filling up. Happy hour is Monday - Friday until 6pm and they have 18 taps which qualify for happy hour. Plus they had 3 guest taps, both ciders. Ruby Beach has a mug club, it is about $80 for the year. You get a free beer on Tuesday as well as your own numbered mug. It is limited. So exclusive in fact that they do a raffle every August. The BEER: Crown Jewel Belgian Tripel 11.4% ABV... easy drinking, not boozy and quite delicious, this one will sneak up on you Return of the Mac Daddy Pale Ale 5.5% ABV... the description is "rye pale ale hopped with Amarillo. On the first sip I thought one note, but boy was I wrong. As it warms it has layers. And in my opinion the layers are all good, like a good lasagna. Over the Ditch 15.0 NEIPA 6% ABV... if I was in front of a firing and they gave me a last request, I might choose this beer. Sweet grapefruit and stars... love this! Grit & Glow Lager 5.2% ABV... if you have ever smelled fabuloso that is what I first smelled when I put the beer to my lips, the beer itself is just as perfumey, not for me... but if you like those type of flavors in beer, you might like this one Rosemary In the Rye Pale Ale 5.5% ABV... all day crushable pale ale, with a slight hint of rosemary, basically the Mac Daddy plus rosemary O'Ruby's Irish Stout 5.5% ABV... smooth coffee with hints of toffee, so ver crushable, but it is way better warm Didn't get to try the food on this visit, but on a side note... the bathrooms are both unisex and CLEAN. Ruby Beach has great beer, great service and personality, everything I want in a brewery. Come visit and see for yourself.

    Always consistent. We had our wedding reception here (upstairs). We hang out here on occaision. We…read morebring out of towners here. We bring friends here. The service is good. The beer is good. What's not to like?

    Photos
    Ruby Beach Brewing - Frozen cocktails

    Frozen cocktails

    Ruby Beach Brewing - Downstairs bar

    Downstairs bar

    Ruby Beach Brewing - They brew in house

    See all

    They brew in house

    The Arena - Me with the zombie dancers

    The Arena

    4.0(3 reviews)
    7.6 miWestside

    I moved to Jacksonville recently from California and I am always on the lookout for new places to…read morecheck out. There is a building I pass every day near my home which caught my eye right away. Its stone façade and bright yellow sign flanked by two Medieval Knights, with the words "The Arena" across it in large block lettering stood out in comparison to its neighbors, a church and a discount furniture store. I quickly put on my detective cap and began scouring the internet for any explanation or reviews but information was sparse. I eventually found the website... The Arena | Jacksonville's Premiere Concert Venue... "The Arena is definitely one of Jacksonville's premiere and edgiest night scenes. With four stages, and full audio-surround sound, you will be blown away..." I ear marked it as a place to check out in the future. As Halloween grew closer The Arena began to look more and more like an off-beat community haunted attraction. A giant, ominous, clown face appeared over the door along with some additional lights and carnival décor. A new sign was added, "Carnevil". Of course I got back on the internet and found, "Welcome to Carnevil! The darkest and final act of the circus empire..." From the description it sounded pretty scary, I don't really do scary, but it was Halloween and we had no other plans and it was FREE. Now let me tell you, the free thing immediately set off some red flags, nothing is free but curiosity got the best of us. We invited some friends, put on our costumes and headed to the Arena but it was completely full and they sent us away with priority tickets for the next showing. Sunday night just my fiancé and I went back. Like I said, I don't really do scary well and as I stood in line my heart was racing. They announce that we are about to go in and once we are inside we will not be allowed to leave until the end. Honestly, we were half convinced that this place lures unsuspecting people in and keeps them forever... how else does a "Premiere Concert Venue" have almost no internet presence and NO reviews? The whole experience started off great. Creepy ghosts shambled through the lines, small groups were let into the theatre at a time, entering through a miniature haunted maze with all the scares and screams as a professional haunted house. There were plenty of scares for the audience while we waited for the show to start. The play had a great campy/spooky community theatre feel complete with frightening clowns, quality makeup, sound and lighting effects. Over and over I kept thinking, "How is this free?" and then it started... "drugs", "sex", "rebelling against authority"... "sin". Suddenly I realized I was at church. A preacher dressed as a cop stood center stage asking the audience to raise their hands, come up and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to avoid a hell worse than the clown camp we just witnessed. I want to be clear... I do not have a problem with this being a church function; I appreciate the local church for pulling together a great community event... I do have a problem with being completely ambushed. Nowhere on TheArenaJax.com does it mention its affiliation with Victory Church. To solicit itself as one of the country's premier, edgy music venue, "showcasing a spectrum of internationally renowned artists" is more than slightly misleading. I have to say, I felt a bit violated to be lured into what appeared to be a fun community theatre, told I could not leave until it was over and then force fed a religious message while adults in scary masks and makeup stood blocking the exit. Here is the TL;DR: The production quality is great for a free event. I really enjoyed the first hour and a half of my experience. I would even encourage people to check out one of their events but be advised... this is a religious venue affiliated with its neighboring church. You will be held inside the building and asked to approach the stage to accept their message.

    I have seen the Carnevil show twice now and I absolutely love it. Yes, it wasn't for the faint of…read moreheart, but it was awesome nonetheless. I am not one to like scary things but after seeing the show I had to see it again. The storyline and characters are well-made and very nice people. They put all they had into making this show work and after the show you get to meet them and get to know them personally. The theatrics of it were stunning and very luring and the sound effects blew me away. I loved how well the actors dressed up and scared people. They'd pop out of the dark, they sang along to hit songs from Slipknot and they made it a very good memorable experience. Along with the thrills they made some funny remarks during the show which made it more enjoyable and fun. If they were able to keep the show going on for more days I would go to all of them. For free it was worth it- if I had to pay, it would've been totally worth it. At the end of the show there was a part where a character made a statement about being "lost" and how he was able to come to terms with himself. Yes, they help people to believe but even if you aren't into Christianity or religion at all it didn't matter. They wanted people to remember the show and to tell everyone else back home about it. They wanted to inspire people to not be afraid and to become more than what people think of you. They don't force any part of religion on anyone and they don't force people into a prayer at all. They merely want to help people and for the people who were just there for the show, they got to see how much hard work and dedication the actors put into this to make it fun and memorable and thrilling. I absolutely loved it and would go to many more shows for the rest of my life for the experience. Amazing job well done.

    Photos
    The Arena - Event photo from The Arena's website.

    Event photo from The Arena's website.

    The Arena - Me with Jack Box and a clown

    Me with Jack Box and a clown

    The Arena - Carnevil 2015 - Halloween Stage production

    See all

    Carnevil 2015 - Halloween Stage production

    Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts - Jake Shane

    Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

    4.2(87 reviews)
    0.4 miLaVilla
    $$

    5/29 whenever we can we attend symphony programs, we do. We are lucky to have such a large,…read moretalented and dedicated symphony in Jax,; the acoustics are wonderful too! We were told about remodeling that will start soon (one reason...bigger seats...lol). Tonight we heard "the music of Elton John featuring Michael Cavanaugh" with his 4 member band; the conductor Matthew Wardell. It was entertaining and Michael could REALLY play that piano! Maybe it is why he was the working with Billy Joel (THE piano man) before. Michael's singing of Elton songs reminded how phenomenal Elton really is; hard to imitate. Being backed by symphony all the songs were wonderful !

    We used to go to the Kravitz center in West Palm beach for their version of the Broadway series…read more When we moved up to this area, we just had to continue our Broadway play fix. We bought the Broadway series, which is typically 5 to 6 plays per year and if you renew your seats every year you get the same seats. You have the option to change your seats the following year if you're not happy with the seats that you have. Believe it or not we've been a VIP don't remember for two years and we've never went to the VIP lounge because we weren't even aware of it. So I can't speak about the food in there and we've never had any food outside of coffee and once we got Cookies and they were both very good. The service and staff is extremely friendly and helpful. It's a very nice small venue so pretty much most of the seats are a good view. The only thing went crazy about is their location for the parking that's included when you buy your tickets as part of the package. I wish they had a valet option or something right across the street available included in the Broadway series package. Of course you can always just pay for your own seats and not get the seating but we like to know we're guaranteed a parking spot because it's about a 45 minute drive from our house. This will be the third year in a row for us here and we really like it

    Photos
    Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
    Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts
    Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

    See all

    Florida Theatre - musicvenues - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...