Relatively small, San Marco is a charming, upscale neighborhood south of Downtown and north of Mandarin. The diverse, historic neighborhood is home to multi-family dwellings to expansive riverside mansions that are just steps away from trendy boutiques and fabulous locally owned restaurants.

Highlights

San Marco is pedestrian and pet-friendly. The Southbank Riverwalk is just steps away from your apartment. San Marco Square is home to the Lion Fountain and one of Jacksonville's oldest theaters, San Marco Theater. The Square also offers a variety of fast-food restaurants to fabulous locally owned cafes and upscale restaurants. Chic boutiques offering everything from stationery to shoes dot the Square. The area is central to the city, so the average commute from your apartment is 20 minutes to most any other part of town, with easy access to I-95 and I-10. Getting Downtown is as easy as crossing the St. Johns River, making access to the Times Union Center, the Florida Theater and the Sports Complex convenient.

Some of Jacksonville's best public schools are just a short walk or drive away from your apartment.

Heads Up

Getting to a grocery store will take you out of the neighborhood, but there is a project planned for the heart of San Marco to bring a grocery store in, making shopping and packing your groceries back to your apartment quick and easy. San Marco is also low in elevation, so when it rains, rainwater has trouble finding a place to go. City leaders are developing a plan to re-engineer the infrastructure there to make it less flood-prone.

Area Attractions

San Marco Square is home a wealth of restaurants, and they're all just a quick jaunt from your apartment. Find Subway next to Laylas of San Marco, an authentic Mediterranean restaurant, bar and hookah lounge; Taverna serves a European flair, while Bistro Aix offers a mix of French and Mediterranean cuisine. If a night with a great bottle of wine is your thing, be sure to walk through the ivy-entwined gates at The Grotto, for a night with great wine and great tapas. The River City Brewing Co. offers a great place to meet your colleagues for happy hour following a long day at work. For a taste of old Germany meets New York, gather where the locals hang at European Street Cafe. If you're willing to stand in a line that stretches around the building, don't miss out on Metro Diner. The breakfast joint is a must-try in the River City.

Built in 1938, the San Marco Theater of Art Deco influence offers a single screen showing, but where else does the staff make you a pizza and pour you a beer as you enjoy a newly released blockbuster? Just walk out your front door and head to River Road. River Road takes you right along the expansive St. Johns River, before curling you back into the upscale area of San Marco, where historic mansions and weeping willows line the streets.