When 22-year-old UF computer science graduate Nicholas Verdugo exits a Gainesville bar at 1 a.m., all he can think about is which restaurant he’ll go to next to satisfy his late-night cravings.
Like many college students, Verdugo enjoys a midnight snack after a night out with friends, and he’s become a regular at a few late-night spots around Gainesville. His favorite is Flaco’s Cuban Bakery.
“The food is always delicious,” Verdugo said. “I specifically like going at night because there are so many people there having a good time. The energy is very high.”
A combination of newly opened restaurants and long-time staples represent the late-night food restaurants in Gainesville. Some highlights include Insomnia Cookies, Naq’s Halal Food and Flaco’s Cuban Bakery.
This laid back Cuban bakery by day transforms into a must-visit munchies destination and entertainment hub once the sun goes down, staying open until 2:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Located at 200 W. University Ave., the family-run business opened 16 years ago when co-owner Sara Puyana moved to Gainesville from Miami. Jill Kubisek, the restaurant’s manager, said Puyana aspires to bring her Hispanic heritage to the local culinary scene.
During the pandemic, Puyana also opened Vecinos — the connecting bar next door — to attract more customers through curating late-night events like drag shows, comedy shows and karaoke nights.
Flaco’s is always packed with people enjoying their food and dancing to music during the late-night hours, Kubisek said.
“It’s hundreds of people coming through,” Kubisek said. “We have a line out the door.”
A customer favorite is The Gator Cuban, a sandwich with pork, mayo, mustard, pickles and swiss pressed between Cuban bread. Another popular menu item is the quesito, a cream cheese-filled pastry dubbed by staff as the “sexy pastry” due to its popularity.
“It's a pretty fun vibe,” Kubisek said. “It's like you're still partying.”
Insomnia Cookies has quickly become a busy Gainesville go-to for late-night desserts since it opened in March 2021. The store is open from noon to 1 a.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, and noon to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Located at 1702 W. University Ave., the chain’s eighth Florida location offers a selection of freshly baked cookies, which can be paired with different ice cream flavors or frosting.
General manager Brett Nelson has worked at the store since its grand opening, and he said he enjoys making his customers smile with the help of cookies and his positive attitude.
Insomnia Cookies’ late-night crowd ranges from students cramming for exams, people leaving the surrounding Midtown bars and couples on a date night, he said.
“We are here for everybody,” Nelson said. “You get people who've had really, really bad days, and all that might make it better is just a warm, delicious cookie.”
Naq’s Halal Food opened a Gainesville location in April 2021 and has since brought New York-style halal food to local hungry customers.
The restaurant, located at 1412 W. University Ave., serves a variety of different foods like gyros, rice platters, salads and sandwiches. It is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday; summer hours may vary.
In the religion of Islam, the Halal diet should be followed according to the Quran. Most foods are inherently Halal, but halal meat must be prepared in a specific way.
Derrick Johnson, the catering coordinator and ambassador of Naq’s Halal in Gainesville, is from Philadelphia and has worked in the culinary field since 1984.
“I have to give kudos and hats off to the students of UF because of their consistency and buying our food,” Johnson said.
The New York-native owners of Naq’s Halal Food, Haris Khan, Mustafa Naimi and Shahid Naimi, wanted to open a location in Gainesville to establish a year-round customer base of college students and locals. Naq’s Halal Food’s quick and efficient service also fits the lifestyle of an on-the-go college student, Johnson said.
The restaurant’s late-night hours aim to attract college students coming from the Midtown bars and studying on campus, he said.
Popular in-house-made menu items include lamb, chicken and falafel dishes.
“Our overall thing is constantly speaking to the students,” Johnson said. “We engage with all customers when they come in, because through communicating with them, we may find a way to operate our restaurant even better.”
For nocturnal taste buds, The Top offers the solution to every person’s appetite.
This popular spot, located at 30 N. Main St., specializes in American cuisine and has extensive vegetarian and vegan options. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Scott Schillington and Hal Mendez, the owners of The Top, opened the restaurant 20 years ago. They also own other Gainesville small businesses like The Wooly, Arcade Bar and Pop-A-Top.
Dinner and late-night hours at The Top attract a diverse crowd of families, students and professors. Front house manager Callie Seip said customers are usually curious about the restaurant’s eclectic environment, which includes tchotchkes and other funky decor covering the walls.
“I've heard our owner say it's kind of supposed to be like somebody's house in the 70s,” Seip said. “It’s pretty charming.”
Similar to Flaco’s, The Top is a family-friendly restaurant during the early dinner hours but switches to a late-night food and hangout spot at around 10 p.m.
The Top’s night-time menu consists of simple bar food, with its in-house breaded chicken tenders and burgers being the favorites among customers and staff. Seip said corn nuggets — deep-fried balls of creamed corn served with a garlic aioli sauce — are another popular pick.
“It's such a simple thing, but people love it,” she said.
With three locations in Gainesville and 20 locations across the state, Five Star Pizza is a staple for late-night pizza cravings. The restaurant stays open until 3:30 a.m., seven days a week.
Rebecca Jackson, general manager at the 210 SW. Second Ave. location, has lived in Gainesville for most of her life and started working at the pizza joint two years ago.
“Five Star is Gainesville through and through,” she said.
Founder and owner of Five Star Pizza, John Gillespie, opened the chain’s first location in Gainesville in 1988 to establish a local, late-night pizza place for UF students, Jackson said.
As one of the pizza places open latest in Gainesville, the chain became popular among the college crowd.
“Our busiest hour of the entire week is Friday night from one until two in the morning,” Jackson said.
Five Star Pizza’s chicken bacon ranch specialty pizza and chicken wings are the restaurant’s best-selling menu items, she said.
“Everything is done in-house. It's all fresh ingredients,” Jackson said. “Consistency is what we care about.”
Contact Amanda at afriedman@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @afriedmanuf.
Amanda Friedman is a senior journalism major and the Enterprise Editor at The Alligator. She previously wrote for the Avenue, Metro and University desks. When she isn't reporting, she loves watching coming-of-age films and listening to Ariana Grande.
