Downtown Pensacola

Pensacola is a city all its own-influenced by all, imitated by none.

Originally settled as an inland seaport, Pensacola has grown into a cultural, economic, and industrial hub in recent years, leading many to move to the area.Pensacola is, first and foremost, a sea town. Defined by a tumultuous multinational history, earning it the moniker of "The City ofFive Flags," and blending many elements of each, Pensacola has defined itself as one of many faces-perhaps best encapsulated by its Downtown district.

Downtown is the place to be for everything Pensacola. Centered around Palafox Place - a three-block area of the city dominated by commercial outlets, eateries, and entertainment options-Downtown is perfect for those looking to be close to the beach getaways of the coast without being defined by them.

Dining such as McGuire's Irish Pub, The Union Public House & The Oar House, and shopping in the vein of Rusted Arrow Mercantile & Indigeaux Denim Bar & Boutique, allow visitors a one-of-a-kind experience, combining fares and designs from varying backgrounds. 

The area also features various venues such as Vinyl Music Hall, Seville Quarter, and The Saenger Theatre - a historic South Palafox theatre - offering first - class entertainment choices found nowhere else on the coast. Other events, such as the annual New Year's Pelican Drop-consisting of the lowering of a 12-foot, 2 1/2 ton aluminum pelican wrapped in 2,000 lights, do much to add to the district's charm.

Art is also very much alive around Palafox Place. Aside from the numerous galleries scattered across Downtown, The First City Arts Center - a community resource - offers various art programs to over 10,000 residents of all ages.

Downtown is mainly low-rise, making Downtown stand-outs-such as Seville Tower, a hallmark of early 20th Century Chicago School architecture - a hallmark of the Pensacola skyline.

While more expensive than some neighboring areas, real estate in and around Downtown is still lower than the national average. Most residents are within an upward-mobile workforce, with many working in healthcare, finance, and the service industry. The district is also perfect for the numerous military service members stationed in Northwest Florida. The area is especially popular with those employed at Naval Air Station Pensacola, less than a 20-minute drive from Downtown.