Baby J’s Bar

Baby J's is such an incredibly special space, we can't speak highly enough about it and their incredible team. If you're looking for sophisticated ambiance, and immaculate vibes, this is the spot. Designed by local interior design geniuses, Chinotto House, the bar is filled with gorgeous details that make you want to stay all night. Live music, incredible cocktails, delicious bites, what more could you ask for? A true gem in the heart of Downtown Gainesville.

We recently hosted a private event and it was wonderful. The whole team was really easy to work with during the planning process and very communicative. The actual night went perfectly as well they were able to adjust plans as the night went on to ensure it flowed smoothly. The drinks and food were delicious as well. I wouldn’t have changed a thing!

Music and atmosphere were great as always. Service has improved dramatically since the last time I stopped in. Emma was fantastic. She was very friendly and made sure we were never waiting for another round of drinks. Will definitely make sure to come back!

Such a cool bar. Brandon was our bartender and he was amazing! Very skilled and genuine. Thanks for the fun date night!

Baby J's Bar is so awesome!!! Food is always on point and drinks are killer. Their music is a perfect mix of 80s to 90s to newer music and always jamming. Their happy hour bites and drinks always hit the spot.

This place is the coolest venue I've ever been in. Definitely the best craft cocktails in Gainesville too in my opinion. Brandon made a spicy marg that changed my life and he was SUCH a sweetheart. Could not have had a better experience

The music deserved five stars. Everything else: 3. Hubby and I dined in Friday night. The cocktails were not balanced- everyone we ordered was on the sweet side. I would definitely try this place again bc the music and ambience is amazing. Also half of the menu food items were out, lol!

Baby J’s is our go to spot for a night out. The cocktails are *amazing* and the live jazz is fantastic. They do a good happy hour, but most of the live music starts a bit later. They post their music schedule online and it’s worth checking out and planning ahead. It’s definitely my favorite place in Gainesville!

Such a cute jazz bar! Only went a couple times since it opened my senior year, but came back for a weekend and it is still so good. Our bartender was so friendly and the drinks are delicious! Love it.

Cute place with good drinks and live music but got soured by a 25% automatic gratuity added to our check for a group of 6. WTF? The service was just okay and I still would have left 20%. 25 is just rude and it's not like you want to be the jerk to complain about it.

Came here for a live jazz band which ended up being amazing. The members of the band were very nice and walked around and talked to the customers on their break. The cover was very reasonable and was added to your tab at the end. I ordered a red wine which was told it was a Pinot noir, I don't think the wine I got was a Pinot noir as it tasted more sparkling, but it was a decent sized pour. Prices of drinks are a little steep, but there is live entertainment. Good experience here at baby j's.

Love this little extension of Cry Babys! The vibe is awesome, but I have yet to make it to a show at night. The happy hour is a good deal however - they have gin specials and some snacks to munch on before dinner. My favorite part of the bar has been the bartenders, they seem to really know what they are doing when it comes to mixology. Looking forward to seeing some of the creative cocktails that they come up with in the future!

Baby J's is the (relatively) new offshoot of its sister restaurant next door, Cry Baby's. This place is probably the most unique bar in Gainesville. Depending on the night, there might be a jazz band playing, a DJ spinning psychedelic hits of the 1970s, a string quartette, or even a drag cabaret. The cocktails are definitely craft (read: expensive) and this isn't a place where you can order whatever you want. For the most part, their drink menu has something for everyone, although when I ordered the rotating IPA and there wasn't any left, I got whatever the pilsner was (tasted like a lukewarm $7 PBR). The G&T I tried had rhubarb gin, a wedge of grapefruit rind for garnish, and plenty of ice. Baby J's is a hangout for the hipsters of Gainesville. So throw on those short-shorts, twist up the ends of your mustache, and dust off that jean jacket to check out Baby J's.

Overall: You all need to come here! It is my favorite bar in all of Gainesville! Why? Ambience, Service, and Food/Drinks! Ambience: They've switched it up. You don't need a reservation anymore (which is kinda sad, but makes sense bc idk many ppl who made reservations before. I originally wanted it to be a place where less undergrad students go but it is definitely an eclectic crowd. They added the following for entertainment since my last review: - Live Jazz Bands (add $5 - $10 entrance fee to your check). I understand that it's to pay the band but it is kinda disheartening to pay extra when you intend on going because of the live jazz music - DJ nights: I went a few times where the DJ used actual records to DJ. And it was amazing. - Karaoke: Newest addition. Idk how long it will stay or if it was just a one night thing. Service: Impecable! You won't be disappointed. All the ppl who work there from the servers to the bartenders are so nice! It really adds to the ambience when you just have great ppl who work at a location. Drinks/ Food: All the drinks are awesome! They can make you drinks off the menu too! I will say though every time I wanted oysters they were out so I don't even ask anymore lol. However, I've had the bread & butter and aranicini and those are great! Oh can't forget they also make a good cappuccino and espresso! Probably my only con is that I am ALWAYS freezing in there so make sure to bring a jacket!

Kat is easily the best bartender I have ever had. She goes above and beyond to improve my experience. She has remembered my name and drink every time I have entered. I am blown away by the attention to detail and overall vibe of this place everytime I enter.

A very unique cocktail bar in Gainesville! Environment has an old time feel. Great to visit by yourself or with small group. There are a few tables/areas that looked like they could accommodate larger parties (~6 people). Last call was 11:30p on the Friday we visited. Walked in close to then, so my girlfriend and I could only try 1 drink each. Their cocktail options didn't stand out greatly to either of us. The reason for deducting a star. I had the Garden Party which had a little kick but was nice and smooth. My girlfriend had the Running out of Thyme and wow, it had a very strong aroma! Wasn't necessarily bad, but hit you in the face. The environment was cool to visit, they had bar food options (also are connected to Cry Baby's so could get bigger meal options there), and had live music earlier in the night. Will return to hopefully catch a live show while grabbing a drink!

I enjoy the atmosphere here. Very nice vibe and upscale feel. Bartenders are accommodating and nice.

Drinks were expensive and not very good and boring atmosphere. Better music in the bathroom. Adding auto 25% gratuity didn't help. Doubt this place will be around long.

This is such a cool spot in gnv I can't believe it's taken me so long to visit. It's a jazz club so expect jazz and cool vibes. The interior design is next level, gorgeous place. Had a basic charcuterie snack plate, it was good--the drinks were great. The live music was intimate, interactive, and complimentary.

What a treat this please is! The food was flavorful and were well priced for the overall experience. They paired well with the cocktails! Each of us ordered three drinks and were pleasantly surprised by how well balanced each of them were. We especially enjoyed the ambiance, especially the music! Definitely check this place out.

Amazing drinks! Very cool ambience, great service too. Enjoyed the jazzy jazz band that was playing. Will def return!

service here on a thursday at 6:30pm was AWFUL!! ordered the happy hour wings (literally 6 wings) and waited an hour and 30 minutes before finally receiving them. waitress also only came to table 2 times during stay, would almost ignore us the rest of the time. espresso martini was delicious though.

Baby J's is a new jazz lounge and cocktail bar opened in a small downtown space directly connected to Cry Baby's next door. The decor is appropriately Jazz Age themed, with an Art Deco inspired bar, small tables for two, and booths for bigger parties. Baby J's takes reservations, but the crowd has been small both times I have been (6 p.m. on a Wednesday and Friday). Every drink I've had has been quite good. The Vieux Carré expertly balanced all key ingredients and was served on a beautiful clear ice cube. This is a small touch, but greatly appreciated. The Flamingo is one of their house cocktails. Also served on a big rock, it had a strong strawberry flavor as well as some not-unwelcome orange hints. The best value in cocktails, though, are the cocktail trays. $20 gets you two cocktails. One is served in a cocktail glass while the other is in a small carafe on a bed of ice, keeping it chilled. The tray comes with a different set of garnishes, allowing you to choose the best way to garnish your cocktails. The dirty martini tray came with four castelveltrano olives, two cocktail onions, and an orange twist. The olives and the onions were high quality. The martini itself was excellent. Marconi 42 is a somewhat difficult gin to find, but I'll definitely keep a look out. This Mediterranean gin brings a pleasant bouquet of mint and basil that plays very well with the split base of vermouth and sherry. Finally, the olive brine is sufficient to bring a nice umami flavor to the cocktail, but nothing too overwhelming. Highly recommend. Finally, a big draw for Baby J's is the music. The music both times has been pleasant and fit for a nice date night or just a quieter night out. I believe they also have live music Tuesday nights, but I haven't been to a show here yet. All in all, Baby J's is a great addition to the downtown space and manages to provide something new. While the price is a little high, I think it's worth it for the quality of the cocktails available. I look forward to seeing Baby J's get more popular as word of mouth spreads!

I keep trying to catch the jazz music here but have not been able to yet. Regardless, the bar has a great vibe unlike anywhere else in Gainesville. And fantastic espresso martinis.

if I could give it 0 stars I would. if you are not 21 you are not respected. They do not take reservations even if you have a larger group of people. My friend called multiple times over 4 DAYS in hopes of them saving space for her birthday party of 7 and they did not respond until she went down there and asked in person. she was told to arrive early but they wouldn't save space. We get there 30 min before the music started like they suggested and once they saw we all had 18+ IDs, they turned us away. Telling us we can't even stand in the entrance despite the downpour. unaccepting which is a shame since the place looked cute, for the 2 min we were allowed in there. My only hope is that once the younger crowd turns 21, we boycott this place. Rude management.

The service was great. The drinks were expertly prepared. We were hoping for some music, as it bills itself as a Jazz bar. There wasn't any that evening but we look forward to returning and having the whole experience.