Whether you are a student looking for the best off campus housing near FSU or off campus housing at FAMU, a family who wants to be near good schools, or an office professional looking to limit your work commute, you will find all the information about neighborhoods in Tallahassee right here. Use our maps, tips, and neighborhood descriptions to find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.

Tips for Getting Around Tallahassee:

  • Tennessee Street and Monroe Street are main roads, but they have lots of traffic lights. While they may look like the most direct route on a map, they tend to take longer.
  • Tennessee Street is also called 90 or "Tenn Street", and Monroe Street is also known as 27.
  • Use I-10 to get across town and avoid surface street traffic lights.
  • Capital Circle is exactly what the name says – it circles the city. Make sure you pay attention to north-east/south-east and south-east/south-west designations or you may find yourself going in the wrong direction.
  • Tallahassee is known for its beautiful canopied roads, but they can be intimidating for drivers who aren't used to navigating them. The roads are narrow, covered by trees, and have little or no shoulder. New or insecure drivers may want to skip Old Bainbridge and other canopy roads until they feel more comfortable driving around town.

Get your bearings before you start searching for an apartment:

  • Tallahassee is not a large city, but the few main streets get very congested around rush hours and game days. You will find that certain routes are much quicker as different times of the day. When in doubt, avoid main arteries like Tennessee Street, Monroe Street, and Appalachia Parkway. They all have tons of lights and heavy traffic during peak drive times
  • If you live anywhere near the Florida State Stadium you will have to pay attention to the Seminole's football schedule. Tallahassee loves its college football, and traffic will be often diverted and very heavy on game days. Tennessee Street, Tharpe Street and Pensacola Street will all be very congested.
  • Downtown is not as much the heart of Tallahassee the way it can be in larger cities. Downtown consists of office buildings, the Capital, and a few small shops and restaurants that mostly cater to the business professionals that work downtown. It is home to the Downtown Get Down, a weekly tailgate during college football season. If you are looking for places to eat and shop you will find lots of options on Appalachia Parkway.
  • Tallahassee does not have as many easily defined sections of as some cities. Killiarn, Midtown, and Southside are a few areas of town, but you may also hear “near campus”, “off of Fred George and Monroe” or “off of Park” as opposed to Northside or Westside.
  • The actual city limits of Tallahassee covers a very small area, only about 100 square miles. Any land inside of Leon county as a whole is referred to as Tallahassee. Nearby cities and suburbs of Leon County include Crawfordville, Havana, Woodville, Midway, and Monticello. These areas are more rural and some residents choose to commute in favor of larger land plots.

Get to know…Downtown Tallahassee

As well as being the capital of Florida, the most weird and wonderful state in the US, Tallahassee is also a stunning town that is quickly becoming a preferred destination for young professionals. The Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood is one of the most historic areas in Florida!

For a quick bite of history, "Tallahassee" is a Muskogean word meaning "Old Town" and has been a center of agriculture and trading for centuries. After conquistador Hernando De Soto invaded in 1538, the Spanish built the Mission San Luis de Apalachee in the northwestern area of the already-existent town. Tally was eventually declared the capital city of the new Florida Territory in 1824.

The Downtown Tallahassee Neighborhood

Bordered by Tally thoroughfares East Tennessee Street, Gadsden Street, West Street, Augustine Street, and South Bronough Street, Downtown is the epicenter of state politics. It is also one of the most historic and naturally beautiful spots in Florida. Located just east of FSU, Downtown features monuments, museums, breathtaking parks, events, and delectable dining options. It also boasts several charming apartment communities perfect for young, energetic professionals and aspiring politicians. 

Play Tourist

One of the best ways to get to know a city you're considering moving to is to play the tourist. The Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood is eminently walkable, or you can rent two wheels at the Great Bicycle Shop or Bicycle House Tallahassee. If you want to get some culture and take in some of the city's great arts and history, don't miss these entrancing attractions:

The Knott House Museum

Originally built in 1843 by George Proctor, the Knott House is now part of the Museum of Florida History, sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State. It was inhabited by the Knott family for many decades, and now visitors will enjoy beautifully preserved Victorian furnishings and décor and gorgeous Old Florida architecture.

The Florida Historic Capitol Museum

Since 1845, this impressive edifice has graced the Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood and offers a stunning selection of educational exhibits, historic photographs, and interactive multimedia displays.

The Museum of Florida History

Immensely popular with local school kids, the Museum of Florida History features an enthusiastic staff and well-curated exhibits on a variety of historical topics. The museum also has a diverse collection of historical artifacts, clothing, and artwork.

Challenger Learning Center, IMAX Theater and Planetarium

This is another superb educational destination to visit with family or space-fixated friends and can also be rented out for unique private events. The Center has a super realistic space mission simulator and is an educational outreach facility for Florida A&M University in conjunction with the FSU College of Engineering.

Cascades Park

This sprawling recreation venue offers something for everyone. The park has a vast array of amenities, including a state-of-the-art amphitheater, an interactive splash zone, pristine green areas, and miles of trails. This is the perfect urban green space to have a picnic, get some exercise, and enjoy live events.

Good Eats

Part of Downtown Tallahassee's appeal is the growing number of innovative eateries that are beginning to flourish. From seafood to comfort food to the latest trends, Downtown has a little something for everyone. Check out this list of some of the top eats in the neighborhood!

Andrew's Downtown, 228 South Adams Street

A Downtown institution, Andrew's has been serving up some of the best cuisine in Tally since 1949. Relax on their spacious outdoor patio and inhale some local favorites like the fried green tomatoes, the Gulf grouper sandwich, or the mouthwatering prosciutto and Brie melt with blueberry compote.

Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille, 301 South Bronough Street

A simply fabulous place for date night, Harry's pleases the palate with decadent New Orleans-inspired dishes like French baked scallops, Boudin balls, and crab crusted redfish Royale with beurre blanc. A smiling bartender serves up cold craft cocktails with a twist, like the Southern Mule and Front Porch.

Il Lusso, 201 East Park Avenue, #100

This is an old-world European chop house that's been mystically recreated in the Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood. Il Lusso is renowned for excellent service, fine dining, and an expertly curated wine list. The impressive menu offers luxurious delights like charred octopus, fresh pasta made in-house daily, Wagyu steaks, salt-cured foie gras, and truffle compound butter.

Chuck's Fish, 224 East College Avenue

Chuck's is a rustic, Old Florida seafood house with great service, a unique atmosphere, and the freshest Gulf seafood available. The restaurant is named after a famous civil rights attorney, and offers impressive menus for lunch, dinner, and brunch, as well as an award-winning sushi bar.

Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack, 325 N Bronough St

A real old-school style no-frills Florida seafood shack, Bird's serves up the freshest Gulf oysters on the half shell, as well as gigantic burgers with an amazing array of toppings, onion rings, fries, ice cold beer on tap, and cheap cocktails.

Drink and Be Merry

If you're more of a creature of the night, don't worry, the Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood has several hip drinkeries that you and your crew will enjoy. Here's a selection the neighborhood's top tipples:

Level 8 Lounge, 415 North Monroe Street

This chic indoor/ outdoor rooftop lounge at the Hotel Duval features lovely views, tapas, live music, and exotic cocktails. Book a room at the hotel and enjoy a romantic staycation right in Downtown.

Bar 1903, 209 East Park Avenue

Located in the historic Walker Library building, this classy cocktail bar serves up an impressive list of libations as well as tempting small plates with ingredients sourced from their nearby urban farm.

Clydes & Costello's, 210 South Adams Street

A fun and free-spirited bar, Clydes & Costello's has a classic atmosphere and affordable drinks. It's definitely the perfect place to have a few drinks with friends and enjoy events like ladies' night and top DJs.

Brick House Restaurant and Bar, 402 West College Avenue

Situated in a converted historic home in Downtown, the Brick House is a welcoming gastropub with a casual ambience. Relax at a table with friends on the outdoor patio for a leisurely brunch with fun cocktails like the Breakfast Shot, or a PB&J, featuring Screwball peanut butter whiskey.These are the opinions of writers and not the opinions of RentTally.com or any of our advertising partners.
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Downtown Tallahassee