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Beyond its picturesque beaches and crystal-clear natural springs, the Sunshine State is home to dozens of many charming and historic downtowns. In addition to the thrill of antique malls (such as those in Waldo and Jacksonville), these towns serve as prime shopping haunts for antique and vintage enthusiasts. From the Georgia border down to West Palm Beach, here are destinations not to be missed on your next antiquing adventure through Florida.
Micanopy
Photo by Win Blazier
South of Gainesville, the tiny town of Micanopy encompasses just over one square mile, yet has an adorable downtown brimming with 19th-century buildings and immense oak trees. Once an important center for commerce, this settlement has long been known as one of the state’s top antique-shopping destinations. Along its charming main street of Cholokka Boulevard, visitors will find welcoming front porches and nearly a dozen antique shops with coveted items such as paintings by the Florida Highwaymen and vintage Americana décor. A mile southeast from downtown, the Antique City Mall offers up 20,000 square feet of “antiques that time forgot.” For lunch, stop into Micanopy’s oldest restaurant—Old Florida Café—and grab a shaded outdoor table for the shop’s famous sandwiches and homemade pecan pie.
West Palm Beach
Photo by Linnea Bailey
A chic collection of more than 40 specialty shops and galleries located south of downtown West Palm Beach, the West Palm Beach Antique Row Art and Design District (known simply as “Antique Row”) has served as a top shopping destination for the world’s top interior designers for more than 30 years. A haven of antique, vintage, and modern home décor shops, the stores are easily accessible on foot and nearby several award-winning restaurants. Looking for Scandinavian furniture, rare paintings, or vintage rugs? Find them here, then stop in and order a delicious quiche at Belle & Maxwell’s or craft barbecue at Tropical Smokehouse.
Mount Dora
Courtesy of Visit Lake County
Mount Dora is home to one of the most picturesque historic districts in the state. A beautifully preserved town northwest of Orlando, Mount Dora’s lakefront downtown is adorned with brightly painted storefronts, flowers, and stately trees dripping with Spanish moss. Discover riches in any number of the inviting shops downtown, then head two miles northeast to Renninger’s Flea Market and Antique Center, an open-air indoor market with 200 booths open Friday through Sunday. The numbers swell to 800 vendors for Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza weekends (the third weekend of November, January, and February each year), with additional smaller antique events throughout the year. For a post-shopping meal, head downtown to Pisces Rising, a celebration of regional seafood cuisine inside a bungalow-style home built in 1919.
Havana
Photo by Ann Kozeliski
Located northwest of Tallahassee just south of the Georgia state line, the lively town of Havana is not to be missed. Founded in 1906, the town earned its name from the high-profile crop that was once grown there: shade tobacco, which was used to wrap premium cigars. Today, Havana’s historic downtown has remained an under-the-radar day trip destination for antique aficionados from Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida since the 1980s. With more than 30 independent shops, the town known as “Florida’s friendliest small town” draws shoppers for frequent festivals and an ever-changing selection of incomparable furniture, fixtures, and wares.
St. Augustine
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
The oldest city in the continental U.S., St. Augustine’s brick-paved streets, balmy weather, and rich history have long served as a siren’s song for tourists to northeastern Florida. The city’s lovely pedestrian-only thoroughfare St. George Street is filled with specialty shops and restaurants, and the nearby Lightner Museum provides a dazzling display of Gilded Age artifacts and two antique shops in its courtyard. But for the road less traveled, walk north to Uptown St. Augustine along San Marco Avenue, where a cluster of antique and vintage shops offer exceptional finds such as jewelry, furniture, vintage clothing, and genuine shipwreck coins. Another small antique district awaits across the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Boulevard. Return to St. George Street for a timeless lunch at The Floridian, serving up favorites like fried green tomatoes and buttermilk biscuits.
Orlando
Photo by Wendy Leininger
If you’re looking for a spectacular antique district in the heart of a big city, this is it. Located on the northern edge of downtown Orlando across from Lake Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe Village (along North Orange Avenue and Virginia Drive) is a funky, bohemian village packed with more than 40 boutiques, shops, and restaurants. Notable finds include eclectic furniture from A&T Antiques, collectible vinyl at Rock & Roll Heaven, and vintage threads from Echoes of Retro. Historically known as Orlando’s Antique Row, this upscale neighborhood has evolved dramatically in recent years and is continually adding new eateries and shops. For a delicious brunch, pop into the neighborhood favorite White Wolf Café for mimosas and a crab cake sandwich.
Arcadia
Photo Courtesy of Arcadia Main Street
Located an hour east of Sarasota, the small city of Arcadia offers a quaint downtown with 20 antique shops and plenty of kitschy finds. Nestled in the rolling hills of the state’s heartland, its location makes it an easy jaunt for visitors from Fort Myers, Bradenton, Tampa, and even South Florida. Make sure to plan a visit for the fourth Saturday of each month (especially October through May), when up to 100 antique vendors line West Oak Street and the surrounding blocks for the popular Arcadia Antiques Fair. Jewelry, vintage CorningWare, folk art, and classic tools abound.
St. Petersburg
Photo by Marina Williams
Known for its iconic museums like The Dalí Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, the vibrant arts community of St. Petersburg (or “St. Pete” among locals) also serves up extraordinary antique shopping. This coastal city’s crowned jewel, Central Avenue, brings an authentic vibe and innovative spirit to this downtown, filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques and restaurants. Visitors will find a unique selection of shops here, including ARTpool Gallery— a buzzing shop housed in a restored 1937 storefront—and Janet’s Antiques, a 5,500-square-foot shop with furniture, art, jewelry, toys, and pottery from more than 20 professional dealers. On the north side of downtown, the Market at Left Bank is also worth a stop with 4,000 square feet of antiques. For a sweet treat, pop into Valhalla Bakery, an all-vegan bakery filled with divine baked goods.
Tarpon Springs
Photo by Lockwood Photography
Originally named for the abundance of fish in its waters, Tarpon Springs on Florida’s gulf coast is a small, quirky coastal city about 45 minutes north of St. Petersburg. The city was once known as the “Venice of the South” and drew northern seasonal residents with the arrival of the railroad in 1888. In recent years, the city’s historic center has been experiencing a steady renewal, owing much of its success to committed entrepreneurs whose shops and restaurants line Tarpon Avenue. Find uncommon home furnishings and detailed craftmanship in this tiny-but-mighty antique district, anchored by longtime local gem Court of Two Sisters. A one-of-a-kind vintage toy store and arcade also line the street. For a mid-day boost, stop in for breakfast or lunch at Toula’s Trailside Café, a cozy eatery with a European flair.
Dade City
Photo by Rick Tauceda, Courtesy of the City of Dade City
Best known for its 16-acre Pioneer Florida Museum and annual Kumquat Festival, the handsome bantam municipality of Dade City northeast of Tampa offers a traditional downtown filled with specialty boutiques, cafés, and antique shops: a perfect Sunshine State day trip. Whether searching for country primitive antiques, Gilded Age postcards, pottery, glassware, or military memorabilia, the shop owners in this spirited downtown have a reputation for impeccable service and working together to assist shoppers. Don’t miss the Dade City Merchants Association’s frequent downtown festivities, and grab a table at a restaurant with a rich history dating back to 1908: Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges. The restaurant formerly known as Williams/Lunch on Limoges has long drawn visitors for its low-country shrimp, pecan-crusted grouper and coconut layer cake.