Welcome to Gainesville Lodge & Twist: Retro Charm Meets Modern Comfort in Downtown Gainesville

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 19:07:49 GMT

A newly renovated boutique hotel and local coffee bar, steps from the University of Florida

There's a new kind of stay in downtown Gainesville — one that trades beige hallways and forgettable lobbies for warm teal walls, lime-green accents, and a coffee bar that smells like it means it. Welcome to Gainesville Lodge , and welcome to Twist Coffee and Cocktails , the heartbeat of our lobby and our newest reason to say hello to Gainesville.

A Retro Reboot, Right on West University Avenue

Gainesville Lodge sits at 413 West University Avenue — walking distance to the University of Florida, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and the restaurants and energy of downtown Gainesville. What was once the Travel Lodge Downtown Gainesville has been fully reimagined: 39 rooms, a retro-chic aesthetic, and a level of care that we hope you feel from the moment you walk in.

This isn't a hotel that's trying to look like every other hotel near campus. We wanted Gainesville Lodge to feel like a place with a personality — a little vintage, a little playful, and completely comfortable. Whether you're in town for a Gators game, a UF campus visit, a business trip, or just passing through North Central Florida, we built this space to be a genuine break from the ordinary.

Meet Twist: Coffee by Day, Cocktails by Night

If Gainesville Lodge is the stay, Twist Coffee and Cocktails is the soul of it. Located right in our lobby and event space, Twist is a full daytime coffee bar that turns into a craft cocktail lounge as the sun goes down — one space, two very different moods, both worth stopping in for even if you're not staying with us.

Every cup starts with Strongtree Coffee , our featured local roaster, because good coffee should also mean good neighbors. We're proud to pour a Gainesville-roasted bean and to keep that local-first feel running through everything on the menu — from our espresso drinks to our seasonal favorites like the Orange Crush Cream and Butterfly Lavender Matcha Lemonade , the kind of drinks that are as fun to photograph as they are to drink.

And if you're a UF student, this next part is for you: The Midday Twist is our student-favorite weekday happy hour, running Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM, with drinks at a flat $5. It's built around the class-break rush — grab a Strongtree coffee or a Midday Twist special between lectures, study for a bit in the lobby, and consider it your new campus-adjacent home base. It's become one of our favorite ways to meet our neighbors.

By evening, Twist shifts gears entirely, with a cocktail menu designed for slowing down after a long day — including our affogato builds featuring in-house small-batch gelato, from a classic affogato to our indulgent S'mores Twist.

More Than a Coffee Shop — A Community Space

We built Twist to be a gathering place, not just a counter. We've hosted workshop series, we're building out a wellness-forward tea program (keep an eye out for our new Scholar's Elixir blend, made with hibiscus, rose, goji berry, and jujube date), and we're just getting started on programming that brings Gainesville together — students, locals, and travelers alike.

Why Book Direct with Gainesville Lodge

When you book directly with us instead of through a third-party site, you're supporting a small, independently-run property that's investing everything back into the guest experience — better rooms, a better lobby, and spots like Twist that make your stay feel like more than a place to sleep. Direct guests are always our priority, and we're building out more perks for booking with us first.

Come Say Hello

Whether you're here to explore the University of Florida, catch a Gators game, or just need a beautifully renovated place to rest your head in downtown Gainesville, we'd love to have you. Stop by Twist even if you're just passing through — the coffee's good, the lavender lemonade is better, and the Midday Twist happy hour might just become your new weekday ritual.

Gainesville Lodge 413 West University Avenue, Gainesville, FL Featuring Twist Coffee and Cocktails

Book direct for the best rate and the best welcome.