Walk This Way

Tallahassee is known for a number of things: the Capitol, of course; the copious ancient oaks and Spanish moss bewitching the quiet streets; the wealth of educational (and sports-watching) opportunities; the endless summer weather … but Tallahassee is not typically renowned as a walkable city like other state capitals. 

Tallahassee’s history is, of course, at play here. In a snapshot, the development of urban sprawl in Tallahassee was slow—in part due to location—and its mid-twentieth-century expansion favored suburban development. Cars, lawns, and air-conditioning were in. Not to mention Tallahassee’s growth was fueled by its status as an educational and government center, rather than for business or resort purposes—Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and the Capitol building all expanded significantly in the mid-twentieth century, catering to the formation of several different “hubs.”

So, this means our “giant small town” in the year 2026 consists of smaller neighborhoods connected by car transportation, and in some cases, buses, bike lanes, and sidewalks. Our residents have long called for more of these features. 

But right now, let’s explore the corners of Tallahassee that are already walkable, modeling what a widely pedestrian and bike-friendly community could look like here in the capital of Florida. Whether you’re new to town or just looking to branch out, we’re going to explore what a day on foot looks like in three different communities—Downtown, Midtown, and CollegeTown—and where to explore, get some work done, and treat yourself along the way. 

Photo by Erich Martin

COLLEGETOWN

CollegeTown starts us off on the right note, demonstrating what recent city improvements have done for walkability. First developed as a planned community in 2013, CollegeTown is still undergoing enhancements to this day, such as the Railroad Avenue Improvements Project which brought a makeover to the intersection of Railroad and Gaines. That makeover resulted in fresh sidewalks and lit crosswalks connecting the Gaines Street and All Saints areas. Though it has “college” in the name, CollegeTown is a good place for anyone to spend time. 

Start out at Catalina Café for a latte with homemade syrups, from-scratch muffin, or made-to-order breakfast sandwich (with some of the most impressive eggs I’ve ever seen). If the weather is nice, take your breakfast onto the covered patio adjacent to the Oyster City Brewing Company beer garden. Featuring outlets and easy access to bathrooms, this is an ideal space to catch up on some work in the middle of it all. 

Photo by Erich Martin

From Catalina Cafe, it’s just a seven-minute walk to Railroad Square, where a little bit of shopping is in order. The Other Side Vintage is a must-visit for lovers of thrifting, as well as NorthFlora Collective, a plant shop dripping with rare specimens. But this is just the tip of the iceberg: Try Wonsaponatime Vintage, Velvet Honey Mercantile, Talquin Trading Co., Crystal Portal, or frankly any nearby boutiques for treasures unlike anywhere else in Tallahassee. If you’re hungry for lunch already, you can hit up Updraft—a new food-focused extension of the Wilbury—on your seven-minute walk back to Gaines Street. 

CollegeTown hosts a variety of businesses for your more practical requirements. If you need groceries, the Publix on Gaines Street is only missing a pharmacy, and in its place has a coffee shop and bar. The upstairs loft boasts a uniquely Floridian experience: to bask in the air-conditioning and enjoy a libation while watching the Publix shoppers go by. CollegeTown also has a few nail salons and hair salons, a Pilates studio, takeout restaurants, and hotels, adding to its self-contained nature. 

Photo by Erich Martin

For dinner, the legendary Gaines Street Pies (open remarkably late) might be up your alley; in fact, with the reliably good gluten-free and vegan options here, it’s probably up anyone’s alley. Pair one of these deliciously weird (or classic) pies with a cocktail from suitemate Warhorse, whose immaculate happy hour is populated by such local classics as the Spicy Tequila Gimlet and Pickle Martini made with house-made brine. On certain nights, I find that it’s quiet enough here to pull out a laptop or a book—and certainly relaxed enough to have a good conversation. For a rowdier alternative, Madison Social, on the other side of Gaines Street, has novelty in spades if you’re drinking along to their famous monthly cocktail Challenge Cards. 

Photo courtesy of Choose Tallahassee

MIDTOWN 

CollegeTown has some great places to live for  students and young professionals, but Midtown—located in the triangle between Monroe and Thomasville directly north of the center of Tallahassee, though the edges are a little blurred—takes the cake as the most diverse and mature neighborhood in town. The residences range from classic apartments to sprawling family homes in varied architectural styles. 

If you’re spending the day (or a chapter) in Midtown, you could do worse than start the morning at Black Dog Cafe. Their drink menu is expansive, and their breakfast treats are satisfying, but the ambience is the best part. On a nice day, take a seat on one of Black Dog’s outdoor decks beneath the oaks. The muscovy ducks are a memorable citizenry of Lake Ella, and you’ll be bombarded by their quirky charm. Few places are as famed for upholding Tallahassee’s unique character.

Next, you can make like the ducks and take a stroll around the lake or peruse the businesses nearby, including the quirky Quarter Moon Imports and Avant Garb. If you’re feeling impulsive, Hot Love Tattoo recently relocated to the Lake Ella Cottages. 

For lunch, you can stay nearby and dine at Leon’s at Lake Ella, or venture elsewhere. It’s a 10-minute walk to the “heart” of Midtown, between 7th Avenue and 3rd Avenue (though a little extra care is required when walking down Monroe or Thomasville, it can be done). On the Monroe side, Maria Maria is an unsung hero(ine) for Mexican food, and Hawthorn Bakery will fulfill the need for a good sandwich and some carbohydrate-laden provisions to take home. 

Photo by Dave Barfield

Midtown has more conveniences than other walkable areas of Tallahassee. From urgent care to churches, day spas to FedEx—if you don’t mind a walk, you can find pretty much anything. Not everything is squished into one block, but that’s part of Midtown’s appeal; there’s a feeling that the area sprung up organically between the charming residential streets. Lafayette Park is another example of this texture. Behind a Whataburger and bordering streets of sweet homes, the lush woods draw pedestrians down hidden trails. 

There’s a special type of joy in walking to dinner or drinks with loved ones, or even solo. In the heart of Midtown, everything converges—the oaks, the slick new builds, the balconies reminiscent of the French Quarter, the collage of homes—to feel a little unlike any other city you’ve been to. That’s Tallahassee, after all. Your evening walk could end at, frankly, the lion’s share of popular Tallahassee restaurants, such as Kool Beanz, Table 23, Liberty Bar & Restaurant, or my personal favorite, Black Radish Bar & Restaurant. I can only imagine living within walking distance from the famed Bang Bang Bubble Potatoes and a glass of good wine.

As for the wee hours, 4th Quarter Bar & Grill features an inconceivably broad menu. Seriously, in such a small kitchen, how is it possible to sling everything from fried mac and cheese bites to pecan-crusted chicken salad, even at midnight?

Photo by Dave Barfield

CAPITOL DOWNTOWN

Tallahassee’s “true” Downtown is a bit of a mystery. If you put your finger at the center of the city map and look for the closest walkable area, you’ll find Capitol Hill and the Kleman Plaza area—pleasant blocks of old-town Tallahassee marbled by some new development. However, this district consists of mostly places to work, with a few places to play dotted in (like the ever-exciting Filibuster). The dining is upscale; the conveniences are few. The residential areas here are still growing. 

Instead, I’ll propose an alternative “Downtown” that’s more suited to walking and living: the Franklin/Call St., Magnolia Heights, and Cascades Park neighborhoods, all nestled right next to each other. Just east and southeast of the true Downtown, these neighborhoods are on the rise  while preserving a classic Tallahassee feeling. Just take an afternoon walk from Cascades Park down Franklin, all the way to Tennessee, and you’ll see what I mean.

Let’s say you live here and work Downtown. It’s a Friday. From anywhere in this zone, it’s possible to walk or bike to the true Downtown where businesses reside and maybe grab breakfast on the way—La Florida Coffee & Wine is the chic choice, or The Egg will provide a classic, filling start to the day. 

Photo by Dave Barfield

For lunch, there are a few upscale options in the true Downtown like Chuck’s Fish or Hayward House. However, you might want to pack a lunch and save the fun for after 5 p.m. Maybe you’ll meet up with a friend for happy hour at Bar 1903, scratching that classic unwind-after-work itch. Then, maybe you’ll migrate to The Huntsman for a slow dinner, resetting the pace for the weekend ahead. If you’re slow enough, you can end the night with a nightcap and dessert from their late-night happy hour.

When you wake up on Saturday, you’ll remember that one of the perks of the Franklin-Magnolia-Cascades area is its proximity to groceries, gyms, and other necessities. Winn-Dixie and Publix are walkable or bikeable (in some cases requiring the use of the crosswalks on Apalachee Parkway), as well as the suburban-commercial Governor’s Square area (you can even snag a piercing from Zarah Schieve, featured in our September-October 2025 issue, at Magnolia Tattoo & Piercing Company). When the errands are run, you can pass the afternoon at Cascades Park. Some light exercise might be followed by a coffee at Argonaut, some time with a good book, a beer at Amicus Brewing Ventures, or dinner with a friend at The Edison. 

Regardless of how you spend your day or dinner, make sure to find a spot at Charlie Park around sunset and enjoy a cocktail or two. It’s an inviting choice for a neighborhood watering hole, and the vista elicits a really special feeling: There’s so much to discover out there, and the ocean of trees would make anyone grateful that we don’t live in a concrete jungle. When you take your quiet walk home, you’ll see a few neighborhood cats, bats, and maybe even owls darting overhead—the kind of wildlife that sets Tallahassee apart from other big cities. 

Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive register of everything to explore in these neighborhoods. And what we can explore today doesn’t mark the end-all-be-all of what Downtown living in Tallahassee could be. If walkability means a lot to us as a city, the best steps we can take are to walk the walk (literally) and talk the talk: Make pedestrian life a priority, and make our voices heard whenever possible. In the meantime, it’s time to explore out and beyond what I’ve put down here. The rest will be up to you.