Whether it’s consoling a customer’s sorrows or fueling a wild night out, bartenders witness Gainesville at its rowdiest —– and help keep the chaos alive.
These late-working mixologists form the backbone of Gainesville’s nightlife scene and are the silent recordkeepers of the effects of alcohol. A night might feel erased by spirits — but the bartender remembers.
Francesca Nelsas, a 19-year-old UF history sophomore, started bartending in the summer of 2025. She worked for MacDinton’s Irish Pub before moving to White Buffalo and The Range, where she works currently…