Sharab is one of the places I'd most likely end up at at some point during a visit to Gainesville. It's one of the better, classier clubs in Gainesville as far as music, crowd, and drinks go.
Sharab is 2 levels with small patio areas both upstairs and downstairs. As you enter from downstairs, you'll notice more of a lounge-feel where house music will be playing, hookahs off to the side, and a longer bar. Upstairs, you'll find a DJ spinning top 40 and hip hop music, a dance floor, and 2 smaller, separate bars.
The prices for drinks aren't too bad, considering it's a college town. During my last visit to Sharab, my girlfriends and I got a round of shots for less than $20! My only complaint would be the cover charge. I believe it's $10 most nights. Consider getting VIP and bottle service if you're coming with a larger group.
Out of all the clubs, this one is the best. Â Or..least worst. Â
Honestly, for an establishment, I dont have many complaints about it. Â I would give it a 5 star rating, but thats only if the place had amazing prices, sights Ive not seen before, and if I got laid every night without getting sick. Â
Not bad.
A few updates and additions to the reviews below for this fantastic bar/lounge/dancefloor:
1) People mentioned the price of drinks and also of cover charge. Â I've gone on Fridays and Saturdays where the cover was free before a certain hour (I think it was 10pm), and drinks were buy one get one free until 10. Â Their website does a *fantastic* job laying out what their daily specials are and how much drinks cost. Â Definitely check it out.
2) I've never run into the One in One out policy of the dancefloor. Â From what I understand from the website, this policy was abolished back in April 2010, and I think the reviews that mention this policy were written prior to then.
3) One reviewer mentioned that it seemed the one lounge area downstairs was bottle only. Â We've been there numerous times with just drinks or with a hookah and no problem. Â Four or five groups can fit pretty easily and comfortably in here.
Like everyone else has mentioned, this is a great place, and quite different from the other bars/dancefloors around town. Â It's great they divide the dark dancefloor upstairs and the well-lit 'lounge' downstairs for people looking for different experiences. Â Drinks were good most of the times I've been there (once it was a miss). Â The website should definitely be checked out; there's a facebook page as well although I haven't checked it out yet. Â If you're debating whether you should try it out or not definitely worth a look.
Sharab does a lot of things great, but it's not a lounge.  The location is terrific, located right in downtown. Easy walk from dinner, or any other downtown activity.  They have hookah's, which is great - and they do a  terrific job with them. The wait staff, bouncers, DJ's, bar tenders (basically everyone that works there) is super polite and friendly.  This only adds to the wonderful atmosphere.  My biggest issue with Sharab is that there is no place to actually lounge.  There is the bar, which is great if you are one or two people.  There are some seats and tiny tables along the wall, which is also great for one or two people.  Then there is a small private area which I believe is for bottle service - but it's always full when I get there and only fits something ridiculous like 6 people.  ou can sit outside, but it's basically an ally way with some bench seats.
 I always imagined a lounge to have chairs and couches and be a place where you can actually.. well... lounge around, drink, smoke and talk with friends.  Sharab is not that kind of place. Â
There is an upstairs that does have a dance floor  - but again, not a lot of lounging around up there either. Â
 Kudos to the owners for doing almost everything right.  I just wish they were able to make an actual  lounge instead of just a  bar with a dance floor (dont we have enough of those in Gainesville?).
As a long time club goer and club DJ I have very specific tastes in music and a wide variety of expectations about clubs and such. This particular club is one of the few in Gainesville that is done -right- (for the most part)
We went on Saturday night - got there about 11 - downstairs opens up first and plays a nice background mix of house/trance/dancey music. Well designed bar and an outdoor smoking area.
Yes. NO SMOKING IN A CLUB. Genius owners.
Second floor is the dance area with a few douchebag booths (bottle club service areas) at one end. I simply do not get the whole bottle service thing. Why advertise you are a douchebag? Upstairs opens at 11:30. Club was 21+ on Sat night - and was a good looking crowd for the most part. Once the hip-hop dreck started there were a few unsavory looking characters that showed up - and immediately got a table with bottle service. How unsurprising.
The space is well done, but the lights on the dance floor were pretty lame. No strobes, very few rotoscans - really only a laser on one end doing its thing. Clearly the weakest part of the club IMO. A second laser at the other end would help. Oh, and the DJ was pushing the sound system a little too hard. The sound was too bright and over modulating when we left.
We were in the mood for house/techno kind of musiks and at first the DJ was doing a great job. Then just after midnight it morphed into crap rap and hip hop. Bleah. We ditched and headed over to The University Club where the DJ was jamming it on a strong 4/4 beat all night. What is it with college bars and crappy hip hop music?
I'd definitely go back for pre-club cocktails again, but I'll not count on the DJ upstairs to deliver decent music after midnight.
NOTE: The place is actually ADA compliant, with a lift and ramps - the build out is top notch and was obviously expensive.
Sharab is a pretty neat place. Â I have been there several times on Thursday nights and Saturday night. Â I brought a few friends there too. Â I like the DJs better on Thursday. Â
However, I don't like how they get to capacity and they won't let people go upstair until one person comes down..... Usually during midnight there is a line just to go up stair..... I ll be mad after just getting in from being inline outside.. now I have to get in line just go upstairs to the dance floor... Â I think they should make a dance floor dance stairs. Â
In addition, the drinks are above normal average prices compared to other places.. but they are bigger drinks... I think they should have more specials. Anyhow, if they keep DJing good music, I will end up going back there more often. Â Overall, it is a good place. But they need to chill on that club entrance fee. Since the drinks are expensive, this place should be like 5 dollar coverage. But I can see that they want a certain type of crowd of people going there though.
We're definitely not in Gainesville, anymore, Toto.
I came here with college chick on Thursday, which is 18 and up night. It was empty for the first hour (we got there at 11), but got filled up hella quick in a span of 20 minutes around midnight. I completely forgot how awesomely packed (not really dancing, but more like wiggling like sardines) the clubs get in a college town. Been spending my last few years in the clubs here in Jackassville. Lol.
Anyway... It was a treat to reminisce in the college atmosphere with everyone. It also helps that I look like I still attend high school so I blended in like a Freshman here. Hahaha.
5 stars for the atmosphere.
The setup reminds me of the Park Club in NYC, with the bar area downstairs and the dancefloor upstairs. Too bad the clubs in Gville close at 2am instead of 4am. (I guess that petition I signed to extend club hours a few years ago didn't go through.)
The club itself is really classy. The bottom floor features fine metal mesh curtains to separate some areas, and wine holders as decor. The theme is somewhat of a Mediterranean flavor with hookahs which you can smoke outdoors. In fact, there is no smoking indoors, just outdoors in the alleyway. This is great for those who have asthma or just don't want to go home stinking like a chimney. Hooray for clean air to dance in!
The top floor has more of an urban feel with the graffiti mural on the wall. Personally, I wish their graffiti looked more like this one I found in the Mission of SF. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm4.static.flickr.com%2F3232%2F3039870077_e65bc05124_b.jpg&s=0f39a40fc47b0bef511fad8f0041294461e723a1b3c460616206d1984a5be0c3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://farm4.static.flic…</a>
5 stars for the club's style and decor.
As for the DJ's... They played mash-ups, indie rock, hip hop, especially old skool hip hop. College chick and I were sure we had somehow got warped back into time. Skillwise, sometimes the DJ's were good; sometimes they were not so good. I liked that only portions of songs were played. It kept the groove going. Only thing is that sometimes the mixing wasn't great. Interestingly, they played a lot of old skool hip hop, so I have a feeling they were closer to my age. Haha. College chick and I were both surprised to not hear Beyonce or Rihanna that night. However, I remember hearing Lily Allen and MGMT, as well as Nelly and Gym Class Heroes. 3 stars
The Mai Tai I ordered was decent. Nothing to write home about, but it tasted kinda watered down. 3 stars
As for the bouncers and the bar staff. Really friendly people. 5 stars.
4.2 stars, rounded down.
I would definitely agree with Vishal.  If you come to Sharab's you better be looking nice, because everyone else will be. Two floors, both with a full bar.  I have been during peak hours (night).  Tim Tebow was on his way out and  shaking hand's with the owner. As it turns out he was making an appearance for a date auction. I've also been during afternoon hours just to see what the place is like when its not packed with people.  The bartenders are pretty cool and seem to enjoy being there.  They offer hookahs, and have a designated person to assign them.  Only downside is that its only done outside in the little alleyway they've tried to spice up.  All in all, the music is okay.  Not your typical hip hop club, but I enjoyed the music and time with friends.  Definitely the most upscale club in Gainesville.
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