If you’re ready for a real post-holiday getaway but, like most Americans, having to rein back expenditures in this new year, a perfect solution is just a short drive away. Located on the northeast coast of Florida, just a little more than 100 miles from Orlando, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers and is officially the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the United States.

 

With a vast historic district featuring numerous buildings from its Spanish colonial era, elegant Mediterranean Revival Style hotels from its Victorian era heyday, and sweeping bayfront dotted with a variety of pleasure boats on moorings, you have to blink to realize you’re not in an elegant port city a world away.

 

This old world ambiance draws millions of visitors to St. Augustine every year and, likewise, attracts a culturally diverse and widely travelled population of residents and business owners. Lucky for St. Augustine, because these are the people who own some of city’s finest restaurants, shops, and galleries, adding to the cultural mix that has always been part of St. Augustine’s fascinating history.

 

Whether you just drive up for the day or book a longer stay, head straight to the historic district to savor the old world flavor that makes St. Augustine so unique. Don’t miss out on the following highlights, which stand out for their exotic flair:

 

Where to Dine

La Pentola

Chef-owner Jorge Talavera hails from Guadalajara, Mexico and offers an eclectic menu inspired by Mediterranean and Latin cuisines for lunch and dinner. On sunny afternoons or sultry evenings, dine outdoors in the brick courtyard filled with palms and other tropical flora strung with tiny white lights. Interiors are filled with antiques and furnishings collected from Chef Talavera and wife Susan’s many trips to Mexico and South America. Menu highlights: the Carnitas Tostada appetizer, veal osso buco (braised veal shank topped with zesty gremolata and served with poblano-infused risotto), and tres leches cake.

58 Charlotte Street • (904) 824-3282 • www.lapentolarestaurant.com

 

The tasting room

The Tasting Room

This restaurant recently won Florida Trend magazine’s Golden Spoon award and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and with good reason. The wine list is one of St. Augustine’s best and the menu features a delicious array of contemporary Spanish cuisine. Chef-owner Michael McMillan, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus, wife Christine, and their partner Michael Lugo, a native of Puerto Rico, share a passion for sourcing and offering authentic Latin ingredients and limited release boutique wines. Cozy sofas, changing art exhibits, and live Latin music create a colorful, multi-sensory dining experience. To-die-for tapas include Patatas de Bacalao (salt cod and potato fritters with garlic aioli) and grilled hangar steak skewers with chimmichurri.

25 Cuna Street • (904) 810-2400 • www.thetastingroomfl.com

 

Bistro de Leon

When you step into this authentic French bistro and patisserie, you are first greeted by the wonderful aroma of freshly baked baguettes and croissants. Then it’s usually owner Valerie Poinard who ushers you to your table, after her warm welcome. She and her husband Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard recently moved from Lyon to St. Augustine and opened the bistro, located right on St. Augustine’s main plaza, in 2008. Just as in France, bistro diners nestle in to long banquettes and café tables to savor “la cuisine des mères”—the simple, soul-satisfying food prepared in French homes all over that tiny food-obsessed nation. Serving lunch, dinner, and breakfast on weekends, standout dishes include steak au poivre, crispy pan-sautéed chèvre salad, and “St. Augustine Bouillabaisse.”

12 Cathedral Place • (904) 810-2100 • www.bistrodeleon.com

 

Where to Shop

Claude's chocolate

Claude’s Chocolate

Chef Claude Franques hails from the Basque region of France and, after more than 30 years of working as a restaurant chef-owner, both in both New York City and St. Augustine, decided to pursue his true heart’s desire. His exquisitely hand-crafted chocolate candies and bonbons use only the finest Belgian chocolate and all-natural extracts and flavorings. Stop in to this diminutive shop, where usually Claude’s wife Nicole is on hand to assist with the difficult task of deciding which fabulous flavors to choose.

15 Hypolita Street • (904) 808-8395 • www.claudeschocolate.com

 

Candida’s

Easy, breezy ensembles in linen and Tencil are the mantra of owner and world traveler Candace Carroll. (Her longtime partner and private pilot, Dan Holiday, handcrafts and sells leather sandals in the shop behind Candida’s, off of Aviles Street.) Choose from collections ranging from neutrals to brights and gorgeous accessories, including shoes, purses, one-of-a-kind designer necklaces and jewelry (many of Carroll’s own design), and fabulous jackets for the perfect finishing touch.

216 Charlotte Street • (904) 829-5555

 

Absolute Americana

Owner Michel Roux hails from the South of France and one of his many claims to fame is his decision to launch a fine art campaign in conjunction with his liquor importing business. Yes, he’s the mind behind the Absolut advertising campaign, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and George Rodrigue, to name a few, which made the premium vodka a household name. In addition to changing shows by American and International artists, with emphasis on contemporary French painters, this 5,000-square foot gallery features Roux’s personal collection of limited-edition, signed lithographs from the ad campaign.

77 Bridge Street • (904) 824-5545 • www.absoluteamericana.com

 

Where to Stay

Old City House Inn

Housed in a former carriage house of a now-demolished mansion, this cozy inn is located just a block from the main plaza so proximity to sightseeing and shopping is prime. In addition to comfortable rooms, complimentary wine and cheese in the evening, and full breakfast in the morning, the inn’s award-winning restaurant, featuring a selection of world cuisines, is open daily for breakfast and lunch. Owners James and Ilsé Philcox hail from England and South Africa, respectively.

115 Cordova Street • (904) 826-0113 • www.oldcityhouse.com

 

CASA MONICA HOTEL

Casa Monica Hotel

This magnificent hotel first opened its doors in 1888 during St. Augustine’s reign as one of the preferred winter retreats for wealthy socialites of the era. The building, a prime example of Mediterranean revival style architecture, was completely refurbished by boutique hotel magnate Richard Kessler and reopened once again as a luxury hotel in December 1999. The Casa Monica’s 138 guest rooms, suites, and public areas feature romantic Mediterranean décor, perfect for a fantasy escape. The hotel’s signature restaurant, 95 Cordova, is one of the city’s best and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch. The café, with tables overlooking St. Augustine’s other two majestic historic hotels, serves coffee, panini, and pastries.

95 Cordova Street • (800) 648-1888 • (904) 827-1888 • www.casamonica.com

 

The Casablanca Inn

This waterfront inn offers sweeping views of St. Augustine’s bayfront and private porches in several of its elegantly furnished rooms. Owners Michael Miles and Nancy Cloud traveled the world to perfect their craft as expert innkeepers. Guests are treated to a two-course gourmet breakfast and complimentary drink at the inn’s stylish Tini Martini Bar. Like a scene from the Riviera, this dramatic, open-air lounge, located on the inn’s southmost portico, is the perfect place to watch the city scene unfold—horsedrawn carriages meandering, shoppers and diners strolling, and sightseeing and pleasure boats cruising.

24 Avenida Menendez • (800) 826-2626 • (904) 829-0928 • www. www.casablancainn.com

 

For more information about St. Augustine, visit:

www.therestauranttimes.com

www.getaway4florida.com

www.staugustinelinks.com

 

ABOUT THE WRITER

Wendy is the owner of Publishing Partners, Inc., publisher of The Restaurant Times and Galleria—local guides to restaurants and galleries in St. Augustine, Florida. Her background includes serving as editor-in-chief of a national monthly magazine for professional chefs. In her roles working for the American Culinary Federation and Jacksonville’s Cultural Council, her background includes expertise in public relations, marketing, event planning, and publication development. This Jacksonville, Florida native enjoys traveling, boating, and dining out with her husband Chris and young son Andrew.