The culture is bright, colorful, and everywhere. One the best ways to fill your time on vacation is becoming a foodie tourist. Foodie travel is quickly becoming a popular niche of exploring destinations where you eat and drink through the best restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee shops in the area.
Nowhere offers the same delicious level of food mixed with the historical ambiance that St. Augustine does.
Understanding St. Augustine’s Historical Ambiance
Few places exude as much culture and history as St. Augustine. This historic city on the bayfront glows with a captivating energy leftover from various cultures and ethnic groups that made the port city their home.
There’s a lot to love and a whole lot to cover walking down the cobblestone streets of St. Augustine. You can take an intimate tour through the city by horseback, and admire the ancient architecture of Trinity College, some buildings are over 100 years old. Or easily jump on board the trolley tours that make stops at every major attraction.
There are so many ways you can experience downtown. But we have to recommend our personal favorite method – a foodie exploration of local restaurants!
Our Top Picks for Most Charming Restaurants
The Columbia
St. Augustine restaurants are filled to the brim with character, historical charm, and ambiance. One of the most popular and most famous is the Columbia Restaurant. It’s only one location in a chain starting with the oldest restaurant in all of Florida. But just because this is one of many doesn’t mean it doesn’t lack fine cuisine, romantic architecture, or incredible atmosphere. It’s been owned and operated by the same family for 5 generations (110 years), and the St. Augustine location has been hailed by celebrities for the Cuban Sandwiches, and other
Catch 27
Dip on over to Catch 27 for some excellent shrimp and local fish in a small high-quality eatery. Seafood is the foundation of their food excellence, but there’s plenty of all to enjoy if fresh-caught fish isn’t your style.
This restaurant is intimate, and located in a 2 story historic building on Charlotte St. next to the Spanish Bakery (another can’t miss on the foodie tour)!
The Raintree
You’ll have your choice of inside or outside seating at the Raintree Restaurant. They actively promote their historic setting and are proud of the renovated 1879 Victorian house the restaurant currently calls home. Along with their extensive menu and wine list, anyone will find something they are willing to come back for.
This is the ideal spot for a romantic evening out, and don’t skimp out on dessert. After dinner, you can head next door to check out their neighbors, the Lime Light Theatre offering shows all year long.
Bull and Crown
This might not be as historic a building, but it is a wonderful replica of an 18th century building mimicking the authentic cultural architecture that surrounds it. The Bull and Crown Publick House is located in the Colonial Quarter serving British pub food for hungry travelers.
A bit of fanfare surrounds this establishment. Special visitors stop by tables in costume to make visitors feel like they’ve traveled back in time to the Revolutionary Days.
Book Your Stay!
One of the best things about vacationing is the plethora of new restaurants to try! Our St. Augustine vacation rental condos put you near them all! Book your stay today!
Cafe del Hidalgo
Maybe you’ve had too much rich food on your tour of St. Augustine’s foodie scene. Cafe del Hidalgo is the ideal place for a light meal or yummy snacks to replenish your energy. Choose any number of coffee drinks, smoothies, and gelato flavors along with paninis and salads. But there’s a whole other menu of cakes and other Italian bakery items, so you might have to revisit a few times during the course of your vacation.
Other Things To Do
You and your family can even visit a chocolate factory, and witness the chocolate-drenched culture and history of the ancient city. There’s a whole array of fun things in St. Augustine Florida designed around its exuberant and rewarding history.
St. Augustine Oceanfront Condo Rentals
Visit the lighthouse. Stop by the Castillo de San Marcos. Dine on a balcony downtown. At the end of your full day, come back and relax in a peaceful rental property surrounded by water features and walking distance to the beach.
