Seven years ago Curtis and I spent a long weekend in St. Augustine, Florida. It wasn’t our first time visiting the city individually, but it was our first trip together. We had a modest budget, yet we loved every minute and made lasting memories. When VISIT FLORIDA invited us back years later, we gladly accepted — it felt like coming home to one of our favorite places.
St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in North America and recently marked its 450th anniversary. The town is steeped in history, with well-preserved architecture, charming streets and a surprisingly vibrant food scene. Every visit makes us eager to return.
This photo is the view from our hotel balcony. We stayed at the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront Hotel, which overlooks the bay and offers a great view of the Bridge of Lions — a must-see landmark when you’re in town.
A stop on St. George Street you shouldn’t miss is the Spanish Bakery Cafe. Locals have loved it for decades, and with reason: their empanadas, soups and pastries are outstanding. The guava-and-cream-cheese pastry is unforgettable — I still dream about it.
If you’re a fan of shrimp and grits, try the grit cakes at Catch 27. This casual spot focuses on fresh local seafood — the menu changes with the day’s catch. The snook piccata I had was so good I want to recreate it at home. Catch 27 is small, relaxed and definitely worth a visit.
We also visited the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and its bird exhibit. The park’s large alligator and crocodile population means fewer natural predators, allowing numerous rare birds to thrive and nest there. Seeing so many species coexisting was a highlight of the trip.
For beer lovers, Henley’s Steak & Seafood and JP Henley’s are notable — they have more than 100 beers on tap. It’s a fun spot to sample local brews and enjoy a meal.
We took the Flagler College tour, a fascinating hour-long walkthrough of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, built by Henry Flagler. The dining hall contains a remarkable collection of Tiffany stained glass, still in daily use by students. The tour, which is typically offered twice daily, costs $10 and is well worth it for the history, architecture and incredible interior details.
Across from Flagler College we enjoyed a meal at Hot Shot Bakery & Cafe. The owner bakes almost everything from scratch — the roast turkey in the turkey-and-avocado sandwich was exceptional. They’re also known for cinnamon pull-apart muffins and a few unique treats I was a little too timid to try, but everything we tasted was memorable.
We joined a three-hour walking food tour with St. Augustine City Walks that exposed us to several local favorites. Gaufres and Goods serves phenomenal gaufres — their Belgian-style waffles and pierogis are some of the best I’ve had. Athena Restaurant was another standout we hope to return to.
The food tour ended at Claude’s Chocolates, which I’d heard about from friends. It was a perfect finish — soft-serve ice cream and a delicious chocolate tasting capped the walk beautifully.
One activity I’m proud of: I climbed the lighthouse’s 219 steps. Standing since 1871, the lighthouse offers sweeping views and a real sense of history. Pausing at the landings to catch my breath gave me time to imagine the daily life of past keepers.
Cuban sandwiches at La Herencia Cafe were another standout — the roast pork was tender and full of flavor. And yes, you can find Dole Whips on St. George Street at Original Likit, a sweet treat to cool off with while exploring.
No visit is complete without Castillo de San Marcos, designated a National Park. Built of coquina stone, it’s the oldest masonry fortress in the United States and provides an important window into the area’s colonial past.
We also loved The Floridian, a local favorite recommended by residents. The pork belly appetizer was unforgettable. Because seating can be limited, we used their call-ahead seating earlier in the day — a smart move, since the place was packed by dinnertime.
For shopping, Red Pineapple on St. George Street is full of fun finds and unique gifts. It’s one of those boutiques you can easily lose an hour in.
Back at our hotel, Aviles Restaurant surprised us with excellent food. The blue crab cobbler appetizer stood out, and the steaks were outstanding — it proved that hotel dining can be exceptional when a talented chef is in charge.
For dessert and drinks one evening we returned to A1A Aleworks, an old favorite. Their bread pudding with white chocolate shavings was rich and comforting — the perfect finish to a day of exploring.
I loved the hotel lobby’s decor — it blends beautifully with the city’s Spanish architecture and historic charm.
Of course I brought home a few treats from Claude’s Chocolates. St. Augustine is full of surprises, great food and historic landmarks, and this trip reminded me why it remains one of our favorite getaways.
Have you been to St. Augustine? I’d love to hear about your favorite spots and memories.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA. I share only places and experiences I enjoyed and always give my honest opinions.