St. John County’s dedication to farm-to-table dining is mirrored in its craft drinks scene. From craft cocktails to local beer, the area has it covered — with many bars focused on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. From highbrow to down home, here are some intoxicating local essentials.
You’re looking for dinner and a craft drink.
Catch 27 is known for its dedication to made-from-scratch dishes with locally sourced ingredients and seafood. Its cocktail menu draws from the same principles with seasonal inspirations. The Floridian restaurant features hip Southern comfort food, a large local beer selection and craft cocktails inspired by the Sunshine State. The Ice Plant restaurant, connected to the St. Augustine Distillery, puts a special focus on the harvesting and purification of ice for its cocktails.
CATCH 27
You want something low key.
Stogies Cigar Bar and Listening Room is a laid-back cigar lover’s dream with local craft beer, wine, and premier cigars. Unwind indoors with nightly live music or beside the patio fire pit. The Social Lounge is a quaint neighborhood sports bar tucked away behind gold-etched windows in a historic Victorian house.
You want to see (and drink) where booze gets made.
Sample local brews at taprooms like Dog Rose Brewing Company and Ancient City Brewing. Visit San Sebastian Winery for daily complimentary tours and tastings, or visit its rooftop wine, jazz and blues bar open on weekends. St. Augustine Distillery creates award-winning whiskey, rum, gin, and vodka, and offers free tours and tastings in the unique setting of St. Augustine’s former ice manufacturing plant.
St. Augustine Distillery
You’re on beercation.
St. Augustine’s taprooms are cozy and family-friendly, with local craft beer favorites like Bog Brewing incorporating unique ingredients like the datil pepper for its Smoked Datil Ale. Others include Old Coast Ales, A1A Ale Works, Dog Rose Brewing Company and Ancient City Brewing. A Beer and Bites Tour pairs 3 hours of food and local beer at popular foodie venues. If you’re visiting in May, the St. Augustine Brewer’s Festival showcases 25+ local and regional breweries with food trucks and live music.
You want to unwind and uncork.
Wine lovers, rejoice. Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage and wine tour with The Tasting Tours for a sunset trip through St. Augustine’s historic streets. Or, sip, shop and learn at Carrera Wine Cellar, whose mission is that wine should be simple, fun and shared. Carrera offers wine tastings and educational classes, and an extensive bottle and sampling selection.
Wine and carriage tour with The Tasting Tours
You want to sip craft cocktails you won’t find anywhere else.
Craft concoctions serve as art at Odd Birds, an eclectic atmosphere with emphasis on its artisan spirit collection from North and South America, to Asia and everything in between.
Odd Birds cocktail
You want craft drinks and live music.
Prohibition Kitchen serves up a trendy speakeasy atmosphere and live bands every night. Or, relish in a quirky tropical vibe with live music at downtown’s Tradewinds Tropical Lounge. See more live music spots here.
Live music at Prohibition Kitchen
You’re here to put your toes in the sand.
Get instant vacation vibes at The Beachcomber restaurant on Anastasia Island with views of sand dunes and ocean waves. Sit back with a local beer and fish taco and take in the salt air.
The Beachcomber
You want a waterfront view.
North of the hustle and bustle of the historic district is Cap’s on the Water, a local institution that truly feels like Old Florida. Trust us that it’s worth the trip up from downtown to enjoy sunset and a glass of wine on the dining deck. Creekside Dinery is a local favorite with an outdoor bar, fire pit and creek-view deck frequented by local musicians.
You just really love martinis.
Try the craft cocktails at Tini Martini Bar. Settle into one of the 6 cozy bar seats, or sip al fresco overlooking the Matanzas River.
Read our guide to farm-to-table experiences in St. Johns County, or download free travel itineraries.
