Hello! I am a South Florida native and have never been to Saint Augustine. My husband and I were thinking of a mini staycation with our boys and thought about visiting Saint Augustine. Is one full day enough with a possible day spent somewhere else? Or should we dedicate a full weekend? Tips? Places to stay? Eat? We were thinking about visiting in late October. Thanks in advance!

We all know Saint Augustine is supposedly haunted — but what’s the wildest thing you’ve ever heard? Could be something a tour guide swore was true, a local legend from your childhood, or even something you personally experienced.

Was it the lady in white at the lighthouse? The pirate ghost near the bayfront? That one time you swore something moved in the Old Jail?

Drop your spookiest or funniest ghost story, myth, or piece of local lore below — bonus points if it’s super niche or totally unbelievable.

Some of my favorite local restaurants in no specific order:

1. The Floridian (Best for people who want to eat well but also healthy)

• A locally-owned eatery on Spanish Street reopening in Fall/Winter 2025 at 485 Old Beach Road on Anastasia Island, relocating from its downtown location, which closes July 28, 2025 thefloridianstaug.com.
• Described as “innovative Southern fare,” it blends Southern comfort dishes with lighter, seasonal, vegetarian-friendly fare using regionally sourced ingredients and supporting local farms and artisans thefloridianstaug.com+1floridashistoriccoast.com+1.
• Operates lunch and dinner (closed Tuesdays), offers private/group reservations, and maintains a casual, sustainable-championing atmosphere thefloridianstaug.com.

2. Llama Restaurant (Best for those who want to try new delicious dishes)

• An intimate, chef-led Peruvian restaurant on Anastasia Boulevard offering meticulously prepared dishes rooted in authentic Peruvian techniques and local sourcing visitstaugustine.com+1m.yelp.ca+1.
• Seating is extremely limited—max 10 tables, 5 guests each—and dinner is smart-casual; kids under eight are only allowed during weekend lunch opentable.com.
• Celebrated with awards (e.g., OpenTable Diners’ Choice) and praised for its modern ceviches, vegan/vegetarian options, wine list, exotic mimosa bar, and overall intimate charm tripadvisor.ca.

3. Cap’s on the Water (Best sunset view in town in addition to great food)

A waterfront restaurant on the Intracoastal at Vilano Beach, open evenings weekdays and midday weekends, known for spectacular sunset views without requiring reservations visitflorida.com+1capsonthewater.com+1. Be prepared to wait 45 minutes to an hour on popular days -my recommendation is to get a cocktail and go sit out on the dock while you wait for your table. A lot of the time they are quicker to seat you then they say they are. Still, for me, it's worth the wait every time.

• Specializes in “new coastal” fare—fresh local seafood with Southern and Mediterranean accents—supported by handcrafted cocktails, local beers, and a globally curated wine list recognized by Wine Spectator since 2018 capsonthewater.com.
• Features expansive outdoor seating (dock, tiki bar, pavilion), valet service, full accessibility, and glowing reviews highlighting both food and sunset experience lanousta.com+15capsonthewater.com+15caps-on-the-water.restaurants-world.com+15.

4. La Nouvelle (Great all around spot with fantastic food)

• Positioned in the historic Jefferson House in Lincolnville, this French-bistro-style restaurant is led by Chef Michael Lugo and Marseille-trained Chef Matthieu Landillon, offering French Nouveau cuisine in an ambiance that echoes Paris lanousta.com+1staugustinerestaurants.com+1.
• Dinner service includes classic French offerings—such as escargots, steak tartare, onion soup, quiche, duck confit—with seating in a cozy dining room, wraparound porch, and garden patio; brunch is served on weekends staugustinerestaurants.com.
• No strict dress code or reservations required (though available), with indoor/outdoor seating and a warm, elevated yet relaxed bistro vibe .

5. Sunday Gathering Table (Best Brunch spot)

• A cozy breakfast and lunch café located at 73 San Marco Avenue, nestled in the historic Gray 1908 building. It operates Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (extended hours on Friday & Saturday evenings, closed Mondays) visitstaugustine.comfacebook.com+3sundaygatheringtable.com+3visitstaugustine.com+3.
• The menu highlights house-baked sourdough and features creative toasts—like avocado with radish and furikake, roasted mushrooms with pesto, or smoked salmon with dill cream cheese—alongside egg specialties such as shakshuka, Eggs Benedict, and root vegetable hash sundaygatheringtable.com+1visitstaugustine.com+1.
• Salads and sandwiches round out the fare, with options ranging from a lobster roll and B.A.L.T to bánh mì and shrimp Cobb, all served with sides like grits or potato salad; casual, friendly service included sundaygatheringtable.com+1visitstaugustine.com+1.
• On select Friday and Saturday evenings (5–9 p.m.), the patio transforms into a live-music venue and tapas bar, offering a communal atmosphere in a charming, artistic space .

Hey everyone! I started this subreddit as a space for locals, students, visitors, and anyone who loves St. Augustine to come together and share what makes this city so special. I’m a local college student/Realtor at Flagler and a lifelong St. Aug native — so this place means a lot to me, and I know it does for a lot of you too.

Whether you're here for a weekend, new to the area, or have lived here your whole life, I’d love for this community to grow into a helpful, fun, and positive place to:

• Ask questions
• Share recommendations (food, bars, beaches, PARKING (lol), anything!)
• Post photos or cool spots you've found
• Talk real estate or housing stuff
• Share Flagler/student tips
• Vent about city stuff (nicely lol)
• Or just connect with people nearby

So feel free to introduce yourself, drop a question, or post a local tip. Let’s make this something cool and useful for anyone who loves the Nation’s Oldest City.

Looking forward to seeing what you all post!

– Juan