Rocco Smith
While San Augustine may appear to be just another lazy beach town along the Florida coast, its historical significance as the oldest city in the U.S. says otherwise.
Founded by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, San Augustine is full of ruins and preserved landmarks of its long past.
You can learn all about San Augustine’s fascinating history of European occupation through visiting the 17th-century fortress, the Castillo de San Marcos, or Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Of course, San Augustine’s coastal location provides plenty of time for fun in the sun with the lovely St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach as key attractions for swimming and sunbathing.
With a relaxing beach vacation, you need a relaxing morning.
What better way to savor a morning by the sea than with a delicious brunch?
San Augustine has a wonderful selection of brunch spots, many with stunning views of the Atlantic from lush outdoor patios.
If you’re looking for the best brunch in San Augustine, check out the following list of restaurants, cafes, and bars.
The Reef
4100 Coastal Hwy, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-824-8008
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Located right on the ocean at North Beach, The Reef opened its doors originally as Compton’s, after the original owner in 1989 only to close ten years later for hurricane damage.
The Usina family bought and revived this beautiful beach house restaurant, adding a fabulous deck to dine al fresco.
Chef Denzel Aponte delivers a menu of locally sourced seafood, meat, and poultry, along with a delicious craft cocktail list.
Sunday brunch is likewise seafood-centric, preparing dishes that span the American cuisine spectrum.
I loved the Datil Shrimp ‘n’ Grits with stone-ground grits and datil lime sauce.
Preserved Restaurant
102 Bridge St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-679-4940
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Owned and operated by Executive Chef and James Beard Award nominee Brian Whittington, Preserved Restaurant is a high-end Southern comfort bistro inside a pristinely preserved Jefferson House, a landmark in the historic Lincolnville District.
The romantic setting and spectacular menu have received features in The New York Times, Southern Living, and the San Augustine Social.
Weekend brunch is an exquisite selection of elevated Southern comfort food, presented in beautifully plated displays.
I recommend the fried chicken biscuit with black hog farm fried chicken, a house-made buttermilk biscuit, sausage gravy, pickles, and potatoes lyonnaise.
Raintree Restaurant
102 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-824-7211
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Another historical haunt, the Raintree Restaurant is inside a 19th-century Victorian home just south of the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archaeological Site, opening in 1981 by the MacDonald family.
The Macdonalds spent months refurbishing the charming Victorian house to its original glory, and have been serving award-winning southern-style Surf and Turf dishes in a fancy-casual setting.
They make a delicious bloody mary with Tito’s vodka and crispy bacon and shrimp garnish.
They also have various mimosa sections for a great price to accompany weekend brunch.
The extensive brunch menu runs the gamut of southern and American breakfast and lunch dishes from omelets to benedicts to burgers and meatloaf.
I went for the Croque Norwegian with smoked salmon and capers, gruyere cheese, Dijon, mornay sauce, and an over-easy egg.
O C White’s Seafood & Spirits
118 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-824-0808
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O C White’s Seafood and Spirits is located inside the historic Worth House, a 1790 stone house with wood finishes a block from St. Augustine Municipal Marina.
The Worth House is historically significant with a haunted house story to boot.
Hauntings aside, O C White’s is a picturesque restaurant with a lush tropical patio where you can feel the ocean breeze while you listen to live music performances.
Brunch at O C’s is on Sundays from 9:30 to 1 pm with cheap yet fresh mimosas and a small yet delicious offering of continental and Southern-style breakfast dishes.
I enjoyed the King’s Breakfast, with scrambled eggs, bacon, and a blueberry pancake, but it’s also a great place to eat any other time of day!
Ice Plant Bar
110 Riberia St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-829-6553
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Featured in Thrillist, USA Today, Southern Living, and countless other raving press reviews, Ice Plant Bar is a hip, cocktail bar and farm-to-table gastropub inside an old 1920s ice plant building in the heart of historic Lincolnville.
The incredible design and atmosphere of Ice Plant Bar is worth the trip alone, to say nothing of its delicious locally sourced New American menu.
Its creative food and cocktails using freshly pressed juices and house-made infusions have been written up as some of Florida’s best, so a boozy brunch at Ice Plant Bar should certainly be on your itinerary.
My favorite dish was the buttermilk Dutch Baby Pancake with roasted apples, walnuts, brown butter, maple syrup, and sorghum whipped cream.
Gypsy Cab Company Restaurant
828 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Phone: 904-824-8244
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Located in a casual and friendly urban space on Anastasia Island, Gypsy Cab Company Restaurant serves global cuisine that has won Trend, Silver Spoon, and Best of St. Augustine Awards during its nearly 40-year tenure.
Its a great place to grab a quality meal at an affordable price with friendly service.
Weekend brunch draws inspiration from every American region, the Mediterranean, and even Scandinavia.
I loved the Huevos Rancheros with 2 over-light eggs served on a corn tortilla and layered with black beans, salsa and cheddar then served with crispy home fries.
The Blue Hen Café
117 M L King Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-217-3777
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The Blue Hen Café is a quaint, country-chic café and brunch eatery in an old town-hall-looking building in Lincolnville.
Their scratch-made Southern comfort cuisine expertly crafted coffee and espresso, and homey atmosphere makes them a beloved neighborhood staple for breakfast and lunch.
Whether you want a breakfast burrito, barbecued pulled pork and grits, or blue crab quiche, The Blue Hen Café makes its dishes from scratch with fresh, gourmet ingredients.
I loved their corned beef hash with house-made corned beef, home fries, sauteed onions and peppers, two eggs, and a biscuit.
Best Brunch Spots in San Augustine
- The Reef
- Preserved
- Raintree Restaurant
- O C White’s Seafood & Spirits
- Ice Plant Bar
- Gypsy Cab Company
- Blue Hen
Final Thoughts
You’ll get both history and charm with your brunch from any of the wonderful brunch spots in San Augustine.
If you prefer dining at a place with an amazing view of the sea, you should check out our list of the best restaurants with waterfront views in St. Augustine.
Whether you want a lush tropical patio setting or a seat inside a 17th-century landmark, you’ll experience the most romantic and picturesque atmospheres to enjoy award-winning brunches.
