Local’s Guide to the Best Eats in St. Augustine Beach, Florida
Looking for the best place to eat in Saint Augustine Beach, Florida? Want to know where the locals eat? You’re in the right place!
St. Augustine Beach, Florida, also known as “Anastasia Island,” or just “the Island” to locals, is a small friendly North Florida beach community with a surprising diversity and quality of food options.
The St. Augustine Beach food scene includes ample seafood options and your typical sandy, ultra-casual beachside restaurants. But, it’s not limited to those beach town essentials, you can also find ample unexpected gems like multiple taco shops and creative Italian eats.
Whether you’re looking for fine dining or casual tacos by the beach, I’ve got you covered in this guide to the best places to eat in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. To decide on what to include on this list, I’ve consulted the locals (my parents) and have done quite a bit of personal “taste testing” (i.e. going out to eat) on my multi-month stays in St. Augustine Beach, Florida.
In a rush? Use this table of contents to skip to the section you’re most interested in:
Coffee & Sweets
Diners & Breakfast
Casual & American
Tacos & Burritos
Seafood
Everything Else
Map of the Best Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach
What to Wear to Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach
Looking for more about St. Augustine? Check out all St Augustine travel posts here
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Best Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach, FL
Coffee & Sweets
Les Petite Pleasures
Type: Bakery
Get: Almond croissant
Indulge your sweet tooth and Les Petits Pleasures, a French bakery, whose delicious baked confections defy its humble strip mall location. Get the almond croissant – but get it early, they’ve been known to sell out by 10AM! And, while you’re there, think about grabbing a little desert treat for later in the day.
125 A1A Beach Blvd, Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 679-3411
https://www.facebook.com/Les-Petits-Pleasures-French-Pastry-and-Bakery-297789540232314/
Kookabbura
Type: Aussie inspired coffee shop
Get: Honey Badger Latte
This Australian inspired coffee shop is such a local favorite that it exploded from a little beachy coffee shop to a multi-location local favorite in just a few years. Their lattes are the go-to treat, but you can also grab an Aussie Pie (I prefer the lunch ones over the breakfast ones) and evening beer or wine. Kookaburra’s original “Beachside” location, and its “Dondi” location are both on The Island.
647 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080 (Beachside)
4265 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080 (Dondi)
(904) 209-9391
https://thekookaburracoffee.com
Embassy Suites Starbucks
Type: Chain with a view
Get: Starbucks (then sit outside beachfront)
Before you roll your eyes at this chain recommendation, hear me out! The coffee at this Starbucks is like every other Starbucks, but it’s location makes it a worthwhile visit. It’s located in the Embassy Suites, which is located oceanfront. Enjoy your coffee in the beach-zen lobby or better yet, on the hotel’s large outdoor patio overlooking the ocean.
Interested in staying at the Embassy? Click to Check Prices
300 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 461-9004
Island Donuts
Type: Simple donut shop
Get: Your favorite donut
Island Donuts’ beachside location makes it easy for you to fuel your leisurely morning beach walk with donuts and coffee.
400 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 217-0286
https://islanddonut.com
Diners & Breakfast
Obi’s Fillin’ Station
Type: Diner-ish
Get: Hearty Breakfast
If you drive down A1A Beach Blvd, you’ll notice Obi’s. It’s the brightly painted building with vintage gas station pumps outside that leads you to say, “that looks cool!” And Obi’s is indeed cool. It’s a locally owned and operated restaurant with a retro automotive gas station theme. It lives up to it’s promise of “fillin’ you up” with its affordable prices and healthy portions.
590 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 907-1263
https://obisfillinstation.com
Beachside Diner
Type: Modern Diner
Get: NJ Porkroll
Beachside Diner invokes retro American diner decor and quintessential diner menu offerings with a few modern twists like Hangover Fries and a Power Bowl thrown in. The many Northeasterners that have relocated permanently or seasonally to the area are thrilled to have a place to go get classic NJ Porkroll (aka “Taylor Ham”). If you know, you know. If you don’t, you should try it.
451 A1A Beach Blvd Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 429-7756
https://beachsidediner.com
Casual & American
Sarbez
Type: Grilled cheeserie
Get: Any grilled cheese
If grilled cheese, craft beer, and hipster eclectic décor (without the hipster attitude) are your thing, Sarbez is your spot! This funky hip bar, arcade, and restaurant offers 15+ unique grilled cheese options all served with a smile by staff that you just want to sit and hang out with. Vegan? No problemo! The Vegan Griller sandwich comes highly recommended even by non-vegans.
115 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-342-0632
https://www.sarbezstaugustine.com
The Gas
Type: Casual American
Get: Any burger
The Gas, as its name suggests, is a gas station themed restaurant (not to be confused with Obi’s) that offers classic American dishes like burgers, salads, and sandwiches with unique twists. Wash it all down with a super cheap PBR or Narragansett or asset or level up with a craft beer or glass of vino. If you like burgers, they are the way to go. Their jalapeno burger was even highlighted by the Food Network as a guilty pleasure!
9 Anastasia Blvd C, Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 217-0326
https://www.gasrestaurant.com
Mango Mango’s
Type: Island style casual dining
Get: Yucca fries
Mango Mango’s casual brightly colored decor and tropical seafood food offerings will have you feeling like you’re on a tropical vacation. It’s a longstanding St. Augustine classic for a reason.
700 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 461-1077
https://www.mangomangos.com
Beachcomber
Type: Beachy Casual
Get: Cobb Salad
Beachcomber is a family friendly, flip-flops welcome restaurant that is literally beachfront. Its menu offers options at all price points with a focus on seafood (though, not exclusively) and casual handheld bites with some inspired twists adding international flavors. It’s a very popular spot so catch it during an off season or off hours if you can.
2 A Street , St Augustine Beach, FL 32080
(904) 471-3744
https://www.beachcomberstaugustine.com
Conch House
Type: Waterfront Caribbean
Get: A seat outside
The Conch House Marina Resort Restaurant, referred to simply as “The Conch House,” is a longstanding Caribbean inspired restaurant at a marina overlooking Salt Run inlet. Enjoy views from the deck, or better yet, under one of the Conch House’s grass huts.
During non-pandemic times, the Conch House hosts Reggae Sunday, a live music event, each Sunday from March to November. Enjoy the party or avoid the people, your choice.
57 Comares Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 829-8646
https://www.conch-house.com/eat-drink
Tacos & Burritos
MoJos Tacos
Type: Taco Shop
Get: Chicken Arepa
Double-decker (hard and soft shell together!) tacos are a fun tasty addition to St. Augustine Beach’s taco scene. But, don’t overlook the arepas. Arepas are a maize dominated round cake, or patty, that are often stuffed or topped with many different things. Arepas are a popular Columbian and Venezuela dish that date back hundreds of years. They have a growing fan base in the US but aren’t a common menu item in Northeast Florida yet so take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy them at MoJoss.
551 Anastasia Blvd #4572, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 829-1665
https://www.facebook.com/mojos.tacos/
Nalu’s
Type: Taco Truck
Get: Fish Taco
A long-time local’s favorite. Nalu’s was one of the early adopters in the food truck game. Located next door to a surf shop and at the front of the road leading into Anastasia State Park, it’s a convenient spot to grab a casual taco…or three…on your way to or from the beach.
1020 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 501-9592
https://nalusfoodtruck.godaddysites.com
Osprey Tacos
Type: West Coast Street Tacos
Get: Tofu Taco (even if you’re not a vegetarian)
Osprey tacos brings west coast inspired street tacos to Anastasia Isand. It offers creative concoctions for the daring as well as traditional taco creations (like (like their Cuban taco, complete with mustard!) as well as traditional tacos for those who like to stick to the classics. If you’re a beer drinker, take your tacos next door and enjoy a brew from Old Coast Ales. (And feel free to check out my Guide to St. Augustine, Florida’s Craft Breweries)
300 Anastasia Boulevard, Saint Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 679-4191
http://ospreytacos.com
A1A Burrito Works
Type: Burrito Shop
Get: The UFO
A1A burrito works is a local favorite beachy casual taco and burrito shop. Customize your burrito or taco by choosing the spice level and between “the works” (tex-mex) or “baja” style. If you venture off Anastasia Island while exploring, never fear – there are three more locations in the surrounding area.
671 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
(904) 217-7451
https://www.burritoworks.com/
La Cocina
Type: Latin Inspired Fusion
Get: Multiple items
Nestled in the Camino Real hotel, La Cocina offers fantastic latin inspired fine dining a block from the beach. Mouth watering menu items like wine poached pears, short rib tostadas, and crab stuffed grouper make it hard to decide….and the chef suggests you don’t. The menu makes it easy to put together your own multi-course meal.
530 A1A beach Blvd, Saint Augustine Beach 32080
(904) 461-8288
https://lacocinarestaurants.com
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Seafood
O’Steens
Type: Classic casual seafood
Get: Fried Shrimp Plate
*Cash only
O’Steen’s is an unpretentious in the best way. It boasts simple seafood and side offerings done right at a price that will make you smile. There’s a good chance that you’ll have a wait, but it’ll fly by if you shop or grab a drink at one of O’Steen’s neighboring establishments.
*Off the Island Alert! These next two restaurants are a teenie-tiny bit off the Island but so worth the trip. Although, rumor has it, Black Molly may soon have an on the Island location.*
Black Molly (Off the Island)
Type: Casual Fresh Seafood
Get: Rainbow Trout; Fish Sandwich
Black Molly is a family favorite and between us, we have probably tried over 50% of the menu. I love the Rainbow Trout with lemon butter paired with one of their rotating sides, but I know my dad would be mad if I didn’t mention his personal favorite: the fish sandwich. And, well, here is where my mom would want me to point out the 2-for-1 happy hour and shrimp snaps. All served with smiles.
504 W Geoffrey St., St. Augustine, FL 32086
(904) 547-2723
https://theblackmollygrill.com
St. Augustine Fish Camp
Type: Waterfront Fresh Seafood
Get: Shrimp and Grits; Specials
St. Augustine Fish Camp offers inspired fresh seafood options with a hint of southern influence in a relaxed waterfront environment. It’s one of five fish camps the owners have in the Jacksonville/St. Augustine area and there’s a reason they’ve been so successful: the food is fantastic.
142 Riberia St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 827-7000
https://staugustinefishcamp.com/
Everything Else
Terra & Acqua
Type: Italian
Get: Shrimp & Polenta (Gamberoni); Bib Lettuce
This local favorite for modern inspired Italian has consistently great food, drinks, and fresh bread. It’s worth the normal prices, but they also have a great happy hour.
134 Sea Grove Main Street
St. Augustine Beach, Florida 32080
904-429-9647
https://terraacquarestaurant.com/home/
Odd Birds
Type: Craft Cocktails & Eclectic Cuisine
Get: Family style rotisserie chicken
Odd Birds is a fan with a small but tasty menu with Latin American and Caribbean influences. The bar and restaurant design is eclectic hip with multiple birds incorporated – as the bar/restaurant’s name suggests. There’s a large outdoor patio covered patio for nice days and a long indoor bar for those less than perfect days.
200 Anastasia Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-342-8378
https://www.oddbirdsbar.com
Purple Olive
Type: Eclectic Bistro
Get: The Specials
Don’t let its unassuming strip mall location fool you, Purple Olive is a family owned and operated restaurant that consistently serves up creative high quality dishes like macadamia crusted salmon with mango vanilla rum butter. For the non-seafood eating guests in your party there are ample other delicious options like loin chops and classic chicken marsala. And if you arrive early Tuesday to Thursday, Purple Olive offers an “Early Bird” menu at can’t beat prices.
Map: Best Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach, FL
Gear Check: St. Augustine Beach, FL
What to Wear to Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach, Florida
Most restaurants in St. Augustine Beach, Florida are casual. Attire ranges from just off the beach at many beachfront restaurants to just slightly dressed up (think: khaki pants for men or a dress for women) at some of the higher-end restaurants. I can’t think of any places that you’d need forma attire like a suit or fancy dress.
Tip: Unsure what to wear to a particular restaurant?
Check the restaurant’s website or Instagram for photos.
Other Must Pack Items for Your St. Augustine Beach, Florida Trip
In addition to clothes for going out to eat, when packing for St. Augustine Beach, Florida, don’t forget to pack these Florida essentials:
- Umbrella or Waterproof Jacket – Florida may be the sunshine state but when it rains it RAINS. Make sure to have an umbrella or rain jacket (I like Columbia) handy.
- Sandals – Particularly in summer, sandals are the go-to shoe choice. For beachy casual restaurants and other adventures, Havaianas, Reefs, or similar flip-flops are great.
- Sunscreen – even in winter sunscreen is an essential in St. Augustine Beach, Florida if you’ll be enjoying one of the outdoor dining options. I like La Roche Posay & Bare Republic
