This article was originally written and published by Arlene Laboy on September 13, 2019. It was updated by Nancy DeVault on April 5, 2024.
St. Augustine Beach is just over the Lion’s Bridge, off the Historic Downtown District of St. Augustine–aka the Ancient City. Once you’ve crossed over this short bridge—atop of the Matanzas River—it feels like you’ve entered a completely different town. Gone is the Spanish architecture, iconic landmarks and bustling streets… swapped out for quiet beachy vibes. This hideaway is Anastasia Island and, oftentimes, just called St. Augustine Beach.
Nonetheless, St. Augustine Beach boasts its own notable stops interspersed with miles of white sand, coastal eats and cocktails, arts and culture and even adventure. Here’s a couples weekend getaway guide to St. Augustine Beach.
Where to Stay in St. Augustine Beach
Beachfront Bed and Breakfast
1 F St., St. Augustine Beach
Many couples love the quaint vacay feels of a bed and breakfast, especially when in a romantic town. This B&B is exclusively for adults. There are options within the property’s three homes, including select dog-friendly rooms. Aside from beach access, the B&B grounds boast a jacuzzi, hammock and gourmet breakfast.
Beachfront Bed and Breakfast is a sister property to La Fiesta Ocean Inn & Suites, which is another Anastasia Island lodging option.
Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort
300 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine
Situated in between Anastasia State Park and the St. Augustine Beach Pier, this gorgeous resort will make you forget that you’re only a 10-minute drive from Historic Downtown. And this place has a private stretch of beach!
Lounge by the pool to enjoy views of the pristine beach, as well as poolside service by Castaway Cantina, the onsite bar. Consider upgrading to a plush cabana for ultimate relaxation. Each room reservation includes two free beach chairs and towels. You can rent an umbrella, which may be secured for you at your desired spot in the sand.
TIP: If you plan to purchase Old Town Trolley Tour tickets to explore Historic Downtown St. Augustine, your ticket also grants access to the St. Augustine Beach Bus. The bus makes stops at the Embassy Suites, as well as the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum.
More St. Augustine Hotel Options:
- Castillo Resort Hotel
- Courtyard by Marriott St. Augustine Beach
- Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach
- Hampton Inn St. Augustine Beach
Other Unique Stays in St. Augustine Beach:
- Devil’s Elbow Fishing Resort – perfect for anglers!
- Anastasia State Park – ideal for beachside camping.
Where to Play in St. Augustine Beach
Anastasia State Park
This awesome park offers a multitude of activities, ranging from paddleboarding to hiking along the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail. Anastasia Watersports is conveniently located within the park and offers rentals of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards with affordable pricing.
The Amp St. Augustine
Originally built back in 1965, this award-winning, open-air music venue was restored and modernized. It now hosts popular concerts, festivals and special events throughout the year. This includes a great Farmer’s Market.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
For an activity that doubles as a workout, climb the 219 steps up the lighthouse tower and take in the birds' eye views. Once back on the ground, head into the maritime museum or hiking the pretty nature trail. A variety of demonstrations take place daily, and you can also tour the keeper’s house.
Ft. Matanzas National Monument
Similar to the Castillo de San Marcos monument in Historic Downtown St. Augustine, Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish to guard the “back door” to St. Augustine against the British. The fort, constructed out of coquina, has since been restored but still contains two of the original cannons. Visitors who wander inside can view soldiers' quarters and get a beautiful view of the water.
To reach the fort, hop on a short ferry ride over to the monument. Boarding passes are required to ride the ferry and are issued for free in the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center. The ferry carries 35 people at a time on a first come, first served basis, and leaves the Visitor Center dock (weather permitting) every half hour from 9:30am to 4:30pm. After exploring the fort, hike the 1/2-mile nature trail or enjoy a day by the water to sunbathe or fish, or bring food and drinks for a romantic picnic. Bonus: admission is free!
Day Trip to Historic Downtown St. Augustine
When you want to pause island time (and you should), head back over the Lion's Bridge into Historic Downtown St. Augustine. There is so much to do in the Ancient City. Noodle adding these stops to your itinerary:
- Castillo de San Marcos
- Flagler College
- The Lightner Museum
- National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios
- Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archeological Park
- San Sebastian Winery
- St. Augustine Distillery
- St. George Street
There's no shortage of restaurants, bars, sightseeing locales and more.
More Ways to Play in St. Augustine Beach:
- St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
- St. Johns Fishing Pier
- Surf Lessons with PitStop
- Visit the town of Vilano Beach
Where to Eat & Drink in St. Augustine Beach
Beachcomber
2 A St., St. Augustine Beach
Beachcomber is literally right on the shoreline, so expect sandy toes. This eatery is family-friendly, dog-friendly and ideal for a casual beachside lunch or dinner with options for signature cocktails and craft beer.
The burgers are a customer fav, such as the Any Port in the Storm, a 1/3-lb. patty chargrilled and topped with portobello mushrooms, provolone cheese, arugula, red onion and thousand island dressing. The Crunchy Fish Wrap offers a crisp bite with panko-coated fried fresh catch topped with cabbage, pineapple pico and sriracha mayo in a chipotle wrap.
Crabby’s Beachside
361 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine
Because you’re on island time, Crabby’s is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and beyond. Request a table upstairs on the wrap-around porch to ensure views of the ocean across the way.
Note that Crabby’s has raw bar options. Yes, research shows that raw oysters are a natural aphrodisiac so this could be a intentional date night destination. Otherwise, Crabby’s menu is huge so there’s plenty of hot dishes choices too.
Gas Full Service Restaurant
9 Anastasia Blvd. C, St. Augustine
Living up to its name, you’ll be glad you filled up your tanks (um, bellies) here. Once a gas station, Gas Full Service is now a semi-famous burger joint thanks to its appearance on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Comfort food is elevated with locally-sourced ingredients, including the grass-fed Florida beef used for the gigantic Jalapeño Popper Burger. Gas is located steps away from Lion’s Bridge, though outside seating isn’t an option. Still, the funky interior will pump you up.
Harvest & Reel
300 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine
Locally within the Embassy Suites by Hilton St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort, note that shoes and shirts are definitely required. Just meaning that this place is more upscale compared to the areas casual beach eateries.
The Squid Ink Pasta is among the entrée stand-outs. It features lump crab, rock shrimp, bay scallops, wild mushrooms, semi-dried tomatoes and basil cream sauce. Yum!
Kookaburra Beachside
647 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine
Coffee makes couples happy… literally. Caffeine has been shown to trigger the production of dopamine in the brain and, thus, trigger (warm and yummy) cheeriness. To get your fix, pop into Kookaburra Beachside.
The menu starts off with standard coffee and espresso drinks. But do keep reading because the specialty lattes are indeed special. Try the Lavender Latte or Honey Badger. Pair your beverage with a brekkie pie, lunch pie or other baked goods. Plus, there’s gluten-free and vegan options.
Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen
200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine
The culinary wizards at Odd Birds must truly believe in the “you eat with your eyes first” slogan, because food and beverages are beautifully presented here. We’re talking about vibrant colors, bold flavors and a fun atmosphere too. No doubt, a hidden gem to cherish. Do follow their social pages to keep up with events and live music schedules.
Old Coast Ales
300 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine
Old Coast Ales brewed its first beer, the Empirical IPA, in a garage. Obviously, this beachy brewery has expanded to the delight of fun-in-the-sun beer drinkers. But its current space is still cozy and totally enjoyable.
Old Coast Ales neighbors Osprey Tacos (keep reading for more info). If you get some tacos, the Mexican Lager is a refreshing complement. The tap list is fairly varied though. For example, the Kookaburra is a coffee-infused brown and the Static Haze is a hoppy IPA with grapefruit.
Osprey Tacos
300 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine
Fans of hole-in-the-wall type of joints will want to get holed up at Osprey. This quick-serve place is ideal to nosh on tacos before igniting beach bum status.
Osprey Tacos comes through strong with fresh flavors, made-to-order street tacos, and housemade chips and guac. You can turn any taco into a bowl, plus there's sauces galore, and vegan and gluten-free options.
The Carne Asada and Pollo Asado tacos are popular choices but don’t shy away from unexpected varieties. We’re talking about the Boise, featuring crispy potatoes; and the Sprout, stuffed with Brussels.
Salt Life Food Shack
321 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach
The lively eatery boasts a coastal cool interior, as well as an open-air rooftop and bar area; plus, live music and a salty-sweet atmosphere.
Feast on raw bar favorites, sushi, street tacos, handhelds, coastal greens and more. Plan your lunch date to coincide with the St. Augustine Beach Farmers Market, which is just across the street.
More Restaurants in St. Augustine Beach:
- Bootlegger Beach Brewing
- Burrito Works
- Conch House
- La Cocina
- Mango Mango’s Caribbean Grill & Bar
- Mojo's Tacos
- Santiago’s Florida Kitchen & Craft Bar
- Sunset Grille
FYI, find tons of more St. Augustine themed content on our website!
