#4 The Mill Top Tavern

See you at the top. The Mill Top Tavern has, by far, one of the neatest locations in all of St. Augustine. It is nestled in a 19th Century mill and is listed in the historical record (aged from 1888). The Mill Top appears to look very similar to a treehouse from Castillo Drive. There are two entrances into Mill Top, the front entrance is located on the main shopping street, St. George street and the back entrance is off of Castillo Drive across from the Castillo.

The bar is nestled upstairs, and has outside seating on the upper and lower decks towards the back entrance. At the back entrance is on the lower deck is where their live music performs. You are also able to sit inside with open air seating towards the front of the building. The back is where you want to sit though, it has one of the very best views in St. Augustine. I have a favorite seat at the bar and it is a view of the of Castillo de San Marcos, harbor and the inlet. I love looking at the ancient monument as well as watch the sail boats go by.

As a tour guide for the ancient city I enjoy knowing the history and admiring all the work that has been down around this town. It is truly beautiful.

According to their website, the Mill Top has been one of the best known taverns in St. Augustine for the past 25 years. The Mill Top offers live music daily and its not only a bar but a restaurant as well. Here is a sample of their menu, although I reccomend that you do not eat here. As much as a favorite bar of mine this is, the food here is awful and the time it takes is ridiculously slow! Stick to the liquid diet it is far more beneficial especially the way they make their drinks.

The Mill Top offers beer, liquor and wine. If you order a beer you can order up to a half a yard of beer for a fairly decent price. Now Mill Top doesn't really have a happy hour but they do have a list of specilaty drinks. They will also charge you a regular price for a drink and only charge you a dollar extra for a double and let me tell you, they are strong. Little tougher for me to drink personally. I didn't try any of the specialty drinks here because there was too large of a selection. There specialty drinks are actually specialty shooters but for an extra .25 cents they will turn them into a drink and some of the shooters are all liquor. So see below for a sample of some of the shooters:

• Rotten apple- Southern Comfort, amaretto, spiced rum, melon liquor, pineapple and cranberry-4.75
  
• Mind Eraser- vodka, coffee liqueur, soda on ice with straw.

Bartenders Favorite Shooters

• Sheree's Perfect Paradise- Light rum, coconut rum, pineapple, grapefruit and grenadine- 4.75


• Morgan's Blueberry Squirt- blueberry vodka, grapefruit and cranberry splash 4.75

Mill Top has one of the greatest atmospheres in St. Augustine, inside and outside seating with one of the most spectacular views. On my bar list i would give the Mill Top four stars out five, they have a great view, good service, strong drinks and live music. The only disadvantage is that they serve food but I don't find it to be very good, my impression was that it was overpriced bar food, however you tend find that in a tourist town. But don't let the food keep you away, come in for the music and drinks and work your way down to the new Irish bar, Meehans (on the bayfront) and eat their food. I believe that whether your there day or night you will have a good time. Just a side note, they do charge cover after a certain hour, it is only about two dollars just a note in case you aren't one for carrying cash.

The Mill Top Tavern (& Listening Room)

19 1/2 St. George Street, St. Augustine

Phone number: 904-829-2329

Just as side note, i took a majority of the pictures myself but a few were taken of the Mill Top website because the photos had more clairty

# 3 Tradewinds Tropical Lounge

If walls could talk. Tradewinds lounge. If walls could talk, you'd be able to write 100 books. This probably one of the best places downtown St. Augustine has to offer with the best live music. As long as you don't mind fun: dancing, strong drinks, live music, smokey atmosphere and great people, it's guaranted you'll have one of your best bar experiences.

To enter Tradewinds you have to be 21 and don't try to get in if your not, especially if you are trying to use a fake i.d. you just might end up on the Wall of Shame. One evening I tried to go in, under 21, real i.d., as designated driver (yes that is the truth), and I still got kicked out. But many say you haven't experienced Tradewinds if you haven't been kicked out of Tradewinds (even for something as minor as that). Tradewinds, in preparation is loud, smokey, biker dive bar. And an absolute blast. Generally Tradewinds opens at 1:00 p.m. but music wont start till at 3:00 p.m. but it is fun nonetheless.

Tradewinds has some of the best history in St. Augustine here is a brief summary of it that I received from their website, since their history is far more extensive than I'd ever imagine.

Tradewinds Lounge has history that goes farther back before many of us were born. In the creation process of the lounge, it was meant to have the appearance of a sailor, seaside bar. That’s exactly what they did, Tradewinds is full of many island artifacts and collectable items placed all around. Many of them still hang to. It was in 1944 that idea of the lounge came into play, and quickly opened in 1945 and was known as the South Seas Lounge.

Through several business exchanges that took place over a decade and half and finally in the 60s it became Tradewinds. At the time Tradewinds was located at 1 Aviles Street and was known as place to go to hear great music and have a good time. As it was said Tradewinds was “your port of call.” Then in 1964, the city’s historical restoration department discovered the site of the Old Spanish Military hospital that dated back to the founding of St. Augustine. That means it was time for Tradewinds to relocate. Tradewinds moved to its present address at 124 Charlotte Street. With a change on location meant a change in music. New musicians took the stage such as Jimmy Buffet (who was supposedly kicked off stage cause he stunk), the Sounds of Blue Grass and other bands I have not heard of (at least I’m honest).

As time went by the music acts became some of the best ever. It has evolved from the early music to some of the most current music, the perfect blend of rock’n’roll, blue, country and occasional oldies acts. Now, for the past decade, Troy Locke and Matanzas has been the house band playing nightly (Sunday through Thursday). Or you yourself could take a shot at Open Mic on Thursday night, giving musicians the opportunity to have their songs heard. Tradewinds Tropical Lounge has been determined to continue the tradition to have the vest live entertainment in North Florida, and they have succeeded. As they say “Come on in and relive the history and make a few memories of your own.”

There you have a history of a great place.

The Happy Hour at Tradewinds is from 5-8 p.m. every day of the week (always a plus) and the house band starts at 8:00. The hous band Matanzas is truly a party an absolute blast. Matanzas is said to look much like ZZ Top thats up to you to decide, that sings a variety of country, southern rock and of course rock n roll. If your having a good time Matanzas wants to a hear a "HELL YEAH!"

Here is video of Matanzas performing at Tradewinds, the actual song doesn't start till about 1:45 so if you want to fast forward.

Tradewinds is one bar that you do not want to miss. Tradewinds can also be exceptionally dangerous (in a good way). It is always a blast and often the last stop of a great bar hopping experience. They do not serve food however they do have a popcorn machine in the corner or any specialty drinks. That doesn't matter though because of how strong they are, it can said its a glass of vodka with a splash of cranberry. You will thoroughly enjoy it. It also a note that this may one of the few bars, or the only bar that serves beers in can at about $2.50. Make sure you check out Tradewinds Tropical Lounge. For lack of an outside area I will give this bar four and half stars out of five.

Tradewinds Lounge Is in downtown St. Augustine right off of the town Square, if you are coming west over the Bridge of Lions you should see on your right after you cross Castillo Drive.

Tradewinds Lounge

124 Charlotte Street

St. Augustine, FL 32084

(904)829-9336

Visit the websites at http://www.tradewindslounge.com/home.html

#2 Caps on the Water

Another of my favorite bars in town is Caps on the Water in North Vilano Beach. It is a little bit of a drive but it is well worth. Cap’s is a unique restaurant and raw bar. Cap’s gives you an idea of how the real Florida used to look. It is probably one of the most hidden dining treasures especially with the old Florida feel.

Cap’s on the Water actually began as fish camp and developed in a restaurant in 1981, the location sits on the site of an old, covered bait well with the goal being to create an authentic oyster bar. And it is an authentic oyster bar it is my favorite place in town to enjoy cocktail and oyesters all while sitting outside.

The oyster bar resembles a small, beach shack and serves a variety of simple food including: gumbo, Dungeness crab, local Mayport shrimp, raw, steamed, and baked oysters. Many people enjoy coming to this place for a simple cocktail and people of all sorts show up. These are two factors that makes it one of my favorite bars in St. Augustine. The oyster menu you have to select from is simply outstanding.

Caps is hidden beneath large oak trees and sits facing west out on intercoastal, right across from St. Augustine airport. There is plenty of deck room if you choose to sit outside. There is close access to the water and the docks so whether you enjoy watching the sunset or if you simply like to watch the planes fly in and out of the airport Caps is an absolutely stunning place.

At the Sunset Raw bar they serve a variety of drinks ranging from beer, liquor, shooters and wine. The wine list is actually a very extensive list that is made up of over 400 selections from many different wineries from around the world. In Wine Spectator Magazine, Caps received the “Award of Excellence” for the first time in 2006, then received again in 2007, and 2008, the awarded included the variety and pricing of the wine.

As much as I enjoy stopping at Caps especially when I’m in the area, they also have an excellent restaurant with a lunch and dinner menu. Dining at Caps can allow one to have the most intimate dining experiences. They have great service, great food, great music and of course a little dancing. This place has some of the best seafood in town.

Caps on the Water, Sunset raw bar is easily one of my favorite places to sit back relax and order a cocktail and eat some oysters and I suggest you do the same. I have yet to hear a bad review on the place. It’s easily accessible with ample of parking, neat clean restrooms and plenty of seating.

The hours for caps: Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:30-3:30 and dinner is every days from 4:30 to close. However, this place does not take reservations, so get there early for dinner because it will get packed!

Phone: 904-824 -8794
Fax: 904-829-0709
Catering & Events: 904-819-8190

Make sure you visit their website.
http://www.capsonthewater.com/home.html

Cap's On The Water
4325 Myrtle Street
Saint Augustine FL 32084

Directions:
From Jacksonville
Take I-95 to J Turner Butler to A1A south.
Go all the way to South Ponte Vedra until you see a castle
Turn right at the castle (third street) end of the street is the intercoastal waterway
turn right on myrtle street it will be on your left.

From Daytona Beach (South):
Take I-95 North to exit 95 (Route 16).
Go towards St. Augustine for several miles.
Go across US 1 until you hit San Marco.
Take a right on San Marco. Take a left at the light to go on A1A North.
Go over Vilano bridge, follow A1A. Turn left at the castle (Third Street).
End of the street is the Intercoastal Waterway.
Turn right on Myrtle Street.

Either way look for the caps on the water sign: seen to the right

Photos were taken from Caps On the Water website.

Live Music from the Conch House

Here is a YouTube video from the Conch House, a sample of the live music offered on Friday evening.