#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.

#1 The Conch House

Finally, the first bar for my blog. You've heard me rave about it, my favorite bar, the Conch House. Finally, you get to hear about that things that makes this place my favorite bar, their are not enough words to describe my experience in conch house. I truly believe that the Conch House Lounge is one of St. Augustine's best kept secrets.

WELCOME TO CONCHLAND

A photo of the Restaurant from the lounge at night.

The history of the Conch House Marina Resort goes way back. Being owned and operated by the Ponce family, the Ponces history in St. Augustine goes back over 400 years establishing themselves as a landmark in the area. The resort was first opened back in 1946 by Jimmy Sr. and Jackie Ponce and over years of hard work, the Conch House became what it is today. In 1976, the By the Sea Marina and Conch House Lounge were built. The Lounge extends 300 feet out over the water. The restaurant was then built in '80 and was the last bit added to Conch House.

The Conch House is much more than just a bar and a restaurant. It's a getaway. A vacation from home, without ever having to go to far. Here I've learned, the true value of a great bar is not in its drinks but in its bartenders whether it is telling a joke, a story, listening or just horseplay, they are the people who make you want to go out and stay.

When arriving at the Conch House, you aren't arriving at just a bar. You are entering "Conchland." The majority of the Conch House you see is the restaurant. They serve lunch and dinner and will host special events. At the restaurant a variety of dining scenery is offered, all Caribbean themed. The restaurant serves a variety of food ranging from steaks, seafood, salads, pasta other cuisines and has a Raw Bar. The Conch House is also a 200 slip marina that is located on Salt Run located 1000 feet from St. Augustine Inlet right on the intracoastal. It is also a Key West style motel.

One big event that Conch House hosts is Reggae Sunday. Reggae Sunday started on March 7th and will last all summer long till September 26th. Every Sunday, weather permitting, the Conch House has a live reggae band (different bands every Sunday) and everyone gathers for drinks, fun under the sun, great music, and a good time. On Reggae Sunday the lounge opens at 1 p.m. and Reggae begins at 3 p.m. with a $5 cover charge. The band plays till 7 p.m. and the lounge will stay up till 11 p.m. You must be at least 21 to enter.

Reggae Sunday is fun but is often too busy for my taste. I enjoy going to the Conch House during the week whether from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (which I never do) or just for Happy Hour, it is always fun. Sunday through Friday the Conch House is open from 12 p.m. till 11 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. till 1 a.m.

Happy Hour is from 4-7 p.m Monday through Friday. The lounge is located right on the water with the best scenery around. Happy hour prices are $1 off any beer, bottle or draft and $3 wells or house wine. It is well worth it. It was also voted best Happy Hour in St. Augustine by the St. Augustine Record. Another great aspect is that on Friday they have live music.

Conch House also has specialty that range in price that are not on the Happy Hour menu and they are:

• The Goombay Smash (you'll only need a couple)
• Rum Runner
• Conch House Cooler
• Planters Punch
• Key West Rum Punch
• Swedish Lemonade

The drinks and happy hour at the Conch House are great don't get me wrong but one thing that I love about the Conch House are the people. Aside from Reggae Sunday its generally an older crowd but let me tell you that they are like family to me. I have built a relationship with nearly everyone there including the bartenders. The people are friendly and the bartenders are some of the best around. The experience, like I said earlier, is what you really need. Its hard to put something so wonderful into words.

A view of St. Augustine light House from the lounge

Another neat aspect of the Conch House is when they are the host for fishing tournaments. A few weekends ago there was a Wahoo Tournament. Around 30 boats were entered in the tournament and the fishermen were allowed to weigh two Wahoo and the winner had a total of 127lbs. One Wahoo weighed up to 80 pounds. They weigh and clean the fish right on the floating docks underneath the lounge.

To the right is one of the dock hands is raising a Wahooo to be weight for the tournament. If anyone hasn't had Wahoo I recommend it, it has a similar texture to swordfish, apparently its best eat nearly raw like ahi tuna, I cooked on the grill with butter and lemon-herb seasoning. It was excellent. The tournaments are held fairly often generally a two day event. Boats will come from all over the participate in the event. So grab a drink and watch.

Overall the Conch House deserves to be, in my blog, the best bar in St. Augustine. Recommendations are always welcome for bar idea. Overall the food at the Conch House is mediocre, the drinks are strong, the bartenders are fun and friendly and the people are welcoming and fun. Come down anytime for Happy Hour rain or shine its always fun.