Love makes you feel on top of the world (or so the saying goes). Maybe that’s why romance rises to the occasion when date night is spent at a rooftop restaurant or bar. With pleasant temperatures and magnificent views, escape the hustle and bustle of St. Augustine’s cobblestone streets by taking things up a notch. That is all the way up to the best rooftop restaurants and bars in St. Augustine and nearby Jacksonville.
Rooftop Restaurants and Bars in St. Augustine
Not far from the iconic Lion’s Bridge, the following rooftop restaurants and bars in St. Augustine offer bird’s-eye views of The Ancient City.
Casa Reina Taqueria & Tequila
1 Anderson Cir, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Just a stone’s throw from the Lion’s Bridge and Matanzas River, this gem is a top date night destination with rooftop seating, as well as patio and dining room tables. Casa Reina hits all the right notes with splendid scenery, flavorful fare, and affordable date night prices.
Open for lunch and dinner (with separate menus), expect large portions. The Carnitas Platter is a crowd-pleaser. This house-braised pork entrée features caramelized onions, poblanos, red bell peppers, Guajillo BBQ sauce, and crema drizzle, with refried beans and yellow rice.
Aside from signature margaritas, libation lovers can try various tequila and mezcal flights. Plus, Casa Reina has good mojitos and sangria, and non-alcoholic choices like Mexican Cane Sugar Coca-Cola.
Milltop Tavern
19 1/2 St. George St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
Built as a gristmill in the 1880s, Milltop Tavern became a rooftop restaurant and bar in the 1950s. To this day, it dominates as a go-to listening room for live music and pub-style munchies.
The rooftop on the backside of Milltop grants views of Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and the Matanzas River. The small patio with bar stools on the opposite side of this historic hideaway overlooks the city’s most popular pedestrian corridor.
Pesca Rooftop
117 Vilano Rd., St. Augustine, FL 32084
Located inside—or should we say on top of—the Hyatt Hotel is one of the most stunning lobby bars. With a backdrop of pristine Vilano Beach, Pesca Rooftop has a lounge menu comprised of Latin and Caribbean infusion.
Signature drinks are often served in vibrant blowfish-shaped glasses. Try the Vilano Vixen, made with locally distilled St. Augustine Vodka, passion fruit, orgeat, lemon, and soda.
Once the sun sets, snag a table inside the dining room. The romantic dinner menu is curated by award-winning chef Michael Lugo. The lobster paella is divine!
River & Fort
12 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
This large, popular eatery has something for everybody. Limited reservations are available for the full-menu dining room and courtyard seating. However, we recommend you take your chances for the first-come, first-serve rooftop spaces.
On both the second and third floors, the rooftop spaces have a pizza kitchen. But with impeccable views, this pizza night is sure to be uber romantic. Try the Filet & Caramelized Onion Neapolitan pizza, paired with either a locally brewed beer, wine, or cocktail. Do save room for the wood-fire baked beignets.
Salt Life Food Shack
321 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080
Salt Life has three locations in the Northeast Florida region but the St. Augustine Beach spot undoubtedly tops the Jacksonville Beach and Fernandina Beach restaurants. That’s because it is one of the best rooftop restaurants and bars in St. Augustine.
Directly across from the Atlantic Ocean, feast on raw bar favorites, sushi, street tacos, handhelds, coastal greens, and, my personal fav, loaded poke bowls.
A mid-week date night to Salt Life is a great choice since sushi, edamame, and wine are half-off on Tuesdays and margaritas and oysters are half-off on Thursdays.
The Cellar Upstairs
157 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
On the rooftop of San Sebastian Winery, The Cellar Upstairs features locally inspired wine and cheese pairings like none other. The food menu also includes salads, handhelds, and light bites.
Consider doing the free wine tasting in the main winery downstairs to discover which vino varieties please your palate. San Sebastian Winery makes reds, whites, rose, sangria, and port, mostly with muscadine grapes harvested in Florida.
FYI, The Cellar Upstairs is open select hours on Tuesday through Sunday only. You’ll love soaking up the views of the San Sebastian River and its unique marsh, while also taking in live jazz tunes.
1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop
619 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
The highly anticipated 1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop opened in the summer of 2023 for dinner and drinks; and, then in 2024, introduced Sunday brunch. The restaurant offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean with indoor and outdoor seating on the second floor, plus, a comfy rooftop lounge on the third floor.
The menu features flatbreads, salads, seafood, and steaks. This rooftop is best enjoyed on a warm night. Unfortunately, I dined here on a windier evening and felt cold despite the heating lamps.
I also was slightly underwhelmed by the meal my date and I shared at 1912. It was fine but I’d expect better than fine at a fine dining establishment. Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to return again for small plates and cocktails on the rooftop this spring or summer. You just can't be the location!
Elevated Patio Seating in St. Augustine
Technically not rooftops, but the following elevated outdoor decks and wrap-around patios boast top-notch views in St. Augustine.
- A1A Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom
- Boat Drinks
- Crabby’s Beachside
- Marker 8 Hotel and Marina Restaurant
- Meehan's Irish Pub & Seafood House
- O.C. White’s Seafood & Spirits
- Sangria’s Wine & Tapas Bar
- Sunset Grill
Bonus! If you’re dreaming of a rooftop wedding venue, check out The White Room.
Rooftop Restaurants and Bars in Nearby Jacksonville
- Burrito Gallery Brooklyn
- Cowford Chophouse
- Estrella Cocina
- Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House
- Intuition Ale Works
- O-Ku Sushi
- Penthouse Lounge at Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant
- RH Rooftop Restaurant at Restoration Hardware
- River & Post
- Roof Terrace at TopGolf
If and when you’re visiting the other coast, check out amazing rooftop bars in the Tampa Bay area! And, of course, Orlando has its fair share of rooftop bars and restaurants too.
