Visited on a Wednesday afternoon while staying on Vilano Beach. We decided to stop for lunch mid-way through touring the Lightner Museum. The food was very good! Unfortunately, the service was lacking (waited extended time for drink refills and to pay after our meal was complete) and that is why I'm only giving 3 stars. It is a neat experience having lunch in an old pool. While they have linens on the tables and the staff are all dressed nicely, since it is downtown you will see people in a variety of clothing from shorts/t-shirts to business casual attire. read more

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It was fun to eat in the Lightner Museum pool, our service was fine, and the food was good. The sangria wasn't anything special. There was so much small fruit pieces in mine, I felt like I was drinking a smoothie. Even without that, it mainly tasted like plain white wine. If I were visiting the museum, I'd eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do it. They have very few tables so make a reservation if you can. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Lunch - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Disappointing Experience We arrived at Cafe Alcazar at 11:10 am with a party of four (2 adults, a 10-year-old, and a 10-month-old) and were told they could not seat us because they didn't have a table for four. This was surprising, as there were multiple empty tables visible at the time (see attached photo). Unfortunately, we were turned away despite the restaurant not appearing full. Very disappointing experience, especially for a family visiting St. Augustine read more

Cafe Alcazar - Empty tables - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

I just had lunch here with my wife and I've decided to write the review while this beautiful place is still fresh in my mind. This is a spectacular old hotel built by Henry Flagler. It's now a museum. The dining area is on the ground floor of what was once the largest inground swimming pool indoor swimming pool in America. Absolutely spectacular but not nearly as spectacular as the food. We had the Greek egg lemon soup and we split a turkey club sandwich and both were just so good. I can't say enough about this place. If I lived in town, I'd be eating lunch here every day. If you are anywhere near this in Saint Augustine, you should stop. read more

Love this place and experience . it's a lighter museum and all I need to do is to make reservations and you get to go in there for free. They only serve lunch and the lunch is really good especially for the price. It's the first built-in pool in America designed by flagger and there's a good history behind it and then after you get done eating, you could go to the museum upstairs and experience all the other history, but you could also do the pool floor and half of the second floor for free with the reservations for lunch, it's a must go if you're in Saint Augustine read more

Cafe Alcazar - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The historic building makes this special. Food is served on top of what was once a swimming pool. Food is good, regular lunch fare of sandwiches, soup and salads. Server was attentive and efficient. It's really the ambience that stands out. read more

We had lunch here after our walking tour, and the entrance is on the side of Lightning museum, walk in, the dining area is in a very high ceiling hall. The table looks a little simple to the hall, but it's unique. The food are mostly sandwich, panini, or salad. I had their East meet west salad, which is interesting and special, never had a salad like this before! Their Greek rice soup is just like Chinese rice soup! Very interesting place to try! read more

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Interesting ambience w restaurant being in a former pool but not noisy at all. Food was delicious w ample portions ( my mother & I each ordered a 1/2 soup, 1/2 sandwich meal. Hostess super helpful to help to get my mother in thru the exit door & waitress attentive without being overly in our face. read more

I went with a group of women... we had 20 scheduled butb14 showed up. We had two waiters we looked on line at the menu and found a variety and the prices seemed reasonable. When we arrived, we had a set menu (different than on line) and it was near double the prices on line. As a vegetarian (vegans - don't even bother going there) I had an option of Greek salad or Caesar salad. I opted for the Greek salad. It was pretty bad, there was no lettuce but very tough field greens, dressing was mediocre. Nothing more as an option. So Done opted for 1/2 a salad and sandwich, was charged extra for picking Caesar salad, tho "house salad " was not listed. But she paid. I had a decaf coffee, others had iced tea...$6.00 just plain decaf... I would not recommend it. If you want to see it for historical reasons walk in and walk around. Also, the atmosphere is very cold - just cement (it was an old poor$. Service was good... but the switch and bait on menu and prices was disappointing for a mediocre meal read more

Ambiance: Unusual Service: Good Food: Mediocre We went here for brunch. My husband had the special, which was a hot pastrami sandwich on 9-grain bread. He said it was very dry and unmemorable. I had the soup sandwich combo. The onion soup was tasty, but rich and salty. It was not too salty for me but I think it would be for most. The curried chicken sandwich was average. Would I recommend this place? For the setting or if you would like to eat something after visiting the museum, yes. Would I go here again, no. read more

Absolutely breathtaking Full of history Your literally sitting for meals where a pool.used to be. Light fare, moderately priced and general manager was our waiter! We knew he was too amazing to be just staff.his attention to detail, allergies, service was A+ Place was lit well Water and drinks refilled Sandwiches enough for another meal. Great place to visit. read more

This place is definitely set within a unique setting as many have already mentioned in their review's with it being in the deep end of an old pool! The surroundings are filled with St Augustine history being connected to the Lightner Museum for you to enjoy before or after your meal. Travis, our waiter, was exceptional and friendly! Let's get to the food....we were a party of 6 and so I am able to share a few pics however our appetizer was eaten before I could get the pic! Sorry hungry group! We started with their Hummus appetizer and a carafe of Sangria - which ended up being 2 carafes by the end of the meal! The Hummus was smooth but yet had pieces of chickpea that added a nice touch. They served with pita points and mixed veggies making this a great start! Having enjoyed Hummus in Spain recently - they hit the mark! Their classic French Onion soup was one of the best I have ever had! Well seasoned, just the right amount of sweetness but the cheese and bread were plentiful and so so delicious! Perfect for a chilly day - which it was that day! Yummy!!!! The Club and the Avocado club were very tasty. The melted Ham and Swiss was my favorite! All sandwiches were made with such fresh ingredients and were just a bite of goodness! Recommend them all! My husband had the chicken chipotle soup du jour and said the flavors were perfectly balanced. The Shrimp Giovanni was very tasty indeed! However, our only wish would be to remove the tail on the shrimp - allowing you to easily fold all the flavors together on the plate while it's hot and not after you pull tails off. Overall a wonderful dining experience and delicious eats! Some items a bit pricey but we would go back for sure! Definitely make reservations so you know you have a table when you arrive! read more

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This place used to be a spa and the restaurant is located where the swimming pool used to be decades ago. St Augustine has a long history as the first European settlement in what would later become the United States. The food was excellent, the service flawless, and it was quite affordable. It was our last dinner in Florida before we flew back to Wisconsin. Don't miss out on this gem. read more

Café Alcazar had been on my list for several years. I finally made it up to Saint Augustine to have lunch in the café and visit the museum. There is plenty of street metered parking allowed during the weekend, but the signs said reserved parking during the week. I am not sure where visitors would park during the week. Parking was $3.75 for an hour and a half. The café is in the location of the one-time largest indoor swimming pool. I scanned the dining room in awe thinking of all the fun people would have had back in the day. So cool! The string lights gave a space a magical feel You can dine without visiting the museum. I made a reservation, but when I arrived at 12:45 on a Saturday afternoon I probably didn't need one for a party of one There were a couple of tables of large parties while I was there. Staff was friendly, professional, and very attentive. I ordered the half sandwich and soup combo, $17.50. I read reviews of the French onion soup so I knew I had to get that. It did not disappoint. Oh my goodness, I am still thinking of it days later. The golden layer of melted cheese that dripped over the side of the bowl was just how I like it. Along with the soup I had the curry chicken salad on a 1/2 croissant. The onion soup and croissant were both a dollar up charge. The chicken salad had a pleasant curry flavor. I was a little disappointed with the croissant for an up charge. I think I would have preferred the bread. After my meal I strolled around the 'pool' still in awe and thinking about its history. I highly recommend a meal at Cafe Alcazar and a visit to the Lightner Museum when in St Augustine. read more

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Do t bother making a reservation. They cancel less than an hour before and don't care when you can't drop what you're doing and get there within 30 minutes for a rushed service. We had reservations at 2:20. They called at 1:30 to say they are closing early because the building is closing and we would have to arrive by 2 so they could close at 2:30. 30 minutes for a relaxed lunch is not enough time and the 2 gentlemen on the phone do not deserve to be in the hospitality business. And yes we have eaten there on our yearly trip for the past 10 years so this is a huge disappointment which could had been avoided. read more

Good selection was good. I had the club sandwich which was served warm with a side of fruit. The issue was with a hummus salad my wife ordered. While the hummus and peta bread it was served with a few small flies came with the salad part. Not appetizing at all. She did not eat it. When pointed out to the server we did not get charged for it Really surprised by the flies and probably won't return read more

Wonderful experience! The venue is amazing. A group of friends enjoyed a great meal with friendly service!

Another wonderful Holiday Market! The former pool area which in the day is a cafe tonight was a market! Lots of cool gifts with a small band playing Christmas songs and wine for a donation. I love seeing repeat customers and meeting new customers! read more

What a delightful place to grab lunch! Limited seating so reservations should be considered. Henry Flagler certainly knew how to build ornate & unique buildings. This restaurant is located inside of the Lightner Museum. White table cloths, courteous staff, and refreshing food are all part of the highlights. We enjoyed the 1/2 & 1/2 combo of soup and a half of a club sandwich. Also the roast beef sandwich with fresh fruit was delicious. And the atmosphere was almost heavenly! Imagine enjoying lunch while dining in what once was the largest swimming pool in the country! Very cool concept & great experience all around! read more

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This is a very unique place for lunch, and that's all they serve, no breakfast or dinner. At one time it was an indoor swimming pool of a swanky hotel back in the day. You're actually dining on the floor of that pool. There's a lot of history there at the Lightner museum and this cafe is a part of that. If you want to check it out I highly recommend making reservations as there aren't many tables and they fill up fast. The service was great, we had a very personable waiter who was very attentive. The food was a mixed bag. She and I had the turkey club with cranberry and it was delicious, the couple that was with us had the roast beef panini and they did not care for it as the meat was very dry. We would definitely go back again but I don't think our dining companions would. The prices are a little on the high side but understandable given the location of the cafe. read more

Top 10 dining experience for me with the food/service and ambiance. We met friends here (reservations accepted). It's close to parking and very beautiful with the older luxurious buildings. No expense was spared around 1900 when the rich and famous stayed and played in St Augustine. Very warm day outside but inside was nice and cool. The hostess and servers was excellent. They had a special of the day of beef steak tips sandwich with grilled onions and jalapeño cheese. It was so delicious. My choice of side was kettle chips. My daughter chose French onion soup, she said it was also delicious. For a high end setting and ambiance the prices are very reasonable. If you are in St Augustine choose Cafe Alcazar to impress your friends and family with your inside knowledge of the in places to go. read more

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A CAFE ALCAZAR IS A MUST VISIT PLACE IN ST AUGUSTINE and it won't disappoint you. You will dine in the largest indoor pool at its time of course built in 1889. Oh and don't worry the actual pool was turned into cafe long time ago but the whole experience of architecture and atmosphere is like nothing else. The food and service are of course outstanding, Escargot and hummus plate were great, my husband enjoyed his Cuban sandwich. read more

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Went here out of curiosity as it has a historical point of interest. This Area or site used to be the largest indoor swimming pool ever built within a hotel. Just to have a feel of this attraction we went ahead and had lunch. The restaurant had only a number of customers as they set up quite a few tables in the contrary of having a full house which is like 100 normal open area seating but only about 30 guests was evident at that time. They were on skeletal force though they try to be of service even under momentary pressure. We ordered a Greek Salad and Shrimp Giovanni for the main course and it was both good, with compliments to the Chef. Would recommend going through this popular "yellow door" of the Alcazar Hotel when visiting St Augustine, FL. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Old photo - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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More like 2.5 stars, this place is literally overrated. Got the hummus ($20) and a French onion soup and hot ham and swiss combo. Soup was ok, missing croutons -or they were there but fully absorbed into the soup. Hummus was grainy and the plate was nothing special. The ham sandwich was very basic. Or favorite part was the guitar music. This meal was very over priced. Don't recommend. read more

Beautiful setting and the food was quite delicious. It is definitely worth doing while in St. Augustine. The restaurant is quite small, and you have to go through a relatively nondescript door at the back of the Lightner building to get in. The service was just adequate. There was one waiter, who for whatever reason did not wait on us, so the hostess wound up doing double duty to take our order, etc. read more

An absolutely wonderful place to have a lovely lunch. It is located inside the Lightner Building (the former {historic} Hotel Alcazar). There are outside entrances to the café in addition to an inside entrance through the museum. Enjoy the music/entertainment and atmosphere while waiting on your meal. Speaking of atmosphere, the dining area is located in the former "pool" area of the hotel, which makes for an interesting setting and conversation. The lighting, atmosphere, décor, history and the entertainment are a perfect combination for a little relaxation in the middle of the day. Whether you are here on holiday, work in the area, or are a local looking to unwind...this is the place! Although the menu is limited, there is a little something for everyone and everything is absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly and informative. There is a pay by plate parking lot behind the Lightner and there is metered parking on the streets as well. Note: After lunch I would recommend to take a stroll through the garden and koi pond. And if you haven't visited the museum...it's right upstairs! read more

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Incredible! I ordered the catch of the day with their pasta! Delicious! I have come back a few times and highly recommend it. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Catch of the day - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Very cool little spot! This was recommended to us by one of our tour drivers. It's inside of a pool! Well, the pool is drained, but they have pictures of what it used to look like in the old days. Very fun little atmosphere! The food was good. My father loves soup/salad/sandwich type of places and I don't. I honestly never would have come here if it wasn't for trying to make sure he was fed and happy, ha. So I'm really glad we took a chance on it because sit was a really cool experience! Again, all the food was delicious. It's a little fancier to keep with the ambiance of the place, but you can still eat here in your tourist clothes no biggie. It was a little chilly though! So ladies should bring a light jacket. read more

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Was touring St. Augustine and this was one of the most recommended spots. I did the pick 2 half sandwich half soup and it was spectacular! It was $14.50 and well worth the money! For sandwich I got Turkey avocado and soup was a special of the day bacon cheeseburger! I didn't get a picture of the food because it was soooo good I just digged right in. The atmosphere is spectacular! We went on a Friday around 2 and there was no wait. However I have seen it on Saturday and sundays get super packed, I would make a reservation for your desired time. It's a great restaurant, you have to try it out!!!! read more

Cafe Alcazar - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Bring a sweater as it's freezing down there! The food (we had sandwiches & one black bean soup) was delicious and visually pleasing. One roast beef and two turkey sandwiches were large, lettuce, tomato on great bread. Our waiter was delightful and attentive. Gave me a carafe of tea and tall glass of ice when I asked for a refill. Sadly, the beautiful stain glass windows (see pix) lights don't work so they are just dark corners. What a waste as they were exquisite! read more

Cafe Alcazar - I took this from back side (because it's NOT lit) in the corner of the cafe. They SO need to get lights working ! - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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I have had this establishment on my list of things to do in St. Augustine and never had the chance to make it. The inn we stay at provides a gourmet and filling breakfast so we are usually not hungry until way after the cafe is closed lol. I made it a point our recent trip to make it here. Any time we have visited the Lightner Museum, I have stood in awe of where the cafe is because that used to be the hotel pool. There are old pictures around the museum of the pool and I always stare at them in awe. We were greeted and seated as soon as we walked up to the counter. We browsed the menu and decided to split 2 different food items since we couldn't agree on the same one lol. Hubs ordered a beer and I ordered a Riesling. We ordered French Onion Soup and the Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich. Our drinks arrived swiftly and we were not waiting long prior to our food arriving. While we were waiting, I took the time to bask in such an amazing structure and so lucky to be able to experience this history. I honestly could sit there all day. Our food arrived and everything was fresh. You can definitely taste the quality ingredients in both the soup and the sandwich. We ate every little drop and crumb lol. It was so delicious and perfect. Our server was attentive and checked up on us regularly. She also was welcoming and genuine. We did not feel rushed, even though they were closing soon after we finished eating. The prices were also reasonable. Maybe a little overpriced but everything was top notch. And you get to eat/drink in a pool lol. I will definitely make it a point to come earlier and not fill up on breakfast so I can indulge here. read more

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One of the greatest meals I've had in quite some time. The food and atmosphere worked together to utterly transport me into a St. Augustine state of bliss. This restaurant boasts of once having the world's largest indoor swimming pool that has been transformed into a cafe. The gorgeous cafe is on the "pool bottom" of a three story decadent room. It is so Gatsby-esque. I had a phenomenal bowl of french onion soup. The thick, creamy cheese was melted perfectly on top and the oniony broth had a cozy taste. I had a sweetwater 420 beer paired with my meal. I sampled my husband's crisp caesar salad then waited for my artichoke giovanni. I'd never ordered that before and it was amazing! The plate was presented beautifully and the parm and butter on each heart slice was delectable. The mushrooms tasted fresh and the pasta was cooked to just the right al dente texture. We finished our meal with coffees and their in-house dessert. I got the flourless chocolate torte which was drizzled with a rasberry sauce I believe. It was rich and just the right amount of sweet. A truly excellent meal in all regards. Including the accompaniment of live piano playing with songs like Breathe of Heaven, the Four Seasons and Danny Boy. A perfect Sunday afternoon! read more

Cafe Alcazar - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

I was very impressed with the food at Cafe Alcazar. Very small and unassuming in the former indoor pool of the Hotel Alcazar - now part of the Lightner Museum. You can come in to the Cafe even if you are not visiting the museum. I'd suggest making a reservation although we didn't need one - or rather we're able to make one at 12:15 for 12:30 - courtesy of a head's up from the lady at the gift shop in the museum. Its very small and tables fill up quickly (quick?). We had the escargot which was fantastic- as good as any from a "formal" dining restaurant and one of the sandwiches which was delicious. I wouldn't hesitate to have lunch there again. Its a must if you're visiting the museum or if your in the area. read more

This is kind of a must stop when visiting Saint Augustine. Having a lunch in a swimming pool is just fun! We got there right at 11 so it was easy to get a seat but they do get pretty busy so reservations are probably a good idea. Just sitting here is cool with so much history but the food is really good too. The menu is short with a few specials but that always tells me they concentrate on what they do make. We started with the mushroom soup. Yummy! Lots of mushrooms and a great earthy flavor. Just enough cream to give it a really great consistency. We followed the soup with a blackened shrimp wrap. Really good as well. Just the right amount of heat, slight pressed and a great sauce made it a really good light meal. Service was on point and we got a book to read about the history. read more

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I am giving 4 stars only because of the location. You actually are sitting in the deep end of the hotels swimming pool, so COOL... This was at one time the largest indoor pool in the country and hosted many famous people. It is so nice and interesting to be down there for lunch. The food was over priced and service was ok, but you can get overpriced food and ok service anywhere, but, where else can you eat in the bottom of a famous swimming pool. read more

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Such a cool lunch spot! Loved walking through the museum and stopping for lunch. Huge portions. Friendly staff! read more

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The history, the food, the atmosphere, all top notch. This is a must if you are visiting St. Augustine. You might even see a ghost...... Vegetarian picks: Asparagus soup and tomato soup, hummus salad, asparagus panini and artichoke giovanni. So so so good. Don't forget to check out the museum while you are there, it's spectacular. read more

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Food & service top shelf! Atmosphere so unique, piano player was a nice touch but thought the piano music was taking over having a decent conversation because the acoustics in the "pool" made his beautiful playing a bit loud. I suggest he play further away from the tables. MOST disappointing was how uncomfortably cold it is there. Dress for winter! Hope they fix that. read more

How often do you get to dine in a historic swimming pool? Enjoyed our lunch, served by Isabel. Sandwiches and soup were wonderful, dessert was excellent, and the background live guitarist added special ambience. Highly recommend! read more

What a neat place! I wanted to get here so badly during our trip so I was so happy to be able to squeeze it in during the last day. At 11am on a Tuesday we had the place to ourselves. The service was wonderful and so was the food. This was the best French onion soup I've had in a long long time. Great menu in a great historical location! read more

Cafe Alcazar - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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