Cafe Alcazar is a unique restaurant. After all, how often can you say you dined in a pool? Honestly. Located on the ground floor of the Lightner Museum building, it was the former site of the world's largest indoor pool, housed in what was formerly the Hotel Alcazar. It has since been drained and converted to a small, intimate restaurant surrounded by antique gift shops, but if you look carefully, you can see the portion of the floor where the cement dips, signifying the deep end of the pool, and where the tables are found. In addition, they have live music. On this visit, there was a very talented pianist playing some great tunes. If you close your eyes, and listen to the music you can feel like a member of 1900s upper-crust Saint Augustine society. Three floors of balconies surround the ground floor and are topped by 50-foot glass roof frames and wooden cross beams. Open your eyes and look up, and you will probably know the feeling of being a little ant sinking in a big pool. Cafe Alcazar serves a variety of dishes, from salads and soups to seafood and sandwiches. Although it's considered fine dining, casual attire is appropriate. In fact, most people were wearing shorts and jeans, save for some businessmen discussing business, and a young couple, probably unaware of the casual dress code or wanting to find a place where they could wear their formal attire. The atmosphere is relaxed, though if you ask my friend, it's rather creepy. He said he felt creeped out, and uneasy. Apparently, there are rumors that the Lightner Museum is haunted and he felt that those stories are accurate. He said the place felt sad, like it has overstayed its welcome and should be buried along with the rest of its guests, and the museum. I disagree. As someone who admires architecture and the feeling of experiencing other times, I feel like we actually need more places like this to be saved, restored, and reused for people to appreciate and admire. As to the food, although it isn't exactly cheap (lunch will run you about $14+ per person), prices are not unreasonable given the fine dining establishment, and the quality is good. The French onion soup had plenty of cheese and was flavorful, and my sandwich was delicious, with the snapper rubbed with some slightly spicy seasoning and topped with a mayonnaise-based sauce. Service was friendly (and I'm not just saying that because the waitress shares my name), professional and attentive, with carafes provided to the table so we could refill our drinks as needed. Dessert was awesome, and pleased this chocoholic. Although you can come off the street and come just to eat, if you're at the Lightner Museum (what I mean is, you don't have to be touring the museum to be able to eat here), you'd be foolish to overlook this intimate, romantic cafe as a lunch choice if already visiting the site. Given the ambiance and the backdrop of this beautiful Gilded Age former hotel, I cannot give this restaurant less than a 5 (plus, the food itself is a 4!). It's an irreplicable experience. read more

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The location is gorgeous with a ton of history, service was spot on... so why only 3 stars? I just wasn't super impressed by the food. (I think I ordered the wrong thing!!!) Met up with some co-workers for a quick lunch, and wanted something a little on the lighter side, so went with the soup and half sandwich option. I ordered the french onion soup and the curry chicken salad. French onion soup had a ton of cheese on top and a hardy slice of bread... (all sounding perfect, right) but the soup was a little thin and didn't have a ton of flavor. I think I only ate about 1/4 of it. I love curry, so was excited about the curry chicken salad. It was ok... the actual "salad" part was good, but I think the bread (I think it was a normal honey wheat maybe?) took away from it a bit. Or maybe I was just in a picky mood this day, I'm not sure. Other things on the menu looked amazing, so when I'm down that way, I'll give it another go... the amaziness of the space (this was the world's largest indoor swimming pool) is worth a visit back alone! read more

Cafe Alcazar - French onion and curried chicken salad sandwich - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Awesome Awesome Bo Bossome! This place rocks! Cafe Alcazar is located in what used to be the world's largest indoor swimming pool. It is a classy place with AMAZING food! You really must check this place out when visiting St. Augustine. I came here with my grandmother on her birthday. We sat down at a small table right next to the piano player. We both ordered a glass of Riesling. The staff was dressed very formal. We both ordered the Crab BLT (it was on special). It was wonderful. A decent amount of crab meat and a beautiful presentation. Since it was her birthday, we recieved a complimentary dessert. Creme Brûlée Cheese Cake! OMGoodness! So rich it made Donald Trump look poor! Sean Tizzle took care of us. Great service. He was quick but not too quick, you must serve a nice meal like this at just the right pace. He was spot on. Cafe Alcazar is fantastic. You must try this place, you will not be disappointed! read more

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

Super cute. Felt like we were in Europe, particularly London. They had a man playing the piano, so that added nice ambience. Small seating area, but it was intimate. Mostly an older, retired crowd though. Food was good - we got the soup of the day (potato leek), caprese salad (apparently it's $3 extra if you do that for the Half and Half - don't recall seeing that on the menu), and the shrimp spinach crepes. All was good, except maybe a little too much spinach in the crepe. Made it kind of like a creamed spinach crepe. There were several small antique shops to look at as well. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Potato Leek soup with caprese & Spinach shrimp crepes - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Loved this place! Former site of the pool in the hotel, this gem of a restaurant is a good stop before or after the museum tour. It also offers a 10% discount with your stub, so buy your museum tickets first. The atmosphere is great and there is piano music playing which is relaxing. Service was excellent. I had the panini special of the day which was an Italian panini and it was great. Loads of flavor. My husband had the open faced crab sandwich and devoured it Will be back! read more

I've got to tell you about this place. Why you may ask? Because this place is inside the Lightner Museum and unless you are aware of this place or in the museum you probably would never find it. Now the reviews for this place are mixed, and I can see where that could be the case. I've found that many cafes like these can be pretty hit or miss. A lot of stuff tends to be really bland or microwaved, plus it's usually expensive. I can say that while the place wasn't cheap $14 for a Panini is not cheap, I will say that everyone in our party loved their food. I had a chicken pesto Panini and it was expertly pressed, seasoned and oh so flavorful. I loved the mixture of the earthy basil and the melty cheese was so, so good. My wife had a turkey cranberry sandwich and inside it had thinly sliced apples that lent this warm very homey kind of vibe that made this that sandwich the ultimate in comfort food. Our friend had a tomato bisque soup and grilled fish served in garlic butter with asparagus and squash. Seriously, that fish was so well cooked and well seasoned. We ended up sharing a slice of tres leches cake and a s'mores pie slice too and both were really good, but the tres leches was divine! Service was wonderful, the food was delicious, and while not cheap I have to say that it was a great experience in a beautiful location. read more

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Food was good, service was pretty good, but don't buy juice here. Drink menu had no prices but a cup of juice ended up being 10$ while the beer was 8$. Didn't make sense. Overall good read more

Amazing hidden jewel! Escargot was great, wide menu. We had the soup and sandwich combo which where the perfect lunch portion size. White tablecloths, guitar player, and attire from shorts and T-shirts to suit and tie. A must try for a relaxing lunch. read more

Nice place, great live music, such a great environment! Nice to appreciate a wine in the largest indoor swimming pool!! read more

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

I love the history of this place. Eating inside what was once a swimming pool was phenomenal and surreal. They made the best fresh made bread. The food was good but nothing compared to the fresh bread. To get the full experience, take a tour of the Lightener Museum and the charming little shops surrounding the restaurant. read more

Love this place. Lunch was wonderful. The portions were nice and service was excellent You eat in the end of an old swimming pool. How neat. read more

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We visited the café early Sunday afternoon. We had a pleasant waiter who was happy to tell us about the history of the swimming pool turned restaurant inside the hotel turned museum. The food was Mediterranean. I had the curry chicken salad plate with a cup of Greek lemon chicken soup. The Hungry Man had A baked pasta dish with shrimp. We were both happy with our meals but we were thrilled with the desert. I was a little concerned when I was told the macaroons would only be sold to me six at a time, but once I realized they were only the size of a Silver dollar it made much more sense. Each flavor was delicious, and the texture was right on. I highly recommend this restaurant for a late lunch or dinner when touring Saint Augustine. The lighting was a little dim, and the atmosphere a little dark, but the history of the area still made the experience worth it. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Macaroons imported from France in six assorted flavors - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The place where the cafe is located is beautiful and if you are close by I would definitely suggest going in and looking around, but this a review of the restaurant. The food was okay, nothing too special, you sit on the floor of what used to be the Hotel Alcazar's pool. Which is cool. I had a turkey, bacon, and avocado sandwich (3 foods that I love), but like I said before it was just okay. My girlfriend got an "open-faced" blackened snapper. First it was drenched in mayo, and second they just laid the 2 pieces of bread next to each other and called it opened-face. And the coleslaw had no taste and was watered down. Lastly the carpet covering the floor was horrible, it was old and dirty, and some of the tables were fold out tables. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Turkey, bacon, and avocado. - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Boyfriend and I ate lunch here on a day trip on our way back to Tampa. He had the blt avocado sandwich (hard to mess up) and I had the blackened snapper special sandwich. The food was okay. My sandwich was covered in a spicy house mayonnaise which made it messy and completely masked the taste of the snapper. The carpet is stained and it's a bit stuffy for a lunch. What is neat is the history. You're eating lunch in a pool! The surrounding area is beautiful and the building is amazing. I would stop by again for maybe an expresso, and admire the architecture, probably not lunch. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Many stains like this one on the carpet - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Dirty carpet. No lighting. Grilled shrimp appetizer is composed of 6 small shrimps full of sesame seeds and it was $15. Shrimp scampi was soggy pasta drained in oil. Bad food. Food is worse than cafeteria food. Do not recommend. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Grilled shrimp. Not good. - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The place was kinda empty on a Friday around 130pm. There were a few serious gay men enjoying a bottle of wine and two older ladies munching a salad. It felt empty and like it once had been filled with people. There was a sad man on a piano who resembled Billy Joel and who played maudlin tunes. My iced tea was good and my club sandwich was not the usual cut in fours with towering bread and such. Instead it was cut in two with hot chicken in it and quite measly and it came with chips. I think for the price, things could be served with a bit more class and so forth. The waiter was a pitiful boy who reminded me of a Footman from Downton. I suppose one should come here for the experience but other than that it was just an OK thing to behold. The Breakers in Palm Beach was so much better. read more

The experience at Cafe Alcazar was such a wonderful and fun experience. The food and service was exceptional. The photo's upstairs were a great addition to let you see what it was like back in the day read more

I think we got the weakest server there but everyone else was great and the Cuban sandwich was one of the best I've had. We actually split it and it was plenty for two people with the chips. Sangria was good and the atmosphere is cool. Piano player was great! read more

Very rude waiters. Sign at the door states the place is closing at 4pm. We stepped in at 3pm. Water refused the seat is and when we pointed to the sign at the door the waiter started mocking us. That's not appropriate. Even though we did not get to eat there, we saw the attitude and demeanor of the service staff. Avoid. read more

Incredible sandwichs!! Good bread, fresh tomato and salad, excellent bacon and chicken (I took the Club sandwich). The place is quite, incredibly beautiful (because you eat in the old swimmingpool) and the staff really nice. I recommande it for a lunch, you will not be desappointed. read more

The restaurant is at the back of the Lightener Museum in what was a swimming pool. The food is reasonably priced for a tourist location. Sandwiches soups salad. I have been here twice and never disappointed. We were a party of 6 and they automatically add a 20% tip on parties of 6 or larger. read more

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Sorry .. this place might have great funky location but food was very low end and service was no good. We came here twice and first time was better but we will not return read more

It was about time we got here! It's not really in a high traffic area, but it is with looking for. My wife and I had a very nice lunch here. We feel if you are looking for an intimate dining experience, try here. Not a lot of tables, and it was not your typical vacation place. They had a piano player at lunch, but it was not overly loud. We enjoyed that patrons here were not obnoxiously loud, something that is hard to find theses days. It was a lovely time and we look forward to a future visit to this great St. Augustine dining gem. read more

I gave 2 the ambiance is cool but after 1 hour wait for food, we left. The female manager really should find another job. After 45m wait for 3 sandwiches, I inquired about our food bc a few other tables cancelled meals due to wait. She said yeah everyone's mad do you want to be patient or cancel? Ummm okkk. I guess I'll wait a few more minutes. 15m later, I cancelled - no apology, nothing. Shame. It's definitely older clientele. Really small. read more

It was a great little place to meet a friend for lunch. Staff was amazing ! Very accommodating for my service dog.

Scenery is beautiful, definitely worth the visit. The coffee was not good but we didn't get a chance to try the food. A man played piano which completed the ambience to perfection. Which because they were closing was slightly ruined by the waitress closing around us even though there were still two tables kinda took away from the magic. But worth a visit. read more

The waitress was very nice and the ambiance was very relaxing with the pianist. I had the roast beef panini and onion soup. read more

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

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The location itself was really awesome, it's located inside a museum and you eat inside of what used to be the world's largest indoor pool. It's really neat, to be honest. Their menu is a little limited and not exactly what I expected, but it was alright! Lighter fare is predominantly what its composed of - think sandwiches, soups, crepes, etc. Our waitress wasn't super attentive, but she was nice enough and provided us with adequate service but other tables were getting told the history behind the restaurant and whatnot and I felt a little left out. We ordered the escargot which were a pretty tasty appetizer. We both had a cup of soup - my girlfriend had the cream of mushroom which was the soup of the day and it was good, really creamy. I had the French Onion which did not have a ton of broth, it was mostly just cheese and soggy bread. It was okay, I wouldn't order it again, though. Overall, I enjoyed our meal but it wasn't a place I would rush to have another meal at. read more

I have been here twice and both times the food was excellent. The first time was on my honeymoon and we came for lunch. The food and atmosphere is so wonderful that we really love the place and had planned to come back. We ended up coming back while on a tasting tour in St Augustine. This time we were given hummus with pita and veggies. It was fantastic. It really was one of the best hummus dishes I have ever had. It was refreshing to have cucumbers and tomatoes served with it too. The place is really cool. The history of the pool which is now the dining room just adds to the atmosphere. I highly recommend it. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect when I was told of the pool dining experience that could be had at this establishment... But I'm happy we visited this place that really makes a splash on your tastebuds. We entered in through one of the side doors with the white and blue stripped awning to the Lightner Museum. Wind your way around the old pool house rooms to arrive in the large basin that once was the pool to this historic hotel. Down the slope to the deep end you'll travel and will come to the platform that is the seating area for this fine dining experience. It's casual, but set up as a fine experience - live piano playing and all. There are daily specials as well as a regular menu. I ordered the pizza, which is a rotating special with different toppings each day. That day was a Margherita pizza (two sizes, smaller with 4 pieces or "pizza for two" that comes with 6 pieces), I ordered for two. I liked it - not explode your mind flavorful, but good quality and presentation. Very good crust. They use a unique olive oil with olives imported from Greece. Wife ordered a catch of the day sand which (mahi that day) - toppings included lettuce and an aioli - very, very good. She also ordered a bowl of their French onion soup. Wow! If you like that soup you have to order it here cause they do it very well! Very good service and price wasn't overly inflated. Offered a military discount. Overall great food and a unique experience - recommend for any St. Aug traveler that wants the casual fine dining experience in a historic setting. read more

We were on this side of the historical section and had heard about this place so decided to stop in for lunch. The ambiance is kind of weird since it's in the deep end of a former swimming pool, but it was still kind of cool. They have pictures around of how it looked back then. The food was really good. I had a curried chicken sandwich and it was awesome. The service was good and overall, 2 thumbs up! read more

Lunch at the hotel/museum was quite good. The menu was a combination of Middle Eastern and Italian / Greek. All of it was good. read more

Cafe Alcazar - Mm mm - shrimp Giovanni. Toasted bits on top of shrimp with enough garlic to make a garlic lover happy ! - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Yes you may be sitting at the deep end of the pool when you have lunch at this cafe, but your head will remain above water if you order the avgolemono soup and the half classic club sandwich for yourself and the artichokes Giovanni with a carafe of iced tea for your friend all for $23.40 (using the ten percent discount from your Lightner museum admission ticket) while the liquid tones of Greg Pieper's eclectic piano music are guaranteed not to drown you in sentimentality. In a word your lunch experience will go, well...swimmingly! read more

Cafe Alcazar - Soup, sandwich & caraffe of tea. Bliss. - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

French onion is fantastic. Very flavorful. I found the cafe melt to be a little bland, but altogether it was a great meal. Espresso is also a must-have. read more

Cafe Alcazar - French onion. - New American Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Bottom of the deep end dinning. Onion soup is fantastic. Curry chicken was authentic. Honey had salad piano player was nice. This venue is the star. Eating in a dry pool so much history. I highlight of our trip read more

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

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My mom held a wedding brides maids luncheon here in the spring. The site is historical and very visually appealing. Once we set the tables and decorated them, it became a bridal venue. It's chilly here so make sure you bring a cover up. We were all freezing. The food was good, the service was good too. The only issue is that it was impossible to keep people that were not part of the event out of the area. Maybe stantions would help? read more

A unique and wonderful place for lunch! Not the biggest menu, but everything is delectable.

Lovely restaurant occupies the deep end of the casino swimming pool which was constructed in 1889 by Henry Flagler. The staff is very professional and the food is a good value for the money. You feel like you are in the middle of the actual period time, with the classical music in the background. All around you are quaint little shops so that you may browse and walk off your meal once done. There is a museum on the 2nd floor to explore also. read more

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Quirky location in the bottom of a pool for a fun lunch. Located in the "casino' of the old Alcazar Hotel ... now the basement of the Lightner Museum. Good service from effervescent wait staff. Fresh foods with nice specials. One day I had the soup of the day ... a sweet corn chowder. Another day home made gravlax with pita, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes and onions. read more

The service was excellent. The staff work as a team, our waiter was with a large party and another server brought us drinks and an explanation, so very much appreciated. Once we ordered, our meal took a reasonable amount of time to be served. When served there was no doubt that it was a prompt delivery, still steaming and too hot to immediately put in my mouth. We both had pasta, my husband had the blackened shrimp and fettuccine and I had the the fettuccini with the artichoke hearts. I would order either again. The blackened shrimp were well spiced and the pasta on both dishes were cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The artichokes were covered with an excellent Parmesan and then toasted lightly. A memorable meal to say the least. For dessert we had the tres leche cake which was served with a delicious Carmel sauce and fresh whipped cream. Also, one of the best flourless chocolate cakes I have ever had, served with fresh whipped cream and raspberry purée. I would love the recipe. The ambiance was transporting from the hot crowded tourist street to the cool floors of what use to be a swimming pool in a historic building that was once a hotel and now houses the Lightener Museum. There was live piano music provided by a cordial and hospitable lady that made for a wonderful meal in a lovely spot. read more