It's not exactly like genuine Italian gelato, but it's really, really good. Especially classy compared to the 4 other ice cream shops. There are a ton of flavours, all of which are good and supposedly healthier than ice cream. LOL. I usually get 1/2 amaretto, 1/2 cookies and cream. My mum had tea there, and a not good croisssant. I had a mediocre muffin and water. So I wouldn't recommend ordering anything other than gelato. This place is surprisingly pricey, but I'll go back again and again. Indoor seating is a nice relaxing escape from the tourists. read more

Lemon gelato tasted great, but man it's expensive!

What's my problem and why did I not love their coffee like everyone else? I'm a pretty picky coffee drinker and love it strong and dark! Since this is a French coffee roaster, I had expectations of strong coffee. I ordered my usual soy latte, but received what tasted like a soy latte with a chai chaser. Odd. Yes, after each sip, it tasted like I took a shot of chai tea to wash it down. Interesting. The after taste was just not right. I'd try them again just to see if I could experience a better coffee than I did this time around. read more

I came here with a few friends after the Food Truck Wars over the weekend, and love it every time I do. They apparently have food, but I am a fan solely for the gelato. I suppose one day I will need to try the food that received equally-ravenous reviews. Until then, eat up and you will be happy that you did! read more

One of the best cafe's in town. Their paninis are unique and well prepared - easy to eat while still having pretty complex flavor profiles for a small eatery. Their Cafe drinks can get a bit pricey, but are usually worth the indulgence. In addition, their range of Gelatos and Sorbets is like none other in the area - made fresh daily, you can have anything from Limoncello Sorbet to Chocolate Cherry Gelato - all for a fairly reasonable price. Great place to stop in for a quick bite. read more

Awesome place for food, coffee or gelato! Everything is first-rate and delicious. They really know what they're doing. Highly recommend!!

THEY'VE CHANGED OWNERSHIP and now the gelato is more like ordinary ice cream than gelato heaven. We've been visiting this place every summer for the last dozen years or so, and when we stepped inside this time, we could tell immediately that it wasn't the same, even by looking at the "gelato" in the freezer case - rather than the giant creamy and puffy clouds, it looked iced over and flat. It tasted ordinary, and some in our group who have difficulty digesting regular ice cream, but are unaffected by real gelato are now experiencing stomach difficulties. It's definitely different. A sad day for Cafe del Hidalgo, and for us. We'll once again be on the search for the real deal. read more

Good prices, crowded and small inside. Try ALL the flavors first then go around to the cash register, place your order then hand the small ticket to the person behind the gelato counter and they will fill your order. Of course you will have to endure the embarrassment of having them look at you after you just sampled every single flavor they had......and still can't make up your mind. LOL Good gelato, good prices and some shade to sit and people watch while you eat it. Will be back. read more

Bread on the sandwich is delicious. The meatball parm had a great flavor but was dry. I prefer more sauce. We were charged a dollar extra because we spilt the sandwich which was bogus. The guy said we get more chips and pickles. But the chips were lacking in volume. Service was polite. The lay out is also strange. Very cute and quant. read more

Been going here for 8 years now during field trips to St. Augustine for gelato and have never had a bad experience. I typically get a good third of my class to follow me in and order too! They do a good job with the kids' orders too! read more

Sandwiches are great! I had the Pollo Royale. Chicken was soft, not dry & hard. Bread was firm but not rough & cheese was gooey & delicious. Great panini! They have Italian sodas that are good. The large iced tea was perfect but small. I would definitely return! read more

My wife, son and I dropped in for lunch at Cafe del Hidalgo and really enjoyed ourselves. Warm friendly staff welcomed us, and the vintage Spanish decor, artwork and furniture was really cool. My wife had a mediterranean panini, my son had a Caesar salad with chicken and I had a veggie panini. Everything was fresh, tasty and good portion sizes. We came back another evening for gellato, very nice selection of flavors, smiles all around. We will definitely be back! read more

At first I was skeptical about eating lunch here since it seemed very touristy but my boyfriend loves him a good sandwich so once he saw they had paninis there was no stopping him! I'm glad we chose to eat here for lunch the paninis were very good! I had the Mediterranean panini that had red pepper hummus, feta, cukes, tomatoes and onions, spinach and provolone cheese. I would definitely recommend eating here if you are looking for a good sandwich! read more

Cafe del Hidalgo - Mediterranean panini - Gelato Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Quaint space with eclectic decor. Excellent panini and salads (you create or featured on menu). Fresh ingredients and delicious combos. Must save room for some amazing gelato. Wait time was a little excessive (20+ min) for food, but not a deal breaker for good meal. read more

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We went to St. Augustine for the day. We had such a great time. My son decided he wanted ice cream and chose this place to have ice cream. The service was ok and he seemed to like the ice cream. We'd go back if in St. Augustine again. read more

Cafe del Hidalgo - Gelato Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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We are locals and we visit this place for their delicious pistachio ice cream, but this time our experience was terrible because of the lady in register. Simply she was frustrated because my son 3 years old takes his time to order. We asked for medium pistachio and small coconut, she gave us two medium and one coconut, I told her that we asked only for one medium. She got really mad and was like You asked for two medium and she gave attitude. However, I control myself paid our cream and went to enjoy it with my family. When I see the change she give was only $2.10 from $20. She supposed to charge us only ~$11 not $17.9. When I went back and asked another guy there, he told me that it should be only ~ $11. She was behind him and ahe didn't say anything. I knew and she knew that she overcharged, stealing, me ~$6 but she never apologized or even lied and say that it was a mistake. She kept looking at us like " Yes! I don't like you here. I'll never go back or recommended this place to anyone. For reference: on Thursday the 6th of January 2022 ware three staff that evening there. The gentleman was nice and he's the one who solve the matter another lady with black hair was nice as well. The thief that tried to steal my money was a white lady with glasses and blond hair. read more

Love the gelato here. Pink Grapefruit on a hot day can't be beat. Flavors rotate daily so you never know which they'll have that day. Sample them 'til you find the one or two you like best. read more

My girl friend and I enjoyed our meal at Café hidalgo based on the yelp the recommendation. We had a great experience and would return. We had coffee and lunch durning our visit. The coffee was outstanding, 100% worth it. We shared a pressed panini sandwich for lunch, that was pretty enjoyable. Decor, if you care about that kind of thing needs a bit of a facelift. 4stars- would return for coffee. read more

Great gelato in a wide range of flavors, and one of the only "make up your own" salad places in town. The salad offerings are always fresh, the coffee drinks and other beverages are good. They have an odd payment system for the gelato - you pay for the size you want, and then take a payment chit to the gelato counter to order your selection. They're quite willing to give sample tastes, and I always end up dithering before choosing, because they have so many tempting flavors. read more

Avoid at all costs. No matter how hungry you are, this is not the place to grab a bite. The order brought to me was incorrect. This was communicated to the server and the cook came out. He spoke only to the person who I was with. The person I was with communicated we should not have to pay. The cook exclaimed "If you're not going to pay I'm going to call the police on you!". Never said we wouldn't pay. I stepped in as it seemed unnecessary to call the police on the person I was with who was 70 years old. I stated "The order is not right. We have said nothing about not paying". He continued to escalate and I stated "You seem very busy and it seems like you wont' be able to resolve the issue. Please just go". Standing over me and pointing his finger close to my face he exclaimed "I am trying to be nice. You don't tell me what to do". I repeated "Please just go". He repeated "YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!". I repeated "Please stop. Please go". He stormed off saying "you all need some serious help". Always great to end on stigmatizing mental health care in the presence of customers. It was a hot mess. read more

This place has the best Gelato and afagatos ever! The chef is super friendly and the flavors are OUTSTANDING! I had the biscotti flavor in my affagato, my sister had lemon, amaretto and pomegranate chocolate. My nephew had blood orange and chocolate and my neice had strawberry and watermelon.. So good!! We all absolutely loved it! Awesome experience, a must try in St. Augustine!! read more

(10/9/2018) Stopped in for some gelato after a humid turn around the Castillo de San Marcos. There was a decent breeze, but it was still 90F+ and alternately raining and sunny, meaning it was pretty steamy on the streets. The Cafe had some decent air conditioning, and plenty of frozen treats. They'll let you have tasters of the gelato if you're curious about a flavor. I had a small Tiramisu and Pistachio, two classics. Pistachio was very toasty and nutty. The Tiramisu was decidedly boozy, maybe with Frangelico. Stracciatella was a classic cream base with dark chocolate streaks. Sea Salt Caramel (I know, so trendy, but so good) was a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and slight bitter from burnt sugar. Prices are a touch high, likely it's the overhead for the real estate. The atmosphere is quaint, terracotta tiles, cast iron patio furniture, ballads playing in the dining room. It's a nice respite from the tourist crush. read more

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Everyone's reviews rave about the gelato, I must regrettably say I didn't get a chance to have any, for once, I was too full for dessert! I ordered the New Yorker panini, portions are generous. My friend ordered a Caesar Salad, sadly, the chicken was a bit dry there. Atmosphere was real chill, I enjoyed the antiquity of the furniture and decor. I'd definitely recommend. read more

As others pointed out, this place gauges prices compared to the prices displayed on the menu, notwithstanding the tax. I wanted to buy a cafe cubano, and was overcharged. When I brought this to the cashier' attention, he said the prices displayed on the menu are old. WTF! It is the staff' responsibility to update the prices. As a customer, I'm gonna go by what is displayed. I asked for my money back, but the cashier kept 19 cents of it. That was strange. Another WTF moment! If you don't mind being shortchanged, this place is for you, but if you do, then I suggest to avoid this place. Their business practice is shady. read more

We had such a great time in a elegant yet informal setting. The food is fantastic and we especially enjoyed Scott's hospitality. The gelato is unrivaled, and well complimented by the espresso. This cafe is a must! read more

I get it's a pandemic. As a nurse I totally understand the stress, but there is no need for the attitude given by the boys at the counter. A little customer service goes a long way, not eye rolls and being defensive. I was looking forward to my hot chocolate that I've been getting here for years. It is just sad. Step up. read more

Food was soooo good! Service was slow but didn't care- it was worth the wait. Best lunch spot in downtown St Augustine.

Café del Hidalgo is my go to place in St Augustine, or really anywhere for gelato. You can taste of couple of choices if you cannot decide though pretty much every choice is a good one. You pay at the counter for the size you want then bring your receipt to the servers to scoop for you. Though this is a different approach it really is brilliant because it keeps the scoopers free from having to handle money. A small includes 2 flavors (2 small scoops) in a dish and will run just over $5 with tax in a dish or about $6 in a cone. Usually I go to St Augustine for lunch at other nearby restaurants but since there is always room for ice cream, I make it a point to stop here. I often just want a small single scoop so wish they had a "kiddie size". This rich decadent frozen dessert is perfect any time of day. I often try different flavors and most recently had the coffee rum and the butter pecan. I loved the butter pecan but there was only one nut in my little scoop and I could have enjoyed a few more. Though we have tried coffees and other menu items here, nothing has really stood out as impressive other than the gelato. There are plenty of places to get an ice cream in this touristy area but none compare so we just make it a point to come here for dessert. read more

This place is a gem. The food is excellent as well as authentic. The espresso rises above most everything else out there. Scott, thank you for a truly outstanding experience and your warm hospitality. read more

We were looking for breakfast and with everything else opening at 11 we decided to stop in to Cafe del Hidalgo. It was wonderful!! The breakfast crepes were delicious and it was the best cup of coffee I've had in a long time!!! We highly recommend visiting Scott here if you have the chance. read more

We come here for coffee every time we visit. The coffee is really good. The person who waited on us was basically condescending and rude rather than helpful and accommodating. Makes me never want to come back. Maybe Cory could use some training in basic manners and customer service. read more

BEST ICE CREAM / GELATO in the heart of St Augustine. They also have good food but the gem is the Ice cream. After being in Italy more than once and trying all the ice cream I can get my hands on, I can assure you this Cafe has THE best ice cream and true gelato you will find in town (and I live here). They take the time to do the ice cream from scratch on a daily basis and it's all natural. You can literally taste the difference, just try it. read more

Best gelato in town. Do yourself a favor and buy the family size. Staff is friendly and pricesare reasonable. Bald guy behind the counter is always helpful. read more

What a disappointment we had ordered the turkey cobb salad that was made with iceberg not field greens as stated on the menu. Turkey what turkey there was no more than a table spoon of diced turkey a few kernels of corn and cheese. This was a very sad version of a cobb salad. The only reason I gave 2 stars the gelato and specialty coffee was excellent. Maybe you should stick with gelato and coffees stay away from serving salads and sandwiches. read more

Cafe Hidalgo is one of the worse places I've ever been at. My family and I were visiting St Augustine and decided to try this place since it looked completely empty with three employees waiting for customers to take care of. I ordered paninis and Italian sodas at the cashier and thought the food was gonna be fast...again since the place was completely empty, We waited for about 30 minutes which is more than enough time needed to make three paninis and one Salad. After starving I decided to check on our food and Mark the cashier said they lost our order and the food wasn't even started yet. Another guy approached me and apologized, said he was gonna refund the money on my debit card, but never offered to make the order again and give us something on the house just to make us happy (that's what I'd do if I was them), so we just left and went to another place we were luckily we got some good food. Three days after, I'm checking my account activity and didn't see the refund, I called the place and talked to a lady who said was the manager but wasn't able to refund my money because she needed me to stop by and see the receipt. Since I was on the way back home in the other side of the country I wasn't gonna be able to do it (obviously). Her response was "I have to call the owner and talk to her." Bottom line is they charged me for food that I never got, the manager didn't seem to care about handling this issue, and never even apologized for this situation. I don't recommend this place at all if you're in town. read more

Good gelato if you don't mind them getting your order wrong, denying it, blaming your 73-year-old mother for their mistake, making a scene when you call them out on it, blaming *you* for being upset now, not listening when you try to explain what happened, making you wait, accusing you of trying to cheat *them*, then sending you away with not only less than you ordered, but less than what they said you ordered. The whole family was so upset we didn't bother to correct it. I've never wanted out of a restaurant more in my life. read more

This place is my favorite! Come here every time I'm in St. Augustine. Staff is super friendly and just nice vibes. Plus the gelato is amazing!!!! read more

Just try the pink grapefruit gelato. It's a refreshing revelation. Other flavors were a bit to sweet for me. Good coffee too. Great place to rest your feet and replenish your energy. Tourist prices, but you are in the middle of the tourist district. It's still worth it. I come here every time I come to St. Augustine. read more

Coffee and gelato are good but that doesn't make up for the horrible customer service by the management /owner. I was sitting having a coffee and my family came in with some fries from across the way. The owner came over and immediately told my family that they couldn't be there. They said that they can't bring other food in. Ok I understand that, but what if they didn't have that? They wouldn't be allowed to sit there either? Because she yelled at my kids my son got nervous and spilled a few of his fries. I was going to clean it up. But she got all bent out of shape that he spilled them on her antique tables. So wait, it's OK to have her food on the table but not other food? Does that make sense? If you're worried about your antique tables then why have them in a cafe in the 1st place. Customer Service is the key now a days. If you want to be inviting and keep customers coming, you let them sit and enjoy themselves with their families. You don't tell them to leave, especially if they are a patron. Needless to say I will not eat from there again. read more

Extremely disappointing food and slow service. It took 25 minutes to get two paninis and a $10 side salad. I ordered the "Mona Lisa" panini which claimed to have "cherry preserves" with roasted turkey and apple slices. The "preserves" turned out to be generic,high fructose corn syrup grape jelly and the turkey was cold cuts. They also put the paninis in the microwave because they didn't have the timing worked out, so my sandwich was soaking wet in grape jelly by the time it got to me and it looked and tasted disgusting. I took one bite and are the chips. The chips and the pickle were fine and the hot tea was as advertised. Disappointing last meal in Florida. Overpriced tourist cafe with terrible food. read more