By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Gay Tips for St. Augustine, Fla.: The South's Little Secret
Partners and former Bostonians Tim Millbern and John Gallagher are the duo behind At Journey’s End Bed & Breakfast (atjourneysend.com; [904] 829-0076). Free from the Victorian doily decor that haunts many St Augustine B&Bs, this five-room boutique inn was recently purchased by the couple, who outfitted it in a chic mix of antiques and modern furniture. Guests crowd around the rustic wooden breakfast table each morning for a gourmet breakfast of Eggs Benedict or fruit-filled Breakfast Bread Pudding and Bacon…before taking off for sightseeing in the Historic District of St. Augustine, just a block away. Millbern and Gallagher took some time to share their favorite St. Augustine places; see them below:
SHOP
MetalArtz – Our favorite gallery…as it features over 60 local artists and have the coolest stuff! We have even decorated our Inn with some of the copper art and hand blown Glass. Linda & Victoria, the proprietors are the best in helping you pick out just the right “piece”!
The Market on Granada - Just a half block from the Inn, this unique little shop caters to both locals and visitors with art, food, wine…they have wine tasting every day! Plus, one of the best parts is they feature Claude’s Chocolates –handmade Belgian chocolates and bonbons that are each a piece of art in themselves!
Spice & Tea Exchange – Buying groceries for the inn’s gourmet breakfast isn’t complete without a stop at this fun spice shop. They have so many different spices and rubs. But proprietors Colleen and Bob will help you choose or make your own customized blend! Our favorite spice…Black Truffle and Sea Salt!
EAT
Collage – Arguably St. Augustine’s finest white linen tablecloth food establishment. Intimate dining with impeccable service and the highest quality of food. You have to try the lobster ravioli topped with a lobster tail…to die for!
The Floridian – All-around one of our favorite places with a farm-to-table cuisine. All of the ingredients are purchased locally and prepared in a delicious and eclectic fashion. The menu changes with the season. This is a fun place to eat…don’t forget dessert. Their sour cream-apple pie is wonderful.
The Tasting Room – A cool little restaurant that has a contemporary Spanish cuisine. Great tapas and wine pairings along with a nightly jazzy entertainment line-up. When we eat there we rarely get past the tapas…generous and scrumptious!
DAY
Flagler Legacy Tour – This is a must-do tour while in St. Augustine. You are taken back to the Gilded Age when railroad magnate Henry Flagler built the exclusive Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler College) for the era's richest Americans. See the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass windows still in its original use.
Colonial Quarter – Overlooking the Castillo de San Marco, a Spanish coquina fortification, the newly reopened Colonial Quarter is an outdoor living history museum that takes a visitor through St. Augustine’s 450 years of rich history. You’ll shoot muskets, climb the watch tower looking for pirate ships, and then end the day drinking beer at one of the two classic colonial pubs!
Fountain of Youth – Ponce de Leon said it, so it must be true…drink from the artesian well and you’ll stay young forever! This is the landing spot for Pedro Menendez in 1565, establishing the first and oldest continuous European settlement in the United States of America. It might appear to be a bit “kitschy” but it’s the REAL thing!
NIGHT
Cellar 6 – Hard to pass this place up whether going for their signature sangria or a glass of wine from their special order wine list. And, while the tapas are out of this world, their chef has wonderful unique entrees offered every night! Guests from the Inn are always raving about the food here! Plus…as the evening progresses, live music is in order! Located on Aviles Street, the oldest street in America, we love the ambience.
Tini Martini Bar - You’ve got to love a martini (HUGE variety on the menu) when you are sitting on the Bar’s veranda overlooking the beautiful Matanzas Bay. When the entertainment starts up it’s a bit too easy to forget just how many “tinis” you’ve had…we certainly have from time to time!
St. George Tavern - This is definitely a place to go for some local St. Augustine “flavor.” We love going here to grab a few beers. Located on the St. George Street strip, where even the tourists become “local” pretty quickly when hanging out at the tavern.
