One of St. Augustine’s most decorated dining destinations moving to Vilano Beach after two decades downtown

After two decorated decades in downtown St. Augustine, Michael’s is moving.

Long considered one of St. Johns County’s preeminent fine-dining institutions, Chef Michael Lugo’s Spanish eatery will christen a new space at the Hyatt Place in Vilano Beach this coming February.

Lauded by the likes of Wine Spectator, Michael’s will distribute its famously eclectic menus on Cuna Street for the final time on New Year’s Eve.

While abundant in charm and historical depth, recurrent flooding, infrastructure and parking issues ultimately made Lugo question the current location’s longterm viability.

A relocation, he reasoned, would afford more time to focus on cuisine rather than contractors.

“It’s a move I’m incredibly excited about,” Lugo said in a press release announcing the relocation. “Occupying a historic building comes with its own set of unique challenges. The Hyatt Place is brand new, so I can focus more of the efforts and budget on fine-tuning the dining experience.”

Lugo noted that the new space will feature an expanded wine inventory and a custom built new kitchen.

The industry veteran initially opened Pesca Vilano in the Hyatt space, occupying both a popular rooftop terrace and the main dining room.

While Pesca will continue operating in the al fresco upstairs spot, Lugo felt that the elegant downstairs environment would be better suited for Michael’s.

“The new space offers intimate dining areas, plentiful parking, a more comfortable seating arrangement, and more space for the carefully curated wine library, hallmark of the Michael’s experience,” the eatery said in the release. “Expanded kitchen space and refrigeration will allow Chef Lugo’s team to introduce a wider variety of seafood, like oysters.”