Soon, you’ll no longer have to hunt for parking like a bedraggled Spanish explorer to dine at one of the Old City’s most popular restaurants.
Renderings released this week offer the first glimpse of The Floridian’s future home as it prepares to move from its longtime downtown location to a new, custom-built space on Anastasia Island — with parking!
“It’s a new construction building reminiscent of Old Florida coastal cottages, with eclectic interior design, new infrastructure, yet still keeping with The Floridian aesthetic, menu, and vibes,” owners Jeff and Genie McNally wrote on Instagram.
The eatery will now sit at 485 Old Beach Road, on the corner of A1A Beach Boulevard, about 3.7 miles and a 10-minute drive from the current Spanish Street restaurant.
The move will address long-standing frustrations the owners faced downtown, including tight space and a sometimes aggravating lack of parking for both staff and diners.
The final day of service at 72 Spanish Street will be July 28, and the restaurant is expected to reopen in its new space in late fall or winter 2025.
For 15 years, The Floridian has served up locally sourced, regionally inspired Southern comfort food to locals and tourists alike.
Known for its rotating seasonal menu and expansive options for omnivores, vegetarians, and pescatarians, the restaurant has earned a loyal following in the nation’s oldest city.
Chef Genie McNally’s revered recipes are rooted in seven generations of family kitchen expertise.
The new space, custom-built from the ground up, will expand capacity to 120 guests and include a side patio bar, a garden dining area, and a walk-up drink window.
Inside, the kitchen has been designed specifically to fit the restaurant’s needs, and the layout allows for private events and group seating without compromising the unpretentious atmosphere The Floridian is known for.
“The new design includes a wrap-around porch deck with outside tables, as well as a side-yard garden space among the live oak hammock for casual and fun hangs, turbo window for quick drinks to enjoy al fresco, and more,” the owners said.
City officials have praised the move, seeing it as a welcome addition to the beachside dining scene.
For the McNallys, the relocation is the culmination of a longstanding plan to grow The Floridian without losing the homespun charm that made it a fixture in St. Augustine’s dining scene.
Did we mention the parking?
