St. Augustine favorite Boat Drinks to set sail in expanded new uptown location

Popularity can have its price.

Competition for tables at downtown St. Augustine staple Boat Drinks grew so fierce in recent years that restaurateurs Rob Crabtree and Whitney Hobbs found themselves in the unenviable position of having to turn away some of their most loyal passengers.

As the brand burgeoned, Boat Drinks soon drew loyalists from Miami and Orlando and well beyond who made a stop at the bar mandatory on each visit to the Old City.

Combined with their local following, demand quickly surpassed supply.

So after five successful years at their St. George Street location, the culinary captains had to chart a new course.

“We needed a bigger boat,” Crabtree told The Citizen with a smile.

After a lengthy search, they found their new vessel at a defunct uptown biker bar at 123 San Marco Ave.

With painstaking renovations nearing completion, the expanded craft cocktail and fresh seafood emporium is poised to set sail in a matter of weeks.

“We outgrew downtown,” he said. “A lot of our local clients didn’t come as frequently as they used to because of parking and other issues. We got very busy and had to turn people away because we just didn’t have the room. So we decided to move.”

The sprawling new space, the Jacksonville Beach native said, boasts what has become an increasingly precious amenity in St. Augustine — its own parking lot.

While the location has changed, Crabtree assured prior and potential diners that Boat Drinks remains moored to its Caribbean-accented concept — fresh local seafood and exquisite tropical cocktails in a casual nautical atmosphere.

“A lot of places say that their seafood is fresh and local,” he said. “But we mean it. There are no freezers here. Most of our fish comes from Madeira Beach, and we really try to take advantage of our local waters.”

Boat Drinks, Crabtree said, boasts Florida’s most expansive selection of high end rums and a thoughtfully sourced tequila stockpile with no Patron or Casamigos in sight.

The bar’s signature raw oyster and fresh local shrimp options, he said, will remain an emphasis.

“We love this area of Florida,” he said. “But with Boat Drinks, we really wanted to bring a big city vibe in terms of tropical cocktails with fresh juices and quality spirits.”

With increased capacity and ease of access, the veteran restaurateur is ready to smash the bottle and embark on a voyage into new waters.

“We are so thankful to everyone who made Boat Drinks a success,” he told The Citizen inside the new venue. “And we’re really excited to share our new space with you.”

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