If you’re in charge of planning a rehearsal dinner in St. Augustine, you may have started the process of researching different venue options in the area. As one of the kick-off events for the wedding celebration, you’ll want to find a location that will delight everyone in attendance. Luckily for you, as one of Florida’s top destinations for travelers, St. Augustine is full of unique rehearsal dinner restaurants and experiences that you won’t find anywhere else!
UNIQUE REHEARSAL DINNER RESTAURANTS
A rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant with your family, wedding party, and out-of-town guests is a great way to kick off a wedding weekend. If you’re hosting a destination wedding, it’s also the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the local flavor!
Whether you prefer an upscale eatery or a casual café, these are some of the best restaurants in St. Augustine that offer dining options for large groups.
RIVER & FORT
River & Fort, one of St. Augustine’s most recent additions to the historic Bayfront, now offers group bookings! Their southern continental menu includes local seafood, steaks, wine, and craft cocktails. With multiple indoor and outdoor seating options and incredible views of the Matanzas River and Castillo de san Marcos, this restaurant is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Bookings are available for events with up to 75 guests in the months of February through mid-November. Note that during the holiday high season, large group reservations may not be available.
River and Fort St. Augustine
CHATSWORTH PUB AND TEA ROOM
Having an early rehearsal dinner? Consider brunch or afternoon tea at the Chatsworth Pub and Tea Room.
This charming venue combines the quaintness of an English pub with the elegance of a Victorian tea room. In addition to an Afternoon Tea menu, they also offer a selection of heartier fare.
The Tea Room can hold up to 40 guests, but if you have a larger party, ask about booking the entire Pub.
The Chatsworth Pub
CHEZ L’AMOUR
Uptown St. Augustine, located north of the downtown historic district, is a fun and quirky area filled with unique shops and restaurants. One of those restaurants, Chez L’Amour, offers an upscale, romantic atmosphere for rehearsal dinners and private parties.
The tapas-style menu at Chez L’amour is perfect for social gatherings, and guests rave about the tasty cocktails and desserts. They offer comprehensive in-house services for events that include décor. The owners are also well-connected to the local music scene, so live music is also encouraged at this venue.
Chez L’amour is flexible for gatherings of different sizes. Their Violet Hour dining room can seat up to 34 guests, and the Peacock Parlour upstairs can seat up to 30 guests with its own minibar. The entire space can also be rented out to accommodate up to 165 people. They even have their own parking lot, which is rare amongst some of St. Augustine’s top restaurants.
Chez L’Amour
ST. AUGUSTINE DISTILLERY
If you love the convenience of a restaurant venue but want to put a different spin on your rehearsal dinner, consider the St. Augustine Distillery.
In addition to hosting private events, this working distillery also features factory tours and tastings. If your wedding party is a fan of high-quality spirits, this is a venue like no other!
St. Augustine Distillery
THE REEF
Looking for a beachy vibe? Located just 15 minutes from St. Augustine in Vilano Beach, The Reef offers an oceanfront banquet room that can seat up to 75 guests.
Both sit-down and buffet dinners are available, and guests will love collecting shells and shark teeth on the beach after dinner.
The Reef Restaurant
MEEHAN’S IRISH PUB
Ready to eat, drink, and celebrate getting married in a traditional Irish Pub? With accommodations for up to 49 guests, the second floor of Meehan’s Irish Pub offers views of the St. Augustine Inlet and Matanzas Bay.
With live music Thursday through Sunday, your guests can enjoy a festive, yet casual, atmosphere while they celebrate the happy couple.
Meehan’s Irish Pub
THE FLORIDIAN
Do you have a large group of guests from out of state? Show them a taste of Florida at The Floridian! The décor features an eclectic mix of local artists and funky Florida-inspired antiques, while the menu is a unique twist on southern comfort foods.
The Floridian has an upstairs dining room for private groups of over 20 people that has been lovingly renovated and beautifully designed. There are no room rental fees, however, there is a food and beverage minimum that varies, depending on the day of the week and the season. Check out their private events page for more details!
The Floridian Restaurant
O.C. WHITE’S
Originally built as a hotel in 1790, O.C. White’s offers a stunning array of locally caught seafood in a grand historical setting. Enjoy classic favorites such as crab cakes and peel-and-eat shrimp while enjoying beautiful views of the Matanzas River.
For a unique twist on the typical dining experience, keep a lookout for any paranormal experiences, as many claim the restaurant is haunted!
MICHAEL’S TASTING ROOM & PESCA VILANO
Give your guests a taste of local Florida at Michael’s! Relocating from downtown St. Augustine to the Hyatt Place in Vilano Beach in 2025, this restaurant is known for its high-quality cuisine and extensive wine list.
Located on the rooftop of the same hotel is Pesca Vilano. This fun and fresh concept, run by the same owner as Michael’s, has stunning views that range from the pristine beaches to historic downtown St. Augustine. This location is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails or more casual rehearsal events.
Pesca Vilano
UNIQUE REHEARSAL DINNER EXPERIENCES
Maybe you’re looking for a new and different way to kick off your wedding weekend instead of a traditional rehearsal dinner. Luckily, St. Augustine has a plethora of special experiences to welcome your guests in style!
GO ON AN EVENING CRUISE
Sabrage Charters offers group rates as well as special event packages for taking your friends and family out on the water.
Guests frequently spot fish and dolphins playing in the waves, and during the holidays, you can enjoy the twinkling lights along the river.
Sabrage Charters
ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM ZOOLOGICAL PARK
Nothing says “Welcome to Florida” like alligators! An institution on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine since 1893, the Alligator Farm is beloved by many St. Augustine locals and visitors alike. As one of Florida’s oldest continuously running attractions, there’s plenty of history here, along with its vast collection of reptiles, mammals, and birds.
For special events and rehearsal dinners, the Alligator Farm’s grounds provide a unique and lush backdrop. Their event building accommodates 35 people for a sit-down meal or 75 people standing. Event bookings include on-site parking, 45 padded folding chairs and 10 tables, and discounted admission for guests.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
PUB CRAWL
Here in St. Augustine, St. George Street is the place to be, any time of day!
After the rehearsal dinner, gather up your group and take them on an informal tour of the area’s many pubs and bars.
Stop by Colonial Quarter or Mill Top Tavern for some live local music, or grab a gourmet ice pop at The Hyppo.
St. George Street
BECOME A PIRATE!
St. Augustine and pirates just seem to go hand-in-hand. And no other event venue does this quite like Black Raven Adventures.
Held on a replica of a floating Spanish galleon, have a rehearsal dinner surrounded by a cast of fully costumed pirates. At Black Raven, entertainment is the name of the game, so make your requests to have the bride and groom “captured” or anything else you can think of!
Black Raven Pirate Ship
FEELING QUIRKY?
With a relaxed, funky vibe, Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “loosey goosey!”
Book their private back room (which comes with your own dedicated bartender!) to share some craft cocktails at the end of the night. And if you want to take things up a notch, you can have them pick you and up to 25 of your guests up…in a party bus from your rehearsal dinner location!
Odd Birds
ENJOY SOME LIVE MUSIC
Prohibition Kitchen and its sister restaurant, the Roosevelt Room, are able to accommodate traditional rehearsal dinners, but many parties head here after hours to enjoy some of the best tunes in town. The stage hosts a variety of local talent, with live music almost every night.
Styled after a 1920’s speakeasy, these spaces are a nice complement to the vibes of a wedding at The Treasury on the Plaza.
TROLLEY TOURS
We hope your guests have scheduled time for sightseeing while they’re in St. Augustine. Just in case they haven’t, show them around the Nation’s Oldest City in style!
Old Town Trolley and Red Train Tours are known for their captivating and knowledgeable guides who will bring history to life as you tour this amazing city. For October weddings, nothing beats a Ghosts & Gravestones haunted trolley tour, and in December, your guests can experience the jaw-dropping magic of St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights.
START YOUR WEDDING WEEKEND OFF RIGHT
The rehearsal dinner isn’t just a “dinner,” it’s the event that sets the tone for the entire wedding weekend.
No matter where the wedding is being held, you can provide a complement (or contrast!) to the Big Day by hosting the rehearsal dinner at one of these super unique St. Augustine locations.
Looking for a little more direction? As one of the area’s premier wedding venues, The Treasury on the Plaza has its finger on the pulse of the St. Augustine wedding industry. If you have questions or need further recommendations, we’re here to make sure your wedding and rehearsal dinner are exactly what you’re looking for!
