Ice Plant Bar

I've been coming to St. Augustine every year for the last 20 years, and I can safely say that as long as this establishment stays in business, I'll happily come another 20 years.

Ice Plant had the greatest Bee's Knees (and Amaretto Sour, which I didn't anticipate since it wasn't on the menu!) I've ever tasted, as well as an absolutely incredible selection of original cocktails. Every drink I tried was wonderful, and the bar area was both comfortable and beautiful.

The bar itself was truly impressive, visually. Built in an old ice plant, hence the name, the high cielings, low lighting, gorgeous bar, and remnants of mechanical tracks on the walls made for an excellent dining experience. Despite every table and bar seat being occupied both times I ate here (it was so good the first time, I felt it necessary to come back again a day later!), it was quiet and easy to talk to my partner while we ate/drank.

The food, much like the drinks, was positively immaculate. Without a doubt, it was the best fish I'd eaten on this coast, and the pork belly sliders left me grinning from ear to ear as I ate. I can't adequately express just how excellent the entire meal was.

If you are in the St. Augustine area, Ice Plant is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a must visit location.

My wife and I have visited The Ice Plant several times over the years, and it remains one of our favorite dining destinations in St. Augustine. The combination of imaginative cocktails, exceptional food, and a unique atmosphere makes every visit memorable.

The cocktail program is outstanding. We enjoy trying a variety of their exotic and inventive drinks, and they never disappoint. The flavors are bold, creative, and unlike anything you'll find at a typical restaurant bar. The Yellow Submarine cocktail is quite possibly the best drink I have ever consumed. Made with curry-infused Bermuda black rum, lime, ginger, and Asian five-spice brown sugar syrup, it sounded unusual on paper but came together beautifully. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered four of them that evening, something I rarely do. That was three years ago, and despite returning several times since then, I have never seen it on the menu again.

The food is equally impressive. Two years ago, I ordered the Skillet Roasted New York Strip served with Yukon Gold potato-anna, roasted asparagus and spring onions, watercress, and black truffle hollandaise. To this day, it remains one of the top five restaurant meals I have ever eaten. Every component on the plate was exceptional. The steak was perfectly prepared, the crispy potato galette was irresistible, and the black truffle hollandaise elevated the entire dish to another level. It was the kind of meal that stays with you long after the plate is cleared. I would gladly drive 300 miles just to eat it again.

Most recently, I had the wild mushroom bisque, and it was the best soup I have ever consumed. Rich, creamy, buttery, intensely mushroomy, and perfectly balanced, it was everything a mushroom soup should be. The addition of crispy pickled onions and crème fraîche added texture and contrast that made an already outstanding soup even better. My wife and I enjoyed it so much that we returned the very next day hoping to order it again, only to discover it had already rotated off the menu.

My only complaint about The Ice Plant is that some of their greatest creations seem to disappear as quickly as they arrive. While I appreciate the constantly evolving menu and understand that seasonal changes are part of what makes the restaurant special, there are certain items that deserve a permanent home. The Yellow Submarine cocktail, the wild mushroom bisque, and the Skillet Roasted New York Strip with black truffle hollandaise are three of the finest things I have experienced there.

The fact that I can vividly remember one of these items from three years ago and another from two years ago says everything. Great restaurants serve good food. Truly special restaurants create dishes and drinks that stay with you for years. The Ice Plant has done that for me more than once, and that is why we continue to return whenever we visit St. Augustine.

Love this place! Super fun vibe! It was an old ice plant and to have a fun twist they make their own ice cubes right there every day! Quite unique! Raphael, our bartender, was a blast!! He made the experience even more fun! We stopped in for a cocktail and an app. We ordered the Lucky Penny and The Old Cuban would recommend both.
It is next to the distillery. They share the building space, but our different businesses. The distillery looked great too, but didn’t partake in that experience. Did look around the shop though…lots of fun items!

The pork chop dish was cooked to perfection and it had a surprising combination strawberry, jalapeño, red onion, julienned carrot slaw with it that sounds like it shouldn't work together flavor-wise, but was fantastic. Handcrafted drinks, including sodas and adult beverages round off the experience. The building is an old ice house that has a cool industrial vibe to it. Very cool experience!

We LOVE this place. A true St. Augustine gem. My mom and I have been every week for a few months now and we are always happy & satisfied with our food and service. Last night we had Kevin as our server, and he went above and beyond. He is kind and attentive! We have also had wonderful service in the past by Kendall and Jasmine. I don’t frequently write reviews, but this place deserves all the love I can give. We love you Ice Plant!!!