Casa Monica

Set in the heart of St. Augustine, this elegant, grand hotel built in 1888 is in harmony with the town's Old World flavor. It's next door to the Lightner Museum and Flagler College and is within walking distance of other top St. Augustine attractions.

Great pains were taken to recreate the hotel's Moorish styling when the property was purchased and renovated by Kessler in 1999. Awe struck by the gorgeous decor, I was surprised to learn that it's an artful recreation. The hotel was gutted and used for courthouse for many years. Thankfully it's been returned to its former glory.

Casa Monica has 138 rooms, including 123 standard rooms and 15 suites. All rooms include a Bose CD/radio, coffeemaker, a lighted cosmetic mirror and bathrobes. Each room is a little different, but all are of ample size, 485 square feet at a minimum. The three-story Kessler suite offers 2,000 square feet of space.

Some of the standard rooms don't have closets, but instead rely on wardrobe cabinets. If you're planning to stay more than one night or have a lot of clothes to hang, you'll want to make sure to request a room with a closet. Otherwise the hotel will wheel in a clothes rack at your request.

The hotel's take-out deli-bakery, Café Cordoba, serves fresh-made bread and pastries, Starbucks coffee, gourmet pizzas, salads and sandwiches. There's even imported beer on tap. When you just want a light bite or an informal breakfast, lunch or dinner, Café Cordoba is perfect. Eat in or take your purchases out to one of the café's shaded tables on the terrace and watch the world go by.

The hotel's award-winning restaurant, 95 Cordoba, offers gourmet cuisine and an impressive wine list. It's a favorite among locals. Executive chef Thomas O'Quinn delights in creating delicious concoctions with a twist. The restaurant's signature dish is the Kessler Calamari, an appetizer that's highly addictive.

Activities

The hotel's heated pool and hot tub is cloistered within a walled second-floor courtyard. Its 24-hour fitness center is small but well equipped. For fun on the beach, take the shuttle to the nearby Serenata Beach Club. If you need to get some work done, head to the Casa Monica business center. (Reviewed 7/2/2009)

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Casa Monica is located: in St. Augustine's charming historic downtown
95 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084 USA
Phone: (904) 827-1888; Reservations: (800) 648-1888
Email: reservations@casamonica.com
Web site: Casa Monica