Casa Monica Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection

Character and identity

Casa Monica anchors the western approach to St. Augustine's historic quarter, a Moorish Revival landmark from 1888 facing the Plaza de la Constitución, with Flagler College and the Lightner Museum framing the same panorama. The 138-room property carries its original hotel purpose intact, restored under the Kessler Collection with an ornate lobby, rooftop pool, and an in-house art gallery drawn from owner Richard Kessler's holdings. Dining centres on Costa Brava, a Spanish-leaning kitchen heavy on serrano, chorizo, and braised octopus. Service runs polished and generous, matched to the building's grand register.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for here is location and provenance: the most atmospheric address in St. Augustine, in a building that helped invent the city as a resort. Couples on a heritage weekend should book one of the five named suites (Anastasia or Ponce de Leon) for spiral staircases, balconies, and real views over the old town; standard rooms are comfortable but won't justify the rate alone.