TL;DR

Historic charm: 1888 courthouse-turned-hotel in St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay.
Luxury experience: Plush standard rooms, bi-level suites, and high-end furnishings.
Reputation: Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, excellent staff service.
Value tip: Higher-level rooms better justify price.
Check prices here

This historic St. Augustine boutique hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

Florida architecture requires a bit of a ‘when in Rome’ perspective, and once you get over the Playmobile-esque take on luxury accommodation, it’s very charming.

This hotel in particular is one of the stalwarts of the area. An 1888-built courthouse-turned-hotel, Casa Monica has been welcoming guests to Matanzas Bay for over a century.

It’s one of the reasons the area is bustling with tourist activity the way it is, with a long history of exceptional service and new-money opulence.

They say practice makes perfect, and we’d say it holds true here. The staff is excellent, and the standard rooms are simple but plush.

We should note that the higher-level rooms do a better job of justifying the price, so if you have any wiggle room in the budget, we suggest you splurge.

What are the rooms like?

Room types: King Singles, Queen Doubles, Deluxe, Premium, bi-level Suites (e.g., Ponce de Leon Suite).
Design & style: Spanish Golden Age-inspired decor with red quilting and antique furnishings.
Amenities: Plush linens, robes, seating/work areas, coffee makers, shower/tub combos.
Size: Low-level Suites from 400 sq ft; Deluxe/Premium recommended for value.
See each room in detail here

Rooms are a somewhat charming kind of Luxury™, with plenty of shiny, red quilting set against what look like antique furnishings and carpeting with serious Spanish Golden Age vibes.

We appreciate the straightforwardness, though the mesh of royalty-worthy accommodation and contemporary hotel has definitely been done with a defter hand.

There are plenty of options, from a super-basic King Singles and Queen Doubles to Deluxe options with sitting areas.

Low-level Suites start at 400 square feet; we would advise shooting for a Deluxe or Premium guestroom.

That’s all unless you want to go all-in on one of the gorgeous bi-level suites, which are pretty fantastic. The Ponce de Leon Suite features a whirlpool tub and views of the river.

Whatever you book, we’re looking at plush linens, robes, seating and working areas, coffee makers, and most options include a shower/tub combo.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Cordova chophouse with Mediterranean-inspired fusion; Starbucks onsite.
Special amenities: Beach access, concierge services, shuttle, snack delivery, golf club discounts.
Wellness: Fitness center with free weights & cardio, heated pool, hot tub, Poseidon Spa treatments.
Extras: Check-in champagne.

Food is found at Cordova, the onsite “chophouse.”

It’s a pretty gorgeous, lightly sultry take on the Spanish/Moroccan vibe, with plenty of intricate wood carving, soft lighting, and gilded (of course) columns.

Cuisine is also Mediterranean-inspired, with an emphasis on fusion which uses plenty of local seafood.

Anyone who likes to snack on marine life will be more than happy here.

There’s a Starbucks onsite, which we don’t find worth going into, besides an eye-roll at the combination of boutique hotel and international coffee conglomerate, but we digress.

When in Rome, we repeat to ourselves.

Back on the side of the unique and notable, we call attention to the always-welcome check-in champagne.

We also love the beach access and concierge services, with shuttle service, snack delivery options and discounts on many beach-related rentals.

The Wellness Center includes an area for free weights and cardio, alongside a heated pool and hot tub.

There are discounts and exclusive offers to those who want to check out the Palencia Golf Club.

Poseidon Spa is also onsite, with a variety of skin treatments and massages.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Historic area: Close to Flagler College, Governor’s House Cultural Center, Castillo de San Marcos.
Walking tour: Main historic drag including Basilica, Pirate Museum, Medieval Torture Museum.
Nearby attractions: St. Augustine Amphitheater, Anastasia State Park, beach ~10 min drive.

St. Augustine is a charming little historic peninsula with a very developed tourist area.

It has retained a collection of small historic areas, and the hotel is not far from these.

The famed Flagler College, which offers regular historical tours, is right across the street, for one.

The Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum is spitting distance (don’t spit on it!), for example, and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is just a 15-minute walk.

That walk will take you right through the main historic drag, which includes the Basilica of St. Augustine, Pirate Museum, and even a Medieval Torture Museum, if that’s your thing.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and boutiques in this area as well.

The St. Augustine Amphitheater and most of the best nature will require some driving, about 10 minutes to the beach.

Anastasia State Park is a great place to get a walk in, with one entrance just 5 minutes from the hotel.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“The staff was extremely hospitable, they even remember our names during out stay (front desk and bar staff); the from desk gentlemen who help us to check in was very professional and amicable at the same time, he also remember our names at all the time… I lost my sunglasses (or misplaced them) on the bar or on the ground floor, they found them and kept them for me…. way to go….. the hotel is beautiful, the food at the restaurant is superb, the bar server was incredible he even suggest some places for us to visit…..Thanks again….”

“Had a blast here and will likely return. Great location and customer service was excellent. Big props to the valet and front desk crew! …..”