The Classic Palace Saloon - Amelia Island

The oldest bar in Florida was originally constructed as a men’s haberdashery in 1878 selling suits and shoes.

Louis G. Hirth bought the Prescott building in 1903 and replaced shoes with the booze and named it the Palace Saloon.

It was added to the collection of saloons that dotted the streets near Fernandina Harbor where ships from around the world docked.

In the early days it was known as the “Ships Captain’s Bar” where it only served the elite.

It was a favorite spot for the Rockefellers, the Carnegie’s, Adolphus Busch and other socialites, probably because there was a brothel upstairs.

A true gentleman’s establishment, the bar even included complimentary towels hanging from the bar to wipe foam from patrons mustaches and 14 lb solid black brass spittoons for those who enjoyed a good chew with a drink.

On the last day before prohibition they had stored up for a last hurrah, selling till midnight $60,000 in a single day.

It survived that dry era as an ice cream parlor selling Texaco gasoline, cigars, and was one of the first places in Florida to sell Coca-Cola.

This is a magnificent old saloon and it’s real, it’s authentic.   The same as it was at the turn of the century and it’s 40 ft bar is a wonderful relic.   It’s history resides in it’s mosaic tile floors, embossed tin ceilings and gas lamp fixtures, still standing proudly along the bar.

The setting is intimately dark as heavy red velvet draperies adjust only a sliver of sunlight.   Paddle fans hang from the ceiling, while hand carved mahogany caryatids (undraped female figures) reign over the bar along with hand-painted murals looking down from above.  The jukebox takes turns with the old player piano near a pool table.

Next to Captain Tony’s in Key West which was built around a Hanging Tree it’s considered one of the most haunted bars in Florida.

So belly up to the bar as the bartender slides a mug of suds to you while the ghosts of ten decades past join in drinking to your health.

There’s all day bottomless mimosas and you must have a Pirate’s Punch, they’ve been making since the 1920s.

There’s great live music Tuesday through Saturday and happy hour is from 3:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. and it’s open every day.

Couple years ago I accompanied a group of modern-day pirates for beers here. Amelia Island Rescue and Recovery are still diving for the elusive San Miguel off the coast here with its 2 billion dollars treasure.