Step into the 1873 Old City House Inn and Restaurant and you'll be swept away by its historic relevance and distinctive legacy to St. Augustine. Pair the Inn with its charming new innkeepers, Ilse and James Philcox, and you have a world-class story of romance and adventure! Enter Ilse from South Africa, whose worldly travels and passion for entertaining brought her to St. Augustine thinking of buying an Bed & Breakfast…James from England, engineer, dreaming about the culinary field and owning a restaurant of distinction. Meeting at an English Pub in 1998 was no accident. The Old City House had to happen!

Opening the Inn in 2001, Ilse and James know they offer their guests a great experience. Both possess a European/English flair and take total pleasure in bringing enchantment to their guests-turned-friends, already bringing them many repeat and referral visitors to their legendary establishment. It was built by Philip Ammidown, a bon-vivant and friend of Henry Flagler, who loved the social high-life in St. Augustine at the turn-of-the-century so often documented in 'The Tattler' (The gossip paper of the day)…It had, and still possesses, a sensual masculine aura, now decorated to represent international cities: themes like Paris, Venice, Out of Africa, Passage to India. The seven bedrooms are cozy and private, devoid of Victorian lace and doilies!

Nestled amidst the grand palace-hotels built by Flagler by 1888, the petite Old City House is a very quaint two-story conquina shell and stucco Inn, residing atop the restaurant overlooking the Lightner Museum Gardens. There are courtyard and sidewalk tables café-style and seating for 40 inside. It is the only historic inn with full-service bar and dining in St. Augustine!