Casa Monica Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection

"__Why did this hotel catch your attention? __ If you’re coming in from the west, Casa Monica is part of a gorgeous panorama marking your arrival in St. Augustine, with grand old Flagler College to your left, the palace-like Lightner Museum to your right, and this resort and spa straight ahead. All three of these buildings used to be hotels, in fact, which put sunny St. Augustine on the map as a luxury resort destination in the late 19th century. Casa Monica, a grand Moorish Revival structure opened in 1888 by architect Franklin Smith, is the only building that retains its original purpose. What's the backstory? The building did a stint as the county courthouse earlier in the 20th century before it was purchased and restored to its former opulence by the Savannah hotel developer Richard Kessler. It’s now part of the Kessler Collection, a suite of luxury properties. Tell us all about the accommodations. Rooms here start from relatively simple and improve from there. The standard double comes with plush furnishings, down duvets and pillows, Bose speakers and alarms, flat-screen TVs, and a view of either the rooftop of the hotel pool, plus little perks like free Champagne at check-in. If money’s no object, go for one of five suites, with names like Anastasia and Ponce de Leon and amenities like spiral staircases, wet bars, private balconies, and unparalleled views of the historic district. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? Costa Brava, the in-house restaurant, takes culinary inspiration from its namesake region in Spain. The menu features cured Spanish meats (serrano ham, chorizo, country paté, and so forth) and seafood like braised octopus with kalamata aioli and piquillo peppers. A tasting menu is also available, as is a generous range of wine options by the bottle and glass. How'd you find the staff? Service is as polished and generous as you’d expect from a hotel of this caliber. Another tip: The valet will cost a little extra, but given what a pain it is to find parking in this area, that service feels like a blessing. What about the neighborhood? What else is around? The best way to get to know St. Augustine is on foot. Some old streets in the historic quarter are closed to cars; by that token, this hotel couldn’t be better located. It's just across the street from the Plaza de la Constitución, on the same block as a handful of art galleries, steps from the Matanzas River, and mere minutes from most everything else you’d want to do here. You could leave your car with the valet and forget about it — or not: Getting a room here also entitles you to access to the private Serenata Beach Club, 15 minutes north on A1A. Any other hotel features worth noting? Richard Kessler’s not just a hotel collector—he’s also an art collector who spreads his holdings around in galleries in various of his properties. There’s a Grand Bohemian Art Gallery in Charleston, there’s one in Savannah, and there’s one here that’s worth popping into, too. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? The most luxurious digs in St. Augustine" - Sam Worley