St. Francis Inn, St. Augustine, Florida: A Review
Stay in the middle of history at St. Francis Inn in St. Augustine, Florida!
Tucked away on a quiet street in the middle of Historic St. Augustine's residential quarter is a three story timbered building.
At first glance, it blends into this area of beautiful historic homes, but if you venture into the courtyard, you'll notice that you've stumbled onto one of the city's most revered bed and breakfasts.
Now in its 3rd century of existence, the Inn holds two historical record in this very historic town: it's the oldest property that's currently being used as an inn, and it is the longest running lodging in St. Augustine.
With excellent customer service, a quiet location, and a even a rumored ghost or two, the St. Francis Inn offers a gorgeous spot for anyone looking to create new memories in this old town.
In the review of the St. Francis Inn below, you’ll learn just what to expect during your stay, as well as history of the property, and what’s near the hotel.
The exterior of the St. Francis Inn as seen from St. George Street
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
I was provided a complimentary stay at the Inn in exchange for my honest opinions.
A Review of the St. Francis Inn
History of the Inn
Built in 1791 by a Spanish soldier (who may or may not have been dipping into the governmental coffers to pay for the house), the St. Francis Inn was a private home for the first few decades of its existence. In the 1800s, the Dummett family purchased it as a city home when they needed time away from their plantation.
By the 1840s, the house had passed to brothers in the Dummett family; they allowed their sister to stay, free of charge, in the house, but did not give her any other financial support.
To help cover her bills, she began to take on boarders, and the Inn's long history of lodging began. In the 1880s, it became overflow housing for Henry Flagler's Ponce De Leon hotel, one of the poshest spots in its day.
The porches of the Inn overlooking the courtyard
As the inn changed hands, so too did its name.
It was originally known as the Dummett-Garcia House (and is still called this on the National Historic Register), then as the Graham House.
Finally, it was renamed the St. Francis Inn when it was bought in 1948, and the owners wanted a title that focused more on the area's geography and less on each individual owner.
The current owners, Margaret and Joe Finnegan, are celebrating their 40th year of running the St. Francis Inn, and still continue to reinvent what the Inn offers to its guests.
"Everyday at a bed and breakfast has the potential to be an adventure," Joe told me, so he, his wife, and their staff stay prepared for whatever might arise.
When one of the innkeeping staff, Linda, was asked about her strangest experience, she mentioned the goose in diapers that has frequented the property, as well as the family of ferrets who make regular appearances each year.
If you want to bring your pet to St. Augustine, the Inn is very pet friendly--even to non-traditional pets!
Location of St. Francis Inn
The St. Francis Inn is (as its name suggests) located on St. Francis Street--at the corner of St. Francis and St. George, to be more exact.
It's only about three blocks north to the pedestrian-only area of St. George and just a block to the waterfront.
Everything that you'd want to see in St. Augustine is within an easy walk, yet, because the Inn is nestled among private houses, you'll escape most of the hustle and bustle you'll find on the larger streets.
Plus, if you're planning on riding the Old Town Trolley, stop #17 is just four houses down on St. Francis in front of the Gonzalez-Alvarez House.
NOTE: The Old Town Trolley is one of our must-dos when visiting St. Augustine with kids!
Individual Room Review
The personalized tiles outside of the rooms at the Inn
I stayed on the 3rd floor in the Dummett Room. The Dummett Room is on the far corner of the hotel away from St. George Street. Due to its corner location, there were large windows in the bedroom and bathroom, which added light in both rooms.
This room is in the oldest part of the hotel, so the walls aren’t perfectly flush and the ceilings are lower than in other hotels you’ve visited. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing as all of that’s part of the unique charm of the place.
Even with the historic structure, there are plenty of modern updates to keep you comfortable.
I loved stretching out in the queen bed while watching television each night before I went to bed.
The bedding was meticulously cleaned and comfortable, and I enjoyed the heavy duvet and blankets if I got chilly.
The room also had a mini refrigerator, small closet (with fluffy robes!), and cream sherry each day.
The bathroom is decorated in a similar style to the bedroom, with the same wooden ceiling extending in here and historic colored trim.
The large soaking tub (with jets!) was a great way to relax my sore muscles after I'd hiked all around St. Augustine each day.
The ensuite bathroom in my 3rd floor bedroom
For a single traveler or couple, the room would be fantastic. I went on this press trip solo, so it was plenty of room for me.
For those who want more room, or for larger families, the Inn offers a variety of sizes of rooms in the main building, the cottage, and the Wilson House.
If I’d been traveling with my kids—and all of their pack and plays, toys, and clothes—we definitely would’ve have to spring for one of the other rooms.
There are 17 rooms and suites at the St. Francis property, and another 5 at their sister property on St. Augustine Beach.
Know that there is no elevator on the property, so guests in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues will need to secure a room on the first floor of the Wilson House or in the cottage.
The stairs are quite steep in the main house, so use caution as you're walking up and down to the 2nd and 3rd floors.
There is a railing to help you down the stairs on those top floors and plenty of signs to help you remember when to duck your head so you don’t hit anything!
Creaky old stairs require a few warnings!
Customer Service at the Inn
The day that I checked in, the desk staff was getting a workout with all of the guests who were coming in at once.
I visited in mid-May, just as the tourism season for St. Augustine was getting ramped up for the year, and that already busy time was compounded by the fact that multiple groups (including my own press group) was checking in at the same time.
Even though they were swamped, the ladies working the front desk remained calm, put-together, and polite to everyone.
When it was time for me to check in, Beverley walked me through the check-in process and then took me up three flights of stairs to my room.
My stay was punctuated with personal touches like that, which makes this experience memorable when compared to my stays elsewhere in St. Augustine.
(It wasn’t just because I was there on a press trip, either, which is often the case. I saw other customers not on the press trip getting the exact same treatment!)
Anytime I had questions, the staff was there to answer them. The Finnegans have worked hard to assemble their 14 staff members, and it shows!
St. Francis Inn Amenities
For a smaller inn, the St. Francis has plenty to offer. Start the day with a home-cooked buffet breakfast!
I was treated to a delicious quiche and strawberry soup one morning, and cheesy eggs and biscuits another. There's also fresh fruit, coffee, cinnamon rolls, apple and orange juice, and homemade granola.
Start your day the right way with the options at the breakfast bar downstairs.
Stop by throughout the day for coffee, ice tea, and fruit-infused water--and don't miss out on the afternoon cookies. I had some amazing treats while I was at the inn, including their signature pecan pie bars.
They shared the recipe with me: learn how to make the Pecan Pie Bars from the St. Francis Inn here!
Then, in the afternoon, there's a cocktail hour in the courtyard where you can mix and mingle with the other guests if that's your thing.
If you want to get out of the city for the day, head over to the Inn's sister property at the beach, where you can use their chairs, umbrellas, and parking area.
The Inn also has a heated pool, Wi-fi, electric car charging stations, complimentary bikes, and off-street parking across from the main hotel.
Ghosts and the St. Francis Inn
If you're into the paranormal, you can count the Inn's supposed ghosts among its amenities!
Lily, the resident ghost, as well as a male figure, have been seen throughout the hotel by guests.
While most of the activity seems to concentrate on Lily's Room on the 2nd floor and on the 3rd floor, the innkeepers mentioned having strange experiences throughout the main building.
I didn't have any out-of-the-ordinary experiences, probably because I was actively trying to avoid them since I'm about the most scaredy cat person ever. I was on the 3rd floor, and one of my neighbors mentioned hearing running in the hallway during the night.
So, your mileage may vary there.
However, the inn has quite a few fans who come there in the hopes of learning more about Lily!
For more about the Inn's ghosts, see their website.
Final Thoughts on the St. Francis Inn
Believe it or not, I've never stayed in a B&B on any of my travels before! We’ve relied heavily on traditional hotels and AirBnBs such as the Coconut Inn in Pass-a-Grille, Florida, or the Great Wolf Lodge.
But now, I feel completely spoiled since my experience at the St. Francis Inn was so wonderful.
Although the historic district of St. Augustine has many small inns and bed and breakfasts, none other have the charm, history, and location that the St. Francis Inn has.
Given the amenities and addition to detail, the Inn is surprisingly affordable, especially considering the excellent location, upscale room furnishings, and free food offered throughout the day.
While I don’t know that I’d take very young kids here—there are too many antiques and narrow stairs—I wouldn’t hesitate to take my elementary, middle, or high school aged kids here. They’ll be entranced by the fun ghost stories, historic features, and pretty courtyard.
Plus, the hotel is close enough to all of the major attractions in town that it’s easy to head back to the hotel for a quick snack or nap when the family gets tired.
The next time you're in St. Augustine, book a room, and tell Joe that I sent you!
Follow the arrows from St. George Street to get to the check in desk!
Have you been to St. Augustine? Do you like staying in B&Bs? Would the rumor of a ghost at a place like the St. Francis Inn be awesome or terrifying for you?
