Editor Pick
Taberna del Gallo
- June 12, 2004
- Rated 4 of 5 by
thedrifter from Nashville, Tennessee
The Taberna del Gallo is part of St. Augustine’s Colonial Spanish Quarter, but it is also open to the public four days a week, without purchasing a ticket to the Spanish Quarter. The tavern is a re-creation of a 1734 public house, based on one of the forty actual taverns that operated during the colonial era of this city. The Taberna del Gallo is a functioning establishment, staffed by period re-enactors. They serve both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, but do not have a food menu.
Thursdays through Saturday, the tavern is open from 2pm until 9:30pm and from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The small, one room taberna is a bit cramped for space, but there is also a little courtyard in the rear with rough-hewn tables and benches. There are no electric fixtures, only lamps and candles. With the costumed tavern keepers and assorted other hangers-on, it really gives quite a feel of stepping back in time, especially at night. I recommend sipping on sangria and just soaking up a bit of the atmosphere. The staff is very good at staying in character and they pepper their conversation liberally with historical tidbits that help combine a little education with your revelry.
For what is probably the most festive time to visit the Taberna del Gallo, you will want to drop by on Friday or Saturday evening. A group called the "Bilge Rats" performs sea shanties and other period ditties on these nights and it tends to draw the largest crowds, both of tourists and costumed attendants. It’s really an enjoyable way to get some hands-on insight into the entertainment and nightlife of 18th Century Spanish America. Whether you’re a history buff looking for a way to relive the past or just a curious traveler in search of something unique, the Taberna del Gallo is a great spot to just poke your head in for a bit or to spend a jovial evening. So, stop by, hoist a tankard and drink yourself back in time!
From journal Something Old, Something New