Florida’s sunny reputation hides a darker side filled with ghostly tales and mysterious happenings. Beyond the beaches and theme parks, the Sunshine State harbors restaurants where unexplained phenomena are just as common as the daily specials.
These eateries offer delicious food alongside spine-tingling experiences that might leave you wondering if your dinner companion is from this world or beyond.
1. Ashley’s Of Rockledge: Where History And Hauntings Collide
The elegant Tudor-style building housing Ashley’s restaurant holds secrets darker than its aged wooden beams. Built in the 1930s, this historic establishment serves American classics against a backdrop of unexplained footsteps and flickering lights.
Young Ethel Allen, murdered nearby decades ago, reportedly haunts the women’s restroom. Staff members have grown accustomed to strange occurrences – locked doors mysteriously opening and faucets turning on by themselves.
2. Columbia Restaurant: A Century Of Spirits In St. Augustine
Savoring paella at Florida’s oldest continuously operating restaurant means dining alongside invisible guests from the past. Founded in 1905, this Spanish-Cuban culinary landmark carries more than just culinary traditions.
Whispers about the original owner’s lingering presence have circulated for generations. Waitstaff report mysterious cold spots and glasses that move without explanation. A heartbroken woman whose lover died in a violent bar fight apparently wanders the historic dining rooms, still searching for her beloved.
3. The Old Jailhouse Kitchen & Spirits: Dinner Behind Bars
“You’re sentenced to dinner!” might well be the motto at this uniquely repurposed Sanford landmark. Former jail cells now serve as intimate dining alcoves where guests enjoy upscale comfort food surrounded by original brick walls and iron bars.
Diners occasionally report unexplained temperature drops and the sensation of being watched. Some claim to hear phantom footsteps or faint whispers when no one is nearby – perhaps former inmates still serving their time alongside your appetizers.
4. SpookEasy Lounge: Tampa’s Hauntingly Hip Hideaway
With a name that embraces its supernatural reputation, this gothic-themed Ybor City establishment doesn’t hide from its ghostly residents. Vintage chandeliers cast dramatic shadows across velvet-upholstered seating where patrons sip craft cocktails named after local legends.
Located in Tampa’s notoriously haunted district, staff members have documented unexplained phenomena for years. Bartenders tell tales of bottles rearranging themselves overnight and mysterious figures glimpsed in mirrors. The lounge cleverly incorporates these stories into special paranormal-themed events.
5. Pelican Alley Restaurant: Waterfront Dining With Spectral Supervision
Overlooking the sparkling waters of Nokomis, this casual seafood spot serves up fresh catches alongside tales of its watchful former owner. Locals swear he never truly left, keeping a protective eye on his beloved establishment.
Chairs mysteriously pull out from tables. Kitchen equipment activates without human touch. Even the restaurant’s menus acknowledge these otherworldly occurrences, sharing stories of the spectral supervisor who ensures everything runs smoothly from beyond the grave.
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