Salt Water Cowboys restaurant at sunset in St. Augustine.

Salt Water Cowboys

Experience real Southern dining and waterfront views at Salt Water Cowboys on Anastasia Island.

At the end of Dondanville Road, on the river.
299 Dondanville Rd, St. Augustine, 32080
  • (904) 471-2332

Hours of Operation

Come In, We're Open!
Sun:
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon - Tue:
Closed
Wed - Thu:
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri - Sat:
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Closed on Monday and Tuesday, Open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday.

  • Salt Water Cowboys, located on the Intracoastal on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, has served seafood, steaks, and more for over 55 years. This unique southern Florida-style restaurant offers indoor dining in one of their four dining rooms, and outdoor dining on the deck for those who wish to enjoy the view of the marsh and the Matanzas River.

    Surrounded by marshland, Salt Water Cowboys offers a true Southern dining experience, from Florida Cracker meals such as Alligator Tail, fried catfish, and frog legs; plus an impressive number of fresh seafood dishes and an open pit barbeque. In season, Salt Water Cowboys offers Maine lobster, local oysters, and rock shrimp.

    Decorated with snake skins and other native wildlife, Salt Water Cowboys gives you a real feel for a Florida, turn-of-the-century fish camp, complete with rusted tin ceilings and handmade willow twig furniture. Salt Water Cowboys is a unique local restaurant located on the picturesque Intracoastal where visitors can watch a spectacular sunset while enjoying  excellently prepared fresh seafood or barbeque.

  • Comments or Questions?

    Mary on December 16, 2015 - 1:33pm

    3
    Don't know if they ave changed owners or cooks but we were disappointed the last two times we have been. Seafood not fresh!

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    A Ashley on June 27, 2015 - 8:34am

    5
    My husband & I debated on trying this restaurant since there were a few questionable reviews. When we walked out, he said "and we almost didn't come!" We enjoyed our experience. Great food! Great atmosphere! Friendly staff! We both agreed the catfish was the best we'd ever had! If I'd known how great the hush puppies were, I'd ordered a plate full! If we come back to SA, this will definitely be on our to do list!

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    Leigh Ann on June 10, 2015 - 2:44pm

    5
    I can not wait to go back to Saltwater Cowboy's in three weeks when I am back in St. Augustine! I love the location, view and food of this restaurant! It is very unique in it's setting and the people are EXCEPTIONALLY nice! It is one of the more affordable places to eat there too, which is nice given that so many places at beach areas I believe charge too much for food! I love the drinks in the mason jars and the fact there is an outside bar access if you are outside waiting. I have always had the best experiences at Saltwater Cowboys! So much so I actually purchased a tee shirt from there and I never do that when I go to a restaurant! Can't wait to be there in 3 weeks!!! YAY!!!

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    Mike on January 11, 2015 - 5:21pm

    4
    It's been a year ago. We ate inside and had a nice dinner. It's not the Hilton but doesn't pretend to be. We had seafood, I can't even remember what it was but I remember it was good, staff was friendly and all in an interesting setting. An old fish camp atmosphere that I imagine was once filled with smoking whiskey drinkers telling "The big one that got away" stories. Don't let the cat comments bug you. Eat inside and enjoy a good meal.

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    Bobbi on October 25, 2014 - 10:54pm

    1
    Unfortunately I will never go back to this restaurant. Although the food was good the management and owner left a lot to be desired. I went out of my way to take family and friends there for dinner My sister was refused service. She had two glasses of wine. Supposedly there was a complaint about her language. I was sitting right next to her and it didn't happen. I am clueless as to what someone heard but it didn't come from her. Upon being refused service I called both the manager and owner over. It is true they have the right to refuse service. However, they chose to take someone else's word over ours. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Perhaps there was a better way to handle this. For instance having sent someone over to inform us there had been a complaint. We would have been very apologetic even tho we had nothing to apologize for. We are Christains and I am deeply offended.

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    Tom on June 13, 2017 - 8:38am

    5
    "We are Christains and I am deeply offended" Oh boo-hoo. They don't need a reason to refuse service. Get over it. And no I'm not affiliated with them in any way. Perfect example of what's wrong with society now. You think you should be able to wonder through life and everyone else on the planet needs to be concerned about your feelings. Grow a pair.

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    bill on October 30, 2014 - 12:40pm

    5
    In response to these comments we would like to say there had actually been three complaints in regards to these customers. One was from a table next to them with two small children.. The other two were from tables on the other side of the dining room. All had the same complaints. There were also servers in and out of the room that were observing the same scenario. Very loud, one lady in particular being highly impaired and a lot of cursing. One comment heard by several people was "This f-ing fish is so f-ing good!" While I'm delighted they enjoyed their food, this is inappropriate behavior in a public place. We are a family restaurant and would like everyone to feel comfortable while dining with us. Our apologies to everyone in the dining room that evening. We hope you will return and enjoy a fun relaxing evening of great food and good service with the best in atmosphere and beautiful sunsets! Thank you from the management, staff and owners.

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    Dave Lach on April 14, 2014 - 7:18am

    5
    Scenic views, sunsets and savory seafood. I will have to venture back to try the BBQ.

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    Denny on January 13, 2014 - 7:57pm

    5
    Love this place! We live in SA and it is always a treat for us to eat here. When ever we have out of town guests we bring them here and they always love it. Great food. Good prices. Always great staff. View is outstanding at sunset. Hey...the cats are outside and they do not even get close to people. Lighten up and enjoy!

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    susan on December 12, 2013 - 7:23pm

    0
    I have eaten at Salt Water Cowboys many times and have NEVER been dissapointed. The atmosphere is different but interesting, not the norm, the food is great and the prices are good. I enjoy the cats but they like fish and thats what they serve. If you are allergic to them and dont want to be around them, then eat inside the resturant! Very comfortable and clean.

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    Dave from Virginia on September 29, 2013 - 6:35am

    1
    No steamed oysters, server said it was normal to be out of them all the time.Ordered shrimp, told was out of that too(WTF?).On a friday too.What we did order we suspected was flash frozen and cooked, and not very well.Bread cold and old,Potato was cooked way earlier and almost cold.Had a weird flavor.hush puppies were good. Ruined our second honeymoon dinner,as it was supposed to be a highlight.Never will be back.Not even close to the food we got in the 1990's.Just sad. good luck.

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    Anonymous on April 1, 2013 - 11:52am

    5
    The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great. We come here every time we come to St Augustine. Not located in the 'old' historic downtown location, off the beaten path. But still a great place to eat. The house salad with green apples, walnuts, citrus dressing, etc is the best house salad ever. The Jambalaya is the best I have ever had. Yes there are cats there, but they are located outside and do not come to your table to beg for food cause they are well feed there. Sunsets are fabulous here. Just wished they were open for Lunch.

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    Anonymous on December 24, 2012 - 8:12am

    1
    The food was cold and even the coffee. A waiter for another table dropped his seafood sauce and kept on go and when we told him about it IT WAS NOT HIM, well we saw it drop and the sauce got all over one of our shoes and booth, but he did not do it, Our waiter was okay but I saw some of them reading a book in plain sight. Over priced for the food you ger

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    Arlene on August 12, 2012 - 10:39am

    5
    while yes there were cats--they were on the outside, unlike some Disney restaurants that have birds pooping all over. But it gave to the atmosphere. We sat outside and watched the sunset over dinner. We are heading south te begining of Dec and this will be on our agenda. See ya'll soon...

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    Robert McVay on July 15, 2012 - 11:56am

    5
    Always a must when visiting St. Augustine, located on a tidal marsh, you enter through a cool shaded wooden deck. Its the best place in town to enjoy a tropical drink, served from an outside window. A place where a short wait is a blessing. The local seafood is always fresh and prepared perfectly. Our guests often sample the gator and frog legs, not found anywhere else. The ambience is all old Florida inside and out. Beautiful sunsets over the marsh fed by the intercoastal in the distance; a place you don't want to leave and where you will always want to return because its so relaxing.

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    Stella Joyner on July 12, 2012 - 12:21pm

    2
    I was shocked the health dept. Allowed cats in the dining area. In our party, we had two of us that were allergic to cats. Not a good situation. Food was good but the cats done that in!

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    tammy on July 13, 2011 - 11:36am

    2
    While we weren't pleased at the looks of this restaurant when we arrived, over a swamp, ferrel cats everywhere, unpaved road,

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    Roger Smith on April 10, 2011 - 11:24am

    5
    Enjoyed dining there Dec 2010 with my grandchild Food was great .Excellence service . Will return next trip to St. Augustine

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    Robert Snite on March 27, 2011 - 8:52pm

    5
    on every trip to florida, regardless of destination, we make it a point to stop by either coming or going . we've been doing this since the early '80's. the atmosphere is unique rustic and the food is superb. try the stuffed snapper - it's to die for.

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