A bridge crane on rails hangs suspended overhead as guests sit at the bar sipping drinks. But these aren’t regular drinks. These craft cocktails are produced with fresh, local ingredients, in-house produced ice and more than a few dashes of expertise.

It is with these drinks that the Ice Plant is raising the bar for St. Augustine’s craft cocktail scene.

One of the local leaders in the craft cocktail movement, the Ice Plant is deep-rooted in history. The Ice Plant has successfully played off of the building’s history to create a one-of-a-kind cocktail bar.

The original Ice Plant was established in St. Augustine in 1927 when the facility created huge blocks of ice for shrimp boats and local customers. The original crane (that now hangs over the bar) is the same one that was used 90 years ago to pick up huge blocks of ice.