Looking for your next favorite brunch spot? Jacksonville’s newest whimsical addition – The Candy Apple Café & Cocktails – has both a sophisticated menu and a playful sense of place. Sharing a building with the city’s most beloved candy store, Sweet Pete’s, The Candy Apple Café ensures your grown-up appetite is put first.
Set in the historic Seminole Club building in the central hub of Jacksonville’s downtown, The Candy Apple Café emanates a sense of prestige, as you take in the grand scale of it’s surroundings. The building has been colorfully remodeled, and from the moment you enter, you're transported to a world within itself.
It's a world where great food mirrors great style, and magical moments await.
The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails is a whimsical French-inspired cafe with Southern influences — Photo courtesy of Amy West
Serving brunch and lunch daily, The Candy Apple Café is furnished with stately chairs, bold light fixtures and stunning art installations. The bright, friendly colors are reflected by the well-trained staff, whose knowledgeable presentation of the offerings impresses.
The menu is imaginative and full of chic nuances that pay homage to the individually-operated, sweet-themed businesses co-laboring in one location aptly titled “The Sweetest Destination on Earth."
The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails serves brunch every day — Photo courtesy of Dennis Ho / The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails
The Candy Apple Café showcases a locally sourced, French-inspired menu with Southern influences. Discover decadent brunch selections like Challah French Toast and Bourbon Pecan Waffles.
Visiting for lunch? Get started with deviled eggs or Candy Cherrywood Bacon. A well-rounded presentation of indulgent, lighter fare and gluten-free options are included in the menu, as well such as Short Rib Meatloaf, Kale-Quinoa Salad and Cornmeal Dusted Flounder.
Lighter fare like the baby arugula salad topped with grilled chicken are also available in half portions, as seen here — Photo courtesy of Amy West
Pair refined options with a distinctive wine selection or hand-crafted cocktail, complete with sweet-themed statements like "The Rock Candy Old Fashioned" and "Very Cherry Pop."
True to the cafe's name, a line of gourmet candy apples graces the dessert menu, and the options will tempt your taste buds with sweet and savory combinations like Sea Salt Caramel Candy Bacon, Coconut Curry Cashew and Cookies and Cream, just to name a few.
True to its name, The Candy Apple Cafe offers an entire line of gourmet candy apples — Photo courtesy of The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails
Mother-and-daugther team Liz and Jennifer Earnest’s proven success with their catering business Chef’s Garden Catering & Events, as well as the Cummer Museum’s Cummer Cafe, led them to join forces with Alan and Ellen Cottrill of River City Contractors and Millwork Design Studio to create a unique destination for sweet delights, distinctive cuisine and private events.
The result is a new landscape in casual gourmet dining on the First Coast, one most eagerly welcomed by the masses.
The decadence is truly in the details at The Candy Apple Café, and those details have been paid great care. This exclusive club turned family-friendly destination has introduced the community to a bright new portrait of great taste in "The River City."
A meal at The Candy Apple Café is truly a memorable experience. Whether you're visiting for brunch or popping in for a cocktail at the bar, there's something for every age. And ample inspiration to return again and again.
Indulge in classic favorites like this Reuben sandwich at The Candy Apple Cafe — Photo courtesy of Dennis Ho / The Candy Apple Cafe & Cocktails
