The Palace Saloon

The building was commissioned in 1878 by Josiah Prescott to house his men's shoe store, and in 1903 German immigrant Louis G. Hirth bought it and converted it into an upscale saloon, reportedly enlisting his friend Adolphus Busch of Anheuser-Busch to help design the bar. Its 40-foot carved mahogany bar and harbor-district elegance drew globe-traveling ship captains, earning it the nickname the 'Ship Captain's Bar.' The saloon survived Prohibition by selling Texaco gasoline, ice cream, near-beer and cigars, and legend holds it was the last bar in Florida to close before Prohibition took effect. A 1999 fire nearly destroyed the building, but it was restored and the bar still operates at its original location on Centre Street, widely cited as Florida's oldest continuously operating bar.

Legend has it the Palace was the last bar in Florida (some versions say the U.S.) to close before Prohibition — owner Louis Hirth reportedly held one last hurrah, selling booze until midnight and grossing $60,000 in a single night.

What to order: Pirate's Punch — the house's 'world famous' secret-recipe rum punch.