Located about an hour south of Cocoa Beach and about 15 miles north of Vero Beach along Route 1 is the town of Sebastian Florida. Part of Florida’s Treasure Coast and home of the nation’s first Wildlife refuge, Sebastian offers great fishing, surfing, festivals, scenic parks, great food, restaurants, and oh yes….a world-famous beach bar!
History
On July 31st of 1718, eleven of the twelve treasure carrying ships commandeered by Capitan de y Guerra Don Antonio de Echeverz Zubiza and Juan Esteban de Ubilla were destroyed by a hurricane just off the coast of Florida near Sebastian. The only ship to survive was a French Warship named Griffon, whose captain decided to sail directly into the storm, rather than be smashed against the shoreline reefs like the rest of the fleet.
According to the 1715 Fleet Society, the entire fleet’s cargo was estimated to be around 15 million silver piastres (thin metal plates or coins). Salvage missions were able to recover vast amounts of the gold, silver, and King’s treasure, but much was still lost. When word of the crash spread across the rest of the world, pirates and looters set sail to stake their shares. By 1718, after Spanish salvaging efforts had ceased, the highest parts of the ship’s structures could still be seen by passing ships during low tide.
This area of Florida has been aptly nicknamed the “Treasure Coast”, with the total value of lost treasure estimated to be upwards of $500 million. With most of the ships sinking off it’s coast, there may still be some treasures to be found in the Sebastian area. In 1988, treasure hunters found $300,000.00 worth of treasures from the 1715 fleet just near the Sebastian Inlet. As recent as February 2020, a treasure hunter claimed to have found nearly a dozen silver coins from the wreckage while combing one of the local beaches. In 2015, a treasure hunting dive team was said to have recovered over 300 gold coins, valued at over $4.5million, off Wabasso Florida.
Sebastian drew it’s humble beginnings as fishing village in the mid to late 1870’s. In 1882 it was officially named St. Sebastian, after the patron saint of archers and athletes and protector and patron of bubonic plague victims. St. Sebastian is known for surviving his execution by arrows for his refusal to denounce Christianity. After removing the “St.” from its official name, Sebastian soon became recognized as a nationwide hotspot for fishing and wildlife. On March 4th, 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt named Pelican Island our nation’s first National Wildlife refuge.
Over the years, the treasure hunters and those seeking world-class fishing were soon joined by those looking to catch some of the biggest and best surf breaks in Florida. According to Redbull.com, the Sebastian Inlet is the #1 big break surf spot in all of Florida.
With all this excitement off the coast, Sebastian still maintains its “Old Florida” feel as visitor friendly, fishing village on the Indian River lagoon. With lots of great restaurants, over a dozen parks and scenic walkways, pontoon boating and paddle boarding excursions, great annual festivals (Fine Art and Music Festival, The Lionfish Fest, The Annual Clambake) there is lot’s to choose from in this coastal Florida town. One of the treasure’s that attracts visitors from all over the world, is Captain Hiram’s resort and it’s world-famous Sandbar.
Capt Hiram’s Resort
A 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, 2020 TripAdvisor Best in Florida, and 2019 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award Winner, Capt Hiram’s offers an old world Florida Bahamian feel with new world amenities and excitement.
Founded in 1986, when Baltimore and Ocean City Maryland native, Tom Collins, purchased the River Raw Bar after falling in the love with the fishing village in the 1980’s. Named in dedication to Tom’s heroic great uncle, 1st Sergeant and Normandy Beach D-Day landing craft crewman, Hiram Collins. Read about his story here.
While in Ocean City, Tom Collins tried his hand at business ownership at an early age, opening Tom’s Beach Service and Tom’s Vending Machines while still in his teens. The family then got into real estate development, catching the booming Ocean City real estate growth wave at the right time.
After purchasing the riverfront property in 1986, Collin’s opened Captain Hiram’s River Raw Bar the following year. From its humble beginnings as a 28 seat Raw Bar complete with boat ramp and storage, Capt Hiram’s has grown into Sebastian’s largest employer. The 3 ½ acre resort now boasts 4 bars, 2 restaurants, a hotel (as well as the Best Western just down the road), a 61 boat slips at their own private marina, Bimini Beach, live music 7 days per week, and Anita Boat, a small boat salvaged from a sunken cruise liner off South Florida that now serves as a guest entertainment venue.
In essence, they have created a resort where you feel like you are in the Bahamas without chartering a boat or buying a plane ticket. Capt Hiram’s offers that old world Florida, Bahamian island feel with new world amenities. Known for great drinks, river views, and live music, the resort has become a hotspot for destination weddings, corporate outings, and family or “girls” weekend getaways.
From their informational brochure, “each hotel building on property is named after an island in the Bahamas. The entire Collins family, great lovers of the islands, paid tribute to the Bahamas by naming parts of the resort after their favorite Bahamian islands. Our main hotel building is called Grand Bahamas, which is the first Bahamian island the family visited. As we constructed more buildings and hotel accommodations, we added; Exuma Cay (Will Collins’ favorite Island), Abaco Cay, and Rum Cay. Our Rum Cay rooms are the nicest rooms on property with incredible views, and Rum, after all, was Tom Collins’ favorite spirit.”
They offer multiple different types of rooms, from luxury jacuzzi and deluxe suites, to king size waterfront rooms, to their fun getaway adult bunk bed rooms that offer 4 bunk beds each with their own TV and headphone jack. Their Marina, at marker # 66 on the Indian lagoon, originally supported 20 boat slips. Today it has grown into one of the largest marinas in Sebastian, offering 61 slips, complete with dedicated dockhands and $0.00 docking fee for the day.
A fun fact about Capt Hiram’s is that most of their creative ideas and building plans were conceived on cocktail napkins and bar coasters. If you happen to take a glance at your bar coaster next time you are there, you may see one of Will and Tom Collins’ doodle designs.
Through his work building relationships with businesses and organizations throughout the community, Tom Collins became a Sebastian icon. With his passing in 2018, his lasting legacy as a community leader and visionary, “will not be the bricks and mortar that are here- it’s the people”, according to this TCPalm.com story.
The Sandbar
One of Coastal Living Magazine’s top 10 beach bars in Florida, as well as Indian River Magazine’s best beach bar in 2020, the Sandbar is a great place to enjoy a cold drink, live music, and warm breeze.
Located on the Indian River, the 800-person open air Tiki-style Sandbar is perfectly situated on Capt Hiram’s premises. The Grand Sand Bandstand lies on one side while the waterfront Tiki stage lies on the other. Scoops Premium bar is located just above while Bimini Beach is a walk through the sand away.
Whether you want to catch a concert by some of the best national artists and bands from atop Scoops Bar, or dance the night away in the sand below, the Sandbar has become Sebastian’s “go-to destination for live music, cold beer, tropical cocktails and the chance to mingle with a trio of spirited spots.”
Everything in the Sandbar, from tables and chairs to the bars themselves, was built by hand. No detail is spared here. Even the sand in the Sandbar is ADA approved. A great feature of this resort is that you can walk around from bar to bar with your drink in hand (as long as you don’t have a glass). At the Sandbar, the only dress code requirement is a bathing suit!
In the late afternoon you can grab one of their famous Captain’s Crush drinks, catch a local band, and watch the sunset over the river. Or feel free to enjoy a high-end cocktail at Scoops Premium Bar and have a great dinner at Blackfins River Front Grille. The possibilities are endless! The fun starts at 11:00am Monday through Sunday and doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. The Sandbar offers a super casual atmosphere, with dancing and live music playing well into the night.
Activities
When a 3 ½ acre waterfront resort has 61 boat slips, 2 stages, 4 bars, and their own River King cruise boat, the possibilities are many.
Happy Hour and Drink of the Day: The #1 rated happy hour in Sebastian goes 7 days a week! Drinks are $2.50 from 3:00 to 6:00pm. They also have “the drink of the day” 7 days a week.
Mondays is Martini Day ($1.00 off)
Tuesdays is Jose Cuervo Margarita Day ($6.00)
Wednesdays is Wine Down Day ($1.00 off any glass)
Thursdays is Mai Tai Day ($6.00)
Fridays is Voodoo Buckets Day ($8.00)
Saturday is Bahama Mama Day ($6.00)
Sundays is Mimosa ($4.00) or Bloody Mary ($5.00)
Live music 7 days per week: While enjoying a cold beverage, you can check out a band playing on one of their stages. The Tiki stage hosts the bands during the week while the Grand Sand Band Stand offers larger concert venues on weekends. With fun bands cranking out tunes from the 80’s, 90s, and today, you can drink, dance, and sing along without your toes ever leaving the sand. Let’s also not forget the ever-popular Captain’s Karaoke on Sundays!
One of their most popular music events, now going into it’s 4th year, is Reggae in the Summertime. Every Sunday, for 13 weeks, starting at the end of June, they offer Reggae concerts with big name artists that have included Less Than Jake, Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime, Zander Waves, Bachaco, Jon Wayne & The Pain, Propaganjah, E.N Young, Resinated, Tunnel Vision, Bret Bollinger and The Bad Habits, Lights Out Project, Vibes Farm, and Top Hill Crew.
Wine, Brews, and Disco Cruises: Hop on board, grab a few beverages, and set sail to Pelican Island.
Fishing and Charter Options: They have at least 6 fishing captains that call Capt Hiram’s Marina home.
The River King Sightseeing and Eco Tours: They offer dolphin watching, river cruises, and Pelican Island excursions.
They is also have Kayaking, Paddleboard, Boat and Bike Rentals and more. Over on Bimini Beach, you can grab a game of beer pong or cornhole or enjoy one of their pit fires while watching the sunset.
Cleanliness
The staff does an exceptional job keeping this place clean. They perform a deep cleaning on a regular basis and maintain all modern COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cleanliness and safety guidelines.
Crowd
The crowd at the Sandbar is a cross-generational mix. During the week, from 3:00-6:00pm it is an older crowd, but by 6:01pm, the younger crowd starts to make their way in. On weekends, when Hiram’s has larger bands hitting the Grand Sand Band Stand, the crowd is roughly 25 to retirement, with everybody mixing and having a good time!
Special Events
During a busy year, Hiram’s hosts over 100 special events, with several local charity groups holding their big events there. From fishing tournaments and weddings, to non-profit united against poverty events, the duck derby, and river regatta, to say they give back to the local community is an understatement.
One of their biggest charity events over the past 10 years has been the Crush Calendar. This annual event has raised over $250,000 for charity in that time. Just last year, they raised $24,000 through this event. The Captains Crush is their most popular drink. It is a Collins’ family recipe that consists of a refreshing mix of Deep Eddy’s vodka, a fresh-squeezed citrus, and a splash of lemon lime soda. A dollar from every one of these goes to a local charity per month.
A great feature of the resort is how it caters to weddings and corporate events. Companies, some with groups as large as 600 employees, have rented out the entire resort for at least one day (sometimes more). With this option, groups have free reign of the entire resort.
Beverages
The Sandbar offers a great specialty drink menu, with over a dozen cocktail options, including their second most popular drink: The Voodoo Bucket. This 32oz concoction consists of Cruzan Pineapple, Citrus Banana, Coconut rums, pineapple, orange, and cranberry juices, topped with a Dark Rum floater.
Other drinks at the Sandbar includes the Captains Crush, Roxy Rita, Mojito, Goombay Smash, Coconut Breeze, Pussers Painkiller, Hurricane Hiram, Bahama Mama, Tequila Sunrise, frozen Pina Colada, Frozen Rum Runner, Miami Vice, Strawberry Mango Madness, and Micks Margarita. There is a also full line up of beers on tap and in bottle/can, as well as several different craft beers from local brewers including Pareidolia 32958 IPA, Intracoastal Dragon Point, Sailfish White Marlin, Walking Tree Sandy Feet Wheat Ale, and Walking Tree White IPA.
Check out the Sandbar Menu here.
At Blackfins Grill, the mixed drink menu is slightly different, but just as extensive. It includes the Capt’s Crush, the Voodoo Bucket, the Blackfin’s Cosmopolitan, Roxy Rita, Goombay Smash, Coconut Breeze, Pusser’s Painkiller, Hurricane Hiram, Shipwreck Island Iced Tea, a Strawberry Margarita, Boozy Lemonade, the Blue Floridian, The Dreamccicle, Hiram’s Colada, the Frozen Peach Bellini, and more.
Blackfins also offers a full selection of beers, wines, sparkling drinks, and champagne.
Check out the Blackfins Drink Menu here.
Bites
With their great drink selection, also comes a great food selection. Menu favorites include:
- Maryland Crab Cakes – Jump lump crab cake broiled or fried, served on a potato roll.
- Dirty Oysters – caviar, hot sauce, sour cream, and some chopped onions
- Mickey’s Oyster Shooters with a blend of Absolut Peppar and Zing Zang.
- Fried Green Tomatoes with Lumped Crab Meat toped with house made Remoulade.
Starters include Asian Tuna Nachos, Blue Crab and Artichoke Dip, Conche Fritters, Coconut Shrimp and more. The raw bar offers Peel and Eat shrimp, Oysters on the Half Shell, Dirty Oysters, Oyster Shooters, Littleneck Clams, Mussels, and a Seafood Sampler.
Burgers include the Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Mushroom Truffle, and the Cowboy. Soup and Sandwiches include New England Clam Chowder, Authentic Maryland Blue Crab Soup, the Fresh Catch of the Day Sandwich, Triple Trouble Tacos, Cindie’s Ultimate Lobster Roll, the Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy, and the Deck Hand Chicken Sandwich. One menu item we can’t forget is Hiram’s Flatliner, a smoked BBQ pulled pork, shaved ham, bacon, provolone, and dill pickle sandwich served on Cuban bread.
Check out the full Sandbar menu here.
The Blackfins menu includes many of the favorites, with the addition of Asian Tuna Nachos, a Roasted Red Beet Salad, the Seafood Pasta Plate with jumbo shrimp, Scallops, and crab meat, Tropical Grilled Mahi, Crab-Stuffed Flounder, Cilantro Grilled Shrimp Skewers, and their You Catch It, We Cook It option, in which you catch and fillet your fish on the boat and they will grill, blacken, broil, or fry it, and serve it with your choice of starch and Chef’s vegetables.
Check out the full Blackfins menu here.
Overall Rating
Fun and friendly atmosphere. Check
Quality selection of tasty beverages and bites. Check
Lots of activities to choose from. Check
Takes pride donating to multiple charities and giving back to the community. Check. Check.
Mix of people from all walk of life looking to have a fun time. Check
Great toes in the sand concerts. Check
Clean facilities and courteous/professional staff. Check
Great spot for a cool drink, live music, and warm breeze. Check
Feel like you are on Island time. Check
5/5 Margaritas!!!
Hours of Operation
Sunday – Thursday 11:00am- 10:00pm
Friday–Saturday 11:00am-midnight
Contact Info
1580 US Highway 1, Sebastian, Florida 32958
Phone: (772) 388-8588
Toll Free: (888) HIRAMS1
Fax: (772) 589-4346
