About

Ace Cafe Sanford is a full-service restaurant and bar in Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida, built around great food, good drinks and a place where people want to spend time. Our menu features American favorites including burgers, wings, sandwiches, fish & chips and Sunday brunch, along with handcrafted cocktails and a full bar. What makes Ace different is everything happening around the table—from live music and special events to motorcycle nights, car meets and the unmistakable spirit of Ace Cafe. Whether you're joining us for lunch, dinner, brunch, a show or a night out in downtown Sanford, you don't need to be a car or motorcycle enthusiast to feel at home here.

1938

The Ace Cafe Emerges

The Ace Cafe was established in 1938 on the then brand new North Circular Road surrounding London. It was a simple roadside Cafe catering to travelers, particularly truckers. With its proximity to Britain's fast arterial road network, and being open 24 hours, the Ace Cafe soon attracted motorcyclists too.

1940

The Ace Cafe Demolished In Air Raid

In World War II, the building was badly damaged during an air raid on the adjacent railway marshalling yards.

1949

The Rebuilt Ace Cafe & Heydays

The beginning of the Ace Cafe 'Heydays' – those days when the Ace became notorious and found its greatest popularity and maximum achievement. 'Them Days' as the British Ton Up Boys like to call them - from 1949 – 1969, when life was still in front of them through their goggles - racing each other and tempting fate, going flat out, bullet-proof and vicious without a care in the world - all at the same time.

1969

The Ace Cafe Had Closed Its Doors

Changes in the social order, the growth of the car market at the expense of the motorbike industry, and the expansion of the motorway network saw the Ace Cafe serving its last egg and chips in 1969.

1994

The Ace Cafe Reunion

The Ace Cafe Reunion - the brainchild of Mark Wilsmore - was an idea for an annual event to mark the closure of the original Ace Cafe, endeavouring to ensure that the original Ace Cafe re-opened.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the cafe's closure, Mark, with friends, formed the organizing team for the Reunion and arranged for motorcycle runs to converge at the former Ace Cafe site on Sunday 4th September 1994.

1997

A Part Of The Original Ace Opened

We can do it now!

With planning permission, ACE CAFE LONDON buys the original Ace Cafe site. From 7th December 1997, a part of the original and legendary Ace Cafe site was re-opened on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays and on the first Wednesday of every month.