St. Pete is a great place to find local restaurants and bars of all kinds. Here's a list of our favorite local eateries. Most of what's on the list has outdoor seating No major chain restaurants allowed! (Click the restaurant names for websites and menu info)
Friday September 20
We're going to have a little get-together on the Friday before the wedding at Three Birds Tavern in St. Petersburg. We are having a private happy hour from 7-9PM and it will be an open bar for our group between those hours. A great opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new family! Three Birds is also a great restaurant so we recommend getting there early and grabbing dinner before everyone arrives for happy hour!
Downtown St. Petersburg
Located downtown, all of these restaurants are located within walking distance of the Hampton Inn hotel.
Red Mesa Cantina - Awesome Mexican fusion with outdoor garden seating and lots of tequila options.
The Moon Under Water - A British Colonial-style pub. Good beer selection and great food. Something for everyone from Indian curry, to Burgers, to Fish & Chips.
Moscato's - Home-made Italian cuisine from a great family owned and operated business.
Meze 119 - Mediteranean-style vegetarian/vegan restaurant that is so good even meat-eaters like it.
Cassis - Upscale dining with nice sidewalk seating available. A great brunch spot. French bakery next door, you'll think you're in Paris.
The Avenue - Go here if you want a crazy awesome burger. End of story.
Cafe Alma - Wine, tapas and entrees. 2-4-1 drinks at the bar all day everyday.
La V - Vietnamese cuisine with a modern funky atmosphere. Charlie loves the Pho and Tara loves the Boba tea and Tofoagie (hoagie with awesome tofu filling).
Parkshore Grill - Upscale restaurant on Beach Drive. They've got everything from surf to turf and everything in between.
400 Beach Seafood and Taphouse - Owned by the same guy as Parkshore Grill. The seafood side of things.
Near our Home
All of these are within walking distance of our house and we enjoy them regularly.
Taco Bus - You can't make a trip to the Tampa Bay area and not visit the famous Taco Bus. With a location within easy walking distance of our home, it's a regular staple for late-night snacks or Saturday lunch. Open 24 hours on weekends.
Beak's - A fun little bar/restaurant with "Floribbean" style food. A new owner made the menu smaller and took away some favorites, but still a good stop for some Florida flavor.
The Queen and I - Our favorite Thai place in the area, fortunately located a few blocks from the house.
Nitally's - A very unique blend of Mexican & Thai foods. They're VERY slow (plan for 45 minutes from when you order to actually getting it to your table) but the food is amazing and worth it if you have the time, especially if you're a fan of spicy cuisine.
Cappy's Pizza - The best pizza joint in the area.
The Queenshead -
St. Pete Beach and Beaches
Very easy to take Central Ave. west all the way to Gulf Blvd.
Sloppy Joe's - We love the sunset here and Charlie loves a place he can pretend like he's on vacation and order fruity/girly drinks.
The Pearl - Upscale Mediterranean cuisine. We celebrated our "Negative 1" year til the wedding anniversary here.
Other Favorites
These are some local restaurants that we think are worth traveling to. No more than a 15-minute drive from anywhere in St. Pete.
Three Birds Tavern - Friends of ours, drop in and say "Hi"! An excellent pub with good beer selection, full liquor bar, and a great menu if you're hungry. Some of the best outdoor seating available on a nice afternoon/evening and a good place to catch your favorite game on TV.
Hook's - Awesome sushi and just about any other style of Asian cuisine you can think of (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, etc.).Tangelo's - Caribbean food at its finest, but with a unique twist. Cuban sandwiches, home-made salsa, and yucca. Make sure to get the cinnamon tea! Located in Gulfport.
Peg's Cantina - A little on the expensive side but worth it. Mexican food and great craft beers. Located in Gulfport.
El Cap - One of St. Pete's most famous burger spots. A long time staple in the area.
Watering Holes
Some great spots to grab yourselves a drink and hang out with friends late in to the night (don't forget, St. Pete bars are open till 3AM!)
The Ale and the Witch - Our favorite beer bar. 32 constantly rotating American craft beers on tap at all times and live music 7 nights a week in their outdoor courtyard! (If beer's not your thing, they share their courtyard with a wine bar.)
Five Bucks - A local bar with a college town feel. Well-known for their giant beers and Long Island Ice Teas. If you're wanting a late night snack, the BBQ mac & cheese sandwich is a must-have. Good place to catch your favorite team's game!
Crum's Bar and Grill - Very close to home for us. 65 craft beers on tap!
Dessert!
Tara's favorite dessert spots...
Paciugo - Fantastic gelato. Favorites are pannacotta and black cherry flavors.
The Cupcake Spot - Great flavors with fun names!
Old Farmer's Creamery (We call it "The Barn", if you go you'll see why)- ,They've got great hand-dipped flavors. Cash only.