Live, work or like to play in St. Peterburg? Or perhaps you are visiting and looking for the best downtown St Petersburg restaurants to hit-up during your stay? Whether you live or work locally, or are visiting, chances are you will find a new place to love and revisit on this list. A work in progress, it is updated now and then to include new favorites as we come across them, feel free to chime in! We love hearing from you! So here we go:
Marchand's Bar & Grill
Marchand’s Bar & Grill, one of the premier St. Petersburg dining establishments, redefines fine American cuisine with a winning combination of classic and comfort food in a distinctive atmosphere. If you love history and want the best-of-the-best when it comes to a dining experience, try Marchand's at The Vinoy. It's unforgettably good! Read more about their sumptuous three-course price fixe meal for $19.25 here: The BEST Experience | NEW 1925 Classic Menu at The Vinoy . We recommend starting out on the Veranda, sipping a hand-crafted cocktail as the gentle breezes blow your cares away, then head in to Marchands or any one of several dining options at the Vinoy, to finish your night to perfection. Better yet, grab a room, be part of the history as a guest at The Vinoy. Arrange to take the famous History Tour the next day, learn about the interesting, funny and purely fascinating history of the Grand Dame of St. Petersburg's waterfront and enjoy the included lunch at The Vinoy Renaissance - St. Petersburg.
Arguably one of the the best destinations for seafood in Downtown St. Pete, 400 Beach is a haven for fans of modern ambiance and great seafood. Enjoy a full bar and extensive beer and wine list as well as a dazzling meal. Always impressive from the service to the food, 400 Beach is a must try when in St. Petersburg.
Parkshore Grill
Enjoy a delightful indoor or outdoor dining experience overlooking Straub Park and the Vinoy Yacht Basin as you revel in fine food & spirits with a contemporary American flare at Parkshore. Owner Steve Westphal and his crew ensure your visit will be memorable down to the tiniest of details. A favorite place of mine to take clients for lunch, we are never disappointed, and my guest always leaves satisfied and appreciative. Leave the details to Steve, make your next reservation at Parkshore!
The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge
A cafe by day and a bistro by night The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge adds a new dimension to the St. Petersburg waterfront dining scene. There are few places in the world as exciting and energizing as an airport and this lovely private terminal restaurant captures all of it, adding a new dimension, great food! I wish I could post two photos! One of the interior of the restaurant and one of the food, I can't, so you just need to go check it out for yourself; in a word the inside is, 'Unique'. Enjoy lunch and one of the best Grouper Sandwiches anywhere, stop in for jazz at night or indulge in their affordable Sunday Brunch!
The Moon Under Water
A local favorite overlooking North Straub Park with a beautiful atmosphere, outdoor dining, happy hours and daily specials; wining and dining just got better in St. Pete thanks to The Moon Under Water. Offering British colonial cuisine on Beach Drive, The Moon Under Water blends English brew pub fare with exotic Indian flavors. Their classic curry dishes are their specialty or opt-in for the traditional British Fish and Chips with a cold pint of Guinness, you can't go wrong!
BellaBrava
Serving authentic Northern Italy cuisine & signature cocktails this New World Tratorria on Beach Drive in St. Petersburg serves "the" most amazing Calzone I have had the pleasure of eating! As a frequent flyer at BellaBrava I can assure you, if you have kids, you will love the way they treat your children at this extremely family-friendly, yet trendy spot! They love kids, as they put it, "Especially the ones who eat spaghetti with their hands!" The perfect place for a date, a client meeting, or your anniversary dinner, if you like it spicy, I recommend the Shrimp Fra Diavolo shown below with a crisp white wine. Delicioso!
Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Featuring Spanish recipes from Northern Spain, a large wine list, live music and entertainers at this multi-level St. Petersburg restaurant, Ceviche is a place where you can enjoy the restaurant upstairs with indoor/outdoor seating or the bar downstairs along Beach Drive. Six different ceviche dishes are available everyday, do not miss Tapas Tuesdays when you get the best deals on their delicious fare!
Red Mesa Cantina
Enjoy Downtown St. Pete at Red Mesa Cantina. Serving up modern Mexican cuisine with an array of beer, wine, and liquor, the Red Mesa Cantina is a great destination for drinks after work, a date, or a celebration with friends! Red Mesa has two locations in St. Petersburg, the Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Petersburg and the Red Mesa Restaurant further out on 4th Street. Both serve tantalizing Tex-Mex menu's, The Cantina has a huge open patio on the side, perfect at night under the lights, the 4th street location is quaint, suited more for an intimate lunch or dinner. Just be sure when you tell someone you are 'meeting them at Red Mesa', you specify WHICH ONE. I have been at the Cantina while my guests sat waiting for me on 4th!
Central Avenue Oyster Bar
Serving fresh seafood, steaks, chicken, and pasta, they of course specialize in oysters! Conveniently located in the heart of Saint Petersburg The Oyster Bar offers an inspired dining experience serving only the freshest seafood, quality meats and poultry. The service is friendly, the atmosphere laid back. Open from 11am to midnight 7 days a week, enjoy boutique oysters and a 3 to 7 pm happy hour daily! We love their Lobster Roll, Blue Cheese Fries, Crawfish Pasta and chef inspired 'sides'. It is always hard to choose what to try next @ The Oyster Bar St Pete!
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro
Fresco's Waterfront Bistro is the only On-the waterfront restaurant in the heart of downtown St Pete! Come check out the view from the St Pete Marina and enjoy creative food al fresco! Looking for good food, good people and a good time, Fresco's is the place to go. Open Mon-Fri for breakfast through dinner 8:00 am - 10:00 pm, Saturdays from 10:00 am - 11:00 pm and Sundays from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm it's never a bad time to head to this eclectic marina restaurant for a delicious burger, a bowl of Lobster Bisque, Garlic Mussels or the 'fresh catch' done your way!
The FarmTable Kitchen
FarmTable Kitchen offers casual, farm-and-Gulf-to-table fare that combines the best of Chef Michael Mina’s California sensibilities with Chef Pintabona’s Italian flavors. Located inside Locale Market, the moment you step through the doors of the market downstairs you are bombarded by the sights, sounds and smells of the area's most unique market/restaurant experience. Upstairs at FarmTable Kitchen you can experience fine cuisine in a casual farm-table atmosphere. During my first visit, with Tampa Bay Bloggers, I was able to try multiple dishes courtesy of chef Mina. Pictured below is the Fungi Pizza. To read more about the experience, the food and to learn about Locale Market check out: Tampa Bay Bloggers hosted by Locale Market FarmTable Kitchen.
This eclectic group of Downtown St. Petersburg restaurants covers much of St. Pete, spans myriad cuisines, and we hope satisfiies your restaurant needs. Save for those occasions when you have no choice but to spend half your weeks pay on a meal, we've provided you a list that won't break your wallet while fulfilling your craving for not only exceptional cuisine, but a great experience too.
We continue to add local restaurants as we become acquainted with them, and encourage you to share your recommendations in comments below. This list will continue to grow, bookmark the article and check back any time you need to find the Best Downtown St Petersburg Restaurants
