Enjoying all of downtown St. Pete’s popular museums, music venues, bayside parks, and other renowned attractions can really work up an appetite!
Luckily, the quaint, community-centered downtown district has some of the best places in the Bay to satisfy your midday hunger.
Here are some of our top local favorites:
Engine No9
With its mouthwatering gourmet prime beef burgers, 65 different kinds of beer, and TVs at every table, Engine No9 has quickly become one of downtown St. Pete’s premier sports bars.
This established modern pub welcomes guests into a very comfortable, spacious atmosphere that features tantalizing cuisine such as Sriracha Crusted Hot Wings, Jerk Braised Short Ribs, Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli and of course, succulent, mouthwatering burgers with names like One Bad Pig, Black Flag, XXX Burger, Chubby Duck, and the Resurrection.
Owner Jason Esposito is the son and nephew of hockey hall-of-famers Tony and Phil Esposito and is a certified Executive Chef. He has worked at some of the best hotels and resorts in the South, which explains why Engine No9’s menu features his sensational Cajun/Creole style of cooking.
Engine No9 is open from noon to midnight. To access their menu, click here.
Bodega
In the mood for something fresh with a latin flare? Try Bodega!
Influenced by cuisine from Key West, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations, Bodega’s roots, like their flavors are “deep and complex”.
Their menu features such Caribbean delicacies as the Frita (a sandwich with cuban-style beef, pork, spicy mayo, avocado, and fritas on top), Platos (featuring slow roasted meats with Caribbean flare), delicious Cuban coffee, and most certainly an incredible Cuban sandwich worth raving about.
Veggie options are also available along with a myriad of other savory lunch items that can be found here.
Catch a refreshing break from the heat with Bodega Juice, an indoor seating area next to the Latin Market, featuring fresh juices such as “Dropping Mad Beets”, made with beet, apple, ginger and carrot. Also featured is the option to build-your-own soda fresca, juice or smoothie from a list of fresh ingredients.
Bodega is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Red Mesa Cantina
Red Mesa Cantina is an award-winning, word-of-mouth favorite in St. Pete.
Mexican at heart, Red Mesa Cantina blends in an array of incredible Latin and Caribbean kitchen traditions to create an exquisite lineup of ceviches, tacos, and small plate delicacies that are fresh and invigorating to the palate.
Click here to learn more about both their savory and sweet menu options and to see the most extensive Tequila menu in all of Tampa Bay!
Lunch specials are priced at $9 and hours for lunch are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To view their menu, click here.
BellaBrava: New World Trattoria
Hungry for some Italian? Well, Italian flavor is what Bella Brava is all about!
Before opening in 2005, BellaBrava’s owners travelled the hills of Tuscany, sampling some of the best cheeses, pastas, herbs, meats, seafood, and pizzas in the world.
They knew St. Pete needed a restaurant that fused traditional Italian fare with modern cuisine and decided to bring the best of the Old World and the New World to the heart of their beloved city.
No need to get too fancy at BellaBrava. The atmosphere is refined, yet casual; the prices remain low, and the emphasis is on you - the customer.
Indeed, the old and new mix well here. American burgers are served with a Tuscan twist and there are a wide variety of pastas, antipasti, and seafood, as well as woodstone-oven fired pizzas, calzone, and flatbreads.
BellaBrava is renowned for its friendly staff, large horseshoe-shaped bar, flavorful meals, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Enjoy lunch on the patio which offers a clear view of Tampa Bay, the famous St. Pete Pier, and Beach Drive.
To access the menu or learn more about BellaBrava, click here. Lunch begins at 11:30 Monday - Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Sab Cafe
Take your tastebuds on a trip to southeast Asia without leaving downtown!
Located in the heart of downtown, Sab Café features a simple but extraordinary selection of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine that includes the most fresh and authentic of ingredients.
Popular lunch items include Pad Thai, Thai Fried Rice, Kimchi Fried Rice, and Panaeng Coconut Curry which are often enjoyed alongside the Cafe’s signature Sake Cocktails such as staff favorite, the Silky Nigori.
The Sab Cafe is a great local spot for those looking for somewhere quaint, yet unique and authentic.
For the Sab Cafe’s menu, click here. They are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon to mighnight Satudays, and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.
