I spent my first weekend in St. Pete in the summer of 2018. My youngest sister was moving there and I was also attending a meetup for digital nomads. I’d never been before and honestly didn’t really have any expectations, but I ended up loving it!

You see, growing up in South Florida, we didn’t really travel much within Florida, unless it was to go to Disney. Since we had beach pretty much at our front door, we didn’t really do many beach vacations in my family, so there wouldn’t have been a reason for us to visit St. Pete. But man, am I glad I discovered it as an adult.

St. Pete used to be known as more of a retirement location, but in recent years they’ve been redeveloping the downtown area and the whole city is experiencing a really cool resurgence. I would describe St. Pete as kind of hipster, laid-back and welcoming. They seem to be very queer-friendly, are very big on supporting local business and the arts. I’ve visited several times since that first weekend and each trip brings me something new.

So, based on all the intel I’ve gathered in my various trips I’ve come up with a guide on how to spend a weekend in St. Pete. (Really though, you can ask my family. I make them try new places each time in the name of research!)

Depending on where you live, a trip over could mean a weekend in St. Pete or maybe just a day there. Who knows, maybe you love it so much you make lots of day trips. I know I would!

What To Do

Downtown St. Pete

St. Pete is actually a little bit of a unicorn in that it’s a small peninsula, so you can watch both the sunrise and sunset on the water, and those two spots are less than thirty minutes apart! Vinoy Park is a great place to talk a walk, and you can walk down the East side of the peninsula, along Bayshore Drive towards the marina and the Albert Whitted Airpark. It’s really cool to watch the small planes come in and out!

My favorite way to get to know a city, though, is by walking. Naturally, that’s my favorite way to spend a weekend in St. Pete. I love walking down Central, seeing the shops, murals and art and generally just people watching. I’ve even made a St. Pete mural tour walking guide to help you explore it that way too! And if you’re interested, St. Pete also hosts two professional sports teams: the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.

Also, if you want to see something different but completely unique, check out the St. Pete / Clearwater Dolphin Trail. The Dolphin Trail is a public art piece, with over 150 6-ft. tall painted dolphins scattered through the St. Pete and Clearwater area. They’re hand-painted by local artists, each celebrating something related to the area or place the dolphin is located. I haven’t seen them all but I’ve seen a few!

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Museums

St. Pete also offers amazing cultural experiences as well. The Dali Museum is probably my favorite. The building is stunning and also faces the water. Just up the street are the Museum of Fine Arts and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Heading slightly west – really, only a few blocks west – are the Florida Holocaust Museum and Morean Arts Center. The Morean Arts Center is more of a cultural center than outright museum, but they host different art collections so it’s basically an art museum too!

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Beach

If you’re feeling like more of a beach day, you can head over to St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island. Pass-A-Grille beach is the southernmost beach and my personal fave, because it’s mostly locals and there aren’t any hotels directly on the beach. That said, there really isn’t much out there by way of beachfront restaurants or bars either. Pass-a-grille is more for when you’re planning on bringing your own stuff.

If you’re feeling a livelier scene, Treasure Island might be what you’re looking for. Caddy’s is a waterfront bar and restaurant with good food, great drinks and an amazing deck to watch the sunset from. I mean, look at the pictures below! St. Pete Beach is also fun, with several hotels and beachside restaurants like Jimmy B’s Beach Bar and Salty’s Tiki Bar & Lounge. That area has a few hotels and resorts as well, so if all you want is a beach vacation, you can make that happen too!

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Where to Eat

Breakfast & Brunch

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Yes. Definitely. If it’s a weekend, brunch is the best way to start the day! Thankfully, St. Pete has great options for both.

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I like to find the best donuts wherever I travel, and in St. Pete that means Fray’s Donut House. Hands down. If you’re looking for more pastry-style, Mazzaro’s Italian Market is where it’s at. They have all kinds of amazing breads, both salty and sweet, along with other breakfast items and really good Italian coffee! If you are wanting to try Mazzaro’s though, be aware they’re closed on Sundays. Cider Press Cafe also has some really yummy offerings and they’re vegan!

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As for brunch, I’ve had amazing experiences at The Mill, Thirsty First and Stillwater’s Tavern. The Mill has a smaller, very creative menu and restaurant decor uses lots of refurbished pieces from mills. Thirsty First is more of a gastropub/sports bar, but they have a really good brunch menu and bottomless mimosas! I’d say it’s the most economical of the three. Stillwater’s Tavern is good as well, but definitely pricier and a little bit fancier of a restaurant. People come here in their Sunday best and for the cocktail menu rather than to start day-drinking. If you’re going for more of a day-drinking vibe, Park & Rec is a good option but they don’t offer a specific brunch menu.

Lunch & Dinner

I’m lumping lunch and dinner together because unless you’re looking for a fancier, three course meal type of place, most places have the same menu. Plus, depending on how your day goes, you may want to do a heavier meal for lunch rather than dinner. (That’s definitely one thing I do now since moving to Spain.)

If you’re in the mood for something to-go, like sandwiches or prepared plates, I recommend Smiley’s Deli or Mazzaro’s. Smiley’s is a Puerto-Rican style deli, with really generous portions, perfect to grab on the way to your beach day or picnic at the park. Mazzaro’s has a deli as well as several prepared cold plates, like pasta salads, antipasto, and charcuterie options. You can eat at Mazzaro’s or take out as well. *Note: both are closed on Sundays. Bodega on Central is also a good option for Cuban sandwiches and Latin American food, but there always seems to be an insane line!

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My recommendations are a bit all over the place, but one restaurant we go back to is Red Mesa Mercado. It’s a California-style Mexican place, kind of a cross between street food and restaurant. Most of the seating is outdoor, but covered and generally always feels nice. I’ve had their burritos, tacos, bowls and nachos and like I said, we keep going back! (I also just found out they serve breakfast…so now I can’t wait to go give that a try next time!)

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If you’re looking for a casual restaurant, there are tons of options with all different kinds of cuisine. I like The Cider Press Cafe for a healthier, lighter option. It’s actually a vegan restaurant but their burgers, juices and desserts are delicious! If pizza is what you’re after, Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana is just down Central. It’s a bit on the pricier end but the pizzas are delicious. In my mind, that’s more of a date night restaurant. A recent favorite of mine has been Datz, an American gastropub/sports bar with some really cool fusion dishes. Their nachos are huge and delicious and the Thai salad is also super tasty. Datz also does breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends, which is probably also really good!

Where to Drink

Coffee

Did you think I would start anywhere else? Please. Even though it’s usually one of the things I’m most frugal about when staying in St. Pete, I love trying a good coffee place. Plus, what’s better than an iced coffee on those hot summer days walking around?! Coffee was actually my introduction on my first weekend in St. Pete. Our meetup was at Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, so I grabbed an iced coffee and it was delicious! Since then, I’ve also popped into Grassroots Kava House and The Cider Press cafe. Both have yummy coffee and all three are also great spots to get some computer work done! Other spots on my to-visit-list are Central Coffee Shoppe and Chocolate & Espresso Coffee Bar. Can’t vouch for those but they have cool vibes!

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Beer

I love a good craft beer. Granted, I’ve lived in places where craft beer was king, so it’s definitely something I love trying. Am I the best connoisseur? Eh. Probably not. Still, I love trying new flavors and supporting local breweries. Plus, my cocktail game is pretty simple: gin and tonic with lime, so I’m not big on cocktail bars. Thankfully, St. Pete is fully equipped to quench my beer-craving self. I would say there’s a tie for my favorite brewery: Flying Boat Brewing and 3 Daughters Brewing. You see, I have a friend who works at Flying Boat and they have several beers I like, but 3 Daughters is cool too and they have ciders and seltzers for when I’m feeling extra gluten-intolerant! Green Bench is another popular brewery with some tasty beers as well. Then there are several I haven’t tried, like Overflow Brewing, Cycle Brewing and St. Pete Brewing Company. Plus the beer scene is still young and continues to grow!

Hopefully, you get to visit St. Pete and try some of these recommendations. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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