I can say wholeheartedly that I never thought I’d find myself living in St. Pete Beach. If I’m honest, I hadn’t even really heard of St. Pete Beach until three years ago, when my sister moved and I took my first quick trip out to St. Petersburg. Thank goodness for that trip!
Part of me wanted to keep St. Pete Beach a little gem to myself, but now that it was named #1 beach in the US on Tripadvisor, the secret’s out! I’ve only been here for about four months, but I’ve been doing some exploring. Here’s what I think you definitely need to try when you visit St. Pete Beach.
Eat
When I first got to St. Pete Beach, I didn’t think there was much in terms of restaurants. Now, it seems like everywhere I look there’s some new local spot I haven’t tried yet! And the list keeps on growing! My recommendations of where to eat if you’re spending any time here:
- Fresh Factory – this is the place to go for a juice, smoothie, or acai bowl. It’s perfect for all my vegans looking to get a nutritious, fresh breakfast in!
- Grove Surf & Coffee – this is actually a coffee shop and store in one! I personally can’t afford anything in their shop, but I’ve had a few coffees and they’ve all been delicious. It’s also a great spot to get some work done if you have to, but make sure to bring some noise-canceling headphones, it gets busy and loud.
- Basil Leaf Thai – not the chicest place, but the Thai food is delicious (with large portions) and the sushi is pretty good too! (I’m kind of picky when it comes to sushi though, so it’s hard for me to ever say somewhere is amazing.) It’s a little dark inside, so I’d recommend ordering takeout and enjoying your meal somewhere with a view!
- For the best sushi on the island, visit Nori Thai. I’m pretty sure they have the same owner (or are somehow related to) Basil Leaf, but the sushi here is always good and not outrageously priced. This is another place I’ve ordered takeout from but not eaten in, so I can’t attest to the dine-in experience. But if takeout sushi is good, it’s bound to be better when eaten at the restaurant!
- Buona Ristorante – this is hands down the best pizza I’ve had since I’ve been visiting the area. We’ve actually only ever ordered takeout but even then it’s also amazing! Their pizza is thin crust and I’m especially a fan of the veggie pizza. I ask for no cheese to make it vegan. Also, don’t let the fact that it’s in a strip mall turn you off; every time I’ve gone to pick up our pizza the food has looked and smelled delicious!
There are some places on St. Pete Beach that I’ve not been to but friends or family have, so I’m including their recommendations as well. Some I haven’t been to because of timing, others because of dietary restrictions. Again, I’m plant-based. For breakfast, Frog Pond is apparently the place to go for classic diner fare, while Café Soleil is a French bakery and deli, with apparently really good coffee and croissants! Chill Restaurant & Bar in Downtown St. Pete Beach gets rave reviews, as does Gigi’s (Italian food). Next on my list of places to try is Odi’s Mediterranean Kitchen, because apparently it’s really authentic and vegan-friendly!
Sleep
Admittedly I’ve only stayed in one of the hotels on St. Pete Beach, but that’s something I’m looking to change in the near future. I’d love to do a staycation and have the chance to share some hotel reviews here; fingers crossed that happens soon! My main tip regarding hotels is this: even if you use a booking website, always visit the hotel site first. I find third-party booking sites can sometimes be a bit misleading in terms of what a property offers, like saying a hotel has a spa when in fact it doesn’t. Not cool!
- TradeWinds Resorts is actually two separate resorts under one umbrella. There’s TradeWinds Island Grand and Rumfish Beach Resort, which have slightly different vibes but share their amenities, giving guests lots of options! I’ve stayed at Island Grand once and while it was really a very quick overnight, the location on the beach was amazing and the food and drinks were good too! It would make for a nice getaway for sure.
- Bellwether Beach Resort – I’m actually really excited to visit the Bellwether, which just opened! It was being renovated and between the new look of the rooms and dining options, it’s sure to be a top pick for visitors.
- Post Card Inn – This hotel looks incredibly cute and is right on the beach. Plus they have an actual coffee shop on property which I’ve heard amazing things about!
- Beachcomber – Another new renovation I’m excited to try out. Also right on the beach and the location of Jimmy’s Beach Bar!
The Beaches of St. Pete Beach
Despite the whole city being called St. Pete Beach, it’s actually made up of three main beaches!
Upham Beach is the northernmost beach, where you’ll find people playing beach volleyball, and a decent mix of locals and tourists. It’s also supposed to be a great place to see dolphins, but I haven’t been that lucky yet!
St. Pete Beach is the longest beach, just to the south of Upham. This is probably a more touristy section, with several oceanfront hotels located here. That said, it’s by no means super touristy and even at its most crowded, not at all comparable to Miami Beach or even Las Olas (thank goodness!). There are some parts of the beach here that are more residential, which oceanfront homes and condo buildings, which is where you’ll find more locals, like me!
The southernmost beach on the island is Pass-a-grille Beach, which feels almost remote at times. That part of St. Pete Beach is more residential, so this is probably the most private of the beaches. Of course, this also means there’s less to do as far as drinking and eating. Pass-A-Grille Beach is not as wide as St. Pete Beach, so there isn’t quite as much space for people to spread out. There’s also a dog-friendly section if you’re bringing Fido along!
Have you been to St. Pete Beach? Anywhere you think I should add to the list?
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