St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has a lively sunny spirit with a beautiful waterfront park to amble through, appealing sidewalk cafes and shops along Central Avenue, and many galleries for gawking. The pier, fluffed up by a recent rejuvenation, has an aquarium, along with shops and places to eat. Feed the pelicans if you’d like. Weekends find locals at their fav beach, Pass-a-Grille, named by French fishermen who used to grill their catch of the day there. You can get there on the Suncoast Trolley, a bus that will get you there with no parking worries. A visit to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary will make you feel a little better about what happens to injured birds who get 6-pac rings caught around their necks and other environmental hazards: it’s the largest wild bird hospital in the world, treating somewhere around 500 birds back to health and release. Plenty of restaurant options here, just take a look at our picks, or discover some of your own.
Breakfast & lunch:
Dome Grill: $ The Dome diner rules for breakfast early AM and late into those evenings that won’t end.
561 Central Ave, (727) 823-5090
The Frog Pond: $$ HUGE breakfasts and lunches in a real nice and real popular setting.
16909 Gulf Blvd, North Redington Beach, (727) 392-4117
Front Porch Produce: $ Tricky hours, but hit it for a weekend breakfast or lunch and you’ve landed a winner.
421 4th Ave N, (727) 320-4540
Beverly’s La Croisette: Don’t miss Bev’s if you like those warm feeling good old breakfast spots. You’re bound to love this one.
7401 Gulf, St Pete Beach, (727) 360-2253
Seafood:
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish: $$ Great smoked fish from the big smoker out back. A classic roadside attraction that is hard to drive by, so pull in and enjoy!
1350 Pasadena Ave S, (727) 381-7931
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House: $$ New and nice oyster bar with a couple dozen beers on tap and some fine seafood.
400 Beach Drive NE, St Petersburg, (727) 896-2400
Billy’s Stone Crab Seafood & Steak House: $$ Real good seafood and steaks in a nice setting.
1 Collany Rd, Saint Petersburg, (727) 866-2115
Pizza & Italian:
Primi Urban Cafe: $$ South African/Italian and it works! Unique Italian goodness.
27 4th Street N, Saint Petersburg, (727) 895-4909
Gratzzi’s Ristorante: $$ One of those nice little Italian places that gets it all just right.
199 2nd Ave N, St Petersburg, (727) 822-7769
Tour De Pizza: Good, family owned thin crust pizza place.
212 37th Ave N, Saint Petersburg, (727) 898-5555
Campanella’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza: Good thin crust and Italian dishes in P Park.
7420 49th St, Pinellas Park, (727) 545-3944
Joey Brooklyn’s Famous Pizza Kitchen: Joey’s pack of too cool pizza characters do the deal on good NY pies.
210 1st Ave N, Saint Petersburg, (727) 822-6757
Watercolor by Peter Bailey