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30 Best Restaurants in St Petersburg Florida You Must Try

30 Best Restaurants in St Petersburg Florida You Must Try

Looking for the best restaurants in St Petersburg? Great you have come to the right place.

There are tonnes of fun things to do in St Petersburg and one of the highlights of all these activities is dining in some of St Petersburg’s best restaurants! The great thing about this area of Florida is the food is so diverse and varied – there is something here for the pickiest of eaters here with tonnes of amazing St Pete restaurants including Chinese, French, Italian and seafood. We have included all locations including the best restaurants in downtown St Pete.

If you are wondering where to eat in St Pete Fl this weekend – keep reading for 30 of the St Petersburg’s finest dining experiences.

30 Best Restaurants in St Petersburg Florida

1. Bavaro’s Pizza

Established in 2009, Bavaro’s Pizza is a family-owned restaurant with old-style Italian dishes, personalized charcuterie boards that can be paired with the perfect wine, and live entertainment. Bavaro’s caters to everyone by providing options for vegetarians, vegans, and offers gluten-free options.

Bavaro’s also offers mouthwatering traditional Neopolitan pizza, unique yet refreshing salads, and savory classic Italian desserts perfect for chocolate lovers. Enjoy freshly handmade pasta dishes while sitting either inside indulging in the authentic Italian experience, enjoying the fresh breeze outside at umbrella tables, or bask in the amazing nighttime atmosphere the entire area has to offer.

One of the best restaurants in St Pete.

Bavaro’s Pizza

2. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille

Enjoy deliciously fresh seafood while embracing the view of both Tampa Bay and Downtown from both inside and outside seating located on St. Pete Pier. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille has plenty of room for the whole family in its 10,000 square foot restaurant with a classic kids menu that caters to even the pickiest of eaters.

Indulge in a wide variety menu with soups, salads, sandwiches, shellfish, a full-sized gluten-free menu, and a mouthwatering dessert menu full of handmade delicacies such as the Drunken Parrot Carrot Cake and the Double Decker Brownie.

See more: Best things to do in St Pete

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille/ Flickr

3. Red Mesa Cantina

Open since 1995, the Red Mesa Cantina offers authentic Latin American entrees with a full liquor bar. Dig into some spicy tuna tacos while sitting at either the upstairs bar, downstairs bar, or in the courtyard near the water fountain.

The dining atmosphere sets the complete relaxing experience while enjoying appetizers, burritos, bowls, tacos, salads, and even some tequila. Red Mesa Cantina also offers special diet options such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. Located in downtown St. Petersburg, Red Mesa creates the perfect lunchtime stop while out and about shopping or enjoying St. Petersburg’s biggest attractions.

Red Mesa Cantina

Red Mesa Cantina/ Flickr

4. Gratzzi Italian Grille

Voted the best Italian in St. Petersburg, Gratzzi Italian Grille is the perfect restaurant to get authentic Italian entrees. They offer chicken, veal, seafood, pasta, and the dish they are most famous for, “Bada Bing” pasta.

Sitting by the windows allows you to embrace the full old-style Italian ambiance of the restaurant while also enjoying the street view of everything going on outside. The staff is always attentive, friendly, and actually spend the time to get to know their regulars. Then to finish your meal, they have some classic Italian desserts such as cheesecake, cannolis, gelato, tiramisu, and limoncello cake.

Gratzzi Italian Grille

5. Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro

Enjoy some fresh seafood entrees on the dock looking over the water. Frescos offer brunch, lunch, and dinner with menu items including pasta, salads, tacos, sandwiches, and omelets. They also have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kids options.

Although most of their seating is outside on the deck, they also have seating inside with a bar and amazingly friendly servers and bartenders. Frescos really helps complete the perfect day with delicious mouthwatering food, upbeat live music, great drinks, relaxing waterfront seating enjoying the weather, and it is only a 2-minute walk from the Museum of Fine Arts.

Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro

Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro/ Facebook

6. Cassis St. Pete

Cassis St. Pete is a restaurant and bakery in historic downtown St. Petersburg. They offer a delicious mix of American, European, and French style entrees such as chipotle chicken quesadilla, blackened grouper sandwich, flatbreads, house cured smoked salmon and so much more with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

This American brasserie has elegant indoor dining and relaxing outdoor dining perfect for a quick bite or a luxurious dinner. Cassis St. Pete has breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night drinks with amazingly friendly and attentive staff. To top it all off, they have valet parking and free wifi.

One of the best restaurants in downtown St Pete!

Cassis St. Pete

7. Bella Brava

Bella Bravo is an Italian restaurant with delicious wine and American options.Their menu consists of items such as chicken pesto melt and hot Sicilian pizza. This restaurant has vegan, vegetarian, gluten free options, and is dog friendly.

They focus on great customer service and providing a memorable experience for their customers. Being in historic downtown St. Petersburg on the waterfront, Bella Brava provides a great place to stop for authentic Tuscany lunch, amazing water view, and people watching in between shopping and enjoying the different attractions nearby such as the Museum of Fine Arts which is a 2-minute walk away.

Bella Brava

Bella Brava/ Flickr

8. Still Waters Tavern

Still Waters Tavern is an American fare restaurant in the heart of historic downtown St. Petersburg. They have an extensive bar with beer, wine, and cocktails along with a greatly priced happy hour.

Still Waters Tavern has some deliciously amazing burgers, smoked wings, new England clam chowder, friend chicken salad and lots more with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. This restaurant gives off the best weekend relaxation aroma with weekend brunch, elegant yet cozy indoor dining, lit outdoor dining, close to the waterfront, and only a one minute walk from the Museum of Fine Art.

Still Waters Tavern

9. The Galley: A St. Pete Tavern

The Galley Tavern is described by locals as a little hole in the wall that is so worth discovering. They offer American fare and seafood, a full bar with beer and cocktails, and a rustic nautical themed dining experience.

If you are looking for a late night laid back pub scene, a local community favorite, or a family friendly environment, The Galley is the place to go. They have items on their menu for everyone such as a kids menu, late night bites, and delicious sandwiches. The servers and bartenders are very friendly and accommodating to special diets and allergies.

One of the best restaurants in St Pete!

The Galley- A St. Pete Tavern

10. Bacchus Wine Bistro

In the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Bacchus Wine Bistro is a French styled restaurant with wine, cheese, and charcuterie boards. The Bistro offers menus options such as French country salad, bacchus grilled cheese, Focaccia di Carne, Bacchus Tuna Carpaccio, and much more with vegetarian options.

The interior design gives off an elegant yet casual and cozy indoor and outdoor eating areas with amazing views of the town. The friendly and helpful staff, amazing flatbread, greatly paired wine, relaxing dining experience can be competed with a three minute walk to the Museum of Fine Arts.

Bacchus Wine Bistro

Bacchus Wine Bistro/ Flickr

11. Hawkers Asian Street Food

Hawkers offers scratch Asain street fare such as Green Papaya & Shrimp Salad, Steak and Kimchi Fried Rice, Chee Cheng’s Char Kway Teow, and much more with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

If you are looking for a quick bite and cocktails, Hawkers is the place to go. Being in the Edge District of St. Petersburg and being only 1.3 miles from The Dali Museum, stopping for a fast lunch at hawkers provides the opportunity to enjoy everything the Edge District and St. Petersburg has to offer. The interior design of Hawkers also helps create an elegant and family friendly ambiance.

Hawkers Asian Street Food

Hawkers Asian Street Food/ Facebook

12. Sushi Sho Rexley

Sushi Sho Rexley is a small casual yet sophisticated Japanese style restaurant with an omakase dining experience. Omakase is a chef designed menu where you are provided with courses chosen by the chef for an adventurous and full on sushi experience.

If you are ready to splurge on yourself, this is the place to add to your list of stops while shopping and enjoying local events to experience the full attraction of historic Downtown St. Petersburg. Reservations are required, just don’t be late so you don’t miss any of the delicious courses.

13. The Mill Restaurant

Located in the heart of Downtown St. Petersburg, The Mill Restaurant serves inventive American food with a southern spin to it.

They were voted best new restaurant in Florida, The Mill Restaurant offers many different menu options such as Fluffer Nutter french toast, roasted exoctic mushroom and sundried tomato salad, not your momma’s grilled cheese, and much more including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. The interior design is very unique and exciting with a farmstead-chic style and indoor and outdoor seating areas. The Mill also has a full bar, live music, and free wifi.

The Mill Restaurant

14. Brick and Mortar

Sister to the Sea Worthy Fish and Bar Restaurant in Tampa, the Brick and Mortar rustic style restaurant never disappoints. They offer American fare that changes seasonally.

Although their menu changes, they use locally sourced fresh ingredients from farmers to perfect all of their new handmade dishes and provide an amazingly delicious experience all around including their unique wines and craft beer. Located in historic Downtown St. Petersburg, Brick and Mortar provides an amazing view from both their indoor and their outdoor seating areas that are perfect for people watching and enjoying the weather.

Brick and Mortar

15. Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant

Close to the waterfront and less than half a mile away from the Dali museum, The Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant is the perfect stop on your way through the town while shopping and enjoying the local attractions and events.

They offer mouthwatering Mediterranean and Spanish dishes such as Gambas Y Guacamole, Ceviche De La Casa, Mahi-mahi Al Papel, Champiñones De Sevilla, and much more with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options . The Ceviche also has a full bar, Flamenco shows some nights, and has indoor and outdoor seating. If you are looking for an authentic and elegant Spanish dinner, Ceviche is the place to go.

Ceviche-Tapas-Bar-and-Restaurant

16. 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House

Located in historic Downtown St. Petersburg on the waterfront, the 400 Beach restaurant offers modem American fare and Seafood sourced from local farmers and ranchers. Their menu has an array of items such as steak, seafood, delectable wine, craft beer, and imaginative cocktails with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.

The 400 Beach Restaurant offers an all around elegant experience with both indoor and outdoor seating, valet parking, free wifi, amazing friendly and helpful service, reservations, and private dining. Conveniently located close to the Vinoy Hotel and the Dali Museum, the 400 Beach Restaurant is great for those travelling and vacationing.

400 Beach Seafood and Tap House

400 Beach Seafood and Tap House/ Flickr

17. Teak

Located on the fourth floor of the Head Pier Building on the St. Pete Pier, the Teak restaurant offers a 360 degree view of the bay. Teak offers a casual yet elegant dining experience with a nautical inspired menu.

Some of their unique menu options are Cinema Popcorn Coconut Shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce, Winter Rental Sampler Platter which consists of gulf oysters, cocktail shrimp, scallop crudo, cocktail sauce, horseradish, mini tabasco, Steak Frites which are Teak spiced 6oz sous vide hanger steak, parmesan fries, greek chimichurri yogurt, and many more mouthwatering dishes and drinks.

Teak

18. The Avenue DTSP

Located in the Water District od St. Petersburg, The Avenue is a great local hangout where you can catch pretty much any game on the 40 different TVs they have set up.

They serve American food such as mouth watering burgers, craft beer and cocktails with 2 bars, wings, Korean BBQ Pulled Pork, chicken tenders and much more. The Avenue is perfect for both a long stay to watch the game or a quick lunch while on your way to tour the rest of the town such as the Dali Museum that is less than a mile away.

See more: Best Bars in St Pete

The Avenue DTSP

19. Renzo’s St. Pete

Renzo’s is an Argentine style steakhouse with South American wine and seafood. Their menu consists of items such as Caribbean lobster tail, corvina romana, chilean sea bass, and much more with gluten free options.

Located in the waterfront district in downtown St. Petersburg, Renzo’s offers a casual dining experience with both indoor and lit outdoor seating within walking distance of all other attractions, shopping, and events that St. Petersburg has to offer such as the Dali Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, The St. Pete Pier, and many other artistic and family friendly.

Renzo’s St. Pete

20. Ford’s Garage

Ford’s Garage, located in the waterfront district, is the perfect pit stop in St. Petersburg. They serve amazing mouth watering burgers and comfort food in a neon upbeat environment with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The interior design is a a car lover’s heaven with an old car displayed in the middle of the bar, tire sinks in the bathroom, and car inspired accents with the meals. The bar offers craft beer and inventive and unique cocktails. If you are looking for the perfect gastropub experience with an exciting ambience, Ford’s Garage is the place to go.

Ford’s Garage

Ford’s Garage/ Facebook

21. LemonGrass Sushi Thai Tapas

Located in historic Downtown St. Petersburg, LemonGrass is a Japanese and Thai food restaurant that also offers gluten free sushi. Some of their menu items include krab and spinach soup, shrimp tempura, Lemon Grass signature roll, and many more delicious and unique dishes.

With traditional yet casual dining, LemonGrass offers fast and friendly service even when they are extremely busy so that you can geet back to enjoying the local attractions, shopping, and events such as the Florida Holocaust Muesum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Publix Super Market at University Village, and the Dali Museum.

LemonGrass-Sushi-Thai-Tapas

22. Social Roost

Voted the best new restaurant, Social Roost offers a little bit of everything on their menu as they are a globally inspired scratch kitchen an cantina bar with brunch on the weekends. Some of their menu options are southwest chicken cobb salad, classic roasted chicken, crispy skin salmon, chimichurri skirt steak, chicken and waffles, and many more unique and delicious entrees.

The Social Roost provides an elegant yet casual dining experience with both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff makes your dining experience even better by providing fast, friendly, accommodating, and welcoming service to truly complete your sophisticated meal.

Social Roost

23. Datz

Datz is not only a delicious modern American gastropub, but it also has a deli, weekend brunch, and smoked BBQ. With modern and classic dining, Datz provides a laid back relaxing meal with great inventive drinks. Some of the items on their menu include Nashville chicken doughnut, cheddar crusted breakfast tacos, southern chicken salad, buffalo cauliflower popcorn, Datz’s famous stuffed meatloaf, and delicious desserts such as outrageous peanut butter pie and horse soldier bourbon chocolate cake.

As if these menu items are intriguing enough, Datz also unique drinks such as the purple haze lemonade, Viva Sol Pina Colada Agua Fresca, Iced Chai Tea Latte, and so many more mouth watering options.

24. Paul’s Landing

Inspired by U.S. Navy carpenter, William Paul’s love for St. Petersburg, Paul’s Landing focuses on citrus, smoke meats, and seafood. Some of the items on their menu include Lemon Thyme Salmon, Smoked Chicken Sandwich, Citrus Glazed Shrimp & Grits, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese, and so many more unique delicious dishes.

They also have wine, on tap beer, and a classic kids menu. Paul’s Landing outdoor seating provides a great view of the waterfront and a relaxing dining experience while also enjoying the weather. Paul’s Landing is conveniently located near The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club.

25. Naked Farmer St. Petersburg

The Naked Farmer uses fresh locally sourced ingredients from farmers and ranchers to create a seasonal menu. Although the menu is constantly changing, the food is always delicious and the staff is always friendly and attentive. The cozy and elegant interior design makes the Naked Farmer the perfect stop for the family while on a day out on the town.

The Naked Farmer is close to a little bit of everything such as the Florida Holocaust Museum, The Dali Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, and so many more of St. Petersburg attractions, shopping, and events.

26. Sea Salt

Located in the Sundial Shopping Center in historic Downtown St. Petersburg, the Sea Salt restaurant offers plenty of seating room and a generously sized raw bar that is 80 feet long. If the size of the bar wasn’t impressive enough, they also have a 22 foot tall wine cellar.

The Sea Salt restaurant offers seafood dishes such as Avocado Stuffed with Jumbo Lump Crab Meat, Herb-Crusted Swordfish, Grilled Endive Caesar Salad, and much more including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. The staff is friendly, accommodating, and very attentive despite the size of the restaurant.

27. Italy Bottega

Located in the heart of historic Downtown St. Petersburg in the Edge District, Italy Bottega offers classic Italian style dining and Italian cuisines. The interior design of Italy Bottega gives off an old fashion yet cozy and family friendly ambience.

On top of the Italian dishes, Italy Bottega also has a deli and a bakery with delicious pastries and fresh roasted coffee that pairs perfectly with the items from the bakery. Some items you can find on their menu would be Pappardelle Shrimp Fradiavolo, Mortadella Panini, Bombolone Nutella which is an Italian doughnut stuffed with Nutella, Caprese Salad, and much more with vegetarian options.

28. Parkshore Grill

Located on the St. Pete Pier, the Parkshore Grill offers dining outside on a patio overlooking the Vinoy Yacht Basin and is conveniently located near The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Dali Museum, and many more attractions and shopping centers.

The Parkshore Grill serves steak, fresh fish, with delicious options for their weekend brunch including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. The staff is extremely friendly, attentive, and definitely go above and beyond to create a perfect dining experience for you. The Parkshore Grill also has private dining, valet parking, a full bar, and is dog friendly.

Parkshore Grill

Parkshore Grill/ Facebook

29. Engine NO. 9

Engine NO. 9 is a local sports bar in the heart of the St. Petersburg Edge District where you can catch any game. They offer local cuisines that consist of delicious comfort food such as mouth watering burgers, hotdogs, ribs, wings, and jambalaya along with vegetarian options.

Engine NO. 9 creates the perfect pub atmosphere to grab a bite while watching a game. It is the perfect place to end the day as it provides a relaxing night life experience and is a short distance from most places such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Dali Museum.

30. Fado Portuguese Cuisine

With authentic Portugal flavors and cultural dining, Fado Portuguese Cuisine is a great restaurant to visit while in St. Petersburg. Some items they offer are Baked salted codfish (bone-in) with small red baked potatoes, Salted codfish fritters, Small fried sardines, and many more options including a classic kids menu with mac and cheese and chicken fingers for the picky eaters.

Fado Portuguese Cuisine is a great place for the family to stop while out enjoy some of the attractions and shopping centers such as the Palladium Theater, the Museum of the American Fine Arts and Crafts Movement, the Sunshine center, and the Coliseum.

Fado Portuguese Cuisine

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Rob W

Friday 18th of February 2022

You need to change the name of article to 30 Restaurants in downtown St. Petersburg Florida. They are more places to eat in this city

Florida Vacationers

Friday 18th of February 2022

Hi Rob, I think "best" is subjective I suppose and based on individuals taste. Which are your favorites?

Emmanuel

Friday 18th of February 2022

You are missing out by not mentioning a superb new arrival Sol Bistro in the arts district next to 3 daughters brewery Great clean local food and the menu is as delicious and creative as it is free of allergens

Florida Vacationers

Friday 18th of February 2022

Thanks so much for the tip!