Just as Tampa has 813 Day as our excuse to celebrate everything we love about the city, so too does St. Pete have 727 Day (July 27) to commemorate all things good about the Sunshine City. While our focus here usually stays on this side of the bay, this is our excuse to cross the bridge for a day.
The St. Pete-based members of our team at our sister site I Love the Burg have put together their list of the can’t-miss restaurants in the city. These aren’t necessarily the fanciest or the craziest. These are the quintessential spots that make St. Pete, St. Pete. If you wanted a culinary tour to get to know the city, these would be your stops. We should note that we left out any restaurants that also have locations in Tampa, and for the sake of keeping the list manageable, we didn’t delve into the Pinellas beaches.
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The must-try restaurants in St. Pete
Allelo
300 Beach Dr NE
One of the newcomers on Beach Drive, Allelo and its Mediterranean cuisine have been an immediate hit. It can do it all, from casual brunch to a fancy dinner, with all the cocktail dates in between.
Bodega On Central
1180 Central Ave
They weren’t the first Cuban sandwich in Tampa Bay, but to hear regulars describe it, they may have cornered the market on being the best. Stick around into nighttime for a drink at their hidden speakeasy in the back.
Bonu Taverna Italiana
601 Central Ave
Any Friday or Saturday night at Bonu feels like you’ve wandered into something special, and so Very European. Come for the food and drink, get swept up in the lively atmosphere, and stick around long enough to dance the night away with DJ Toto.
Craft Kafe
200 Central Ave
When you sit on the patio at this gluten-free foodie paradise, you feel like you have a front row ticket to Downtown St. Pete. The baked goods are divine, the coffee is superb, and the people watching can’t be beat.
El Cap
3500 4th St N
Have you experienced St. Pete if you haven’t had a cheeseburger and a mug of domestic beer at El Cap? Technically, sure. In spirit, you’d be missing one of the quintessential Old St. Pete spots.
Elliott Aster
501 5th Ave NE
Newly added to the Michelin Guide, The Vinoy’s newest dining experience more than delivered on the high expectations it had after years of waiting. Think Italian yacht club meets steakhouse and you’re on your way to the Elliott Aster experience.
Fortu
97 Central Ave
One of the first St. Pete restaurants to earn Michelin Recognition is a favorite for date nights, celebrations, or any other reason you have to splurge (though the happy hour makes that splurge easier on the wallet). Succulent steaks, Japanese small plates, and tantalizing sushi make Fortu a star.
Harvey’s 4th Street Grill
3121 4th St N
The kings of casual, Harvey’s is practically a St. Pete museum unto itself, filled with memorabilia and literal pieces of St. Pete history, including repurposed flooring from The Vinoy. The prices for grouper, steak and American grill-style specialties can’t be beat.
Hookin’ Ain’t Easy
3660 22nd Ave S
The bartender serving you a draft beer from the tiki bar during dinner is also the fisherman who that morning caught the platter of smoked fish you’re munching on in front of him. It’s as casual as it gets, as fresh as it gets, and absolutely as St. Pete as it comes. Don’t skip the okra.
Mullet’s Fish Camp
3901 6th St S
Another laid-back favorite among St. Petians, Mullet’s is somewhere on the spectrum between tropical and swampy, and that’s a good thing. They have some of the best wings anywhere in Tampa Bay, an excellent tiki-forward cocktail program, and some of the city’s most popular fish sandwiches, tacos and platters.
Nitally’s Thai-Mex
1163 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N
This one’s for those who like it spicy. Nitally’s is a husband-and-wife-run Thai-Mexican fusion restaurant, and it is every bit as flavorful as it sounds. She brings the heat, and he brings even more heat. You’ve never seen a menu like this before, and you’ve never needed a glass of milk so badly.
Perry’s Porch
335 2nd Ave NE
The food and drink at Perry’s Porch is almost secondary to the surroundings, which is a shame, because the food and drink are fantastic. Located at the foot of the St. Pete Pier and situated along the water of Tampa Bay, these are the best aesthetics in town, whether it’s just early morning coffee or a celebratory dinner under the stars.
Pia’s Trattoria
3054 Beach Blvd S
One of two entries that isn’t technically St. Pete, Pia’s still remains at the top of the date night list for anyone who lives in the Sunshine City. The Old World atmosphere is as unbeatable as the large Italian dishes and the surprisingly refined cocktails. This is your passport to Gulfport.
Sauvignon Wine Locker & American Trattoria
241 Central Ave
Housed in a beautiful second-story space overlooking the busiest block of Central Avenue, Sauvignon is a decidedly St. Pete experience. The housemade pasta is out of this world, the wine list will impress the pickiest of oenophiles, and the rotating specials are always must-try fare.
Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish
1350 Pasadena Ave S
Another spot that St. Petians are quick to claim, even if it’s technically outside the city limits. This is the beach side of St. Pete, where open-air seating and the wafting smell of fish smoking immediately puts you into beach vacation mode. The smoked fish is the famous part of the menu, but the burgers are hard to beat, too. Cash only!
Wild Child
2710 Central Ave
Others get the Michelin Recognition, but Wild Child was one of the first this decade to inject serious creativity into St. Pete’s culinary scene. The menu constantly changes, but they basically never miss. The Korean fried chicken sandwich is a staff favorite.
