The right way to Plan a Journey to St. Petersburg, Florida

As a longtime Tampa resident, I typically discover myself casting an envious eye throughout the glittering expanse of Tampa Bay at neighboring St. Petersburg (additionally referred to as St. Pete). The town takes itself rather less critically, is aware of methods to celebration, and punches above its weight with museums, breweries, and nice eating places, in addition. Additionally, a few of the Gulf Coast’s greatest seashores are only a brief drive away (simply don’t confuse downtown St. Pete — a vacation spot of its personal — with neighboring St. Pete Seaside and Clearwater Seaside).

“I feel the world has the most effective of each worlds, with the seashores and downtown,” says Kenny Tufo, govt chef at St. Pete’s City Stillhouse, who moved to the world a decade in the past from New York Metropolis. “You may be in Clearwater, Sarasota, and Tampa actually shortly, however St. Pete additionally occurs to be completely stunning and with a lot to do by itself.”

From a chef’s standpoint, the world has actually blossomed just lately. “The culinary scene has grown to have the ability to stand on a nationwide stage,” says Tufo.

St. Pete has additionally grown into one in all Florida’s cultural heavy hitters, grounded by The Dalí Museum, devoted to works by the Spanish surrealist and showcasing short-term exhibitions, too. “St. Pete is the right mix of a little bit of cosmopolitan and Outdated Florida allure, with cultural influences from elsewhere, too,” says Amber Brinkley, who chairs Studio@620, an area for rising artists that’s been a artistic cornerstone in the neighborhood for 20 years.

“We pack lots for our weight. Folks all the time appear pleasantly shocked by the density of cultural alternatives now we have in a comparatively small downtown,” Brinkley says.

Learn on to study extra about methods to expertise the most effective of St. Pete in your subsequent go to to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Finest Accommodations and Resorts

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Membership, Autograph Assortment

Downtown St. Pete’s grande dame resort is that this historic, cotton candy-hued magnificence simply steps from the bay and the entire eating, bar-hopping, and purchasing alongside Seaside Drive. Lately refreshed,  The Vinoy Resort & Golf Membership, Autograph Assortment is thought for its distinctive Mediterranean Revival structure and has 354 fashionable and cozy rooms, an amazing outside pool overlooking the bay, and wonderful onsite eating places that embrace French patisserie Lottie and Paul’s Touchdown. The latter is my favourite in good climate for sipping a cocktail by a fireplace pit on the patio and tucking into wings, tuna nachos, oysters, and the smoked fish dip.

Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown

New on the downtown St. Pete resort scene in 2024, the Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown has an amazing rooftop pool deck overlooking the encircling Edge District, a enjoyable foyer bar that opens onto the road, a podcast studio friends can use, and 163 snug and up to date rooms and suites.

The Birchwood

Fronting Seaside Drive and with step-out entry to eating places, bars, and purchasing, The Birchwood is the place it’s best to keep should you’re on the lookout for a centrally situated boutique property with a ton of allure. The resort options Twenties-inspired decor, and a few of the 18 rooms even have clawfoot tubs. The rooftop bar, Birchwood Cover, overlooks the bay and is well-liked for sundown drinks and partying properly into the evening.

Hollander Lodge

With free parking and a pool the place it’s all the time a celebration, Hollander Lodge attracts a younger and energetic crowd for an inexpensive keep inside a fast stroll of St. Pete’s greatest breweries, eating places, and purchasing. There’s a poolside bar, and the onsite Faucet Room restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is thought for stable cocktails and nice steaks.

Finest Issues to Do

Go museum hopping.

St. Pete is a cultural heavyweight and punches above its class in terms of the range of museums you possibly can go to in its compact downtown. Probably the most well-known amongst them is The Dalí Museum, house to the biggest assortment of works (over 2,400!) by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí outdoors of his native Spain. A brief stroll away, The James Museum, inside a dramatic constructing that appears like a pink rock canyon, homes Western and wildlife works. Close to the waterfront, The Museum of High quality Arts’ assortment has masterpieces by the likes of Rodin and Monet.

Stroll the St. Pete Pier.

From Seaside Drive proper in downtown St. Pete, there’s no higher wander than a stroll out to the St. Pete Pier, a stupendous and fashionable building that’s a lot greater than a spot to forged out a fishing line into Tampa Bay. There’s a seashore with Adirondack chairs the place you possibly can lounge, public artwork, a rooftop tiki bar (Pier Teaki), a conservation customer heart, a pirate-themed playground, a number of eating places, and a market promenade the place artisans typically promote handcrafted gadgets.

Go to the Saturday morning market.

Considered one of Florida’s absolute best weekend markets takes over the parking zone by Al Lang Stadium each Saturday morning as locals and guests descend to browse recent flowers and produce, pattern worldwide road meals, fill up on handmade soaps, and browse scores of stalls promoting a lot extra. There’s all the time reside music so as to add to the festive vibe, too.

Try all of the murals.

A whole lot of colourful murals line St. Pete’s buildings, alleys, and public areas, and you may discover them by yourself or head out on strolling excursions within the Central Arts District with Florida CraftArt on Saturday mornings. Each fall, the St. Petersburg Artwork Alliance places on the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Competition, inviting artists to make use of town’s partitions and streets as their canvases.

Go kayaking by means of mangrove tunnels in a nature protect.

Downtown St. Pete doesn’t have any Gulf of Mexico seashores (they’re only a brief drive away in spots like St. Pete Seaside, Move-a-Grille, and Clearwater Seaside). However you possibly can lease kayaks and get out on the water and deep into Florida’s distinctive landscapes in Weedon Island Protect. There are 4.7 miles of strolling trails right here and two self-guided paddling trails that wind by means of mangrove tunnels and the open bay. You’ll see all method of wading birds and will even come throughout dolphins and manatees.

Finest Eating places

City Stillhouse by Horse Soldier

Helmed by govt chef Kenny Tufo, this attractive restaurant in St. Pete’s Warehouse District is a stupendous house decked out in velvet, marble, leather-based, copper, and wooden, impressed by the liquor model homeowners’ favourite spots in Kentucky, Scotland, Montana, and Canada. Come for the elevated ambiance, a occurring bar and brunch scene, and scrumptious seafood, steak, bourbon cocktails, and extra.

Juno & The Peacock

Only a brief stroll from The Vinoy, this Seaside Drive newcomer has a energetic patio scene and does decadent uncooked bar platters, dry-aged steaks, and flatbreads. You’ll by no means go incorrect with a blackened grouper sandwich in these elements, both.

Allelo

The area’s Greek historical past runs deep on this a part of Florida, and you may settle in for elevated Mediterranean and Aegean fare at this Seaside Drive hotspot identified for its elegant bar backed by an unbelievable mural of Florida birds and for dishes like grilled octopus, truffled arancini, and shakshuka.

Bodega

For one thing informal and scrumptious alongside Central Boulevard, it’s onerous to beat a Cuban sandwich or lechon platter with rice, beans, and plantains served with an ice-cold michelada from this Latin American-inspired sizzling spot.

Wild Youngster

A beloved neighborhood hangout within the Grand Central district for cocktails, a enjoyable brunch scene, and date-night dinners, Wild Youngster dishes up worldwide delights like ceviche, Korean fried hen sandwiches, and a imply cheeseburger (on brioche with home made pickles).

Finest Bars

Pluma

Basic cocktails from Mexico, Peru, and Brazil draw lovers of aperitifs and nightcaps to Pluma, a chic and newly opened spot alongside Seaside Drive. The Dip Child Dip cocktail (with scotch, mole negro, chocolate, ancho, and amaro) comes with its personal scratch-made tackle the Tootsie roll.

Pier Teaki

Generally you simply need one thing over-the-top and fruity to have a good time being in a Sunshine Mind-set. Head to the St. Pete Pier and Pier Teaki’s rooftop for expansive views overlooking the bay and downtown St. Pete, greatest toasted with a mai tai, goombay smash, or rum runner (ideally in a memento cup).

Enigma

Friday evening drag reveals, DJs, and a killer sound and lighting system draw crowds that like to bop to this LGBTQ+-friendly bar within the Edge District.

The Mandarin Conceal

Tasty craft cocktails and retro speakeasy vibes preserve this beloved bar — that’s been a staple alongside Central Avenue since 2010 — perpetually popping.

Inexperienced Bench Brewing Firm

Breweries have popped up throughout St. Pete lately. However you’ll by no means go incorrect with grabbing a chilly one within the Edge District at Inexperienced Bench Brewing Firm, one of many city’s authentic breweries that is identified for a stable collection of IPAs and sours. There’s a big outside patio that’s dog- and family-friendly, too.

Finest Time to Go to

Florida’s year-round balmy temperatures make St. Pete an always-on vacation spot for enterprise and pleasure. The winter and spring months — from November by means of early Might — convey probably the most nice temperatures. Remember that Florida’s hurricane season runs from June by means of the top of November. The town hosts huge occasions year-round, together with June’s Pleasure pageant (St. Pete Pleasure, the biggest in all of Florida) and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March.

The right way to Get There

Most vacationers fly into Tampa Worldwide Airport, about 20 miles northeast of downtown St. Pete. You may also examine flights arriving on the less-trafficked St. Pete-Clearwater Worldwide Airport (13 miles north) and Sarasota Bradenton Worldwide Airport (35 miles south).

The right way to Get Round

If you happen to plan to spend a while on the sand at a few of the space’s seashores or go to close by downtown Tampa, you may need to lease a automobile. However St. Pete has dependable public transportation, too, together with the Downtown Looper bus and Central Avenue Trolley (no cost to trip) to get round city. You’ll be able to hop on the high-speed Cross Bay Ferry to succeed in downtown Tampa from St. Pete (it takes about 50 minutes to make the journey throughout Tampa Bay). St. Pete additionally has a motorbike share program you possibly can entry by means of the Lime app.