If you’re visiting the Gulf Coast of Florida and looking for the best restaurants in St. Petersburg, Florida, you won’t have to go very far to find something highly rated and absolutely delicious.
When you think of famous Florida foods, you most likely think of Key Lime Pie, Alligator bites, and fresh seafood. Get ready for a culinary journey! St. Petersburg is a melting pot of different types of cuisine ranging from Italian to Caribbean, to Latin, and everything in between.
Many of these local restaurants have been around for decades and are landmarks in the city. You’ll come for the food, but you’ll stay for the atmosphere, and you’ll definitely want to come back more than once.
We consider ourselves foodies and enjoy trying new places and doing restaurant reviews. It’s hard but tasty work, but we love it. Here are some of the best restaurants in St. Petersburg, Florida, for your next sunny vacation.
1. 1200 Chophouse
If you’re looking for a beach restaurant with more than seafood, you’ve found it. 1200 Chophouse is right on St. Pete Beach and serves up a great variety of dishes, but they are best known for their steaks.
This was our favorite restaurant in St. Pete Beach and on our entire St. Petersburg and Clearwater Florida family vacation. I had the filet mignon, and Adam had the ribeye. Both steaks were cooked perfectly and had a great sear!
As their name suggests, 1200 comes from the 1200-degree broiler they use to cook the steaks and have the nice crispy perfect sear. Once you have this steak, you will never want to grill a steak again.
We still talk about this meal, as it is one of the top 10 meals we’ve ever had.
While they serve catch-of-the-day seafood dishes (sea bass, scallops, and mussels are just a few options), many of their dishes are beef-based. Steak is their signature meal, and you can choose Angus, Wagyu, and endless options in between. They also offer steak sauces like Gorgonzola cream sauce and mushroom sauce to have with your ribeye. Be sure to check out their wine list, too!
This is a popular restaurant; they don’t take reservations, and wait times can be up to a couple of hours long. But as all of their five-star reviewers say, it’s worth the wait.
We dined mid-week in November, and there was still a small wait, but the steaks were worth it. We stayed right down the road, and both agreed this is the best restaurant in St. Pete.
- Address: 5007 Gulf Blvd
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2. Fo Cheezy Twisted Melts
New to the St. Petersburg restaurant scene, Fo Cheezy Twisted Melts is a dining experience you won’t forget! It is one of the most unique St. Petersburg restaurants. We highly suggest dining in their dining rooms, which are worth the trip alone.
The decor is like nothing you have ever seen before. 90s rap music and hip-hop-inspired graffiti cover the walls alongside music memorabilia and references – you just need to see it yourself!
The restaurant was started by the celebrity chef Robert Heese, who you may have seen on Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. Robert appeared on the show twice; SPOILER: he never won, but he was a fan favorite. We got to meet him when we were dining in. He has an interesting story; he grew up in the area, and the restaurant has some great values and programs they are working on.
Their menu is very cheezy, with different grilled cheese melts, crazy mac and cheese combinations, tots, ice cream shakes, and more. Oh, and don’t forget to wash it down with their famous purple drink. Food items we had and highly suggest: Buffalo Mother Clucker Metlz, Sloppy Jose Meltz, Tiple O.G. mac n cheese, Buffalo Cheddar Bob’s, and the half-baked hand-spun ice cream shake.
Fo Cheezy Twisted Melts grew so popular that they now have two locations: the original on St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Petersburg. If you are looking for after-bar eats, head to the downtown location!
If you are visiting St. Petersburg during spring break in Florida, this is a great restaurant for kids of all ages and parents too!
- St Pete Beach Location Address: 6305 Gulf Blvd Saint Pete Beach
- Downtown St Petersburg Location: 111 3rd St N, St Petersburg
- View Menu
Make sure to check out our article on planning a family Clearwater beach vacation. We include where we stayed, where we ate, and everything we did.
3. Bodega on Central Ave
Bodega Restaurant is located in St. Petersburg’s lively Edge District , serving Latin street food. They are known for their Cuban sandwiches, coconut chicken, roasted pork, and black bean dishes.
The restaurant feels like Brooklyn, which is where the founders are from. It is family-owned and has a second location in Tampa.
Aside from the popular Cuban sandwiches, they do a unique, limited-edition dish every month, which can be ordered monthly. Inside the restaurant, there is also a juice and smoothie bar. They have indoor seating if you want to sit and eat or a walk-up window for grab-and-go meals.
Before or after dining at Bodega considering walking around and checking out some of the other Central Avenue restaurants nearby. It is a fun part of town!
- Address: 1180 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
Related Article: Where to Find the Best Burgers in St. Pete
4. Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant
If you like tapas bars, then be sure to stop by Ceviche Tapas & Restaurant. The restaurant ambiance and menu are inspired by the feel of Barcelona and bring the flavors of Spanish tapas cuisine to the Florida coast.
The menu is pretty big, and there are lots of options. The great thing about tapas is sharing the different dishes. There are oysters, chilled Andalusian soups, Spanish-cured sausage, and multiple types of ceviche (raw seafood cured in tangy citrus juice).
Happy hour is every day from 3 pm-6 pm, where there are great deals on both drinks and small bites. The wine list is seemingly endless, and there are also craft cocktails. Every Tuesday from 4 pm Close is Tapas Tuesday, when certain tapas dishes are on special. If you looking for one of the best restaurants in St Petersburg to go to with friends or on a date night, Ceviche is always a good option.
- Address: 332 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
- Address: 7390 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach
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5. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille is at the base of the St. Pete Pier and is one of the best waterfront restaurants in St. Peterburg. Every seat in the house has views of downtown St. Pete and the bay. The easygoing atmosphere makes this a welcoming place to pop in for lunch or dinner.
The menu combines Caribbean flavors with an American touch. They serve fresh daily catch seafood for many of their dishes. They have a generous appetizer menu with plenty of items to share, as well as salads, sandwiches, and a kids’ menu.
Try the black bean dip or their different types of flatbread (also available gluten-free). They also have a raw bar, and the Yucatan shrimp (pictured above) is a staff and local favorite. After dinner, ask for a piece of the carrot cake to finish off your time at Doc Ford’s.
If you aren’t hungry it is still a great waterfront bar to sit and have a drink and watch the sunset.
- Address: 610 2nd Ave NE
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6. 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House is one of the best downtown St. Petersburg restaurants on the waterfront. Their cuisine focuses on using quality ingredients sourced from local farmers and fishermen.
You can find lots of seafood-based dishes here. Some of the most popular are lobster mac and cheese, seafood salad, and fresh oysters. We love going for their Sunday brunch. They also offer outdoor seating with views of Tampa Bay.
If you want a drink to complement your meal, the in-house sommelier has carefully selected every wine on the wine list. There are many beers on tap as well as craft cocktails.
- Address: 400 Beach Dr. NE, St Petersburg
- View Menu
7. La Croisette
La Croisette is a revamping of the previous restaurant Beverly’s, which was taken over in 2020 under new owners. Beverly’s was one of the most popular spots for breakfast in St. Pete Beach, and many things about it have remained exactly the same: the bright pink and blue exterior, the colorful wall mural, and most importantly, the menu.
Their most popular breakfast dishes include croissant French toast, corned beef hash, eggs Benedict, and home fries. If you get the chance to try their breakfast potatoes, they are delicious and a very popular side to many of their dishes.
Since the owners hail from France, a few French classics are on the menu too, like croque-monsieur and croque-madame sandwiches, crêpes, and campagnard omelets.
- Address: 7401 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach
8. Red Mesa Cantina
The Red Mesa Cantina is a Latin and Caribbean-inspired restaurant in downtown St Petersburg. If you’re looking for the perfect laid-back lunch and dinner spot with a focus on small, fresh plates, then this is the perfect place.
Red Mesa specializes in fresh, flavorful ceviches, tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. They have a varied appetizer menu which is perfect if you are in a group. There is a kid’s menu too.
There are two bars here, an indoor and an outdoor one. The bar has a separate menu, focusing on craft cocktails and margaritas. The strawberry margarita and the spicy margarita are both popular.
And for dessert: what else but fresh, hot churros with chocolate dip?
- Address: 128 3rd St S, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
9. Seahorse Restaurant
The Seahorse Restaurant has been a well-known landmark of St. Pete Beach for more than 80 years, first established in 1938. Many of its loyal patrons have been coming back again and again for decades since they themselves were kids.
When you look closely, it’s not hard to see why. The interior is homey and welcoming, with the feel of a small-town diner. It’s comfortable, easygoing, and a favorite place for both tourists passing through and longtime locals.
Seahorse Restaurant primarily serves Southern-style breakfasts as well as seafood dishes around lunchtime. A few breakfast favorites include the blueberry pancakes, pecan pancakes, and the rancheros omelet. A popular lunchtime meal to try would be shrimp & grits. There may be a slight wait to get in, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
- Address: 800 Pass a Grille Way, Pass-a-Grille Beach
- View Menu
10. Society Table
Society Table is located inside the Don CeSar Hotel. They specialize in coastal cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients sourced from within Florida. The restaurant is open to both hotel guests and non-guests. An expansive menu makes this a great place to stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner while exploring St Petersburg.
They have separate menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast options include salmon avocado toast, skillets, and sweet dishes like pancakes and waffles. The lunch menu offers soups, salads, and handhelds. Dinner has the option of small and large plates, with menu options including seafood, steak, and small, shareable plates.
They also have an extensive beer and wine list. Or try one of their many craft cocktails.
- Address: 3400 Gulf Blvd
- Menu
11. Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish is one of the longest-running restaurants in St. Petersburg. It was originally established in 1951 during the economic boom that followed the end of World War II when Ted Peters decided to smoke his fish out in the open in hopes of the delicious smell drawing in potential customers.
The business is run by Ted’s great-grandson and other assorted family members. The menu has hardly changed over the years. The most popular item is the ‘Famous Smoked Fish Dinner,’ which comes with the restaurant’s famous German potato salad, coleslaw, pickle, sweet onion, and a lemon wedge.
Their most famous menu items, the smoked fish spread and the potato salad, are available for sale by the pint. You can also buy smoked fish by the pound directly from their on-site smokehouse.
- Address: 1350 Pasadena Ave S, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
12. Frog Pond
Just across the street from La Croisette is another popular St Pete Beach breakfast café called Frog Pond. They are immediately recognizable for their unusual frog-themed decor. There is another Frog Pond location in Downtown St. Petersburg
It’s a popular hangout for locals and tourists, so it’s almost always pretty busy. But it’s busy for a reason, and the popularity comes from the food quality and the easygoing vibe.
Frog Pond serves breakfast and brunch until 2 p.m. every day. Their menu has lots of variation, and the portions are large. It’s not unusual to take your leftovers with you.
Expect to find lots of typical breakfast dishes with a unique twist. Try fluffy blueberry pancakes, cinnamon rolls, French toast, and bananas Foster waffles for something sweet, or omelets, breakfast quiche, or multiple varieties of eggs Benedict if you like a savory breakfast. The coffee is bottomless, so get refilled as often as you like at no extra charge.
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13. Cassis St. Pete
Cassis St Pete is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. They have a brunch, lunch, and dinner menu with unique menu items like duck and bouillabaisse, but their specialty is anything sweet.
They have an adjoining bakery focusing on French pastries with an American twist. If you’re here for dinner, check out their dessert menu for the sweet stuff: a cake of the week, hand-crafted macarons, or an ice cream sundae. They also make their own sorbets.
- Bakery Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 am -10 pm, Friday & Saturday 8 am-11 pm
- Restaurant Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 8am–11pm, Sunday 8am-10pm
- Address: 170 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
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14. Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro
Located near the St. Pete Pier entrance, Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro is a popular, laid-back bistro restaurant serving lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends. Try grabbing a seat on the outside deck, which has views over the marina.
The menu has a lot of variety, and you’ll find a lot of steaks, pasta, seafood, and burger dishes. The lobster bisque is very popular, as is the steak alfredo. They also do a tuna poké appetizer and small plates like fried grouper bites and steamed mussels.
There is a small drinks menu serving beer, wine, and single-well liquor drinks if you want something a little stronger to pair with your meal. Fresco’s is one of the best restaurants in St Peterburg for people-watching. We love sitting on the patio with a glass of wine enjoying our food.
- Address: 300 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg
- View Menu
15. O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille
O’Maddy’s is a beachfront bar & restaurant in Gulfport. They combine high-quality food with a very laid-back atmosphere and plenty of outdoor seating to take advantage of the beautiful Florida sunshine.
They have a very diverse menu of appetizers and handhelds. You can find tuna sashimi, fried grouper nuggets, build-your-own pizza, and buffalo shrimp to name a few. The handhelds are just as delicious, and the lobster BLT is a must-try. They also have their famous O’Maddy’s roast beef piled high on a Kimmelweck bun.
- Address: 5405 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport
- View Menu
16. Grove Surf + Coffee
If you’re looking for the best coffee in St. Pete Beach, head to Grove Surf + Coffee. We stopped in four times over our six nights in St. Pete Beach! This unique coffee shop is a half coffee shop and half surf shop. It’s a totally unique design, but it works, and it’s super cute.
Adam loved their cold brew, and I enjoyed their iced cappuccinos. Oh, and Atlas liked the blueberry scones. If you’re looking for some caffeine to get you started before heading out and visiting some of the best things to do in St Petersburg, definitely come to Grove Surf + Coffee.
There is a parking lot in the back and a back door. We learned this on day two.
- Address:7370 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach
- View Menu
