St. Petersburg is still recovering from damage sustained during Hurricane Helene in 2024. Please check stpete.org for updates on reopening and recovery efforts.
Once a sleepy coastal city where retirees congregated on green benches lining the streets, Tampa’s neighboring town now draws entrepreneurs, painters, and travelers—from beach lovers to art aficionados. (Retirees have a lot more fun too.)
Emily Elwyn relocated to St. Petersburg along with scads of other Gen-Xers and millennials who’ve helped invigorate this town. “So much of what people want is what we already have: a walkable downtown, front-porch neighborhoods, funky old buildings, and access to the arts, parks, and recreation,” she says. Not to mention the fact that beaches are minutes away.
Elwyn serves as president of the board of directors at Preserve the ‘Burg, a nonprofit that leads city tours for locals and tourists every Saturday. From the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood, with its inviting bungalows, to the business center along the marina, where new additions and million-dollar condos are popping up, St. Petersburg feels both historic and emergent.
Locals say the recent boom has centered along Beach Drive (facing the bay) and Central Avenue (lined with galleries, bars, and boutiques). Here are the places you can’t miss as you get to know this emerging town.
Related: 15 Dreamy Beach Towns In Florida
What To DoView Chihuly At The Morean Arts Center
Robbie Caponetto Famed artist Dale Chihuly chose St. Pete for this collection.
Adding to the cachet of Central Avenue, the Morean Arts Center is a spot where locals can take classes and tourists can watch glassblowing demos. The center’s Chihuly collection (a trove of fantastical blown-glass creations by Dale Chihuly) moved inside a new gallery designed to help the viewer appreciate every curl and spire. The artist reportedly chose St. Petersburg because of its commitment to art and arts education. Gallery owner and multimedia artist Chad Mize even designed a popular T-shirt that proudly proclaims, in bold lettering, this city’s place among the world’s biggest cultural hubs: “Paris, London, Tokyo, St. Pete.”
“Originally, it was tongue-in-cheek, but we actually are kind of in that league,” said Mize, who has sold more than 60,000 items with his World Tour design. “We are definitely an arts city in terms of culture and desirability.”
moreanartscenter.org, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Shop Central Avenue
Shoppers along Central Avenue can browse through the curated housewares at ZaZoo’d, snag affordable handmade jewelry at SaltLight Art, and find on-trend fashions under $60 at Misred Outfitters. Stroll past the murals that decorate refurbished buildings, some of which Mize painted after he moved to St. Pete, attracted by its heritage and potential for growth. “I loved the kitsch of it, the neon signs, the roadside-attraction aspect, and also the water,” he said. “Now there’s just so much—new restaurants and more stuff to do.”
Beyond Central Avenue, the pastel-colored row of beachy Eighth Avenue features shops like Bamboozle and Etc., which are both brimming with stylish coastal wares.
zazood.com, 631 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
saltlightartboutique.com, 1916 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33712
bemisred.com, 615 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
facebook.com/bamboozle.etc, 105 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Robbie Caponetto Ricky Watts’ Eye of the Storm mural on First Avenue North.
Explore The Fine Arts
Like Central Avenue, Beach Drive has done its part to spur the city’s renaissance. The Museum of Fine Arts, which anchors this thoroughfare with neoclassical grandeur, is approaching its 60th anniversary. Its handsome interiors are reminiscent of a grand old estate, one where there just happens to be a Monet hanging on the wall. (It’s one of his Houses of Parliament paintings, just in case you’re wondering.)
mfastpete.org, 255 Beach Drive, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Experience Sunken Gardens
Robbie Caponetto The Sunken Gardens are home to iconic Florida flamingos.
Only a few blocks away, a botanical wonderland called Sunken Gardens hides in the middle of downtown. This landscape—more than a century old—will lure you into a maze of towering palms, fountains of pink bougainvillea, and manicured gardens. People come from all over the country to admire the fluttering tops of bamboo stalks that grow as tall as palm trees. You can also visit the animals that call the gardens home, such as their flock of flamingos.
sunkengardens.org, 1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704
See The Works Of Dalí
Make time to stop by one of St. Petersburg’s most amazing jewels: the stunning home for works by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. The Dalí Museum overlooks the marina and faces the renovated Duke Energy Center for the Arts—The Mahaffey Theater, which hosts world-class concerts, ballets, and more. Worth a trip for the architecture alone, The Dalí invites visitors to climb an elegant spiral stairway to see masterworks housed on the third floor and to enjoy water and sky views through an undulating window on the way up.
Take in the Dalí Alive 360° immersive experience, where you will step into the startling surreal landscapes in the new Dalí Dome. In the Avant-garden, you can pose with a mustache sculpture or sit on an oozing green bench that looks like it came straight out of a Dalí painting.
thedali.org, One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
themahaffey.com, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Spend The Day In Pass-A-Grille
On a perfect day—temps in the low 80s, no humidity, fluttering palms— it can be tough to find a parking spot on Gulf Way, which runs along the beachfront in the historic Pass-a-Grille neighborhood. The powder-soft white sand and turquoise-streaked water are worth enduring a momentary traffic jam. Across from Eighth and Ninth Avenues, a happy, banana yellow hole-in-the-wall called Paradise Grille serves sunbathers from breakfast until dinnertime. It’s flanked on weekends by the Suntan Art Mart, where you can find beach-themed creations and estate jewelry.
paradisegrille.com, 900 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Explore The Barrier Islands
At the dead-end at Merry Pier, there’s an old bait shop where you can book fishing charters. Hop on the shuttle to Shell Key, an undeveloped barrier island. After a 10-minute boat ride, the captain will drop you off where you’re free to snorkel, sunbathe, dolphin-watch, and collect shells until the shuttle picks you up a few hours later.
merrypier.com, 801 Pass a Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
shellkeyshuttle.com, 801 Pass a Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Where To EatEat At Red Mesa Cantina
Robbie Caponetto
Clusters of diners bustle by to meet friends at eateries like Red Mesa Cantina, which blends Latin and Caribbean flavors in small plate dishes, ceviche, and tacos. Feast on bowls, burritos, and specialty tacos, and wash it down with cocktails from the tequila bar. After dinner, locals take their dogs out for nightly walks, and places like Ocean Blue Galleries stay open late into the evening. St. Petersburg seems less like a typical resort town and more like a bayside neighborhood where visitors can take up residence and feel at home, if only for the weekend.
redmesacantina.com, 128 3rd St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
oceanblue.gallery/st-petersburg-fl, 284 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Sample The Changing Menu At Tryst Gastro Lounge
The Dalí draws visitors from around the world. Have dinner at Tryst Gastro Lounge on Beach Drive, and you might hear Spanish, French, or Italian accents coming from nearby tables.
Enjoy the ambiance as well as Tryst’s frequently changing menu that promises fresh surprises every time you visit. Order a cocktail, and join couples lounging beneath umbrellas at sidewalk tables. (Try the Tryst: Deep Eddy vodka, muddled strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and elderflower liquor.) Relax under the indoor twinkling light strands. They complement the illuminated facade of the Museum of Fine Arts, located just across the street, where banners highlight the current exhibit.
dinetryst.com, 240 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Unwind At Chill
End the day with dinner on historic Corey Avenue at the relaxed Chill Restaurant & Bar. (Order the espresso-rubbed beef tenderloin.) Enjoy drinks on the patio or go for a meal. Chill serves weekend brunch in addition to lunch and dinner.
chillstpetebeach.com, 357 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Dine With A View
Take a seat at the rooftop bar at Hurricane Seafood Restaurant for a seagull’s view of the beach scene. You can also enjoy wild-caught seafood in one of the restaurant’s three dining levels. The nearby Brass Monkey also offers an impressive Gulf vista, along with a tangy Grouper Reuben.
thehurricane.com, 809 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
facebook.com/thebrassmonkeypag, 709 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Celebrate With A Toast
Robbie Caponetto
Don’t leave St. Pete without swinging back downtown for a drink along Central Avenue, which pulses with live music at a string of bars where tables spill onto the sidewalk. Check out The Mandarin Hide, a sophisticated speakeasy-style place, or head to Mastry’s Bar, a local landmark. They’re both great spots to toast St. Petersburg while planning your return.
mandarinhide.com, 231 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
visitstpeteclearwater.com, 233 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Where To StayOpt For An Iconic Stay
Robbie Caponetto The Don CeSar hotel has been welcoming guests since 1928.
Despite the city’s charms, the sand and surf of St. Pete Beach will eventually lure you away. The flamingo-hued Don CeSar hotel, known as the Pink Palace, has been welcoming guests to this barrier island since the 1920s. The Pink Palace is the centerpiece of St. Pete Beach. Opened in 1928, The Don Cesar celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018 but still feels updated, with a new lobby and room renovations completed over the past decade.
doncesar.com, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Stay In The Heart Of It All
With its restaurant (The Tap Room), a spa, and the stunning courtyard pool and terrace, the Hollander Hotel and Spa is an affordable gem within walking distance of Beach Drive and the many shops, restaurants, and local attractions. The outdoor terrace, pool, and poolside bar create a relaxing retreat just steps from all downtown has to offer.
hollanderhotel.com, 421 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Rest In Retro Style
Robbie Caponetto Discover the chic style of the Avalon hotel downtown.
The Avalon, the Hollander Hotel’s sister property, offers access to the Hollander’s pool as well as complimentary Champagne and wine every evening. The Deco-inspired retro interior gives every stay a fun vibe. Guests can also book apartment-style suites with full kitchens.
avalonstpetersburg.com, 443 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Soak Up Vintage Charm
The renovated historic Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, on the marina exudes vintage glamour. Miami-inspired colors like pink with palm-green trim meet Art Deco style in the refreshed guest rooms and a new restaurant called Paul’s Landing. Guests can also enjoy the spa and world-class golf.
marriott.com, 501 5th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
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