Next year is shaping up to be another excitingone for the dining scene, although more than a few spots have been pushed back with timelines that are creeping into the second and third quarters. From a jam-packed new food hall to Spanish tapas tofast casual farm-to-table fare, there\u2019s plenty to look forward to in the new year.<\/p>\n
Five stories, nine dining concepts, four bars, a boutique, several event spaces and a members-only club \u2014 that\u2019s all on deck once St. Petersburg\u2019s multi-level food hall opens in early 2026.<\/p>\n
It certainly has been a long time coming: Plans for the hall were announced in 2020, along with an ambitious projected opening date of summer 2021. Now, more than four years later, proprietor Natalia Levey of Hi Hospitality Group said she hopes to be open early in the year. Construction and design on the space is completed, she said, but inspection and permitting setbacks have delayed the spot\u2019s launch.<\/p>\n
Once open, Central Park will be the largest multi-level food and beverage concept in St. Petersburg. Seven fast-casual concepts will hold court on the building\u2019s ground floor, including a smaller version of Sarasota restaurant Palm Avenue Deli (another Hi Hospitality spot); Constellation Burger, Speaks Pasta, Kojo Wok, Don Ricardo\u2019s Taqueria, Strawberry Fields and Park Pie Pizza. In the basement, there will be a high-end cocktail parlor with roughly 22 seats, a drink program curated by beverage director Silvia Fridegotto, and a self-service \u201cbeer wall.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dessert concept called The Meadows, with coffee and gelato, sits on the mezzanine level along with 27 Degrees North, a frozen cocktail concept where beer and wine will also be available. There\u2019s also a boutique called Worth, a large television screen for watch parties, several event spaces, a test kitchen and plenty of street-facing booth- and balcony-style seating, Levey said.<\/p>\n
One level up, guests will find Kojo, a modern Asian restaurant, and Bar Hana, a tropical-themed cocktail bar with cabanas and lounge-style seating (there is also a Kojo and Bar Hana in Sarasota). One floor up, on the building\u2019s rooftop, is Night Owl, a member\u2019s only club that the website describes as \u201ca coveted gathering spot for global change-makers in Tampa Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n
551 Central Ave., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n
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The new wine bar and restaurant from the folks behind Bandit Coffee Co. was slated to open late 2024. Now, roughly a year behind schedule, it appears the highly anticipated spot is finally ready to make its debut. Spitz could open as early as February 2026, said chef Michael Roberts, who will run the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Along with Roberts, Spitz is a team endeavor from Bandit co-owner Joshua Weaver and local wine pro Seth Davis. The team have been quietly building a following for the past year at Small Bar, the makeshift pop-up restaurant and wine bar in the back of Bandit<\/a>. For fans of Small Bar (and there are many), Spitz\u2019slaunch will be bittersweet: Small Bar will permanently close while the team moves over to their new, much bigger digs.<\/p>\n But there will be plenty of carry-over from Small Bar\u2019s tenure, including some showstopper hits Roberts has been testing out during a lengthy research and development period. Once open, guests can expect a creative wine list with a focus on low-intervention wines and small producers and a menu that Roberts has described as \u201cglobally inspired,\u201d with small, shareable plates, heavy on seafood (there will be oysters and seafood towers), and a cocktail list with riffs on the classics.<\/p>\n The space will seat roughly 60 people inside, including a long bar as well as a chef\u2019s counter, and will boast a spacious back patio where an abbreviated menu will be served.<\/p>\n 2520 Central Ave., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n A new Mediterranean restaurant will open in mid-January <\/a>inside St. Petersburg\u2019s SkyBeach Resort in the Skyway Marina District. Chef Ryan VanDusen, who most recently worked at the Don CeSar as a banquet chef and chef de cuisine, is helming the kitchen, and said he plans on tapping what local produce and seafood he can for the new menu.<\/p>\n An early peek of the food lineup included dishes like a roasted garlic hummus with grilled naan and crudites; grilled lamb chops with tzatziki, pickled red onions and black garlic puree; and Florida Gulf ceviche with serrano pepper and citrus. The spot will also sport a Mediterranean-inspired cocktail menu, with ingredients like date syrup, saffron and cardamom bitters.<\/p>\n 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane S., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Hot on the heels on their big Bar Terroir debut, the team behind Tampa restaurants Rocca and Streetlight Taco have a big slate of spots in the works for the new year.<\/p>\n First up is Oro, a Spanish restaurant scheduled to open in March inside the new Rome Collective, a large mixed-use development opening in North Hyde Park (202 N. Rome Ave., Tampa). The restaurant, helmed by chef Nick Orr, is currently described as a \u201ctribute to the bold flavors of Spain,\u201d and will incorporate wood-fired grilling and include dishes like paella and a list of tapas, along with imported cheeses, meats and other products from Spain.<\/p>\n White Wolf, slated to open in May at a new development off Westshore Boulevard, will serve as a \u201crustic encore to Rocca\u2019s cuisine.\u201d The Italian-leaning menu will include \u201chandmade pastas, regional Italian dishes and Italian-American classics.\u201d<\/p>\n Carnivore Club, a 28-seat chef\u2019s counter, will open on the rooftop above White Wolf in July and focus on wood-fired grilled meats. The spot is described as a \u201cbold, immersive experience for carnal enthusiasts.\u201d Also on the rooftop is Bar Spuntino, which will serve spritzes, light bites and other drinks inspired by the \u201cItalian aperitivo lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n In August, the team plans to launch Kingfish, a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, also inside the Rome Collective.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bd342c52f79325227c0760ad5af412f8.jpeg\"\/)
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