Downtown St Petersburg
Downtown St Petersburg is becoming known for its vibrant, bustling downtown that provides a mixture of great restaurants, a burgeoning arts scene, wonderful arts and craft museums and sports and music venues.
If you dream of living in a tropical setting, the weather is sunny and warm in St Petersburg. The city is nicknamed the “Sunshine City” with an average of 361 days of sunshine per year.
Looking to enjoy some fun in the sun?
St Pete Beach is a short drive 20-minute drive from downtown, it’s known for paddleboarding, parasailing, windsurfing or just enjoying the beach front. The Don Cesar, a historic hotel that opened in 1928, is a landmark in St Pete Beach that provides outstanding sunset views of the Gulf of Mexico. (Voted 2021 Travelers’ Choice by Tripadvisor).
If you are looking for family friendly things to do; Fort Desoto is in the top 3. Located 15 minutes from downtown, the historic Fort Desoto is on the list of National Register of Historic Places. This 1,100-acre park has a ton of activities including fishing, boat ramps, kayak rentals, a dog park where you can enjoy the white sand of the beaches! (named America’s best beach in 2009 by Tripadvisor and Best Beach for Families in 2014 by USA Today).
Golfing and Boating
Minutes from downtown is The Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, an 18-hole Championship golf course that was designed in the 1920’s and later renovated in the 1980’s by golf legend Arnold Palmer.
A quick 15 minutes from downtown you can enjoy golfing and boating at the Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country club which has a first-class 18 hole golf course, clay tennis courts, and a 76-slip yacht harbor.
Music Venues
If you are looking for a place to see live music from national touring acts, local bands and DJs, you will want to visit the outdoor historic Jannus Live which is on 1st Ave in downtown.
For a great indoor venue, you will want to visit The Mahaffey Theater; Duke Energy Center for the Arts. A wide variety of acts can be seen here, everything from Broadway, comedy, music, dance, and the renowned Florida Orchestra.
Museums and Art Installations
St Petersburg is home to the world renown surrealist painter, Salvador Dali. The Dali Museum is a must see for art lovers. The museum contains over 2,000 works that represent every moment and medium used over the artist’s creative life.
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art will take you through the history of the American West. Enjoy viewing paintings, sculptures, and jewelry in this 26,000 square feet gallery space.
The Imagine Museum showcases artists from around the world who work with glass. Contemporary American and International art can be viewed by visitors.
Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM), the newest museum in St Petersburg, focuses on the Arts and Crafts movement of that spanned 1890 to 1930. The museum immerses you in the art and craftsmanship of the time period.
The Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg has a diverse collection of art highlighting masterpieces from Monet, O’Keefe and many others. The museum is also home to one of Florida’s most highly respected photography collections.
Within walking distance of the Fine Arts museum is the new St Pete Pier. This outdoor experience includes art installations, monuments, the Discovery Center which highlights Tampa Bay’s unique ecosystem, restaurants, a marketplace of local vendors and much more.
Sports
Looking to catch a baseball game? Tropicana Field is home to the World Series Champion Tampa Bay Rays. And is only a 5-minute drive/walk from downtown.
Soccer fan? Attend a Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer game at Al Lang Stadium, located at 1st Street in downtown.
Dining
Downtown St Petersburg Restaurants have something for everyone, these are some of my favorite restaurants:
Parkshore Grill (Beach Drive’s most awarded restaurant)
Trips Diner (Voted Best of the Bay in 2020 by Creative Loafing) – great place for breakfast.
Red Mesa Cantina (Great Mexican cuisine which is a blend of Latin and Caribbean)
Gratzzi’s Italian (Voted Best Italian Restaurant in St Petersburg)
The Lure on Central (Voted Best Sushi Restaurant in 2020 by St Petersburg Foodies Restaurant Awards)
Beau and Mo’s Chicago Style Steakhouse (Voted Best Steakhouse 2016 thru 2021 by the St Petersburg Foodies Restaurant Awards).
Festivals
The Mainsail Art Festival takes place annually on the waterfront in Vinoy Park. The festival features 250+ juried fine art and craft exhibitors.
The Tampa Bay Blues Festival takes place annually in April in Vinoy Park and features a great lineup of artists.
In the fall, the SHINE Mural Festival is a unique weeklong celebration where artists transform bare walls into exceptional murals.
The St Pete International Folk Festival highlights cultures from around the globe.
St Petersburg Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market
The weekly farmer’s market takes place from the first weekend in October through the end of May. Pickup fresh local produce and enjoy food from local vendors. Enjoy a variety of arts and crafts while listening to live music. This is one of the finest farmer’s market in the Southeast.