A Weekend Guide to St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg is part of the Tampa Bay Area and better than Tampa (according to locals aka my friend who just moved here). I came down for a long weekend to catch some rays, but most importantly for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour :) Here is a weekend guide for those with a quick trip to the area!
Note: I don’t have any recommendations on where to stay as I stayed with my friend!
Where to Eat
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Happy hour at The Lure runs from 4-7pm, Monday through Friday. When I see Philly Cheesteak spring rolls on a menu I never get them because they don’t sound like they’ll taste good, but the ones here were so good I ordered a second round! Also, the drinks were good ‘n strong!
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Located along Beach Drive NE (aka close proximity to the water and St. Pete Pier), Ceviche is a great spot for small bites with a heavy emphasis on coastal fare. Buuttt I’m here to tell you about their Gazpacho, because not enough people are privy to this chilled tomato soup hailing from Spain. I’ve never had a gazpacho I didn’t like, and in the Florida humidity it hits just right.
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Apparently if you leave a good review about your waiter (include their name, obvi), they’ll go home with a bottle of wine at the end of the month as a perk for their great service! Alicia was great and so of course I had to do my due diligence and leave her a rave review. The Pan Fried Ramen is deeeelish and while I added smoked pork to mine, you really don’t need to because it already comes with sausage.
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This small restaurant is a bit unassuming but it has delicious tapas that are Spanish and Mediterranean inspired. Order the Ricotta Jar and get ready to have your world absolutely rocked! It is my friend’s favorite item on their menu and once I tried it I had to agree- my jaw was on the floor after that first bite. It is whipped ricotta with honey-lavender and kale pesto, heirloom tomatoes, balsamic pearls, and rosemary EVOO and it is so creamy and whipped and melts in your mouth (by way of some yummy bread).
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Some places do pork belly better than others, and Social Roost sure knows how to do pork belly! The Pork Belly Hash was beyond amazing and they gave you three large slices of melt-in-your-mouth pork belly that was slow braised and ponzu glazed. It also comes with potato hash, a sunny side egg, and chili relish. If I could have one breakfast for the rest of my life, this could totally be it.
Pork Belly Hash, Social Roost
Make-your-own Board, Lolita Wine Market
WHAT TO DO
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Down by the water is a great place to be, and St Pete Pier makes it easy to go for a stroll, bicycle, shop, dine, and enjoy beach activities all in one place. For families with children, there is even an educational center where kids can get up close and personal with local sealife.
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The Sunken Gardens are a botanical garden located outside of downtown but still within the city. There are thousands of tropical plants here, and you’ll see the occasional tiny lizard basking in the sun. They’ve also got a few tropical birds in captivity throughout the gardens. Part of the garden is ADA accessible but the majority of the gardens is not. There are many paths to wander through, and there are quite a number of seating options spread throughout the gardens for a rest or to just soak in its beauty.
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So this will be a drive from St. Pete, but totally worth it. The Weeki Wachee Springs are part of Florida’s State Park program, and is home to a stunning river that reflects insane blue-green colors in crystal clear water. You’ll see jumping fish, water fowl, and there is the potential to see manatees (we did not)! We rented kayaks through Weeki Fresh Water Adventures but there are other companies as well.
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If you’re looking for a quieter beach experience, Sunset Beach is the perfect option. It’s located in more of a residential neighborhood vs the tourist strip, and the water is a bit calmer. The color of the ocean here is incredible and nearby Caddy’s is a long-standing staple if you get hungry.
St. Pete Pier at golden hour
The Sunken Gardens
Kayaking Weeki Wachee Springs