St Pete Beach Restaurants Guide | Top 20+ Based On Budget & Style
St Pete Beach is one of the best beach destinations in the country and you’ll find a huge variety of dining options here to match, which all have something unique to offer. This definitely hasn’t been the case for all beach destinations I’ve visited and I was very impressed. From casual restaurants, to live music bars and upscale dining, there’s something for everyone. My guide to the best St Pete Beach restaurants will tell you the places you can’t miss during your trip.
St. Pete Beach continues to heal from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. Before traveling, be mindful of whether the businesses and restaurants in St Pete Beach and the surrounding area are fully open and ready for you if you’re planning on visiting. Instagram pages and their stories are a great place to check.
To donate to the relief effort, you can access Feeding Tampa Bay’s Relief Fund Here.
Summary : Best St Pete Beach Restaurants
St Pete Beach has more than enough excellent dining options, which range from casual budget-friendly options to upscale novel dining. Rick’s Reef, Snapper’s Sea Grill, Spinner’s Rooftop, Woody’s Waterfront and Jimmy B’s are my top picks for the most unique, best St Pete Beach restaurants. For quick and budget-friendly but delicious food, try Willy’s Burgers.
Crabby Bill’s Seafood, the Wharf, Brass Monkey, Coconut Charlies and Chill Restaurant, are all casual and beachy dining options to try, plus Rick’s Reef, Snapper’s Sea Grill and Woody’s Waterfront which are all in our top 5. Hurricane Seafood is a legendary restaurant on the island with slightly more upscale vibes. For the best Italian in St Pete Beach, make sure to try Verducci’s and Buona Ristorante.
Bongo’s, Toasted Monkey and Jimmy B’s are both places you can go for live music while you dine, making them great for families also.
For the best breakfast or brunch St Pete Beach make sure to check out The Helm, La Croisette and Frog Pond. If you’re in the Pass-a-Grille area, Brass Monkey, the Wharf, Seahorse Restaurant.
For the best fine dining on St Pete Beach you can’t miss RumFish Grill, the famous fish tank restaurant, Buoy’s Waterfront, 1200 Chophouse, Sola and don’t forget Spinner’s Rooftop which is one of our top 5.
5 Absolute Best St Pete Beach Restaurants
A few of the absolute best St Pete Beach restaurants are Rick’s Reef (still dreaming of this place!), Jimmy B’s, Spinner’s for a luxurious dinner, Snapper’s Sea Grill and Woody’s casual waterfront dining.
Rick’s Reef St Pete Beach : Best Casual Dining
Price: $
Rick’s Reef St Pete Beach is one of the best restaurants in the area if not THE best in my opinion, which has a great and varied menu from breakfast through dinner, in a casual and inviting indoor/outdoor dining space so everyone in your group will be able to find something they like!
I recommend trying the Steak Balsamic Alfredo. 🤤 Omg this was one of the best dishes at a restaurant I’ve ever had.
Jimmy B’s Beach Bar : Best St Pete Beach Restaurant for Live Music And Families
Price: $$
Jimmy B’s is an award-winning bar and restaurant in Florida, and the #1 best live music St Pete Beach bar. Although it gets rowdy at night time, before 9:00 ish Jimmy’s is a great restaurant for families and children for its casual atmosphere and live music. The kids can dance and get their energy out, while you eat and take in the sunset. The food menu is more basic and the service may be a little slower than at your average restaurant, but everything we got tasted great and it’s totally worth it for a free live band experience, especially where you can sit and watch! Sign me up any day.
Speaking of live music, I wrote a whole blog on where the best spots are for live music St Pete Beach, so you can find out what the best live music bars are before you go.
Spinner’s Rooftop Restaurant : The Best Views & Sunset Spot In St Pete Beach
Price: $$$
Spinner’s Rooftop is the famous rotating restaurant on St Pete Beach, which should be considered a fine dining experience but is well worth the money for the fantastic experience. The food, service and atmosphere are all incredible. My recommendation is to get a reservation about an hour before sunset, and if you’re lucky maybe you’ll get stopped with a perfect view of the sunset.
Make sure to stop by the bar right outside the restaurant either before or after your meal for stunning panoramic views of St Pete Beach (my favorite part).
Snapper’s Sea Grill : Best St Pete Beach Restaurant For Couples
Price: $$
Snapper’s Sea Grill is one of the best St Pete Beach restaurants for couples. Snapper’s is owned by a local fisherman and the food is absolutely delicious! The restaurant is slightly more upscale while still being coastal casual, making it a great spot for a romantic yet lowkey dinner in St Pete Beach.
There’s an indoor dining room and a covered outdoor patio surrounded by palm trees, where you can try the stuffed grouper or coconut shrimp, which are two of their most-loved menu items.
Woody’s Waterfront : Casual & Budget-Friendly Waterfront Dining
Price: $
Woody’s Waterfront offers lowkey waterfront dining right on the gulf with amazing views. While there are other similar restaurants in the area, Woody’s feels the most laid back and beachy, with a fun atmosphere you can enjoy straight off the beach.
I’ve found that usually when a restaurant has this nice of a water view the food is more fancy with the prices to match, which makes Woody’s one of the best St Pete Beach restaurants in my opinion (I’m all for casual dining). Make sure to try their legendary wings or fresh fried seafood.
15+ Other Best St Pete Beach Restaurants For Casual Dining
There are tons of other St Pete Beach restaurants to check out. I write about some of the best to try below!
Willy’s Burgers
Price: $
Willy’s Burgers is the place to go for a quick burger on the island. But even better, they have a mixed menu of things like pasta, seafood and more for VERY affordable prices! Combine the awesome menu with the beachy vibes and you get the best quick food option on the island! We will make a stop here every time we come to St Pete Beach.
Buona Ristorante
Price: $$
Buona Restaurant is one of St Pete Beach’s best Italian restaurants located in Dolphin Village. Come for mouthwatering Italian food everyone in your group will love, either in a covered outdoor patio or nice indoor dining space. I bet it will become on of your go-to spots in the area!
Coconut Charlie’s
Price: $$
Coconut Charlie’s is where Toasted Monkey used to be, in a prime location right on the sand. They often have live music and it’s a very lively and beautiful restaurant! There’s also hammocks and an area to hangout in the sand right near the dining, which is great for kids. Come here for sunset and try the coconut shrimp and mahi taocs.
Hurricane Seafood Restaurant
Price: $$
Hurricane’s Seafood is one of the nicer restaurants on this list, with a beautiful interior dining room along with outdoor seating areas. Located in the Pass-a-Grille neighborhood with an upper deck overlooking the crystal blue water of the gulf, here you’ll find delicious fresh seafood in a tropical but classy setting.
Verducci’s St Pete Beach : One of the Best Restaurants In St Pete Beach For Delicious Italian
Price: $$
Looking for the best pizza in St Pete Beach? Hands down this place is for you. Verducci’s St Pete Beach serves delicious fresh pizza, pasta and other Italian dishes on the North end of the island, in a setting which will feel like you’ve been transported to Italy. My mouth is watering just thinking of this food!
Toasted Monkey
Price: $$
Toasted Monkey is a St Pete Beach classic and one is the best places for a casual meal in the area! This restaurant used to be where Coconut Charlie’s is now, so although it’s no longer directly on the beach, it’s still a classic spot that has fantastic food and a great atmosphere.
I love the look and feel of Toasted Monkey, which is full of bright colors and tropical decorations. They have a big covered outdoor seating area where they serve a big menu with different Caribbean style food items, with something for even the most picky eaters. Toasted Monkey is a great restaurant to come to with family. It’s also one of the best St Pete beach bars for live music, so make sure to check their music schedule before you go!
Crabby Bill’s Seafood
Price: $$
Crabby Bill’s is a lowkey, no frills spot for casual dining and seafood. The indoor dining room is as casual as it gets, with picnic tables and a calm atmosphere, so you can focus fully on the fantastic food. There’s also a outdoor deck with beautiful views of the gulf.
Bongo’s Beach Bar & Restaurant : One of the Best St Pete Beach Restaurants On the Ocean
Bongo’s Beach Bar & Restaurant is the area’s second best live music bar, doubling as a restaurant with lots of tables in the sand. Amazing!! The location is right on the beach so you can see the sunset over the water, and there were so many tables we barely had to wait at all. The service can be a little slow, so come here expecting to sit back and relax.
Chill Restaurant and Bar
Price: $$
Chill Restaurant & Bar is a hidden gem and one of the best restaurants in St Pete Beach, placed a few streets off the beach. Locals endorse Chill, where you can find fresh food for a great price. The menu includes a mix of seafood and American items.
The Wharf
Price: $$
The Wharf is a hidden gem in Pass-a-Grille, known for amazing seafood, a dive-bar atmosphere and amazing seafood. Come here for views of the fish and birds of the gulf and a good time!
Brass Monkey
Price: $$
Brass Monkey is the most well-known restaurant in the Pass-a-Grille area, with waterfront views of the ocean and colorful, inviting decor. It’s also known as a gathering place for Raven’s fans, with tons of TVs, so make sure to stop by here if you’re a sports fan!
Best St Pete Beach Restaurants For Breakfast or Brunch
St Pete Beach only has a few designated breakfast restaurants but they’re never too crazy busy and they’re all delicious. La Croisette, Frog Pond, Seahorse restaurant and the Helm are the four main breakfast places on St Pete Beach.
La Croisette
Price: $
La Croisette is the place to go for breakfast in St Pete Beach. If the line looks long – don’t be discouraged as the service is VERY fast and they move people through quickly, so you can have an amazing breakfast and also get plenty of beach time in.
Frog Pond
Price: $$
Frog Pond is the other best breakfast restaurants in St Pete Beach. As with La Croisette, make sure to get here early as it can get very crowded!
Seahorse Restaurant
Price: $
Seahorse Restaurant is the best place for breakfast or an early lunch in Pass-a-Grille, which has been a staple of the area since 1938. You’ll feel right at home here, where there’s a friendly atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating with views of the bay.
The Helm St Pete Beach
Price: $$
The Helm St Pete Beach is a stylish and relatively new brunch and lunch restaurant on the North side of the beach. Come here for a nautical themed and Pinterest-worthy atmosphere and delicious fresh breakfast and lunch food with a coastal twist.
Best Upscale St Pete Beach Restaurants Worth A Splurge
Most of the restaurants in St Pete Beach are a very reasonable price, but there are some that offer a higher class dining experience that are worth the splurge. The best include Buoy’s Waterfront, 1200 Chophouse, RumFish Grill, Sola, and Spinner’s which I mentioned in the top 5.
Buoy’s Waterfront Bar & Grille
Price: $$$
Buoy’s Waterfront is the best upscale but casual restaurant in the area, placed right on the water where you can see the coastal wildlife like cranes and sometimes even dolphins. Expect generous portions, a varied menu full of fresh seafood and excellent service.
1200 Chophouse St Pete Beach
Price: $$$
1200 Chophouse is one of the best St Pete Beach restaurants for upscale dining and the place to go if you love a great steakhouse. You can expect an artistic presentation and the highest quality steak and seafood entrees, in an intimate setting. Beware, they don’t take reservations and the line starts about 30 minutes before they open, which is how you know it’s going to be an amazing meal!
Sola
Price: $$$
Sola is a bistro and wine bar a little off the beach, which is a hidden gem and great place for a romantic or fancier dinner. Try the grouper, and make sure to keep an eye out on the Sola Facebook page to see if they’re doing one of their Live Jazz Nights during your stay!
RumFish Grill : Also One of the Best Restaurants In St Pete Beach For Families
Price: $$$
RumFish Grill is one of the best restaurants in St Pete Beach, which you may have heard of already, because you can dine right next to their giant and impressive fish tank. Located at the RumFish Beach Resort by Tradewinds in the middle of the island, this restaurant is worth the slightly higher prices, and kids will love it.
Now that you know where all the great spots are for a delicious meal on St Pete Beach, maybe it’s time to venture to the next island toward the North which is Treasure Island. I’ve written guides to both the best Treasure Island Florida bars and best restaurants for you to check out! Enjoy 🙃
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
No Comments