Best Restaurants In Treasure Island Florida | By Budget & Style
Treasure island in Florida is a special place, with some of the best beach sunsets in the country, an awesome live music scene and plenty of restaurant options to explore once the sun goes down.
The best restaurants in Treasure Island Florida offer a big variety of food menus for all different budgets, making it a great beach vacation spot for all types of travelers. I’ve put together a guide to the best options based on my experience and research so you can skip the planning. Enjoy!
Treasure Island continues to heal from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. Before traveling, be mindful of whether the businesses and restaurants in Treasure Island 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.
Quick note – In this post I’m focusing on the best restaurants specifically on Treasure Island only, but I also wrote a blog on the best restaurants in St Pete Beach – which is the beach right next door.
- Top 5 Best Restaurants In Treasure Island Florida
- Other Top Restaurants In Treasure Island
- Other Nearby Spots to Dine
Top 5 Best Restaurants In Treasure Island Florida
A few of the absolute best restaurants in Treasure Island have to be Caddy’s, with a gorgeous sunset and ocean view, Crabby’s on the Pass, VIP Mexican, Middle Grounds Grill and Caruso’s Italian Kitchen.
Caddy’s Treasure Island : Dinner with a Sunset Ocean View
Caddy’s Treasure Island is still closed, rebuilding & recharging from the Hurricanes in Summer 2024. You can check their status on the Caddy’s website.
Price: $$
Caddy’s Treasure Island is an unforgettable experience, located right on the beachfront in Sunset Beach on Treasure Island. There’s almost never a cover fee, so you can come and have one beer and an app or multiple cocktails and a full dinner. Pay as little or as much as you want and you can customize your experience. This is my favorite type of place, because it allows you to experience it regardless of how much you feel like spending any given day and it can accomodate people with different budgets.
You can dine on either of the covered outdoor dining spaces or the picnic tables right on the sand, which is the best part!
Think of this as a combined restaurant and beach club – meaning the kind which is more common OUTSIDE the U.S., where you can hangout on the beach and have food and drinks, usually served to you but also at a bar area right near the beach.
Caddy’s is also one of the best places for live music St Pete Beach, and they often throw events for holidays and other occasions that are kid-friendly and in my experience never too crazy crowded. Stay for a while and rent a few of the loungers right near the ocean. It’s a dream!!!
Crabby’s On The Pass : Amazing Fresh Seafood
Crabby’s on the Pass is still closed and rebuilding. You can stay up to date with their journey at their Facebook page.
Price: $$
Crabby’s On The Pass is the “World’s Longest Waterfront Bar” meaning it’s massive (though not necessarily wide) and right on the water, with views of the draw bridge and sometimes even dolphins.
Hogfish, baked oysters, tanner crabs and fish tacos are some of the highlights here, along with the amazing atmosphere and nightly live music.
VIP Mexican : Budget Dinner with Big Flavor
VIP Mexican is now open. You check check hours at their website.
Price: $
VIP Mexican was one of the first restaurants that popped up when I was looking up the best restaurants in Treasure Island Florida prior to travelling to the area, and I see why!
This budget Mexican restaurant offers a delicious traditional Mexican dinner, paired with great servce, indoor and outdoor seating options and lively music.
Middle Grounds Grill : A Treasure Island Staple
Middle Grounds Grill is now open. You check check hours at their website.
Price: $$$
Middle Grounds Grill is the type of restaurant that should be a safe bet for everyone in your group, with a mix of seafood and Italian offerings and a big interior with a giant fish tank and coastal decor. They have a large covered outdoor dining space, nightly live music in the bar area from 7:00-10:00 and a unique early dining menu from 4:30-5:30 where items are just $14.95.
Middle Grounds Grill does take reservations. Make sure someone in your group tries the raved about mango nut crusted grouper (no pun intended hehe).
Caruso Italian Kitchen : Best Italian Restaurant In Treasure Island Florida
Caruso’s is still closed and rebuilding. You can stay up to date with their journey at their Instagram page.
Price: $$
I have a hard time resisting a good Italian meal, especially after a day full of swimming and being active. Caruso Italian Kitchen is somewhat of a Treasure Island hidden gem and the place to go on the island if you love Italian food like me!
People praise Caruso’s for their authentic Italian food with coastal flare, in a casual and welcoming dining space.
Other Top Restaurants In Treasure Island
There are tons of great restaurants in Treasure Island. Here are some of the best ones to try during your vacation.
Ricky T’s Bar & Grille
Ricky T’s is open! Stay up to date on operations at their on their website.
Price: $
Ricky T’s Bar & Grille is a staple of Treasure Island and a lively choice for your dinner. You’ll find live music here daily, and food served both indoors and outdoors so you can choose.
Try the Grouper or Cuban sandwich, which are both popular menu items. You’re bound to have a great time at this local favorite, which also happens to be one of the best Treasure Island Florida bars.
Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach
Sloppy Joe’s is open! Stay up to date on operations at their Facebook page.
Price: $
Sloppy Joe’s is yet another amazing restaurant in Treasure Island Florida to set up for sunset. This is a historic bar and restaurant in the area which has evolved over many years, famous for their fish sandwiches. Think tons of outdoor seating, a convenient location, great energy, live music and delicious seafood. Deifinitely make a stop here during your visit to Treasure Island!
Gigi’s Italian Restaurant
Gigi’s Italian is open! Check the current hours on their website.
Price: $$
Gigi’s Italian Restaurant is the one of the best spots for delicious Italian food on Treasure Island. Gigi’s is a chain offering Italian entrees in a comfortable setting alongside a bunch of fish tanks in the middle of the restaurant. Such a cute touch for beach lovers.
BRGR Kitchen & Bar
BRGR Kitchen is open! Check the current hours on the BRGR Kitchen & Bar website.
Price: $$
BRGR Kitchen & Bar is a trendy but casual restaurant at the Treasure Island Beach Resort where you’ll find burgers and American dishes. There’s a tiki bar and outdoor seating area which looks out over the pool and offers amazing sunset views, along with a stylish indoor dining room.
BRGR Kitchen & Bar would be a really great choice for a special occasion or bachelorette party because of the pretty decor.
Sea Dog Brewing Company Treasure Island
Sea Dog Brewing Treasure Island is now open. Check out current hours of operation at their Facebook page.
Price: $$
Sea Dog Brewing Company is THE brewery in the area. You may recognize the brewing company by their cute puppy logo. This well known beer company is one of the best Treasure Island bars but also offers a fantastic food menu. Beer lovers have to make a stop here!
Taco Bus Treasure Island
Taco Bus Treasure Island is open! Learn more about current operations at their Facebook page.
Price: $
Taco Bus Treasure Island is another restaurant with character in the area, known for serving their tacos from an old school bus within their restaurant, giving the space a playful fun atmosphere.
Come for fresh Mexican food and tacos, and watch out for their food trucks around town!
Other Nearby Spots to Dine
Alongside Treasure Island you’ll find the sprawling St Pete Beach, with more restaurants than you can count. On the other side of the island is John’s Pass which is a scenic little hub on the water for restaurants and shops.
Best Restaurants In St Pete Beach
St Pete Beach is right next door and home to more amazing restaurants that you can count. If you’re willing to do a short drive and figure out parking, which shouldn’t be too tricky, there’s even more amazing food options to explore.
Four of the best are Rick’s Reef, which is a casual and budget-friendly option with a variety of food options for everyone in your group, Woody’s Waterfront for gorgeous views in a casual atmosphere, Spinner’s Rooftop for panoramic views of St Pete Beach in a spinning fine dining restaurant and Jimmy B’s for some of the best live music on the gulf shore to accompany your meal. Read my guide to the best restaurants in St Pete Beach to learn more!
John’s Pass Restaurants
John’s Pass is just North of Treasure Island and a very quick drive. This little fishing village is right on the water, with over 100 shops, restaurants and entertainment in a condensed area with stunning views. John’s Pass has plenty of restaurants to try, but I recommend The Boardwalk Grill, Pirates Pub-n-Grub or Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company.
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.
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