St Pete Beach Bars Guide : 26 Best Places To Drink By The Ocean
St Pete Beach completely surprised me, mainly for the tropical looking beach, lively sunsets and all of the beach bars with live bands. And when I say St Pete beach bars I mean right on the beach! A lot of coastlines don’t have anything like this in the US that I’ve found, so this was a fun surprise during our visit. In addition to the downtown St Pete bars, the best bars in the city can be found on the beach.
Read all about the St Pete Beach Bars in my guide below so you know where to go for drinks in the sand during your trip.🍹
Quick note about parking at the St Pete Beach bars
I wanted to cover St Pete Beach parking real quick since it’ll be the same for all the bars on the island. There’s one public parking lot on St Pete Beach but it fills up quickly. The best option is to find street parking, which you can pay for via the ParkMobile app. Or if you’ll either be at St Pete Beach all day or get stuck without being able to find a spot, you can park at most of the hotels in the area for a flat rate of about $20 per day.
Of course since we’re talking about bars, the best choice is probably to either use Uber / Lyft or the fantastic local Free Ride services (truly a local gem) like Freebee or Free Beach Ride.
St Pete Beach Bars Guide
Jimmy B’s Beach Bar
If you’ve looked into the St Pete Beach bars even a little you’ve probably already heard of Jimmy B’s. Located at the Beachcomber Hotel on St Pete Beach, this award-winning bar offers daily live music throughout the day and into the night, plus a big food menu and three separate bars. This is THE late night spot for nightlife on St Pete Beach and you’re sure to find that people watching here after midnight can be fun. 😉
Their live music can be heard on two stages, one indoor and one outdoor, and it’s definitely the highlight of the bar and what draws people in. If you’re a live music lover, make sure to read my blog on the live music St Pete Beach scene, so you don’t miss any of the best St Pete Beach bars with live bands.
Bongo’s Beach Bar & Grille
Bongos Beach Bar is St Pete Beach’s second most popular beach bar, which is placed underneath the famous Spinners Restaurant and right on the beachfront. Doubling as a full service restaurant, this bar has tables on the sand where you can also hear the live music going throughout the evening. Bongos is my personal favorite St Pete Beach bar because it has such a great atmosphere, with sand under your feet, ocean views, colorful lights and stringed lanterns overhead, lots of seating areas & space, and last but not least, great music. Plus they serve cool cocktails and drink buckets.
Bongos is another place for live music St Pete Beach, typically playing until just before midnight each night. After the music is over, you can move onto Jimmy B’s if you’re still feeling like dancing.
PCI Beach Bar
Postcard Inn Beach Bar, otherwise known as PCI Beach Bar, has recently blown up and become the beach’s most well-known party spot. This fun and lively St Pete Beach bar draws in big crowds on the weekends, offering live DJs, events with prizes, great people watching, multiple bars and even food, all in a really convenient beachfront location on the north end of St Pete Beach. There have been rumors about an expansion, so you can expect for this bar to only get more popular as time goes on.
The Drunken Clam
Drunken Clam is a St Pete Beach bar that is super popular with locals, which tells you something about how great it is! They offer amazing seafood, a fun and laid-back atmosphere, great sports watching on plenty of TVs and live music some nights and weekends. You’ll be treated like family here.
Undertow Beach Bar
Undertow is a local hot spot right on the southern end of St Pete Beach. This is a unique and well-known St Pete Beach Bar, where you’ll find cold drinks, games to play, great DJ music and some bartenders dancing along on the bar, all on the stunning beach. The main bar even has a little river running through it.
Since Undertow is farther down, the beach in front is less crowded than other parts which was an added bonus. Make sure to get some beach time in while you’re here!
Coconut Charlies
Coconut Charlie’s is a vibrant bar and restaurant attached to the Hilton at St Pete beach. I absolutely loved this place during a perfect weather day in the spring! At the time the bar had a great vibe that would be fun for both a party crowd and families with children, which I think is hard to accomplish.
The open air bar with shade was perfect, which is where we played a medium sized Jenga game. There is both bar seating and table seating where you can sip cold drinks or get some food, DJ and live music, plus a big beach area to hangout at. If you visit here make sure to lounge in one of the hammocks before you leave!
Spinners Rooftop Bar
Spinner’s Rooftop offers hands down the best views of all of the restaurants in St Pete Beach. People dress up and come from all around to dine at the famous (slowly) rotating Spinners Restaurant, and lucky for you – you can head to the upstairs and get the same views for the cost of a cocktail. P.S. The restaurant is amazing though, in case you’re in the mood for a splurge!
Toasted Monkey
Toasted Monkey is yet another one of the St Pete Beach Bars offering live music and DJs, located a little off the beach. I love the open-air feel of the indoor/outdoor bar. During the day you can come here for a more laidback vibe with lots of great food options. As the night ramps up Toasted Monkey will have live music, and they are one of the only bars in the area that stays open late late.
Paradise Grill Snack Shack
Paradise Grill is a little walk up outdoor snack shack and bar right on the beach. This place is so convenient and I wish every beach had something like it! If you find yourself hanging out at the beach and wanting some quick food or a drink, whether water or a cold beer, Paradise Grill is your stop. Try one of their frozen drinks which is perfect for a hot day. 😍
Be warned there can be a line here sometimes, especially on holidays, and it’s only open until sunset.
Twisted Tiki Bar
Twisted Tiki Bar is a somewhat hidden St Pete Beach tiki bar located a few streets off the beach into town. Inside you’ll find Polynesian style decor including a straw roof, flickering tiki lamps, tiki themed cocktails, live music and great food. Plus, live music most nights of the week! This is a popular place for a slightly older crowd and locals. It’s also great for sports and events.
Salty’s Tiki Bar & Beach Lounge
The outdoor beach bar at the TradeWinds Resort is called Salty’s Tiki Bar & Beach Lounge. This chill little place has a snack bar right on the oceanfront, along with cocktails, beer and usually acoustic live music, plus comfy lounge areas and some lowkey food options. Come here to relax with friends or family!
RumFish Grille
RumFish Grille is inside the RumFish Beach Resort and home to the famous giant fish tank right in the dining room of the restaurant! This is a great bar for kids, rainy days or when you want a great seafood meal along with your drinks. Make sure to get a table with a view of the tank. 🐠
Harry’s Beach Bar
Harry’s Beach Bar is located at the Sirata Beach Resort toward the middle of St Pete, and it’s been newly remodeled. The new poolside bar has tons of seating and shade (which I LOVE) making it great for bigger groups. Come here for a comfortable atmosphere, chill live music, frozen drinks, beer on tap and delicious food.
Rum Runners St Pete Beach FL
Rum Runners St Pete Beach FL is at the Sirata Beach Resort, offering a huge deck, indoor/outdoor space with lots of lounge areas, food, live music and a beachfront location with stunning views of the sunset and ocean. Harry’s and Bongos Beach Bar are right nearby, so you can beach bar hop!
St Pete Beach Bars A Little Down the Road : Treasure Island, Mad Beach & More
Caddy’s Treasure Island
If you’re only going to visit one St Pete beach bar and love the beach, Caddy’s on Treasure Island is the one for you. Located about 10 minutes from St Pete Beach, this beachfront bar is 100% worth the journey, featuring beach loungers that line up right along the ocean, tables in the sand, live music and entertainment, plenty of family friendly events and three different bars. Make sure to check out the upper deck for beautiful panoramic views and shaded seats.
The peak time for Caddy’s is during the day from about 11:00-3:00, so if you’re hoping to snag a table or chairs with an ocean view show up early or a little later. My husband and I were able to get the best spot on the beach at around 4:00 on a Saturday.
Caddy’s John’s Pass
Although not as big as the Treasure Island location, Caddy’s at John’s Pass is on the bayside for a different experience, with a family-friendly atmosphere, occasional live music, tropical drinks & food and a great bayfront view.
KaTiki Bar Sunset Beach Florida
Ka’Tiki Bar in Sunset Beach Florida is right next door to St Pete Beach and offers some of the best live music in the area, alongside Jimmy B’s and Bongo’s. Make sure to check out the decorations hanging from the ceiling on the palapa and on the walls. Known to be somewhat of a biker’s bar, Ka’Tiki can get really crowded with people spilling out into the parking lot. Regardless it’s a great time.
Sloppy Joe’s On The Beach
Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach started out as a true Key West speakeasy during prohibition, and is now placed right next to the Bilmar Beach Resort in the middle of Treasure Island. The expansive outdoor deck has beachfront views, making it the perfect spot to set up for sunset, and they also have a large indoor section, amazing food and daily live music.
Ikki Woo Woo’s Tiki Hut
One beach north on Treasure Island you’ll find the eccentrically named Ikki Woo Woo’s Tiki Bar at the Thunderbird beachfront hotel. I was surprised at how great the energy was here, as people got right up and started dancing as soon as the set came on before midnight. If you like to dance, make sure to make it over to this one!
Sea Dog Brewing Co.
Calling all beer lovers 🙋♂️🙋♀️. One of Sea Dog Brewing’s locations is placed on Treasure Island near Caddy’s, offering a huge beer selection, a delicious food menu and lots of merch with their cute Sea Dog logo. While this brewery is technically located on the street and not a beach bar, we think it’s close enough.
Ricky T’s Bar & Grille
Right next to Sloppy Joes on the Beach and Ikki Woo Woo’s, Ricky T’s Bar & Grille is another local favorite beach bar near St Pete Beach. Ricky T’s in Treasure Island features a really great and varied food menu (including breakfast), live music acts nightly and a casual, inviting atmosphere.
Saltwater Hippie
Saltwater Hippie’s is a well known live music bar in Mad Beach, offering a cute but good sized indoor space, little stage, excellent drinks and laid back nonjudgmental atmosphere where you can dance most nights of the week.
Mahuffer’s
Mahuffer’s is Madeira Beach’s longstanding dive bar. Known for being a biker bar with a grungy vibe, here you’ll find there’s LOTS to look at, with the walls and ceiling filled with decor and artifacts that were all salvaged from junk yards. The bar is surprisingly big and has drinks that are extremely cheap. So this isn’t the place to bring people looking for a classy bar, but for a drink after a day on the beach Mahuffer’s will hit the spot!
Pirates Pub & Grub
Pirates Pub and Grub is a smaller bar located at John’s Pass and one of the only great themed bars in the area! Think pirate-y decor, lots of beer, cool decorations and delicious seafood.
Bamboo Beach Bar
Bamboo Beach Bar is one of Mad Beach’s oldest bars and another bar close to St Pete Beach with live music, offering a laidback low key vibe you can hangout all evening long to. Bamboo Beach Bar also serves food, perfect for dining over live music at the many shaded tiki tables.
Tiki Docks Skyway
Although not technically a St Pete Beach bar, Tiki Docks Skyway is only a little off St Pete Beach and on the marina along the famous Skyway Trail, making it a legendary local bar. The whole place is huge, with two large outdoor seating areas including one under a big palapa with marina views, a tiki bar and an indoor dining room as well.
Everything you get here will be amazing, from the cocktails to the mixed tiki drinks and of course the food. I highly recommend the Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken and any of the margaritas, which are made with fresh fruit. It’s hard to find a cocktail this refreshing.
Make sure to leave a comment if you see a bar I’m missing or if you would like to be added to this blog. And if you’re heading to St Pete Beach, make sure to save my St Pete Beach Map to your phone so you can navigate with ease!
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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