One Perfect Day in St. Pete

Still craving waterfront vistas? Patrona Coastal Café in north St. Petersburg delivers picturesque scenery filled with mangroves and boats along with tasty treats. (Be on the lookout for manatees, too!) Pull up a chair under the shade of an umbrella and swaying palms and order an egg-and-sausage-filled coastal croissant with a banana bay iced coffee or an ice coconut matcha latte. Tip: Weekdays are much quieter at this waterfront spot.

Next, experience a different landscape at one of Florida’s original roadside attractions, Sunken Gardens. This lush, subtropical oasis will wow  you with its beautiful orchids, colorful rainbow eucalyptus tree and massive Southern live oaks. Animal lovers can spot a small flock of pink flamingos, tortoises, koi, a kookaburra, and jewel-tone parrots.

If you're in St. Petersburg on a Saturday, an alternate (or add-on) activity is the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market (just a few minutes drive north from Sunken Gardens) where you can browse artisan crafts and local vendor stalls, listen to live music and sample international treats. The market happens year-round with two seasonal locations.

After your visit to Sunken Gardens, your stomach is likely beginning to grumble. Aviation fans will love dining at The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge, which overlooks an active airfield, Albert Whitted Airport. Watch small planes take off and land as you enjoy cocktails and upscale comfort foods.

Prefer books over planes? Dine among floor-to-ceiling bookshelves at The Library, where academia vibes combine with a polished atmosphere and delicious American-style dishes. 

For a more sophisticated meal, enjoy a weekend brunch at Fortu (one of St. Pete’s three MICHELIN-recommended restaurants). Created as a love letter to Japanese cuisine, Fortu brings a sophsticated Asian flair to its menu (think shrimp and lobster dumplings in a ginger broth or sticky buns with chai-infused icing).

St. Pete is blessed with many incredible museums. Some top contenders to add to your perfect day include The Dalí Museum, where you can admire 2,400-plus paintings, watercolors and sketches by the famous surrealist; Imagine Museum, a showcase of contemporary glass works that’ll redefine what you think glass can be; or Chihuly Collection, a permanent collection of glass works by the world-famous Dale Chihuly. Looking for a quirky art outing? Check out FloridaRAMA for interactive and intriguing exhibits. Want to enjoy beautiful art as well as our sunny weather? Check out St. Pete's magnificent murals.

If you’re seeking a delicious meal with outstanding panoramas, the St. Pete Pier boasts several dining spaces, each with its own scenery and menu. For a rooftop experience, dine at Pier Teaki. For fresh seafood right next to the water, consider Doc Ford's. If you don’t have definite evening plans — such as a performance at the Mahaffey Theatre — linger longer over dessert and admire the pinks, reds and oranges of the sun setting over the water and the St. Pete skyline.

As your evening unfolds, it’s time to sip and explore the upscale bars and restaurants set along Beach Drive. Some can’t-miss locales include Tryst Gastro Lounge, a European-style establishment with fruity cocktails and Mediterranean tapas for snacking; Stillwaters Tavern, known for its friendly bartenders, craft cocktails and wide selection of on-tap beers; and Birchwood Canopy, beloved for its panoramic rooftop views of Tampa Bay.