In Good Taste: St. Petersburg, Fla.

In Good Taste is a new series shaped by time and attention. These aren’t places I stumbled through or saw once in passing. These are cities where I have lived or returned to often enough to move beyond first impressions — to notice what holds up, what quietly charms and what deserves a second (or fifth) visit.

It’s not a ranking, but a personal record of meals that stayed with me, drinks I’d order again, and spaces that feel thoughtfully made. You won’t find everything here. Just what’s in good taste.

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For my first edition, I am taking you to St. Petersburg, Fla., a city I first fell in love with more than 20 years ago when I was an undergrad student at University of South Florida. The once sleepy town has transformed into a dynamic and culturally interesting locale that offers world-class art and a dining and beverage scene that is gaining national attention. Here are the places I find myself returning — and what I return for.

Bier Boutique 

Salted Carmel Shortbread at Bier Boutique

Located in Historic Uptown, the Bier Boutique relocated its popular restaurant in Key West to St. Pete in 2019. While at first glance, one might expect just your typical bar food, and it is true, Bier Boutique is serving the classics like wings, chili, burgers and sandwiches. But what makes this place worthy of a visit is that it is celebrating the flavor of food made the right way – by hand, from scratch. It also features a rotating selection of craft beers on tap, showcasing several local breweries. Bier Boutique is bringing new life to old favorites by pairing quality with comfort  – making it a true crowd pleaser. 

Don’t Miss: Brooky’s spicy chili with sweet cornbread and the salted caramel shortbread 

Visit Bier Boutique at 465 7th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Bin6South

Duck at Bin6South

Visiting Bin6South is like stepping into the home of close friends or beloved family. Set within a charming converted home, the 12-seat restaurant and wine shop offer a uniquely intimate and familiar experience. The chef and his team are people who care deeply about ingredients, which is evident in the way they grow, source and prepare them.There is a simple elegance to the food that only comes from truly knowing flavor and how to move in a kitchen. What they put before you is all the more surprising when you peer into the kitchen and see only a toaster oven and a hotplate. Bin6South is everything I want in a dining experience, and with an ingredient-driven, seasonal menu that changes often, there is always something new that awaits you.

Don’t Miss: Bin Board, seasonal menu and wine recommendations 

Visit Bin6South at 330 6th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Black Crow Coffee Co. 

Black Crow location in the Grand Central District

More than a place, Black Crow Coffee Co. is a pulse — the heartbeat of a vibrant community. Its eclectic decor, showcase of local artists​ and come-one-come-all spirit make it a place you want to stay and linger over a cup of coffee. But it is more than a vibe, the family owned coffee shop roasts its own single origin coffee that are some of my favorite beans anywhere. This values-based business also prides itself on being zero waste – diverting 90 percent of its waste from the landfill. Black Crow Coffee is a cultural hub where creativity, community and local identity come together over something as simple as a cup of coffee.

Don’t Miss: Purple haze (chocolate and hazelnut latte)

Visit: Black Crow at (Grand Central District) 2161 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg or (Historic Old Northeast) 722 2nd St N., St, Petersburg 33701

Book + Bottle

The bar at Book + Bottle

Books have always been what color my world, and Book + Bottle is igniting that spark throughout the city. The independent, woman-owned bookstore is a thoughtfully curated space where stories and sips meet. There is nary a visit I don’t walk out with a new book from its carefully selected collection of fiction, fantasy, mystery, memoir, cookbooks and local literature. Beyond expanding my mind with its array of books, it also delights my senses with a surprising selection of wines. Proof of just how serious it is about what its pouring, the bookstore has two certified sommeliers on staff who can also select a bottle to take home. Book + Bottle is a sanctuary that keeps drawing me back, to wander its shelves, sip something intriguing and simply be for a while.

Don’t Miss: Check what new sips they are pouring

Visit Book + Bottle at 17 6th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Brick & Mortar

B&M Burger at Brick & Mortar

Of all the places on this list, Brick & Mortar is the one I’ve returned to most. In fact, after my first visit, I was back the very next day. Since its inception in 2015, it has become a mainstay in the community and in my life. It is consistent and the epitome of craveable food that keeps me wanting. But there is a depth to its cooking that goes beyond just your standard comfort food -- it is food that feels. And its global approach to flavors brings forth surprising combinations that just work. Similarly, its international wine list always has me reaching for another part of the globe. Brick & Mortar is what cooking with soul looks and tastes like, and it is why it remains a perennial favorite. 

Don’t Miss: B&M burger with truffle fries and curry spice smoked pulled pork poutine 

Visit Brick & Mortar at 529 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 

Il Ritorno

Garden Salad at Il Ritorno

When I think of one restaurant that is taking the culinary scene of St. Pete to another level, it is Il Ritorno. Upon each return visit, it somehow manages to keep elevating its cuisine. It shows you imagination brought to life through food. Take my last visit where it took something as simple as a salad and turned into an artfully composed dish that resembled a garden sprouting life. While the restaurant offers an à la carte menu, I like to go on a journey through one of its tasting experiences that always hits just the right notes and knows when to crescendo. Il Ritorno stretches the boundaries of what Italian food can be, unafraid to break the rules while harkening back to the traditions of a time-tested cuisine that so many of us love.

Don’t Miss: The seasonal tasting menu 

Visit Il Ritorno at 449 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 

In Between Days

Interior of In Between Days

With its effortlessly cool vibe inspired by the underground listening bars of Tokyo, In Between Days has created a transportive experience with some of the best cocktails in the city. The low lights cast a warm glow and the humming of jazz music spinning from the turntable creates a quietly charged alluring atmosphere. Its reverence for analog isn’t just aesthetic—it’s a philosophy, steeped in ritual and restraint that comes through its carefully concocted cocktails. The bar offers a selection of small bites in addition to an extensive collection of sake that's been hand-selected by its in-house sake sommelier. In Between Days is a place that will make a regular out of you.

Don’t Miss: Ube colada and yamahai old fashioned 

Visit In Between Days at 2340 1st Ave S. St Petersburg, Florida 33712

Lolita's Wine Market 

Make your own charcuterie board at Lolita's Wine Market

Some of my favorite meals are the ones where I get to graze and enjoy a variety of bites. Lolita’s Wine Market has created the perfect experience for this kind of dining, offering a selection of inviting small plates that are designed to be shared, savored and paired with wine. While its hot and cold tapas are undeniably delicious, what I love most is building my own charcuterie board from Lolita’s wide selection of meats, cheeses and accoutrements. It’s always exactly what I’m craving. And its staff has an impeccable ability to pick just the right wine for the moment. Lolita’s communal experience reminds you how enjoyable it can be to share some bites with friends, but also proves it can be just as satisfying on your own.

Don’t Miss: Build your own charcuterie board and honey lavender whipped ricotta 

Visit Lolita’s at 16 18th St. S, St Petersburg, FL 33712

OLIVIA

Mini rigatoni at OLIVIA

While a newcomer to St. Pete, the modern Italian eatery OLIVIA is hardly new to the area with its downtown Tampa restaurant serving diners since 2019. Its high ceilings, brick accent walls and well appointed modern decor is bringing an air of sophistication to the St. Pete dining scene that is reminiscent of something you might find in New York City. But it is more than just good looks, OLIVIA is dedicated to the age-old craft of pasta-making, which is a difference that you can taste in every bite. OLIVIA is elegant enough to become your special occasion restaurant, but it is serving the kind of enduring, delicious food that makes you want to return again and again.

Don’t Miss: Mini rigatoni and apple butter torta 

Visit OLIVIA at 225 1st Avenue N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge 

Cocktail at Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge

From the team behind Brick & Mortar comes their newest venture–Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge. A departure for the more relaxed sentiment of its predecessor, the newcomer Pulpo has leveled up with a swanky ambiance and menu. Its Latin inspired menu is delivering flavor-forward dishes that fans of the owners have come to expect. Its mostly tequila and mezcal inspired cocktails are an astute match for the boldness of the dishes, and are easily worth a visit on their own. At under a year old, Pulpo is off to a very promising start, and it is a place I look forward to returning to in years to come. 

Don’t Miss: Peruvian style ceviche and the pulpo 

Visit Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge at 2147 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

The Library Restaurant

Interior of The Library (courtesy of the The Library's Instagram)

You aren’t just going to happen upon the Library Restaurant, but it is well worth the detour. Connected to the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, you would hardly believe the decor that awaits you once inside. Inspired by the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, it is brooding and heavy in all the right ways – like the best libraries. While its brunch is celebrated among residents, I tend to favor dinnertime when it feels more atmospheric and the new-American cuisine feels both refined and accessible. There’s something undeniably charming about dining among books, and the Library delivers dishes worthy of the setting.

Don’t Miss: Benne cauliflower and jumbo sea scallops

Visit The Library Restaurant at 600 5th St. S, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 

The Urban Stillhouse 

The Commander Cocktail at The Urban Stillhouse

This is a grandeur to any visit to the Urban Stillhouse. At 16,000 square feet, the two-story restaurant is sizable, but it is also the heavy leather chairs, the metal accents, the ambient lighting and the light flicker from the fireplace that lend themselves to creating an environment like no other in St. Pete. Its seasonal menu pays homage to classic American dishes, elevating them to their finest form. The influence of the wood-fired grill is a constant presence—subtle, smoky and skillfully restrained—never overpowering, but always enhancing the dish.The cocktails offer classics and twists on old favorites with a refined elegance. The Urban Stillhouse is a destination — a respite from the outside world, where rustic, grounded cuisine showcases the very best of what it has to offer.

Don’t Miss: Smoked venison tartare, Colorado lamb chops and the commander cocktail (martini with all the fixings) 

Visit the Urban Stillhouse at 2232 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

The Violet Stone Pizza & Sandwiches 

Pepperoni pizza at The Violet Stone Pizza & Sandiwches

What started as a food truck has blossomed into an acclaimed pizza business that has attracted national attention. Founded in 2022, the Violet Stone has had an atmospheric rise in its short existence, but after just one bite you will see that the praise is well-deserved. The makings of a great pizza lie in the quality of each individual ingredient, and this is where the Violet Stone excels. The crust is thin and well-structured, and the tomato sauce sings but doesn’t outshine the toppings, which are of exquisite quality. But just as renowned as the pizza is its Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which has been lauded as one of the best. I am always careful with superlatives, because food is so subjective, but Violet Stone is undeniably offering standout food and some of the best pizza I have had. 

Don’t Miss: Pepperoni and sticky fingers pizzas 

Visit Violet Stone at 2134 9th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Wild Child 

Tuna Tostada at Wild Child

As vibrant as the decor is at Wild Child, so too are the food and cocktails. With its fresh, coastal ingredients, this eatery truly embodies Florida and its laid-back lifestyle. In the hot, humid climate, I crave food that’s bright, light, and refreshing, and Wild Child’s island-style menu delivers. But if you're in the mood for something more substantial, the large plates offer heartier fare with flavors that are bold and exciting without sacrificing balance.Not to be outshined, the cocktails will have you feeling like you're on island time. I always make a point to ask what frozen drink is on tap for the day. Wild Child is where tropical vibes meet city energy, and its playfulness makes dining there just plain fun.

Don’t Miss: Tuna tostada and ceviche 

Visit Wild Child at 2710 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712