St Petersburg is known for its Art Galleries, sun and sand, high end stores, balmy weather, swaying palm trees, and fine dining establishments. Nestled between the ocean and white sandy beaches, this Florida panhandle is home to some of the finest restaurants in the country. Having the scenic Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop and being able to dine on fresh fish from nearby waters is idyllic for couples who want to celebrate a special evening alone. This list of the 25 most romantic restaurants in St Petersburg is a great starting point for couples to try out.
BellaBrava
For almost two decades, the beach community of St Petersburg has embraced BellaBrava as their go to Italian restaurant. From the restaurant’s patio, patrons have a perfect view of iconic St Petersburg Pier, beautiful Tampa Bay, and Beach Drive. The interior features a grand horseshoe-shaped bar with a chandelier above it and stone walls separating the bar and dining area. The restaurant did extensive research in Italy to gain knowledge of the various types of cheese, herbs, pastas, seafood and meats to prepare for the meals in BellaBrava. Entrées include selections like slow-roasted pork ossobuco and wood-grilled marinated skirt steak.
204 Beach Drive Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-895-5515
Cassis
A staple on Beach Drive and in the St Petersburg community, Cassis combines European Brasserie with an American flair. The dining area inside this spacious restaurant is aglow with bay windows offering vast lighting inside, while white tiled walls compliment the openness of this dining room. Sidewalk seating is just as spacious, with large canopy’s above the tables and palm trees weaving between them. Serving new American cuisine, dishes are created using only the freshest and finest ingredients. Entrées include items like braised pork shanks and Maple Leaf farm duck – cauliflower puree, bacon, braised brussels sprouts and black cherry reduction.
170 Beach Drive Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-827-2927
Il Ritorno
St Petersburg’s modern downtown Italian eatery on Central Avenue is called Il Ritorno. Exposed ceiling and HVAC’s, wave pattern non-vented glass block windows, solstice rail lights, and an exposed brick wall helps set the tone of being in 19th century Italy. Having an ever changing menu means having to source locally owned businesses to obtain the freshest ingredients. Il Ritorno serves an array of Italian style fare with options like short rib Mezzaluna, spring ramp Tagliatelle, braised lamb spaghetti, scallop Risotto, and spring chicken – black trumpet mushrooms, foraged mushroom broth, poached egg, stinging nettle, and gnocchi alla Romana.
449 Central Avenue, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-897-5900
Beau & Mo's Italian Eating House
A tad off the beaten path in historic Kenwood, Beau & Mo's Italian Eating House brings Chicago style meals to St Petersburg. The interior design features low ceiling fans, crimson colored walls with black and white pictures in dark backgrounds. The restaurant also features a banquette with low hanging sconce lights, making this an ideal setting for a date night. The executive chef has created an eclectic menu that utilizes local ingredients to keep the cuisine in this restaurant the freshest. Menu items include items like Duck l’ orange, Veal chops, and shrimp De Jonghe – jumbo shrimp broiled in garlic oil, butter, and lemon over Linguine.
2924 5th Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-771-3690
The Birch & Vine
The Birchwood Inn is the home of one of St Petersburg’s most elegant restaurants, The Birch & Vine. This restaurant’s regal elegance is set in the Spanish Mission-style with chandeliers and French doors in the main dining area. On top of the Inn, glass railings, fire pits, cabanas, and scenic views of Tampa Bay make this a perfect venue for a romantic dinner. The chefs at this restaurant prepare their meals with the freshest seafoods and ingredients. This eclectic menu features items such as Duck & Caper Pasta, Venetian style ribs, sweet potato gnocchi, and lantern lane brick chicken.
340 Beach Drive Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-896-1080
Ceviche St. Petersburg
Ceviche St. Petersburg on Beach Drive, is the original tapas eating establishment in this region. The inside of this restaurant is a Spanish motif. High ceiling, large pane windows along with arched windows, iron chandeliers, Spanish tile on the tables and counter tops, and wood flooring is the epitome of dining in Spain. This restaurant has more than 50 tapas meals, paella, and ceviche selectins, that are all created with the freshest seafoods and local ingredients. Menu items include like Albondigas, lomo de puerco, chuletas de cordero, and pulpo ala gallega – grilled octopus, paprika, saffron potatoes, pickled red onions, capers, and olives.
332 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone: 727-209-2299
Fresco's Waterfront Bistro
Fresco's Waterfront Bistro on 2nd Avenue in downtown St Petersburg is the only waterfront restaurant in this area. This restaurant highlights its open, airy and large veranda to its fullest. The veranda with string lighting overhead and on the railing, ceiling and deck fans, and views of the Bay and of bustling downtown St Petersburg creates a picture-perfect memory for a romantic dinner. Known as a premier seafood restaurant, it also offers a mouthwatering selection of meats like New York strip and an 8oz top choice sirloin. Fresh seafood selections include Maine lobster tails, blackened shrimp, Atlantic salmon, and Mahi Mahi.
300 2nd Avenue Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-894-4429
Harold Seltzer's Steakhouse
Being relatively new in the St Petersburg area, Harold Seltzer's Steakhouse has proven to be one of the trendiest new restaurants in the downtown area. The interior design features leather seating booths, brightly colored walls, encased sections of wines to choose from, all this set into dark wood furniture, wall trimmings and the ceiling to give this restaurant a truly romantic vibe. Making their sauces, salad dressings, dinner rolls and their sides all from scratch is done by using the freshest local ingredients. Entrées include Harold’s Prime rib – aged for at least 35 days, and rubbed with Harold’s Secret Steak Spices.
3500 Tyrone Boulevard North, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-954-7777
Italian Touch
Hidden in a small alcove on 46th Avenue in St Petersburg, Italian Touch has been a staple for authentic Italian cuisine in this community for some time. The interior of this restaurant features red and white checkered tablecloths, a wall of open arches separating the dining areas, and colorful paintings depicting life in Italy, which makes for an ideal setting for a date night. Serving delicious Italian cuisine, dishes are created using locally sourced ingredients and the freshest seafood. All of this restaurant’s seafood is served over Linguine, like shrimp scampi and scallops Alfredo. The menu also includes veal Parmigiana and a veal and eggplant combo.
8211 46th Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-545-2778
Parkshore Grill
Leading the restaurant awards on Beach Drive is Parkshore Grill. This restaurant pays homage to its beach community as seen in its ornate wooden columns with a mosaic wave design, marble floors, and keeping up with its beach motif, the ceiling features a wave design that illuminates at night. This Award-winning restaurant utilizes local artisan ingredients and only the freshest seafood. Serving seafood and New American style fare with options like a mozzarella burger, BLT Panini, pan seared scallops, grilled Creekstone pork chops, grilled Alaskan King crab, and drilled veal chops – roasted tomatoes, leek butter, goat cheese polenta, charred lemon, and petite basil.
300 Beach Drive Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-896-9463
Rococo Steak
Rococo Steak resides in a stately Manor on 2nd Avenue and is serving its steaks with a modern take. Its regal elegance can be seen the moment guest walk up to this magnificent restaurant, anti-bellum columns, arched entrance way, recessed lighting in the bar area, and chandeliers over the tables create a decadent dining experience. This restaurant’s menu changes with the season, enabling its chefs to prepare their dishes with the freshest of ingredients. With menu items like grass fed Filet Mignon and New York strip for the beef lovers to Georges bank sea scallops and lobster Americana for the seafood enthusiast.
655 2nd Avenue South, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-822-0999
Sea Salt
The Sundial Shopping Center in St Petersburg is the location for the upscale oyster ball named The Sea Salt. The interior of this restaurant epitomizes style and grace from floor to ceiling, with its white walls, exposed ceiling and HVAC’s, bay windows with views of a water fountain, an 80-foot long bar, and a 22-foot-tall exposed wine tower, an ideal setting for a date night. Known for their fresh seafood cuisine, this restaurant also serves a variety of dishes. Menu items such as Rigatoni, Veal Osso Bucco Ravioli, Faroe Island Salmon, and red snapper – corn, chorizo & rock shrimp fricassee, and smoked tomato butter.
183 2nd Avenue North, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-873-7964
The Canopy Rooftop Lounge
Fire pits, cabanas, and Ocean views is what to expect when dining at The Canopy Rooftop Loungein St Petersburg. Sitting atop of The Birchwood, this stylish, contemporary restaurant offers stunning views of Straub Park, Beach Drive, St Petersburg’s skyline and Tampa Bay. With these views and bar tables and comfortable lounge sofas and it’s easy to see why this venue is high on the list when wanting a special date night. Utilizing locally sourced ingredients is how each meal is prepared at this restaurant. This restaurant serves its meal a la carte like Margarita flatbread and smoked brisket flatbread.
340 Beach Drive Northeast, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-896-1080
The Getaway
The Getaway in St Petersburg is located in one of the most pristine settings in all of Florida. This restaurant provides diners with waterfront dining with views of Tampa Bay, The Weedon Island Preserve, and provides a dock to park your boat if this is how guest wish to arrive at this romantic eatery. Known as a premier seafood restaurant, this establishment uses only Florida-sourced fresh produce and fish by their executive chefs to create their succulent dishes. Menu items include selections like conch fritters, fried oysters, and Tuna Poke – sushi grade tuna, avocados, mandarin oranges, pico and wonton chips.
13090 Gandy Boulevard North, St Petersburg, FL, Phone: 727-317-5751
