Best Restaurants for Valentine’s Day
& Other Romantic Jaunts
Whether you’re a guy or a gal, it never hurts to have a handy list of romantic restaurants at your fingertips. Valentine’s Day is one of the biggies, but there are also anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day, and other holidays.
In general, it’s obviously the overall ambiance. One of the important things to note is that many of the best restaurants in the St. Pete area do get noisy when busy. Normally, we would disqualify a loud place from being romantic, except if we did this, we would have a top two list and be missing some great places. So, for most of these you may have to bear with a certain degree of discord to the occasional full oncacophony. That’s just the way it is around here.
In case you’re wondering, Valentine’s Day is on a Friday this year. All of the restaurants on the list offer outdoor seating, which can still be nice in February. We recommend reservations for all of these, especially for Valentine’s Day on a Friday, so pick one from the following list and reserve it now.
Before we get into the list, an important thing you should be aware of is that there are other publishers of “best of lists” that do not actually go to the establishments, or actually eat the food. (Sounds ridiculous, right?) They just download photos from the internet, or embed Instagram posts from someone else. Instant top 10 list produced without having to leave the house.
That’s NOT how we do it.
ST. PETE FOODIES APPROVED SPONSOR:
We absolutely DO eat at all of the restaurants on our lists. (How can anyone recommend something they never experienced?)
Unfortunately, we’ve seen these junk lists a lot—from national and local publishers. We are also aware of a local publisher that offers paid placement in best-of-lists. There is no paid placement here.
WE PERSONALLY ATE AT ALL OF THESE PLACES, AND THESE ARE ALL ST. PETE FOODIES PHOTOS. (All photos by St. Petersburg Foodies and as credited.)
The10 Best Romantic Restaurants in St. Pete, FL 2020
***This list is in Alphabetical order and not a ranking***
1. Annata Restaurant & Wine Bar
300 Beach Dr NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 851-9582
Annata Website
Annata is reminiscent of New York City with its brick walls and long narrow shape, plus the elegance of their decor, delectable menu and impeccable service. They are known for their exquisite cheese and charcuterie, pastas, flatbreads, and full entrées. They offer sumptuouswines from California, Italy, and France. Annata does not take reservations, but they will take your number down, and send you a text message when a table becomes available.
2. Beau n Mo’s Chicago Style Steakhouse
2924 5th Ave N
St Petersburg, FL 33713
(727) 771-3690
Beau n Mo’s Website
Beau n Mo’s Chicago Style Steakhouse sits a little off the beaten path on 5th Ave N in the 2900 block. Open for 4 1/2 years now, we have watched them blaze their way onto the best steak scene with their signature Chicago style seasoned USDA Prime steaks and their inventive, delicious pasta and seafood dishes. They have gone through changes and updates all in striving to keep themselves the best of the best.
We love the Sausage a la Joe appetizer, the USDA Prime Ribeye is to die for and if you are in the mood for pasta, they have some of the best lasagna around and the Chicken Puttanesca is outstanding! All of this in a quaint, charming setting that is a throwback to the days of grandeur and glory. Madonna and Beau are always there to greet you and to make sure your experience is amazing!
3. Ceviche
10 Beach Dr NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 209-2299
Ceviche’s Website
Located in a renovated 100 year old building, stepping into Ceviche is like stepping into the charm and ambiance of Spain. They had a complete makeover a couple of years ago, and also revamped their menu to be the most authentic and freshest Spanish food in town. The building has old-world charm, and downstairs there is a Latin-themed lounge called Ché with live music and dancing.
4. Grace Restaurant
120 8th Ave
Pass-a-Grille Beach, FL 33706
(727) 317-4770
Grace Website
Grace Restaurant is only one of a few elegant eateries with gourmet quality food in the St. Pete Beach area.Grace is an upscale yet laid-back, modern American dining experience. They offer New American, Greek/Mediterranean, and Seafood near the popular 8th Avenue area on Pass-A-Grille Beach. They are an oasis ofsplendid epicurean creations at the beach. Oh, and make sure to walk just out their front door to catch a spectacular sunset. Check out this recent review of Grace’s latest menu
5. Gratzzi Italian Grille
211 2nd St South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 623-9037
Gratzzi’s Website
Who knows food and romance like the Italians? Gratzzi Italian Grille is a long established favorite right in the heart of Downtown St. Pete. Owners, Tony and Domenic, are both from Italy. Gratzzi is so popular that on nights that other restaurants have half of their tables empty, Gratzzi is on a wait list.
They have something for everyone with all of the Italian classics covered, to exotic specials likeGambas, (Gigantic Mediterranean Prawns that could beat up a lobster – their lobster dishes are amazing too), Rack of Elk, and the Veal Osso Buco is to die for! Mama mia!
6. IL Ritorno
449 Central Ave #101
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 897-5900
IL Ritorno’s Website
(Photo by Davis Jasmin)
IL Ritorno has an intimate setting with rustic brick walls and a view of the park across the street that will one day be a new high-rise. The setting and the amazing food remind us of being in Manhattan. The service is impeccable and you won’t find food like this anywhere else. TheOctopus,Smoked Meatballs, Short Rib Mezzaluna,Cappelini Nero, andDiver Scallops are some of our favorites.
IL Ritorno remodeled a couple of years ago, doubling its size and qualifying it for a liquor license. However, They have some small batch wines from Italy that you can’t get elsewhere,and have a knack on excellent pairing suggestions.
IL Ritorno’s unique style of old country Northern Italian with a modern twist is one of our favorites, and we go here for most of our special occasions.
7. Parkshore Grill
300 Beach Dr Northeast
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 896-9463
Parkshore Grill’s Website
Parkshore Grill is another long-established favorite that was here long before the restaurant boom and still stands tall with excellent cuisine, professional service and an elegant setting in the scenic heart of Beach Drive.
Try the Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake, the Blue Cheese Stuffed Meatballs, the Parkshore Salad and The Parkshore Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail. The Parkshore Martini is a favorite as well. The inside space is refined, and the outdoor patio provides great people watching on Beach Drive.
8. Pia’s Trattoria
3054 Beach Blvd S
Gulfport, FL 33707
(727) 327-2190
Pia’s Website
Pia’s Trattoria in Gulfport is a staple that’s been around for 13-years. The ambience brings you back to the rustic Italian countryside. It almost feels like you are in the cozy comfort of someone’s home. Perfect for Italian comfort food made from scratch. The shaded courtyard feels friendly and warm as well. They use family recipes from Pia’s mother.
9. Rococo Steak
655 2nd Ave South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 822-0999
Rococo’s Website
In a 1920s manse sits this baroque-chic steakhouse that serves grass-fed beef, seafood, small plates & wine.
Although it has “steak” in its name, and the steaks are great, the seafood is excellent as well. Some of our favorite items include the Shrimp Cocktail, the Caesar Salad, Dry Aged Cowboy Ribeye, Raw Oysters, the Seafood Platter, a side of Roasted Mushrooms, and the Creamless Corn Mash.
Rococo also hosts many weddings and private parties in their elegant, grand setting, and they are one of the only restaurants on the list that rarely gets noisy.
10. Sea Salt
183 2nd Ave North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 873-7964
Sea Salt’s Website
Sea Salt St. Pete is one of the grand anchor tenants of the Sundial Shops in the heart of Downtown St. Pete. They are an excellent 5-star gourmet restaurant with fresh fish (most of it local), a large selection of oysters, and great steaks with several dishes having unique eclectic twists that us foodies love.
(Based on Kevin Godbee’s 2018 article, updated and revised by Lori Brown)
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Best restaurants for a romantic date in St Petersburg.
FAQs
What is the most popular street food in St Petersburg? ›
Shawarma is definitely one of the most popular street foods in St Petersburg. There are kiosks all around the city that serve up these calorie-heavy wraps, although many are suspect due to a lack of hygiene standards. Pita's, on the other hand, is a risk-free experience.
What food is St Pete known for? ›- Pyshki. Although on first sight they may look like donuts, pyshki are St Petersburg's variation on this most delicious of sweet treats. ...
- Koryushka. ...
- Beef stroganoff. ...
- Leningradsky rassolnik. ...
- Skobelevskie bitki. ...
- Pancakes with caviar. ...
- Sterlet in champagne.
St. Petersburg, which glimmers between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, is known for its warm weather and for holding the title of “most consecutive days with sunshine” at 768 days! Downtown St. Petersburg is the city's heart, home to great shopping, restaurants, bars and cultural attractions.
Is St. Petersburg romantic? ›White Nights, rivers and canals, palaces and museums – St Petersburg is the perfect romantic destination. Here, you can enjoy the splendour of the former Russian Empire mixed with the comforts of the modern world. Here's the perfect plan to spend time in St Petersburg as a couple.
Where the rich people live St. Petersburg? ›Known as the palace quarter, the Golden Triangle was where most of the nobility in St. Petersburg used to live before the Russian Revolution in 1917. It has a timeless, opulent feel, with its picturesque and serene waterways and treasure trove of European-style architecture and highly ornate palaces and museums.
What is Pete Davidson's favorite restaurant? ›What is Staten Island's Campania restaurant famous for? Sources have told TMZ that Staten Island's Campania restaurant is one of Pete's favourite food spots. The restaurant is known for its delicious Italian cuisine as it specializes in authentic coal-fired Italian pizza and antipasto.
What is the most liked food in Florida? ›The Iconic Florida Orange
Likely the most famous food in the Sunshine State is the sweet Florida orange. All across the state, thousands of citrus groves produce juicy and tangy oranges by the millions.
Florida's most famous export besides oranges may be Key Lime Pie. Named after the small, tart, aromatic limes commonly associated with the Florida Keys, the meringue-topped pie combines the tangy lime juice with sweetened condensed milk and egg yolk, all poured into a graham cracker crust.
What is the best month to go to St. Petersburg Florida? ›- Transitional months such as April and May (Florida's Spring) and September, October and November (Florida's Autumn) are excellent periods to visit Southern Florida (Autumn is a particularly good period in terms of temperatures and low precipitation).
What is the nicest Beach in St. Pete? ›Pete Beach was named the #1 Beach in the U.S. for 2021 by Tripadvisor's community of travelers, and gorgeous Caladesi Island was named #2 Beach in the U.S. by Dr. Beach in 2022! St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches have soft, white sands, warm Gulf waters and friendly, laid-back vibes.
Is Clearwater or St. Petersburg better? ›
Both have been ranked year after year for their award-winning beaches. In 2019, Clearwater Beach was #1 Beach in the US by TripAdvisor's Best Beaches. Then in 2021, St Pete Beach was ranked #1 by TripAdvisor! Needless to say, they have a lot in common with their natural beauty.
Is Tampa or St. Petersburg nicer? ›These two anchor cities of the Tampa Bay area offer a great quality of life, sunshine, beaches, and excitement, but they differ in many ways. Tampa is larger which means more diversity and job opportunities – and more traffic. St. Pete has a more condensed, exciting downtown and it's closer to the beach.
Why is St. Petersburg better than Tampa? ›St. Pete has more outdoor activities with beaches and parks. Tampa has a bigger city feel with more urban attractions within a short walk or drive. I love them both and visit each for what I am looking to do.
Why does St. Petersburg have white nights? ›The White Nights Festival is an annual summer festival in Saint Petersburg celebrating its near-midnight sun phenomena due to its location near the Arctic Circle; each year between around April 21 and August 21, the skies only reach twilight and never reach complete darkness.
Is St Petes and St. Petersburg the same? ›Petersburg Beach and unincorporated Pinellas County to become the "City of St. Petersburg Beach." In 1994, the citizens voted to shorten the name to "St. Pete Beach" to lessen the confusion with the City of St. Petersburg, located on the mainland to the east.
Does St. Petersburg have a night life? ›Even well after the sun goes down, St. Pete/Clearwater's lively spirit won't quit. Whether your ideal night on the town involves belting out your favorite karaoke tunes, dancing the night away or sampling flights of craft brews, you'll find a great nightlife scene here.
What is the difference between St. Pete and St. Petersburg? ›St Petersburg (often called St Pete, for short) and St Pete Beach (no 's) are two different municipalities. St Petersburg is a fairly large city on the mainland. St Pete Beach is a small town located on the barrier island of Long Key. It is accessible from St Pete by crossing one of two long drawbridges, or causeways.
What is the main street in St. Petersburg Russia? ›Nevsky Prospekt is St. Petersburg's main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. Cutting through the historical center of the city, it runs from the Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and then, after a slight kink, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.
What is the name of the main street in St. Petersburg? ›Nevsky Prospect (Russian: Не́вский проспе́кт, tr. Nevsky Prospekt, IPA: [ˈnʲɛfskʲɪj prɐˈspʲɛkt]) is the main street (high street) in the federal city of St. Petersburg in Russia.
What is Russia's most popular fast food? ›KFC is the most prolific American fast food brand in Russia with over around 1,000 premises across the country. That is followed by McDonalds with close to 847, and Burger King, which operates roughly 800 restaurants in Russia. There are also 130 Starbucks coffee shops and 50 Pizza Hut restaurants in Russia.
What is street food in Russia? ›
Pelmeni are a type of dumpling filled with various meat (pork, beef, chicken,…) or with mushrooms. They often come with Smetana, a milk product close to sour cream that Russians appreciate a lot. Blini is a Russian traditional Pancake.