COPA
COPA blends Caribbean and Latin American flavors into a tapas menu on Central Ave, mojo-marinated pulled pork, sweet plantains, and seared scallops over plantain-bacon purée. It's a wine and cocktail-forward spot with outdoor seating that stays open late, and a connected café covers breakfast, lunch, and a well-loved Cuban sandwich for daytime visits.
See MoreSkyway Jack's Restaurant
Skyway Jack's got its start as a shack at O'Neill's Marina, feeding commercial fishermen before eventually moving to its current spot on 34th Street. A giant rooster and a Humpty Dumpty statue guard the front lawn, while pig decor takes over inside, right down to the scrapple on the menu, a pork-and-cornmeal specialty that's become something of a cult favorite alongside the biscuits and gravy and steak and eggs.
See MoreMullet's Fish Camp
Picnic tables, a tiki hut, and live music set the scene at Mullet's Fish Camp & Market, a South St. Pete seafood spot with a distinctly nautical, laid-back feel. More than 15 types of fish show up on the menu with house-made sauces and slaws, and the wings, smoked out back daily, have built a local following of their own.
See MoreTed Peters Famous Smoked Fish
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish smokes salmon, mahi-mahi, mackerel, and mullet over red oak for 4 to 6 hours. Every smoked fish plate comes with German potato salad, coleslaw, pickle, tomato, onion, and lemon, eaten at picnic tables in a no-frills setup that hasn't changed much over the decades.
See MorePia's Trattoria
Homemade pasta anchors the menu at Pia's Trattoria in Gulfport, alongside classics like osso buco, veal parmigiana, and gnocchi gorgonzola. Everything's made from scratch with no preservatives, and gluten-free pasta is available for anyone who needs it. The setting has an Old Italy feel, cozy and a little romantic, tucked into a corner of Gulfport that still feels like a discovery.
See MoreBait House Tackle & Tavern
The Bait House Tackle & Tavern has sat in the Clearwater Marina since the 1940s, part working bait and tackle shop, part open-air tavern on a dock over the Intracoastal. Menu standouts include drunken shrimp, smoked fish spread, and island fish tacos, all made from whatever's fresh that day. There's no air conditioning and no reservations, just a breeze off the water and a view of boats coming and going.
See MoreBlack Crow Coffee Co Grand Central Dist
Black Crow Coffee roasts its own single-origin beans on-site, sourced from places like Peru, Kenya, and Costa Rica. Local art, occasional live music, and a no-wifi policy shape the space into a real community hub in Grand Central, and the counter stocks gluten-free and vegan pastries alongside the coffee.
See MoreMazzaro's Italian Market
Mazzaro's Italian Market started as a small coffee-roasting operation and grew into a sprawling space packed with deli counters, a bakery, a cheese room, and a butcher shop, all under one roof in Grand Central. Fresh pasta gets hand-mixed each morning and coffee is roasted on site, with hands-on classes through Casa di Mazzaro covering everything from pizza dough to pasta for anyone who wants to go deeper.
See MoreRefined Roots
Refined Roots serves globally inspired dishes in downtown Tarpon Springs, from creative bowls and lettuce wraps to seasonal entrees like halibut. It comes from the same owner behind Urban Grounds, the corner coffee shop just down the street, and pours a well-regarded cocktail menu alongside lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.
See MoreThe Little Lamb Gastropub
The Little Lamb Gastropub sits in an unassuming shopping plaza behind a Walgreens, easy to drive right past despite the strong reputation inside. Chef James Renew runs an eclectic, seasonal menu with dishes like steak tartare and charcuterie boards, plus namesake lamb dishes like roasted lamb and lamb T-bones. Craft cocktails, craft beer, and boutique wines fill out the drink list.
See MoreDockside Dave's
Dockside Dave's has been a Madeira Beach staple for years, best known for a half-pound grouper sandwich made six different ways. The rest of the menu covers smoked fish spread, onion rings, and a mix of local seafood favorites.
See MoreThe Chattaway
Family-owned since 1951, The Chattaway has run for generations under the same family, starting with Jillian Frers and now carried on by her children and grandchildren. The famous Chattaburger headlines a straightforward comfort food menu, but the real draw is the split personality of the place: a garden patio dotted with colorful planted bathtubs on one side, an unexpectedly formal English tea room with Jillian's own china on the other, and a bar in between run by her son Greg, a fixture behind it for roughly 40 years.
See MoreCybel - French Moroccan Fusion
Moroccan spices meet French technique on the menu at Cybel, tucked into a cozy St. Petersburg dining room. Lamb tagine and chicken shawarma with labneh draw the most attention, though the lemon hummus and falafel starter has its own following. BYOB, and they also do brunch if you'd rather try it earlier in the day.
See MoreOlde Bay Cafe
Grab a picnic table at Olde Bay Cafe and you're right on Dunedin Marina, close enough to watch boats pull in while you eat. Shrimp tacos, fresh grouper, and peel-and-eat shrimp are the go-tos, and there's a happy hour worth planning around.
See MoreSlim Charmer
Tucked into a tiny 800-square-foot room in Grand Central, Slim Charmer is a small space with a dark, speakeasy feel. Martinis are the whole point, from classic to a French 75 with blackberry and tarragon, paired with small plates like steak tartare, oysters, and razor clams. Open Wednesday through Saturday evenings only, so plan around that.
See Morebin6south
bin6south operates out of a converted home in downtown St. Pete, with just 12 seats and reservations well worth making ahead. The menu changes seasonally but leans on standouts like the Bin Board, Crudo, and Crab Rigatoni, alongside heartier plates like venison saddle and smoked pork. The wine cellar holds over 200 labels to choose from.
See MoreUncle Funz Provisions
Tucked into just 800 square feet on St. Pete Beach, Uncle Funz Provisions has stayed a small, husband-and-wife-run operation since opening. The sandwich and salad menu changes weekly depending on what's fresh, and hours are limited to 16 a week, Thursday through Sunday. A small curated selection of gifts and home goods fills out the rest of the space.
See MoreVoilà-Merci French Bakery
Voilà-Merci sits inside a bright pink building in Indian Shores, run by Claire and Philippe Monnet, who spent 20 years running two bakeries in Lyon, France before crossing the Atlantic. Philippe brings over 35 years as a pastry chef to the counter, filled with croissants, tarts, éclairs, and fresh baguettes. There's also a small bistro menu with omelettes, quiches, and sandwiches for anyone wanting more than pastry.
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