Date Night at the Don CeSar

Date Night at the Don Cesar
📍 St. Pete Beach, Florida

Dress || Similar Heels || Clutch || Earrings

Even in these dog days of summer, I still try to create date nights that feel extra special. On most Friday nights, David and I can be found Downtown, beginning the weekend with a cocktail and dining at a local favorite. We love these evenings together, but even in a city the size of St. Pete, it can feel monotonous. For that reason, we decided to head over to the beach to shake things up and spend some time at the iconic Don CeSar Hotel.

It’s lovingly referred to as ‘The Don’ and is deeply part of Tampa Bay history. The Pink Lady debuted in 1928, at the end of the Roaring Twenties, and hosted such names as Al Capone, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today, it has a refreshed charm of the Jazz Age and is a favorite amongst visitors near and far. It’s also the perfect spot for a St. Pete date night!

Happy Hour at the Lobby Bar

You can feel the opulence as soon as you drive up to this Pink Palace on the sea. The Lobby Bar is the first thing to greet you with stunning gold features and an incredible cocktail list. On this particular evening, I ordered Pink Palace. It’s their take on a Kir Royale, except they swapped sparkling rosé for champagne. In true Jazz Age fashion, you can hear live music almost every evening. You’ll be tempted to get on your feet, grab a partner, and dance the night away.

Dinner for Two at Maritana

After a round of drinks, we made our way to Maritana. It recently completed a renovation and is such a feast for the eyes. Striking white columns give way to bright navy walls with seaside murals and influences. From there, the evening only got better as we enjoyed one of the best meals in the Tampa Bay Area. The menu is a sweeping list of coastal-inspired cuisine sourced from regional farms and fishermen. We started by sharing the Seared Foie, going our separate ways for my Seafood Linguini and David’s Lobster Gnudi. Excellent, excellent, excellent! 

Ice Cream and a Perfect Sunset

After such an incredible dinner, I had room for a tiny sweet treat. Although the dessert list at Maritana looked Devine, I had my heart set on good, old-fashioned ice cream. Just like that, we made our way to Uncle Andy’s Market. They have a never-ending menu of ice cream flavors, milkshakes, pastries, and more! I took my chocolate chip cookie dough and snagged front-row views of a famous Gulf Coast sunset. It had been a while since we had seen one, and it felt like a perfect way to cap an evening for two.

Even four-plus years into marriage, I’m thankful to have these moments with David still. Cheers to many more years of bliss, finding memories, and making date nights.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.