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My Favorite St. Pete Happy Hours

May 7, 2021

My Favorite St. Pete Happy Hours
📍 Downtown St. Pete, Florida

Happy Hour, drinks, St. Pete, wine, Friday, cocktail

Dress (also) || Flats ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch

Friday, is that you? No matter the day of the week, I always appreciate a good happy hour. Honestly, who doesn’t? It’s a great way to catch up with old friends, start a date night, or unwind after a particularly stressful work week. The Sunshine City of St. Pete is no stranger to Happy Hour, and in fact, we may have perfected it. Whether you’re new to the area or one of the many visitors to the Conde Nast Traveler picks, here is a quick list of my all-time favorite local Happy Hours.

Intermezzo

At any point of the day, there’s a very good chance that you’ll find me at this Central Avenue cafe. In the morning hours and beyond, Intermezzo serves excellent cups of coffees, cappuccinos, and lattes. Once Happy Hour hits at 5 pm, the atmosphere shifts to focus on incredible cocktails for $7 each. For the genuine Katie experience, I recommend ordering the Rum Punch No. 1. It’s one of my favorite drinks in town, and I could sip on it all evening. An Intermezzo staple is their Branca Brew, an energizing combination of Bourbon, Fernet Menta, and Cold Brew. Their cocktail menu extends far beyond the Happy Hour, so I encourage you to sample the entire menu.

Cassis

Cassis has become a recent regular spot for us, especially on Tuesday when Happy Hour lasts all night. You can expect great drinks and even better snacks from their Small Bites menu at this French-inspired cafe. During Happy Hours (from 4 to 7 pm), select glasses of wine are only $2.50, and martinis are $4.50. I had post-work drinks here very recently and floored when my check was only $10. Trust me, there’s a reason it’s regularly voted the best Happy Hour in Tampa Bay.

Annata and Alto Mare

I list these two different establishments together because they are owned by the same group and are right next store to each other. While Alto Mare and Annata offer different cuisines are fares, they are both sure to make their way to your favorites. Whenever I want to dine some fantastically fresh seafood, I head to Alto Mare. If I’m in the mood for charcuterie boards, I go to Annata instead. Both offer $5 glasses of wine during Happy Hour from 4 to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Because of their location on Beach Drive, both make a great starting point for a night out.

The Local Breweries

St. Pete is a brewery kind of town. I can think of nearly a dozen local craft breweries around the city off the top of my head. Each has its own personality and spin on Happy Hour. If you live nearby or have an entire weekend to dedicate to it, I highly recommend visiting as many as you can. Many offer a different spin on Happy Hour throughout the week to help you relax with great brews and good conversation. While there’s something to love about each, the breweries I tend to visit most often are St. Pete Brewing, Cage Brewing, and Grand Central Brewhouse.

This list is just a tiny sampling of what St. Pete has to offer. Everyone has their personal favorites, but I love to share my haunts. I rotate through each of these spots regularly, so the chances of seeing me at one of them are pretty good. Cheers to the weekend, and I hope you enjoy your well-deserved Friday Happy Hour, no matter where it is!

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.

A Guide to St. Pete Beaches

April 7, 2021

A Guide to St. Pete Beaches
📍 Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach

Florida, St. Pete, beach, beaches, water, Don CeSar, Vineyard Vines

Dress (also) || Heels ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch

I don’t know if it always comes across here, but I am a born-and-raised beach bum. The idea of spending all day at the beach, in the salt and sand, seems like heaven. Since I grew up in the St. Pete area, I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting every local strip of sand that dots the Gulf of Mexico. These pristine beach towns have been a huge tourism pull for years and there’s no sign of slowing down. If you are new to the area or have plans on visiting, here’s a guide to my favorite beaches in the St. Pete and Pinellas County area. Because I’m a stickler on details, I want to clarify that these are all separate towns from St. Pete. Some, primarily Clearwater Beach and Honeymoon Island, are quite a drive away, but absolutely worth the trip. Make one your soul destination or beach hop to your heart’s content.

Fort De Soto Park

This is the perfect destination if you want to feel off the grid and get in touch with nature. Fort De Soto is a county park. While it doesn’t have the restaurants and hotels as other local beaches, that doesn’t mean the beaches are any less beautiful. For one thing, it’s dog-friendly. Feel free to pack up your puppy for a fun day in the sun that the entire family will enjoy. David and I like to launch our kayak from here and explore the two-mile canoe trail. Once we even saw an entire flock of bright pink spoonbills. My favorite option at Fort De Soto Park is to simply pack a lunch and do nothing! There’s no wrong choice in how to spend your day.

Pass-a-Grille

I hate to say it, but this has become my favorite beach in St. Pete. Well, at least it’s the one I visit the most often. Pass-a-Grille Beach is the southernmost part of St. Pete Beach and it’s my ideal escape. The beaches are simply stunning, plus there is a nice range of restaurants and shops so you can fully take advantage of your trip. Start your day with breakfast at The Seahorse. This institution has been serving Pass-a-Grille for over 80 years. From there you can explore the shops on 8th Avenue, lovingly known as the “World’s Smallest Main Street.” For finer dining, I recommend making a reservation at The Dewey and grab a sunset cocktail at the Rooftop Bar.

St. Pete Beach

Most recently, St. Pete Beach has been ranked as the Number 1 beach in the United States and Number 5 in the World. Those are so incredible accolades and something that locals are very proud of. The first thing I have to mention about SPB is, of course, the Don CeSar Hotel. Originally opening in 1928, it is lovingly known as the Pink Palace. The stunningly pink stucco and palm trees make it one of my favorite places in the area to explore. I take any chance to spend a day here. Further north, you’ll also find one of my favorite beach breakfast places, the Frog Pond. The menu is almost French-inspired, so definitely order the quiche. They are decadent! If there’s a line, and it’s a good chance, stop next door for coffee at Grove Surf & Coffee. You can get caffeinated with their fun menu options or grab supplies for your beach day. After a day in the sun, cool day at one of my favorite local breweries, Mastry’s. There are so many drink options to match anyone’s preference and taste.

Madeira Beach

Just north of St. Pete Beach is the little gem of Madeira Beach. The beaches are sweeping and there’s so much to do. You’ll love visiting John’s Pass Village. What started as a pirate-founded fishing village is now a favorite tourist destination with over 130 shops and restaurants. You’ll find quintessential tacky tourist shops, of course, but don’t skip over boutiques that sell Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines. Mad Beach Brewing is a favorite place to stop for local food and an extensive tap list. If you haven’t noticed about the St. Pete area, breweries are a running theme. Nearly all are worth visiting.

Clearwater Beach

I think this Clearwater Beach is still the most iconic in the area. It’s the most developed for restaurants and resorts, plus is a straight shot from the airport. Before the bridges changed, I went to this beach a lot. After school, weekends, holidays, I was here with friends. Over time, I learned about the best secret places to park and grab lunch. Things have drastically changed in recent years, but I still love some of the staples in this beachside town. Frenchy’s is always a favorite. There are several locations for this local chain of restaurants. Tourists will typically pick the Rockaway location because it’s right on the beach and has the best view for sunsets. I prefer the Original location a few blocks away. This whole-in-the-wall was a regular date night spot when my parents first met. Order the Grouper Sandwich, but don’t forget to start with an order of the Smoked Fish Dip. While I never actually stayed on Clearwater Beach, I would love to have a stay at the Hotel Cabana for a quick getaway.

Honeymoon Island

This final beach is pretty far from St. Pete proper but is another favorite from my childhood. Similar to Fort De Soto, Honeymoon Island is a State Park and is a place to unwind. Thankfully, there are no resorts or restaurants, except for a small food shack. I recommend turning off your phone, packing a good book, and stroll past the families for your own slice of paradise. While you’re in the area, be sure to visit sweet Downtown Dunedin for a great array of food and shopping options.

Which beach should you visit? There’ really no right answer. Each town and beach has its own sense of pride and style. No matter where you book a trip, be sure to treat the community with every ounce of respect that it deserves. Clean up after yourselves and be kind to the locals you meet along the way!

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.

Lunch at the Gasparilla Inn

March 29, 2021

Lunch at the Gasparilla Inn
📍 Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande

Dress (also) (also) || Sandals || Clutch || Bracelet

Because it feels like it’s just down the road, I never say no when a Gasparilla Inn trip presents itself. That’s even true if the visit just for a few hours and lunch. One of my dear friends from New York, Sydney, just happened to be in the area. With that, David and I happily made the drive for a quick afternoon away from it all. This short change in scenery was exactly what I needed to get inspired and recharged for the work week ahead.

Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Florida, Banjanan, Spring

Coffee To-Go

We opted to get into town a little early and make the most of the day. For us, that always means grabbing a coffee and pastry to go from the Inn Bakery. Since it’s the only coffee shop on the island, it was positively buzzing when we arrived. They have an entire menu of delicious treats and it’s honestly a chore having to pick only one. My standing order is a flavored iced coffee and whole wheat croissant, but this time I decided to switch it up with an iced tea and a maple-bourbon scone. We took our treats to go and found a shady spot on the Inn’s front porch. It turned into the perfect place to people watch, get caffeinated, and have a quiet morning with David.

Long Strolls Through Boca Grande

Since we had some time to kill, we decided to take a walk through Boca Grande. Like you would expect from any cute beach town, the homes were breathtaking! There’s one that’s currently a work in progress right next to the Beach Club. Each time we visit, the progress noticeable moves along. Recently, they gave this home a fresh coat of bright coral paint that I loved! Of course, I instantly asked if we could paint our home the same color, but I bet you could probably guess the answer. We also had the opportunity to do some window shopping at the boutiques downtown. Since it’s such a small island, there’s not a huge number of shops, but they are all quality!

Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Pink Elephant, Florida, lunch

Lunch at the Pink Elephant

Because of our walk, we were hungry again when lunchtime came around. Lovingly called The Pink, The Pink Elephant is the place to dine on Boca Grande. The name alone is enough to get me in the door. We had a perfect little table that was outside, but miraculously in the shade on a sunny Florida day. Quickly, the pink libations were ordered and it was the perfect way to catch up and talk about all things travel! Each drink comes with a sweet little elephant figurine, so it’s fun to collect as the visits add up. I ordered the Pink BLT which may have been the best BLT I’ve ever had! It was the mozzarella and gouda cheese that did it for me. Our lunch flew by and before we knew it, it was almost 4 o’clock. I consider this to be a Sunday well spent!

When you visit the Gasparilla Inn, you quickly see and hear their tagline. It’s “Florida as it’s meant to be.” Obviously, this means so many different things to different people. For me, it’s all about slowing down the clock and enjoying a long outdoor lunch with quality people. Honestly, what could be better than that?

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.