The Lofts at St. Pete Beach Insiders Guide for Beach-Friendly Food, Hidden Spots, Sunsets, and No Tourist Traps

Discover Upham Beach Park. Walk beautiful St. Pete Beach of course! (3-minute walk from The Lofts)

Have drinks at The Toasted Monkey’s roof top bar. This is our favorite thing to do as soon as we arrive to The Lofts, as guests ourselves! Enjoy your favorite beverage and/or appetizer while listening to music and watching the boats as they enter and exit Blind Pass, to and from the Gulf. Feel the tension melt away. Paradise! (3 min walk)

Looking for fresh in-house seafood and a scratch kitchen on the water in a laid-back environment? Grab a high top on the water at Bouy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill. This is also Matthew’s and I's favorite (so far anyway☺). They also have delicious burgers and a lot of other alternatives for our guests that prefer non seafood alternatives. It’s a great place to watch the boats go by and the dolphins often swim by only feet from your table! So be on the lookout! (3 minute walk)

Have lunch or grab a cocktail at Jimmy B’s Sunset Grille. Listen to some live music as they offer daily entertainment. Walking by beach is the only way to experience! (.5 mile walk South from the Upham Beach Park)

Catch the gorgeous sunset. I know we already mentioned the beach but make it a point to experience the gorgeous, world renown, Florida West Coast Sunsets. It’s great to see everybody in the area gravitating towards the beach as the drops lower in the sky. If you are lucky, you may even see the magnificent green flash that sometimes occurs just as the sun disappears under the horizon.

For best hospitality and a more homegrown vibe, visit Sunset Kitchen and Drinks. Ask for Justin (owner). Let him know Matthew and Marcella from The Lofts sent you and get 10% off. (.8 mi)

Day shopping, souvenirs & lunch: Visit Johns Pass in Madeira beach. We recommend eating at Sculley’s Waterside Table, however there are too many shops, restaurants, bars, and local breweries to choose from. And all located all located right on an inlet from the Gulf. It’s quaint, beautiful beach, sanctuary and a great way to spend an afternoon. (Call Free Beach Ride at: 727-776-7553. Ride is free and drivers only ask for tips). 8 minute car ride 

Looking for a couple cute boutiques? Walk down to Corey Avenue for good local restaurants and shops. Make sure to hit the Sunday farmer's market from 10:00am to 5:00 pm for some fresh produce, live music, and fun local artists, and vendors. There is also a movie theater on Corey Avenue which is a great way to spend an evening after a full day on the beach. Twisted Tiki is one of our favorite local restaurants that has great, reasonably priced food in a casual, fun atmosphere. (5 min walk)

Looking for a quaint place to grab a delicious cappuccino and breakfast or fill your sweet tooth with amazing Italian Pastries? Go to La Casa Del Pane Italian Bakery & Café. This place is the real deal! Please let the wonderful owner, Anna, know Matthew and Marcella from the Lofts sent you and she will give you VIP treatment! (1-minute walk on NW side 71st and Gulf Blvd )

Try Ricks Reef for fresh, always delicious food, at an affordable price. Super casual environment outdoor and indoor seating. The Baja fish tacos are amazing! They are great with their homemade hand cut fries or made from scratch hand dipped onion rings.

Looking for some fresh local seafood and a non-pretentious, laid-back local setting? Try Shells Seafood located on the east side of Gulf Boulevard and 71st Avenue. Shells is also often recognized for having the best snow crab in St. Pete Beach. 1-2 min walk from the Lofts

Rent a bike from Lenny Surf Shop. (0.4 mi) Mention Matthew sent you from The Lofts and receive your second bike at half price. Grab a beach cruiser and stay local or rent a road bike and experience, the beautiful Pinellas Trail! The trail is only a 3 mile bike lane ride from The Lofts. The Pinellas Trail is a historic “Rail Trail”. We highly recommend a ride to the 1136 acre Fort Desoto State Park which is comprised of five interconnected islands renowned for its pristine white sand beaches, calm, shallow, clear waters, and historic 19 century Fort Historical Fort Desoto that was built in 1898 for the Spanish-American war.

Sharkeys Glass Bottom Tours: (5 min walk) Rent a kayak and explore on your own or enjoy a one of a kind night paddle led by professional guides. From their site… "We offer the Ultimate Adventure on our Glass Bottom LED illuminated Kayak Night Tours! In fact no one else offers this experience anywhere in the world with how we feed the fish and the extremely powerful self developed underwater light system that we use! At our St. Pete Beach location we’ll first visit a bird sanctuary mangrove island and look at the different species of seabirds! We’ll then paddle down protected waterways & see amazing underwater views along with feeding fish which is fun for everyone! There’s times when the fish get so close you can even touch them! You may also see Crabs, Shrimp and other sea-life as we illuminate the waters around us. With literally nothing to do at night in the Water Sports Industry, our Glass Bottom Kayak LED illuminated Night Tours are perfect for families, friends, large groups, or an unforgettable date night under the stars and moon!"

We truly have a tremendous amount of pride of ownership for The Lofts at St. Pete Beach and it our number one priority for our guests to feel that the moment you step onto the property. We also believe you will agree that The Lofts also happens to be located in the best part of all of St. Pete Beach! We hope you enjoy all these experiences as much as we have and as always, please let us know if there’s anything we can do to enhance your stay.

Sincerely, 

Matthew and Marcella