St. Petersburg is a lovely sea and bayside town on the west coast of Florida. Basically the siamese twin to Tampa, just a jaunt over a cool bridge will get you to and from this bay area.
Surrounded by water you can imagine there is lots of water sporting and outdoor, waterfront dining. And in St. Pete, you will also find a booming art community (in the photo, that’s a giant mustache in front of the Dali museum!) and yep, lots of great plant based eats! Let’s check it out!
One of my favorite finds is the Taco Bus. With locations all over the Tampa/St. Pete area, it’s one of the best places for late night grub. The location I popped into was open until 4am and offered a slew a vegan options! Awesome tacos with fresh fillings, the food is great and the vibe is way cool! Converted school busses that serve yummy Mexican food? I’m all in!
Across the bridge in Tampa, The Independent Bar is worth the drive. What seems to be a converted gas station or mechanic shop is a fun bar serving up tasty beer and treats while also offering live music or sporting events in their projection room. If you have the chance to stop by, order the VLT, you won’t be disappointed ; )
If you’re craving Greek cuisine, Acropolis in downtown St. Pete is the place. With fun in mind, Acropolis has live entertainment and loves to celebrate all sorts of special occasions with a napkin toss (i guess breaking plates is too expensive!). And veggie options are aplenty with falafel, dolmas, horiatiki and more! Opa!
I love “street” food and Bodega is the place for that, also in downtown St. Petersburg. A small little walk up window joint with outdoor seating, Bodega is quick service Cuban with an edge. And yep, they have vegan options! Their veggie sandwich is actually vegan and bursting with fresh flavor!
Florida is hot and sticky and the best place to eat raw food to keep light and cool. So Leafy Greens Cafe is where you need to go for awesome raw vegan eats! their menu is delicious but my personal faves are the zucchini pasta and the Mediterranean pizza! Wash it down with a fresh veggie juice and you’ll be satisfied while still being able to fit into your jeans!
Lastly but not leastly, Community Cafe is a cool place to grab a healthy, vegan snack and a latte! Awesome sandwiches and wraps with a ton of vegan options, grab a meal to enjoy at the cafe and a few to go so you can try them all!
I’m so excited to see the growth in healthy, plant based and gluten free options in this area and look forward to more next time I’m on this side of the Sunshine State!