Just about a month ago, my boyfriend and I decided to take the short road trip from West Palm Beach to St Petersburg, Florida. Neither one of us had been on the Gulf side of Florida in ages and wanted to experience the calm blue waters and unforgettable sunsets on the west side, once again.
We were also excited to stay at the highly regarded Sirata Beach Resort.
With a recent $15 million renovation, additional pool and lounge areas, and upgrades to guest rooms and suites, Sirata didn’t disappoint. Check-in was flawless and the room was spacious, bright, and cheery.
Our deluxe suite had two queen beds with an adjoining living room and kitchenette equipped with a bar fridge, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, as well as an additional TV and a balcony with a magnificent view of the Gulf.
The accommodations were perfect for an extended stay and included:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Two bottles of water daily
- Parking
- Lounge chairs and beach towels on the beach
- Unlimited local calling
- Concierge
- Fitness Centre
- Business Centre
You can walk straight from your room to the resort’s private beach, pool areas and 3 restaurants using their fun beach walk that allows you to stroll from one end of the resort to the other, right along the beach. And with three signature restaurants and two of the best beachfront bars in St. Petersburg, we never had to leave the property.
THE RESTAURANTS
Harry’s Beach Bar, a local favorite hangout, is a unique open-air bar space, with breathtaking views of the ocean and swimming pool. Grab one of Harry’s famous tropical cocktails such as a Harry’s Hurricane or The Harry Navel, and make sure you try an order of the Waffle Fry Poutine. This is the best spot to catch the sunset.
- Open Sunday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Compass Grille is the more upscale, indoor dining option on the property serving inspired American contemporary fare.
Open daily for breakfast
- 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and for dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Rum Runners Bar & Grille, is a fun, open lounge area with rustic cocktail tables, a beach fire pit, and live entertainment. This was our favorite spot to unwind in the evenings and catch a live, local performance.
Open Sunday-Thursday
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Pretty Zen Tip: Don’t miss Rum Runners Bar & Grille complimentary Wine, Beer or Rum Runners Punch from 6:00pm-6:30pm and nightly live music.
Whether you plan on exploring the surrounding areas or staying on property, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy during your stay. Bird lovers can observe the nesting areas of the rare and protected Black Skimmer Birds, right on the beach. You’ll find over 600 nesting birds on more than 200 eggs right outside your balcony! In fact, we had the best vantage point from our complimentary first row beach loungers. Also, don’t miss the Loggerhead Sea turtles that nest and hatch right along St. Pete Beach from May 1st through October 31st.
THE POOLS & JACUZZI
One of the perks of staying at The Sirata Resort are the two large pools and jacuzzi. A great spot for lounging around and working on your tan. If one pool is too busy, you can simply head over to the other pool. If it gets too warm, you may want to rent a pool cabana with comfy couches, a cooling fan, a TV, and a table.
Pretty Zen Tip: Don’t miss the resort’s new swimming pools, hanging chair garden, center fire pit, hammocks , complimentary bicycles and a kids’ splash zone, as well as scheduled activities for the kids.
If you do decide to venture out, The Sirata Beach Resort is within a short distance from downtown St. Pete’s many attractions, museums, local craft breweries and shops. Here are a few not to be missed spots on your trip:
EAT ST PETE:
Downtown St. Petersburg offers some delicious eats and a diverse array of restaurants. Some top insider pics include Annata, Alto Mare, Cassis, Bacchus, Brick + Mortar and BabaSea
Dog Treasure Island
The Canopy at Birchwood is a great rooftop bar and the restaurant Birchwood is delicious!
Bodega is a great cuban spot on Central Ave
Baum Avenue Market
Valhalla Bakery (amazing vegan baked goods)
EXPLORE ST PETE
I can personally recommend a visit to the new St. Pete Pier– It’s a beautiful 26-acre open-air area perfect for a leisurely day of discovery and is only a 15 minute drive from the hotel. You’ll find three great restaurants and a rooftop tiki bar with some outstanding views of Downtown St. Pete.
Check out the Florida Orange Grove Wine Cellar right by the hotel! About a five-minute drive to the tasting room where you can check out some yummy local fruit wines.
Passe-a-grille Beach is a few minutes from the hotel and is a beautiful beach neighborhood with a charming vibe and shops, also a beautiful beach
VIP COUPLES SUNSET DOLPHIN BOAT TOUR
We were scheduled to end our trip with an intimate sunset cruise and dolphin tour– hoping to catch an iconic Gulf Coast sunset, while chilling with some of the ocean’s friendliest creatures. Alas, the sunset tour that takes you to Sand Dollar Island, only accessible by boat, was canceled due to tropical storm warnings. But the tour departs conveniently right from the Sirata beach and I’m looking forward to our next trip for this fun experience!
Thank you to The Sirata Beach Resort for being such gracious hosts. We had a fabulous time! Watch their video here: https://www.sirata.com/
As always all opinions are my own.
Contact Jules Aron at greenandgorgeouslife@gmail.com and follow along @Julesaron
