The joke about St. Pete being God's waiting room is as old as the senior citizens who used to be this town's primary residents. Word is finally out that St. Pete has one of the prettiest, most walkable, most restaurant-blessed downtowns in Florida, and that it's also a great place to party. Make sure you make it a stop on your Super Bowl perambulations.
1. Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill. Cold beer and good grub make this St. Pete sports institution a local favorite for catching the game. The bar and the patrons alike are decked out in Tampa Bay sports gear, and any word against our beloved home teams could begin a brawl. 1320 Central Ave. N., 727-822-4562, fergsonline.com.
2. Savannah's Café. Gussied-up Southern food with some of the best fried chicken and gravy in town. So good, we named it best new restaurant of 2007. 1113 Central Ave., 727-388-4371, savannahsstpete.com.
3. State Theater. Outstanding example of Beaux Arts architecture that hosts some shows on the upper reaches of Central Avenue. 867 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-895-3045.
4. The Garage. Big room, sparsely appointed, but with an excellent sound system — in other words, a very good place to see a show. 662 Central Ave., 727-823-2244, myspace.com/stpetegaragebar.
5. Durty Nelly's. Cozy Irish pub features the requisite billiard tables, darts and foosball — but with handsome wooden furniture and whiskey selections that bring a touch of class to upper Central. 661 Central Ave., 727-824-8884.
6. The Emerald. Downtown St. Pete's most beloved dive bar, this is the place for cheap, strong cocktails, hipsters to rub shoulders with the homeless and to hear local bands blast away on the weekends. 550 Central Ave., 727-898-6054.
7. The Table and Mesa Lounge. This transplant of a Sarasota restaurant concept has had some ups and downs, but its South Beach vibe and Atlantic Rim cuisine are up and running again and looking good. 539 Central Ave., 727-23-6372, tablestpete.com.
8. Globe Coffee Lounge. An arts-oriented, neighborly coffee shop just a half-mile from the massive developments on the waterfront. 532 First Ave. N., 727-898-5282, globecoffeelounge.com.
9. Bella Brava. One of upper Central's restaurant pioneers, this is a handsome contemporary space with a sophisticated Italian menu to match. 515 Central Ave., 727-895-5515, bellabrava.net.
10. King & I. Popular Thai mainstay. 445 Central Ave., 727-898-8056, thekingandIthairestaurant.com.
11. Primi Urban Café. Exceptional, affordable Italian cuisine in a casual setting cooked and served by a friendly South-African family. Primi was CL's Best New Restaurant in 2006. 27 Fourth St. N., 727-895-4909, primiurbancafe.com.
12. The Independent. "Bieres. Vin. Music. Thought." That's how The Independent describes what it has to offer, which gives you an indication of why some people find the place pretentious, while others love the idea of a beer hangout with a little class, plus an intelligent beer and wine list. 29 Third St. N., 727-820-9514, independentbeer.com.
13. Push Ultra Lounge. The 'Burg's trendiest bar is where local bands play on Thursdays and star DJs like Good Charlotte's Benji Madden spin. 128 Third St. S., 727-895-7874, pushultralounge.com.
14. Buono Vita. Another new downtown restaurant, this relaxed spot offers Italian home cookin' at reasonable prices. 330 First Avenue South, 727-367-1300.
15. Grillside Central. Huge portions of homey Southern classics are served up morning, noon and night from Grillside's open kitchen. Best bets: Shrimp and grits, fried chicken or catfish with sweet potato chips and collard greens, or buttery biscuits with homemade sausage gravy. 337 Central Ave., 727-820-9200.
16. Red Mesa Cantina. A brand new addition to downtown, the Cantina brings with it a loyal following of folks who've grown to love the tacos, ceviches and other pan-Latin/Mexican fare at the still-popular original Fourth Street N. location. 128 Third St. S., 727-510-0034.
17. Lucky Dill Deli Central. If you're longing for an overstuffed corned beef on rye, this is the place for you. 277 Central Ave., 727-895-5859.
18. Zurrito's. The first home of Z Grille but now its funkier little sister, this Baja-Cali-Mex joint is known for its great fish tacos. 269 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-896-3101.
19. Bishop Tavern. A lovingly restored bar in a building that dates back to 1912, the Bishop hosts a full slate of game-week festivities including the Bishop Bunny Bowl. 260 First Ave. N., 727-822-2027.
20. Café Alma. A sophisticated spot with a laid-back vibe and live music, with a variety of international cuisine and a Sunday brunch Bloody Mary bar that is not to be missed. 260 First Ave. S., 727-502-5002, cafealma.com.
21. Fortunato's Italian Market. Pizza, pasta and sidewalk seating. 259 Central Ave., 727-898-4888.
22. Central Avenue Oyster Bar. Quiveringly fresh mollusks and other sea-inspired dished amidst a consistently welcoming atmosphere. 249 Central Ave., 727-897-9728, centraloysterbar.com.
23. Central Cafe & Organics. Tasty vegetarian and vegan fare; a great spot for a healthy lunch. 243 Central Ave., 727-824-0881.
24. A Taste for Wine. Sit on the wrought-iron second-floor balcony, sip from a fine selection of wines and cheeses, and pretend you're in New Orleans. 241 Central Ave., 727-895-1623, tasteforwine.net.
25. Tangelo's Grille. Stellar sandwiches and a reggae vibe. 226 First Ave. N., 727-894-1695, tangelosgrille.com.
26. The Garden Restaurant. A French Quarter-inspired boîte serving steak and pasta in, yes, an outdoor garden where you can often hear live jazz. 217 Central Ave., 727-896-3800.
27. Jannus Landing. St. Pete's premiere concert venue is tucked between buildings in the heart of downtown St. Pete, which means it's both outdoors and in. 16 Second St. N., 727-896-2276, jannuslandingconcerts.com.
28. Joey Brooklyn's Famous Pizza. Pinellas County winner of Creative Loafing's PZZA Tournament. Perfect for a late-night slice. 210 First Ave. N., 727-822-6757.
29. Z Grille. Newly relocated from its former spot on Central (now occupied by sister restaurant Zurrito's), Z is a sleek, streamlined spot with the same friendly vibe and kick-ass rib eye steaks of the first location, plus new dishes that are intensely flavorful, occasionally elegant, and always interesting. 104 Second St., 727-822-9600, zgrille.net.
30. Midtown Sundries. The good old American bar food your patriotic palate craves, in a neighborhood sports-bar atmosphere that attracts lots of TV viewers for big games. 200 First Ave S., 727-502-0222.
31. Pacific Wave. Pacific Rim fusion cuisine with French-style execution and saucing. An extensive sushi menu and wine list round out this New World dining experience. 211 Second St. S., 727-822-5235, pacificwaverestaurant.com.
32. Baywalk. This entertainment/shopping complex has entered a rough patch lately, with foreclosure looming and the recent arrest of its interim manager. Still, it's got St. Pete's only downtown movie theater, good pizza at Ammazza, good Italian at Gratzzi's, and the liquid reinforcements of Wet Willie's, where the frozen alcoholic concoctions have names like Shock Treatment and Call A Cab. Between First and Second streets. N. & Second and Third avenues. N. yourbaywalk.com.
33. L'Olivier Bistro. Crepes served with Gallic flair in a hidden downtown niche that's a perfect place to while away an afternoon over wine and conversation. 111 Second Ave. N.E., 727-821-3846, lolivierbistro.com.
34. Ceviche. Traditional and uniformly delicious Spanish tapas in the restored Ponce De Leon Hotel. After downing multiple small plates of calamari, you can work off the calories in the basement flamenco bar. Also, don't miss Ceviche's petite Pincho bar just up the street. 10 Beach Drive, 727-209-2302, ceviche.com.
35. Parkshore Grill. A high-end steakhouse that symbolizes the spirit of the new downtown, with a luxe interior and a giant outdoor plaza facing the Museum of Fine Arts and the Bay. 300 Beach Drive, 727-896-9463, parkshoregrill.com.
36. Paciugo. Terrific gelato available in a bewilderingly wonderful selection of flavors, and you can eat it outdoors with a view of the water. 300 Beach Drive N.E., 727-209-0298, paciugo.com.
37. Moon Under Water. British pub food with an Indian twist (try the curries) and a hearty, welcoming clientele. 332 Beach Drive N.E., 727-896-6160, themoonunderwater.com.
38. Fresco's Waterfront Bistro. Ideally situated on the approach to the Pier, with fine marina views. 300 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-894-4429, frescosrestaurant.com.
39. Marchand's Bar & Grill. Posh hotel restaurant at the beautifully restored Renaissance Vinoy serves a vast and yummy brunch worth the Super Bowl weekend splurge (if you can get a reservation). 501 5th Avenue N.E., 727-896-6160, marchandsbarandgrill.com.
40. Saturday Morning Market. Visitors from the frozen north, consider the prospect of shopping and eating outside in the middle of winter. This once-a-week delight features live music, great produce, delicious prepared food and a colorful cross-section of everyone in St. Pete. Runs October through May. First Avenue S. and First Street S., saturdaymorningmarket.com.
41. The Pier. Touristy pile at the end of St. Pete Pier, where Captain Al's, Cha Cha Coconuts and The Columbia serve up seafood and Cuban with a view. 800 Second Ave. N.E., stpetepier.com.
42. Tropicana Field. Its outright ugliness is countered somewhat by a still-surprising development: that pennant the Rays won last year. One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, 727-825-3120.
43. Museum Of Fine Arts. Perfect Florida tourism: over 4,000 artworks from people like Cezanne, Gauguin and Rodin just steps away from the water. 255 Beach Drive N.E., 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org.
44. Kahwa Coffee. Shiny and serene little spot, where the coffee comes from the roasters of choice for many of the area's better restaurants. 475 Second St. N., 727-823-4700, kahwacoffee.com.
JUST BEYOND DOWNTOWN
Beak's Old Florida. A casual restaurant and bar known for its funky old-Florida vibe where the regulars and the newbies always seem to be having a very good time. 2451 Central Ave., 727-321-9100, beaksoldflorida.com.
Salvador Dali Museum. As if a Super Bowl weekend weren't already surreal enough, the Dali has a world-renowned collection of works by its eponymous artist, the late Spanish surrealist. 1000 Third St. S., 727-823-3767 or salvadordalimuseum.org.
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This article appears in Jan 21-27, 2009.