The City of St. Petersburg recently held a public meeting where it sought input on how to grow ridership on its increasingly busy SunRunner bus line. Grab a drink, literally, because here’s ours.

It’s obvious the Tampa Bay area (and Florida in general) is lacking in public transportation, which is why it’s important to advocate for improvement and support the options that are currently available. A fairly recent addition in Pinellas County is the SunRunner, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system that connects downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach, making it easy for residents and tourists alike to gain access to countless local businesses.

In its first four months after launching late last year, the service welcomed more than 250,000 riders. The daily service—with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes after 8 p.m.—is free to use until November of this year, after which it will cost $2.25 per ride, which is still much cheaper than paying for an Uber or beach parking.

The 10-mile route offers plenty of bars, breweries and restaurants within walking distance of many of the SunRunner stops. There are also numerous cultural attractions along the way, including the Imagine Museum, Morean Arts Center, Dali Museum and Chihuly Collection, to name a few. The recently announced plans to open a new stop in 2024 outside the Sundial parking garage will give riders access to the numerous shops and restaurants on Beach Drive as well as the St. Pete Pier.

It’s nearly impossible to outline all of the places and activities the SunRunner route gives users access to, but this list can be used as a starting point for a fun day of indulging your taste buds and catching a light buzz, safe and sober transportation included. Not every stop is included in this dining guide, so let us know which ones we should add.

See a listing of every bar and restaurant mentioned by scrolling to the bottom of the post.

Emerald Bar 550 Central Ave. N, St. Petersburg Established in 1950, Emerald Bar is one of the oldest dive bars in St.Petersburg. Offering bar games, indoor smoking, live music and happy hour, Emerald bar is a casual and cozy spot to grab a drink with friends. Photo via Emerald Bar/Google

8th Street Station This stop is a good one if you’re looking to catch some live music, as Floridian Social (previously the State Theatre), has performances Thursday through Sunday nights as well as an impressive bar program. Another nearby spot is The Bends (pictured), a decidedly hip cocktail bar that often has live music on the weekends. If you’re hungry, check out Engine No. 9, a popular haunt among locals where you can get some seriously elevated and delicious burgers. Credit: Photo by Xebulon Emmz

Best Locally-Made Beer Winner: Green Bench Brewing Co. Runners-up: 3 Daughters Brewing, Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Photo via flickr.com Credit: Photo via cityofstpete/Flickr

Best Sports Bar
**Ferg’s Sports Bar**
*Finalists:ThunderBay Bar & Grill, Eddie’s Bar & Grill* Credit: FERG'S/ FACEBOOK

22nd Street Station This bustling stop provides a plethora of options for beer enthusiasts, such as Cage Brewing, Pinellas Ale Works, 3 Daughters Brewing, Grand Central Brewhouse and If I Brewed the World. Credit: Cage Brewing / Facebook

Best Dog-Friendly Bar Winner: Two Shepherds Taproom Runners-up: The Dog Bar St. Pete, Pups Pub Tampa Photo via Two Shepherds Taproom/Instagram Credit: Photo via Two Shepherds Taproom/Instagram

Two popular vegan options within walking distance of the 22nd Street Station are Love Food Central Cafe and Good Intentions. Credit: C/O LOVE FOOD CENTRAL

Then – 2011 Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe 2927 Central Ave, St. Petersburg Credit: Photo via Google Maps

Food options at 32nd Street Station include popular curry dishes at The Public Social House, tacos and Mexican specialties at Casita Taqueria, and both Chicago & NY style pies at Cappy’s Pizza. Credit: Ryan Ballogg

Bureaucrat 1: We have word that someone has been repairing roofs.Bureaucrat 2: Oh, good.Bureaucrat 1: But they didn't pay a fee to be on our arbitrary list.Bureaucrat 2: What? Arrest them and throw them in prison! You can't go around working without first giving us our cut!— Jeremy Cady (@jeremycady) October 9, 2022

Credit: Photo via pasadenabarandgrill/Facebook

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish 1350 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-381-7931 To combat the St. Pete Beach heat, cool down with a frozen root beer and delicious fish spread at Ted Peters. For over 70 years, locals and tourists alike have enjoyed Ted’s famous smoked fish—including mahi-mahi, salmon, mackerel and mullet. Make sure to bring cash. Photo via Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish/Google Maps Credit: Photo via Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish/Google Maps

Boca Ciega Drive Hop off just after you cross the scenic bridge over Deadman’s Key and walk a couple of blocks to Corey Avenue. A recommended place to start is Swigwam Beach Bar, a laid back, Irish-themed pub with a delicious yet deceptively strong frozen Bushwacker. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, check out the street market with vendors hawking products including honey, soaps, plants and specialty crepes. Credit: Photo via Google Maps

Also at the Boca Ciega Drive SunRunner stop on the other side of Corey Avenue and Gulf Boulevard is the Beach Lounge, a no-frills dive bar where you can find cheap domestics and wells, a host of chatty regulars and a seriously addictive quarter pusher machine. Credit: Photo via Google Maps

If you’re looking for something to eat near the Boca Ciega Drive SunRunner stop, head another couple minutes towards the water to Willy’s Burgers and Booze. It stays busy most of the day here, so fingers crossed you’re able to score a seat among the local regulars. The pub grub menu offers many other things besides burgers, including chicken and seafood dishes. Credit: Photo via Willy's Burger and Booze/Facebook

55th Avenue/Tradewinds If you’re in the mood to belly-up to a beachside tiki bar for a frozen daiquiri, or if you need a room for the night, this is a good place to stop. The area is laden with lodging options, many of which have beach-themed bars that are open to the public. Credit: Courtesy of TradeWinds Island Resorts

Restaurants within a short walking distance of the 55th Avenue/Tradewinds SunRunner stop include RumFish Grill (pictured), Caddy’s St. Pete Beach and Skidders Restaurant. Credit: Photo via rumfishgrillandbar/Facebook

Beach Access You guessed it, this is the end of the line and just a short walk to the water. If you forgot your sunscreen or want a chicken tender sub, cross Gulf Blvd to hit up Publix at Dolphin Village.