The Mandarin Hide
231 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-231-4007, mandarinhide.com
Ruby's Elixir
15 Third St. N., St. Petersburg,727-898-7829
Looks like some people have recognized that downing cocktails in a beautiful environment devoted to the task is the just and inalienable right of everyone who tilts back a glass. No need for an upscale restaurant or hotel lobby to provide the setting — cocktails should be their own reward.
Maybe that’s why downtown St. Petersburg is now home to two new lounges — Mandarin Hide and Ruby’s Elixir — that are both glorious backdrops for a glass and garnish. Which to pick depends on your personality: Do you want to be part of a scene, or one of the crowd?
There’s something mysterious about the name Mandarin Hide that’s reflected in the space itself. The ten-foot-tall wooden door leading into the place just adds to that aura, separating the majestic interior from the hubbub of Central Avenue’s busiest block. A soaring wall to the left is divided into a diamond pattern, each geometric section anchored by a dim sconce that seems more decoration than mood lighting, with a long padded bench that runs straight to the back of the narrow room.
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2011.