The following is a local’s guide to the best new St. Pete restaurants. In 2025, many new restaurants have opened in St. Petersburg, Florida. With so many debuts, it is often difficult to try them all, but we have. We’ve added all of the new premiere eating spots to our Restaurant Guide to St. Pete: Our Favorite Places, which you can purchase on this website. In addition to that, here’s our summary of the best new restaurants in St. Petersburg, Florida.

New Restaurants

Elliott Aster. This is an excellent contemporary American restaurant located in the Vinoy Resort. We love the craft cocktails, the freshly-made pastas like the Green Garlic Agnolotti, the Mediterranean Sea Bream, and the wood-fired steaks. The Boka Restaurant Group and Lee Wolen opened this beautiful restaurant with an elegant dining room, antipasti bar, and waterfront patio. The restaurant is named after the Aster lavender wildflower native to Florida and in honor of Gene Elliott, who named the Vinoy.

Perry’s Porch. Here you will find a coffee bar, Cafe, and Restaurant in the Pier area. We love the “Strauberry Park” Cocktail, Tuna Tartare, Crispy Artichokes, Charred Octopus, the Chop Salad, the Snapper, and the Pork Chop. They offer handhelds at lunch, and for dinner, Entrees, Sides, and Desserts. The restaurant has a relaxing Florida coastal decor and is next to the St. Pete Museum of History. Named after the St. Pete founding father Perry Snell. There is seating indoors and outdoors on the beautiful covered porch. See also my blog article at https://taste-testers.com/2025/02/21/perrys-porch/

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge. This is a Latin-inspired restaurant and bar on Central Avenue. Reminiscent of spots in Miami, a lively bar stands in the middle of the restaurant, while fun Latin music plays and breezes come in from the beautiful courtyard. We like the Peruvian Style Ceviche, Pulpo a la Gallega, Mixed Seared Skewers, and the Paella. Cocktails, wine, beer, pinchos, small plates, large plates, dessert.

Olivia. This is a modern Italian restaurant with its original location in Tampa. We like the cocktails, Yellowtail Crudo, Wild Arugula Salad, Agnolotti Pasta, Halibut, Scallops, and the Olive Oil Cake. In addition to our favorites, popular items include the Meatballs, Arancini, and Soppressata Pizza. The popular Cicchetti Tower sounds interesting, described as a charcuterie, appetizer, and olive tower. Enjoy all of this indoors in the air conditioning or outdoor dining.

Slim Charmer. Described as the “rebellious little sister of Wild Child,” Slim Charmer is a must try, because of the decor and cuisine. It’s beautifully decorated with a dark and moody vibe. We love the French 75, Freezer Door Martini, Hamachi, Mushroom Toast, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and the Salted Caramel and Milk Chocolate Tart. The restaurant offers martinis, cocktails, low alcohol cocktails, wine, beer, and a house shot. They offer toasts, raw items, small plates, large plates, and dessert. See also my blog article at https://taste-testers.com/2025/03/30/slim-charmer/

We’ve enjoyed other new restaurants opened in 2025, including Cheeky’s, The Crane, Cybel, Cognac, The Melting Pot, Mowgli’s Tiffin, Malai Indian Cuisine, Oakberry Acai, Red Thread, Seymour’s, SKD Skidder’s Kitchen & Drinks, Sunshine City, Ululani’s Shave Ice, and Wildflower Ice Cream Shop.

These are the current restaurants in our local’s guide to the best new St. Pete restaurants in 2025.

Highly Anticipated

We’re looking forward to more restaurants! Shan Bakrac, the founder of Fortu, plans to open Mia, a modern Mexican restaurant, in the Galaxy Hotel. We will further report on Mia when it opens and add this to our guide of St. Pete restaurants.

You can also check out my Instagram page, where I write in detail about these restaurants. http://www.instagram.com/taste.testers.stpete

Let me know if I missed a new restaurant!

Dawn

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We hope that you enjoyed a local’s guide to the best new St. Pete restaurants in 2025!