St. Pete – Pier First Impression

We finally got to “exPIERience” the new St Pete Pier in beautiful downtown St Petersburg, FL, and our first impression was WOW. Over seven years ago, it was our first time visiting DTSP when we came to Treasure Island for vacation. We were instantly in love and eventually moved here and planned our wedding in 2015. I loved the retro look of the old St. Pete Pier, but it was never open when we visited as they had already planned to demo and redesign a new one…. we loved it so much that it ended up in our engagement photos.

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Finally the Pier is Open

We have waited over 5 years to see what the city would come up with and were pretty saddened when the opening was postponed due to COVID-19 from May until July 6 when it finally had a soft opening. We didn’t want to risk crowds so we just lived vicariously through everyone’s photos on Instagram for a few more weeks.

Finally, for my 36th birthday (on a quiet Wednesday night) we decided to mask up and head downtown to look around, enjoy a drink, and have a fabulous dinner and sunset at Teak.

We arrived with plenty of time to park near the Sundial and walk from Beach Drive down the entire length of the pier.

It is BEAUTIFUL! It looks exactly like every mockup I had ever seen of the final plans. The landscaping is beautiful and labeled with information. The walkways are spacious, with tons of seating along the way, more parking than I imagined, and fun vehicles playing high-energy music. Sculptures and artwork at every turn with amazing views in every direction. Lots of security, trash and recycle bins conveniently placed throughout made it feel so safe and clean.

St Pete Pier is Picture Perfect

We took a break at the “bar” located at the midway point and enjoyed some delicious Blueberry Sangria made with Rose wine, as well as a traditional Florida Rum Runner, near the new beach area. The entire pier allows open containers, so you can leisurely walk and enjoy your drinks while taking in the refreshing breeze.”

We discovered an amazing spot to relax and observe people. There were numerous individuals strolling, running, skateboarding, rollerblading, and even furry friends passing by. It was heartening to see so many people out enjoying the city after a difficult few months.

Teak at the St Pete Pier

We went to the third floor of the pier for dinner at Teak. We had reserved a table at 6:30 a week in advance and were delighted with the incredible view of the city from our table.

We started with the Smoked Fish Spread, and enjoyed wine and tropical drinks. Since we were at the Pier, it was a must to try the seafood. Therefore, we ordered Fish and Chips and Lobster Mac & Cheese, which were both excellent choices. As it was my birthday, they generously allowed me to choose any dessert for free, and we opted for the decadent Reece’s Peanut Butter Pie. We have no regrets!

In full Florida fashion, we did get a beautifully intense thunderstorm that was incredible to watch from Teak. Once it blew past, we tried to go upstairs to Pier Teaki, but it was closed due to the weather. We’ll have to go back another time. Instead, we walked downstairs to the end of the fishing pier and were blessed with dolphins, a manatee, and a rainbow. Everything that is magical all in one evening.

As we made our way back to the car, the night had fallen and the Bending Arc by Janet Echelman was visible, along with the picturesque city of St. Petersburg, all lit up. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth the wait. The Pier is a must-visit destination if you are ever in the area and is perfect for entertaining friends and family who are visiting from out of town. We applaud St. Petersburg and eagerly look forward to visiting again!

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