There are waterfront bars, and then there is The Getaway Bar & Grill — a sun-soaked, salt-aired institution tucked along the shores of Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg’s Gulfport-adjacent waterfront corridor. If you have ever wanted to feel like a local the moment you walk through the door, this is your place. Pull up a barstool, order a bucket of cold ones, and watch the pelicans argue over scraps on the dock. You have officially arrived.
The Getaway sits right on the water on 49th Street South, not far from the serene residential neighborhood of Coquina Key. It is the kind of spot that does not need neon signs or aggressive social media campaigns to fill its tables — the regulars do that job just fine. On any given afternoon you will find a cheerful mix of boaters who have tied up at the dock, cyclists who pedaled over from the Pinellas Trail, and neighborhood families who have been coming here for years. The vibe is genuinely relaxed. Flip-flops are not just acceptable; they are practically required.
Now, let’s talk about the food, because The Getaway earns its reputation on more than just the view. The menu leans into classic Florida waterfront fare with confidence and execution. The oysters are a must — fresh, briny, and served simply so the Gulf flavor can do all the talking. The grouper sandwich is the kind you will be thinking about on the drive home, piled high on a toasted bun with just enough tartar sauce to make you feel indulgent without regret. And the smoked fish dip? Order it first. Order extra. You will not be sorry.
What really sets The Getaway apart is its effortless sense of place. The outdoor seating area faces the water directly, so you get an unobstructed view of the bay as the afternoon light turns that particular shade of Florida gold that photographers chase and rarely capture. The covered bar area keeps you shaded during the heat of the day, and as evening rolls in, the breeze off the water makes it one of the most comfortable outdoor dining experiences the city has to offer.
Happy hour runs on weekdays and draws a loyal crowd for good reason — draft beers and well drinks at prices that feel like a throwback to a simpler era. Live music pops up on weekends with local acoustic acts that match the easy energy of the place perfectly. Nobody is performing to impress; everyone is just there to enjoy themselves.
If you are visiting St. Petersburg and you find yourself wanting to skip the curated Instagram spots for something that feels genuinely, authentically Floridian — the kind of place where the bartender knows everyone by name and the boat traffic is the entertainment — make the drive to The Getaway. It is the sort of afternoon that reminds you why people fall in love with this city in the first place.
