central avenue
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If you haven’t been down Central Avenue in St. Pete, you’ve been missing out on some of the most eclectic, fun shops, restaurants, and people that the ‘burg has to offer! Make your way to the St. Pete Area and find a spot to park on Central Avenue and pick a store! No choice is a bad choice and no restaurant will leave you unsatisfied!

Plus, the urban downtown of St. Pete is minutes away with an endless amount of options for your day date on Central Avenue and beyond.

Chihuly Collection Store

Art connoisseurs and admirers alike won’t want to miss out on The Chihuly Collection Store owned by world-renowned glass blowing artist Dale Chihuly. Shop merchandise, pieces by local artists from all artistic mediums, handcrafted products as well as specialized products, and of course, Chihuly Collection custom pieces.

Photo Cred: Morean Arts Center

The Bungaleaux on Central

For your first stop on Central, make your way to The Bungaleaux on Central for one of the coolest places to shop for home furnishings and other unique finds! What makes Bungaleaux different from other stores is each room, or each section of furniture or décor is handcrafted, pieced together, and staged by local in-house designers with styles and designs from all over the world! Enjoy a glass of wine while you shop with great company behind the counter or on the showroom floor. New arrivals come in every day, boasting a fluid inventory including not only furniture but candles, jewelry, clothing, and so much more! Check it out, and support your local businesses.

Photo Credit: deskgram.net

Urban Comfort

Once you’ve browsed the shops to your heart’s content, follow your stomach to Urban Comfort on Central Avenue for a taste of southern charm style comfort food. Enjoy fried chicken to freshly baked biscuits made from scratch every day. Urban Comfort is passionate about craft and authenticity and prepares everything in the house, by hand, daily. The goal of Urban Comfort is to “make simple foods exceptionally well”. The eatery also offers various selections of craft beer that is locally and nationally sourced. To further set apart Urban Comfort, guests can enjoy a quick game(s) of shuffleboard right outside while you wait for your meal or your table.

Photo Credit: Urban Comfort St Pete

The Cidar Press Cafe

St. Pete truly has something for everybody! Restaurants of all shapes, sizes, and menu dot the eclectic streets. Another great alternative to Urban Comfort, is The Cidar Press Cafe, a totally vegan eatery. The mission of The Cidar Press Cafe is to change the way people see plant-based foods by proving they can be delicious and inventive. Guests must try their “Kale-Lemon Me Softly Burger” which scored in the top 10 during the National James Beard Blended Burger Contest! The “beyond meat” is perfectly blended with mushrooms, onions, and garlic. It’s topped with charred kale, delicious herbed provolone, red onion, and zingy lemon aioli. The burger is served between two soft Kaiser rolls.

The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner! The menu is extensive, featuring classic favorites with the vegan flair. Enjoy Garden Lasagna, Pad Thai, AvoBLT, soups, salads, and so much more!

Photo Cred: The Cidar Press Cafe

The Murals

Along with delicious food and cool shops, Central Avenue is also home to a ton of beautiful imagined murals, splashed across the walls of various buildings around town. There are countless murals all across the St. Pete area, but the ones along Central Avenue take the cake. Walk around the sides of the buildings or check them out on the online Map of St. Pete Murals. Type in Central Avenue in the search bar and each mural along with its respected address is listed! These beautiful murals are the perfect spot for trendy Instagram photos, or as a fun activity to try to see as many as possible!

Photo Cred: jeffreysincich.com

Haslam’s Book Store

As you wind down after a filling lunch, head over to Haslam’s Book Store, Florida’s largest new and used bookstore. It opened over 60 years during the Great Depression by John and Mary Haslam. What began as a small used book and magazine store, has grown into a book lover’s paradise with the third generation of Haslams running the establishment. Spend hours in each section skimming and enjoying the copious amounts of inventory from every decade, every genre, and for every age bracket in this locally owned family business right on Central Avenue in St. Pete.

Photo Credit: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Bandit Coffee Co.

To finally end your awesome day date on Central Avenue, head over to Bandit Coffee Co for a delicious cup of hot or iced coffee. Right across the street from The Bungaleaux, Bandit Coffee provides the best minimalist aesthetic, perfect for that Instagram worthy shot. Enjoy your favorite latte, pour-over, or other caffeinated drink born from simple origins. Bandit also proudly served Kombucha, both on tap and by the bottle! Pop in before you hit the road for the perfect end-of-the-day caffeine boost as well as a sweet treat or two.

Photo Cred: yelp.com

For more day date ideas check out Day Date to Tarpon Springs or Dining in Gulfport

Featured Image Photo Credit: dhmrealestategroup.com