12 Top Tampa and St. Petersburg Restaurants for Wine

We’re calling it now: Dining in Tampa and St. Petersburg is revving up, with historic restaurants such as Grand Award winner Bern’s Steak House joined by vibrant Latin-influenced choices and an influx of prestigious chefs. That’s just one reason Wine Spectator is making it a stop on its 2026 Grand Tour, coming to the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street on May 1. From steak houses with a Florida flair to afternoon teas paired with exclusive Champagnes, these are the top wine and dining experiences in Tampa Bay!

12 Top Tampa and St. Petersburg Restaurants for Wine and Dining

Tampa

• Bern’s Steak House
• Charley’s Steak House
• Cipresso
• Columbia Restaurant
• Boulon Brasserie
• Lilac
• Ulele
• Union New American

St. Petersburg

• Birch & Vine Restaurant
• Juno & The Peacock
• Rococo Steak
• Bin6South

Tampa

Bern’s Steak House

Grand Award

Wine Strengths: Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Rhône, France, Tuscany, Piedmont, Italy, Australia, Spain, Germany
Wine Selections: 7,000
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$$
Cuisine: American

When in Tampa, conversations about wine begin and end with Bern’s Steak House, a Wine Spectator Grand Award winner since 1981. Guests praise the encyclopedic wine list—with 7,000 entries—and the easygoing service, making it a must-visit for any wine lover. Wine director Chris Belk maintains a cellar inventory of over 500,000 bottles, with around 100,000 bottles on site. In its stacks, guests can find rare older vintages from choice producers, such as Château Cheval Blanc St.-Emilion 1985, Gaja Barbaresco 1961 and Lokoya Cabernet Diamond Mountain District 1999.

Bern’s Steak House has long been recognized as one of Florida’s top dining experiences. (Amy Pezzicara)

Tip: After dinner, head upstairs to the Harry Waugh Dessert Room for yes, dessert, plus special wine and whiskey flights.

Charley’s Steak House

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California, Italy, France, Australia, Spain
Wine Selections: 340
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$$
Cuisine: Steak house, Seafood

At Charley’s Steak House, the focus is on expertly prepared dry-aged beef cooked over custom-built wood-burning pits. The menu, designed by culinary director Jason Garcia, features classic steak house fare alongside seafood and indulgent starters, all served in an old-school dining room with rich wood finishes and walls lined with wine bottles. Popular cuts include dry-aged porterhouse, bone-in rib eye and even a plant-based filet-style option—traditional and Wagyu filet mignons are also on offer. The wine list is international in scope but anchored in Napa Valley, with producers such as Faust and Far Niente.

Charley’s Steak House offers both classic and plant-based steaks.

Tip: Located near the airport, it’s a great option for a satisfying meal before or after a flight.

Cipresso

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: Italy, California
Wine Selections: 400
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Italian, American

For a contemporary take on Italian American dining, check out Cipresso at the popular Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Guests can watch the culinary team led by Luis Gonzalez at work through a panoramic kitchen window as they prepare handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and entrées such as pesto-crusted sea bass and veal Milanese. The expansive dining room has a lively lounge atmosphere with walls adorned by bottles of wine and other spirits. The wine program emphasizes Italian varieties from Donnafugata’s Etna rosso to top Piedmont producers such as Damilano and Prunotto.

Columbia Restaurant

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: Spain, California
Wine Selections: 1,000
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Spanish/Cuban
Known For: Private Event Space, Date Night, Large Parties, Historic Location, Special Occasions

Founded in 1905 in Tampa’s historic Ybor City, Columbia Restaurant is a Florida landmark for Spanish-Cuban cuisine, now under the stewardship of fourth-generation owner Richard Gonzmart and fifth-generation Andrea Gonzmart Williams. The sprawling, ornate space spans an entire city block, with tiled floors, murals and ornate chandeliers that evoke a bygone era. Chef Miguel Alonzo’s menu highlights classic dishes such as the tableside-tossed “1905 Salad,” fresh Cuban bread, roasted pork and garlic grouper, while mojitos and sangria add to a lively, Old World atmosphere often enhanced by live music. The wine program leans heavily into Spain, featuring benchmark producers such as Dominio de Pingus, Bodegas Vega Sicilia and Priorat standout Clos Mogador, offering traditional pairings for the menu.

Fourth-generation owner Richard Gonzmart and fifth-generation owner Andrea Gonzmart Williams (Courtesy of Columbia Restaurant)

Tip: Make time for the flamenco show—it’s one of the most memorable ways to experience the restaurant’s history and culture.

Boulon Brasserie

Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California, France
Wine Selections: 105
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: French, American
Known For: Private Event Space, Outdoor Dining, Chef's Table Experience, Open Late, Bar Scene

Boulon Brasserie channels the spirit of a modern French brasserie, pairing classic technique with a lively, contemporary setting on Water Street in downtown Tampa. The menu from head chef Jacob Rios features steak frites, coq au vin, seafood towers and crab beignets, arriving at your table in a bright dining space with floor-to-ceiling windows and adjacent outdoor seating. The wine list leans French and American, featuring Bordeaux producers such as Château Pontet-Canet and Château Rauzan-Ségla, alongside Napa Valley icons like Opus One and Heitz.

The menu at Boulon Brasserie focuses on French staples. (Courtesy of Boulon Brasserie)

Tip: Boulon Brasserie’s location on Water Street makes it a perfect pre-event stop—reservations are recommended before concerts or games at Benchmark International Arena.

Lilac

Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: France, Italy, Greece
Wine Selections: 700
Wine Pricing: $$$ | Food Pricing: $$$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Known For: Focus on Sustainability, Chef's Table Experience, Small Bites, Natural Setting

Set within The Tampa EDITION hotel, Lilac delivers a refined, Mediterranean-inspired dining experience from chef John Fraser. The dining room is lush and modern, with tropical plants, green velvet banquettes, and an open kitchen that adds energy to the space. The modern menu features dishes such as scallops served with lemon risotto, and Dover sole with hazelnut butter, leek fondue, Sherry-glazed vegetables and truffles. The wine program from beverage director Amy Racine and wine director Ryan McSwiggin is equally ambitious, featuring Bordeaux benchmarks such as Château Léoville Las Cases and Domaine de Chevalier to complement the cuisine.

Chef John Fraser owns several restaurants in Tampa, Boston, New York and beyond. (Liz Clayman)

Ulele

Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California
Wine Selections: 120
Wine Pricing: $ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Floridian, Seafood
Known For: Great View, Outdoor Dining, Date Night, Family Friendly, Special Occasions

Ulele celebrates Florida’s native ingredients and culinary heritage in a lively waterfront setting along the Tampa Riverwalk, in a restored 1903 building. Chef Patrick Quakenbush’s menu highlights regional specialties such as charbroiled oysters, chile-marinated alligator tail and seafood risotto, while the expansive property features river views, an outdoor beer garden and an onsite brewery. The wine list looks to California wines, with plenty of Napa Valley Cabernets from producers including Paul Hobbs and Silver Oak. The atmosphere is both energetic and scenic, making it a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

Ulele specializes in authentic Floridian fare, from oysters to alligator tail. (Courtesy of Ulele)

Tip: Arrive early for sunset and grab a spot outside—the riverfront lawn and patio are some of the best seats in Tampa.

Union New American

Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California
Wine Selections: 120
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: American, Steak House
Known For: Private Event Space, Outdoor Dining, Date Night, Chef's Table Experience, Bar Scene

Opened in 2023, Union New American, an Award of Excellence winner, focuses on a wood-fired menu and stellar American wines in a light-filled dining room in Tampa’s Westshore Business District. The menu spans the globe; options include Wagyu carpaccio studded with olives, hamachi maki rolls, squash curry soup and roasted oysters with n’duja. Director of operations Heather Rivas’ wine list focuses on California, with producers such as Brewer-Clifton and Flowers from Sonoma and Paul Hobbs and Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa.

Union New American is located in Tampa’s newly developed Westshore Business District. (Sunny Collabs)

St. Petersburg

Birch & Vine Restaurant

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: France, Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Tuscany
Wine Selections: 680
Wine Pricing: $ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: American, Steak House
Known For: Great View, Wine Tastings/Events, Date Night, Historic Location, Special Occasions

Overlooking Tampa Bay on downtown St. Petersburg’s Beach Drive, Birch & Vine is the crown jewel of the Birchwood Hotel, offering New American cooking and a Best of Award of Excellence–winning cellar. The wine list, overseen by wine director Dennis Cardoso, comprises over 650 bottles, specializing in Old World and California labels—from Tuscany’s Ornellaia to Napa’s Clos du Val. Guests can enjoy chef Lee Aquino’s steak house menu either in the plush dining room with high-vaulted ceilings or al fresco—a fresh breeze off the bay pairs well with both surf and turf.

Birch & Vine has held a Best of Award of Excellence since 2018. (Courtesy of Birch and Vine Restaurant)

Tip: For a view of the water, check out the Birchwood Canopy, which offers cocktails, snacks and stunning sunsets over Tampa Bay.

Juno & The Peacock

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California
Wine Selections: 500
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Seafood, Floridian

Florida is a state of mind at Best of Award of Excellence winner Juno & The Peacock. Located right off picturesque Beach Drive, Juno & The Peacock specializes in seafood. Look for dishes such as lobster tail “escargot,” seared scallops with Serrano ham and fritto misto with squid, rock shrimp and pepperoncini. Wine director Michelle Richards curates a cellar filled with California favorites and an eye toward bubbles from across the globe, including selections like Argentina’s Sparkling Alma 4, California’s Domaine Carneros and Champagne’s Taittinger available by the glass.

Enjoy fruits de mer and tea service at Juno and the Peacock. (Karen Culp)

Tip: On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Juno & The Peacock hosts “Tina’s Tea and Bubbles.” During teatime, guests can indulge in finger sandwiches, caviar and sweets while sipping on English breakfast tea or premium Champagnes by the glass, such as Rare Champagne.

Rococo Steak

Best of Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: California, France, Bordeaux, Spain, Italy
Wine Selections: 1,325
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Seasonal, Steak House
Known For: Wine Tastings/Events, Private Event Space, Date Night, Cozy & Intimate, Special Occasions

Step inside a 1920s Baroque-style mansion to find Best of Award of Excellence winner Rococo Steak. This bona fide wine oasis in St. Petersburg offers a list packed with over 1,300 selections: Classic regions from Tuscany to California are well-represented, with exciting selections from the likes of Napa’s Hundred Acre, Burgundy’s Domaine Leflaive and Tuscany’s Biondi-Santi. To pair, chef David Blackmon prepares delicacies including miso bone marrow with pickled shallots, Colorado lamb over a bed of cassoulet, and roasted duck with a Szechuan gastrique.

Bin6South

Award of Excellence

Wine Strengths: France, California
Wine Selections: 275
Wine Pricing: $$ | Food Pricing: $$
Cuisine: Seasonal, Floridian
Known For: Wine Tastings/Events, Date Night, Chef's Table Experience, Healthy Options, Family Friendly

In St. Petersburg’s vibrant Waterfront Arts District, Bin6South blends the intimacy of a neighborhood restaurant with a boutique wineshop. Coveted bar seats offer a front-row view of chef Joseph Nelson and his team at work as they prepare dishes such as smoked venison porchetta, bao buns with cod ceviche, and wild mushroom ravioli. The wine program mirrors the menu’s versatility, spanning regions and styles from Champagne by Billecart-Salmon to Vintage Ports from Quinta do Noval and Warre, alongside a notable sake selection for more adventurous pairings.

Enjoy your glass of wine al fresco at Bin6South. (Courtesy of Bin6South)

Tip: Plan time before or after dinner to explore the nearby Dalí Museum and waterfront parks—this is one of the best spots in St. Pete to anchor an arts-focused evening.

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