Chasing the Best Margaritas in St. Petersburg FL: My Night at Crafty Squirrel
When I rolled into Crafty Squirrel this July 2026 on a warm downtown St. Pete evening, I came with a few stubborn ideas in my head about where to find good margaritas St. Petersburg FL has to offer. By the end of the night, every one of those ideas got flipped on its head. So before I tell you about the night itself, let me name the three misconceptions I walked in with, because I have a feeling you might share them too.
MYTH 1: A HIGH-ENERGY DANCE BAR CANT MAKE A SERIOUS MARGARITA
I will admit it: I assumed that a place known for live DJs, a packed dance floor, and 16 TVs blaring live sports would treat its cocktails as an afterthought. Loud music, big crowd, watered-down drinks, right? Wrong. The margarita I ordered was legitimately balanced, tart and bright without that syrupy sweetness that ruins so many. My friend went for one of their fishbowls to share, and I stuck with a classic margarita on the rocks, and honestly both held their own. Crafty Squirrel takes its drinks seriously even while the room is buzzing, and you can see the full lineup on their drinks menu. Turns out the energy and the quality are not a trade-off here. They come together.
MYTH 2: YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR TACO TUESDAY TO ENJOY MARGARITAS AND MEXICAN-STYLE BITES
I had it in my head that margaritas only made sense alongside tacos, and that meant waiting for the famous Taco Tuesday to justify the whole experience. Nope. I went on a regular weeknight and the tacos were flowing right alongside wings and loaded apps, no special calendar day required. We ordered a spread of tacos and a loaded app to split, and it paired perfectly with the margaritas. That said, if you do want to line your night up with a themed night, Crafty Squirrel does run recurring specials worth checking, and I always peek at their specials page before heading out because the deals rotate. The point is, you can build a fantastic margarita-and-tacos night any day of the week here, and the full food lineup lives on their menu page.
MYTH 3: DOWNTOWN ST. PETE MARGARITA SPOTS ARE ALL STUFFY OR OVERPRICED
The third thing I believed was that the good margarita bars downtown were either pretentious cocktail lounges or tourist traps charging a fortune for a splash of tequila. Crafty Squirrel is neither. Sitting at 259 Central Ave with the industrial garage doors rolled all the way open onto Central Avenue, the place has this genuinely welcoming, come-as-you-are feel. Communal seating meant we ended up chatting with a group next to us who turned out to be locals celebrating a birthday. The indoor-outdoor setup made it feel like the whole street was part of the party. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Petersburg has grown into one of the most vibrant nightlife and dining corridors on the Gulf Coast, and standing in that open doorway with a margarita in hand, watching Central Ave hum, I completely got it.
THE MARGARITA MOMENT I DIDNT EXPECT
Here is the little moment that stuck with me. Around dusk, the DJ shifted the energy up a notch, the dance floor started filling in, and the garage doors framed this gorgeous downtown sunset light. I was standing there with a fresh margarita, my friends were laughing, a game was on one of the many TVs behind us, and it just felt like the platonic ideal of a St. Pete night out. Not fancy, not forced, just genuinely fun. The margaritas kept the whole thing anchored because they were consistent all night, whether I ordered one at the bar or waved down someone during the rush. If you are the type who likes to share, the pitchers and fishbowls are made for a crew, and they turned our table into the loud, happy corner of the room.
HOW THE NIGHT UNFOLDED AND WHEN TO GO
We got there in the late afternoon to catch the tail end of happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM. That was a smart move, because it let us settle in with drinks and food before the crowd thickened. Crafty Squirrel is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3AM and weekends from 11AM to 3AM, so there is a genuinely long runway whether you want an early margarita or a late-night one. As the evening built, the live DJ, the dance floor, and the sports on the TVs all layered together into that signature high-energy vibe. If you want to plan around what is happening on a given night, their events calendar is the place to look. And if you are pulling together a bigger group or celebrating something special, it is worth exploring their VIP and group options ahead of time so you are not scrambling at the door.
WHY THIS BEATS MY OLD MARGARITA ROUTINE
Before this night, my margarita routine downtown was pretty scattered, hopping around trying to find the right mix of good drinks, good food, and good atmosphere without any one of them falling short. Crafty Squirrel folded all three into one spot, which is rarer than it sounds. The margaritas held up, the tacos delivered, and the room had that electric downtown St. Pete energy that made us want to stay. If you are mapping out a broader night in the neighborhood, the wider downtown St. Pete bar and nightlife scene gives you plenty to string together, but honestly, we never felt the need to leave.
KEY TAKEAWAY: For margaritas St. Petersburg FL locals actually love, Crafty Squirrel at 259 Central Ave delivers seriously good drinks, great tacos, and high-energy downtown atmosphere all in one spot, any night of the week.
Come get squirrely with us on Central Avenue and see why the margaritas here punch way above the crowd, any day you swing by. Check out the drinks menu and roll those garage doors open with a cold one in hand.
FAQ
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have good margaritas even though it is a high-energy dance bar?
A: Absolutely, and that surprised me too. The margaritas are balanced and well made, and they hold up consistently even when the dance floor and DJ are in full swing. You can see the current drink lineup on the Crafty Squirrel drinks menu.
Q: Do I have to go on Taco Tuesday to get tacos with my margaritas?
A: Not at all. Tacos, wings, and loaded apps are available on the regular menu any day, so you can build a margarita-and-tacos night whenever you like. That said, it is worth checking the specials page since themed nights and deals rotate.
Q: Where is Crafty Squirrel and what are the hours?
A: Crafty Squirrel is at 259 Central Ave in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, with garage doors that open right onto Central Avenue. It is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3AM and weekends from 11AM to 3AM, with happy hour weekdays 3PM to 7PM and weekends 3PM to 6PM.
Back to BlogMYTH 1: A HIGH-ENERGY DANCE BAR CANT MAKE A SERIOUS MARGARITA
I will admit it: I assumed that a place known for live DJs, a packed dance floor, and 16 TVs blaring live sports would treat its cocktails as an afterthought. Loud music, big crowd, watered-down drinks, right? Wrong. The margarita I ordered was legitimately balanced, tart and bright without that syrupy sweetness that ruins so many. My friend went for one of their fishbowls to share, and I stuck with a classic margarita on the rocks, and honestly both held their own. Crafty Squirrel takes its drinks seriously even while the room is buzzing, and you can see the full lineup on their drinks menu. Turns out the energy and the quality are not a trade-off here. They come together.
MYTH 2: YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR TACO TUESDAY TO ENJOY MARGARITAS AND MEXICAN-STYLE BITES
I had it in my head that margaritas only made sense alongside tacos, and that meant waiting for the famous Taco Tuesday to justify the whole experience. Nope. I went on a regular weeknight and the tacos were flowing right alongside wings and loaded apps, no special calendar day required. We ordered a spread of tacos and a loaded app to split, and it paired perfectly with the margaritas. That said, if you do want to line your night up with a themed night, Crafty Squirrel does run recurring specials worth checking, and I always peek at their specials page before heading out because the deals rotate. The point is, you can build a fantastic margarita-and-tacos night any day of the week here, and the full food lineup lives on their menu page.
MYTH 3: DOWNTOWN ST. PETE MARGARITA SPOTS ARE ALL STUFFY OR OVERPRICED
The third thing I believed was that the good margarita bars downtown were either pretentious cocktail lounges or tourist traps charging a fortune for a splash of tequila. Crafty Squirrel is neither. Sitting at 259 Central Ave with the industrial garage doors rolled all the way open onto Central Avenue, the place has this genuinely welcoming, come-as-you-are feel. Communal seating meant we ended up chatting with a group next to us who turned out to be locals celebrating a birthday. The indoor-outdoor setup made it feel like the whole street was part of the party. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Petersburg has grown into one of the most vibrant nightlife and dining corridors on the Gulf Coast, and standing in that open doorway with a margarita in hand, watching Central Ave hum, I completely got it.
THE MARGARITA MOMENT I DIDNT EXPECT
Here is the little moment that stuck with me. Around dusk, the DJ shifted the energy up a notch, the dance floor started filling in, and the garage doors framed this gorgeous downtown sunset light. I was standing there with a fresh margarita, my friends were laughing, a game was on one of the many TVs behind us, and it just felt like the platonic ideal of a St. Pete night out. Not fancy, not forced, just genuinely fun. The margaritas kept the whole thing anchored because they were consistent all night, whether I ordered one at the bar or waved down someone during the rush. If you are the type who likes to share, the pitchers and fishbowls are made for a crew, and they turned our table into the loud, happy corner of the room.
HOW THE NIGHT UNFOLDED AND WHEN TO GO
We got there in the late afternoon to catch the tail end of happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM. That was a smart move, because it let us settle in with drinks and food before the crowd thickened. Crafty Squirrel is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3AM and weekends from 11AM to 3AM, so there is a genuinely long runway whether you want an early margarita or a late-night one. As the evening built, the live DJ, the dance floor, and the sports on the TVs all layered together into that signature high-energy vibe. If you want to plan around what is happening on a given night, their events calendar is the place to look. And if you are pulling together a bigger group or celebrating something special, it is worth exploring their VIP and group options ahead of time so you are not scrambling at the door.
WHY THIS BEATS MY OLD MARGARITA ROUTINE
Before this night, my margarita routine downtown was pretty scattered, hopping around trying to find the right mix of good drinks, good food, and good atmosphere without any one of them falling short. Crafty Squirrel folded all three into one spot, which is rarer than it sounds. The margaritas held up, the tacos delivered, and the room had that electric downtown St. Pete energy that made us want to stay. If you are mapping out a broader night in the neighborhood, the wider downtown St. Pete bar and nightlife scene gives you plenty to string together, but honestly, we never felt the need to leave.
KEY TAKEAWAY: For margaritas St. Petersburg FL locals actually love, Crafty Squirrel at 259 Central Ave delivers seriously good drinks, great tacos, and high-energy downtown atmosphere all in one spot, any night of the week.
Come get squirrely with us on Central Avenue and see why the margaritas here punch way above the crowd, any day you swing by. Check out the drinks menu and roll those garage doors open with a cold one in hand.
FAQ
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have good margaritas even though it is a high-energy dance bar?
A: Absolutely, and that surprised me too. The margaritas are balanced and well made, and they hold up consistently even when the dance floor and DJ are in full swing. You can see the current drink lineup on the Crafty Squirrel drinks menu.
Q: Do I have to go on Taco Tuesday to get tacos with my margaritas?
A: Not at all. Tacos, wings, and loaded apps are available on the regular menu any day, so you can build a margarita-and-tacos night whenever you like. That said, it is worth checking the specials page since themed nights and deals rotate.
Q: Where is Crafty Squirrel and what are the hours?
A: Crafty Squirrel is at 259 Central Ave in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, with garage doors that open right onto Central Avenue. It is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3AM and weekends from 11AM to 3AM, with happy hour weekdays 3PM to 7PM and weekends 3PM to 6PM.
