Our Downtown St. Pete Bar Crawl Started (and Ended) at Crafty Squirrel
When my crew and I planned our downtown St. Pete bar crawl this August 2026, we knew we needed a home base — somewhere with big energy to kick things off and a spot we could circle back to without regret. Spoiler: that spot ended up being Crafty Squirrel at 259 Central Ave, right in the heart of downtown St. Pete. Here's exactly how the night unfolded, step by step, in case you're plotting your own crawl and want a blueprint that actually works.
STEP 1: WE PICKED THE RIGHT STARTING POINT
Every good crawl needs an anchor, and Central Avenue is basically built for it. The whole strip is walkable, and according to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Pete's arts and nightlife district is one of the region's biggest draws — which tracks, because we couldn't walk ten feet without spotting another lit-up patio. We chose Crafty Squirrel as our launch pad because those industrial garage doors roll wide open onto Central, so the inside and the sidewalk basically become one big party. Standing at the edge of the bar, half in and half out, we could feel the DJ behind us and watch the crawl crowds streaming past on the street. It set the tone immediately.
STEP 2: WE TIMED IT AROUND HAPPY HOUR
If you're smart about your crawl, you start early and let happy hour do some of the heavy lifting. Crafty Squirrel runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM, and on weekends from 3PM to 6PM, so we rolled in mid-afternoon to grab that window. We didn't want to blow the budget on round one, and starting during happy hour meant we had room to keep going. I'd check the current specials page before you head out, since the deals rotate and you'll want to know what's live the day you go.
STEP 3: WE FUELED UP BEFORE HITTING THE STREET
Here's my number one crawl rule: eat before you wander, or the night ends early. We loaded up on tacos and a couple of shareable apps to split across the group, and honestly the food was better than a first stop on a crawl has any right to be. There are handhelds, wraps, wings, and loaded apps too, so nobody in our picky little group went hungry. If you're mapping out your night, peek at the full menu so you know what you're getting into — we ordered too much and regretted nothing. Solid food early is what kept us upright through stops three and four later on.
STEP 4: WE LET THE DJ SET THE PACE
What surprised me most was how quickly the energy climbed. Crafty Squirrel has live DJs all week, and by the time we finished our tacos the dance floor was filling up. We weren't even planning to dance yet — it was still early in the crawl — but the beat pulled us in for a song or two before we moved on. That's the trap (the good kind). If you want to know what's spinning or which nights go hardest, the events page is worth a scroll before you plan your route. We used it to figure out our timing so we'd swing back for peak DJ hours.
STEP 5: WE HIT THE REST OF CENTRAL AVE — THEN CAME BACK
This is the part people get wrong. A crawl isn't about staying out the whole night in one place, but it's also not about wandering aimlessly. We did a loop of a few spots along the avenue — the whole downtown St. Pete scene is dense and easy to explore, and if you want ideas beyond your first stop, the local downtown nightlife guide is a handy reference. But every crew needs a place to reconvene, and for us that was circling right back to Crafty Squirrel. With hours running until 3AM, it was open long after some other spots slowed down, and the communal seating made it easy for our whole group to squeeze back in together.
STEP 6: WE CLOSED IT OUT WITH A FISHBOWL
By the time we returned, the dance floor was fully packed and the room was electric. We went big for the finale and grabbed a fishbowl to share, plus a round of margaritas because it felt right. There are cocktails, pitchers, seltzers, beers, and shots too, so you can dial the vibe up or down depending on how the night's going. I'll say this: a shared drink at the end of a crawl is peak group bonding, and you can eyeball the options on the drinks menu ahead of time. Between the DJ, the open garage doors, and the crowd spilling toward Central, it was the perfect high-energy send-off.
STEP 7: WE MADE NOTES FOR NEXT TIME
Because that's what you do when a night goes right. We already clocked that Crafty Squirrel has themed nights all week — Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, and Sunday brunch — so our next crawl is going to be built around one of those. If you've got a bigger group or a birthday in the mix, they also do VIP and group bookings, which we're eyeing for a future round.
KEY TAKEAWAY: A great downtown St. Pete bar crawl needs a strong anchor bar, and Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave nails it — start there during happy hour, fuel up on tacos, loop the avenue, and circle back for the late-night DJ energy.
Come get squirrely with us at Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave, whether you're kicking off a crawl or making it your whole night. Check the current specials before you come and we'll see you on the dance floor.
FAQ
Q: Where should I start a downtown St. Pete bar crawl?
A: Crafty Squirrel at 259 Central Ave is an ideal anchor because it sits right in the heart of the walkable Central Avenue strip. The open garage doors, live DJs, and food make it easy to start strong and circle back later.
Q: What are Crafty Squirrel's hours for a late crawl?
A: Crafty Squirrel is open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 3AM. That late close makes it a great spot to end a crawl, not just begin one.
Q: Is there food to keep the group going during a crawl?
A: Yes, there are tacos, handhelds, wraps, wings, and loaded apps that are easy to share across a group. Eating early is the smartest crawl move, so check the menu before you go.
Back to BlogSTEP 1: WE PICKED THE RIGHT STARTING POINT
Every good crawl needs an anchor, and Central Avenue is basically built for it. The whole strip is walkable, and according to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Pete's arts and nightlife district is one of the region's biggest draws — which tracks, because we couldn't walk ten feet without spotting another lit-up patio. We chose Crafty Squirrel as our launch pad because those industrial garage doors roll wide open onto Central, so the inside and the sidewalk basically become one big party. Standing at the edge of the bar, half in and half out, we could feel the DJ behind us and watch the crawl crowds streaming past on the street. It set the tone immediately.
STEP 2: WE TIMED IT AROUND HAPPY HOUR
If you're smart about your crawl, you start early and let happy hour do some of the heavy lifting. Crafty Squirrel runs happy hour Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM, and on weekends from 3PM to 6PM, so we rolled in mid-afternoon to grab that window. We didn't want to blow the budget on round one, and starting during happy hour meant we had room to keep going. I'd check the current specials page before you head out, since the deals rotate and you'll want to know what's live the day you go.
STEP 3: WE FUELED UP BEFORE HITTING THE STREET
Here's my number one crawl rule: eat before you wander, or the night ends early. We loaded up on tacos and a couple of shareable apps to split across the group, and honestly the food was better than a first stop on a crawl has any right to be. There are handhelds, wraps, wings, and loaded apps too, so nobody in our picky little group went hungry. If you're mapping out your night, peek at the full menu so you know what you're getting into — we ordered too much and regretted nothing. Solid food early is what kept us upright through stops three and four later on.
STEP 4: WE LET THE DJ SET THE PACE
What surprised me most was how quickly the energy climbed. Crafty Squirrel has live DJs all week, and by the time we finished our tacos the dance floor was filling up. We weren't even planning to dance yet — it was still early in the crawl — but the beat pulled us in for a song or two before we moved on. That's the trap (the good kind). If you want to know what's spinning or which nights go hardest, the events page is worth a scroll before you plan your route. We used it to figure out our timing so we'd swing back for peak DJ hours.
STEP 5: WE HIT THE REST OF CENTRAL AVE — THEN CAME BACK
This is the part people get wrong. A crawl isn't about staying out the whole night in one place, but it's also not about wandering aimlessly. We did a loop of a few spots along the avenue — the whole downtown St. Pete scene is dense and easy to explore, and if you want ideas beyond your first stop, the local downtown nightlife guide is a handy reference. But every crew needs a place to reconvene, and for us that was circling right back to Crafty Squirrel. With hours running until 3AM, it was open long after some other spots slowed down, and the communal seating made it easy for our whole group to squeeze back in together.
STEP 6: WE CLOSED IT OUT WITH A FISHBOWL
By the time we returned, the dance floor was fully packed and the room was electric. We went big for the finale and grabbed a fishbowl to share, plus a round of margaritas because it felt right. There are cocktails, pitchers, seltzers, beers, and shots too, so you can dial the vibe up or down depending on how the night's going. I'll say this: a shared drink at the end of a crawl is peak group bonding, and you can eyeball the options on the drinks menu ahead of time. Between the DJ, the open garage doors, and the crowd spilling toward Central, it was the perfect high-energy send-off.
STEP 7: WE MADE NOTES FOR NEXT TIME
Because that's what you do when a night goes right. We already clocked that Crafty Squirrel has themed nights all week — Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, and Sunday brunch — so our next crawl is going to be built around one of those. If you've got a bigger group or a birthday in the mix, they also do VIP and group bookings, which we're eyeing for a future round.
KEY TAKEAWAY: A great downtown St. Pete bar crawl needs a strong anchor bar, and Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave nails it — start there during happy hour, fuel up on tacos, loop the avenue, and circle back for the late-night DJ energy.
Come get squirrely with us at Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave, whether you're kicking off a crawl or making it your whole night. Check the current specials before you come and we'll see you on the dance floor.
FAQ
Q: Where should I start a downtown St. Pete bar crawl?
A: Crafty Squirrel at 259 Central Ave is an ideal anchor because it sits right in the heart of the walkable Central Avenue strip. The open garage doors, live DJs, and food make it easy to start strong and circle back later.
Q: What are Crafty Squirrel's hours for a late crawl?
A: Crafty Squirrel is open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 3AM. That late close makes it a great spot to end a crawl, not just begin one.
Q: Is there food to keep the group going during a crawl?
A: Yes, there are tacos, handhelds, wraps, wings, and loaded apps that are easy to share across a group. Eating early is the smartest crawl move, so check the menu before you go.
