Game Day Bars St. Petersburg FL: My Loud, Loaded Night at Crafty Squirrel
When my friends and I started texting about where to watch the game this July 2026, the same question kept popping up in our group chat: which of the game day bars St. Petersburg FL locals actually love is worth the drive downtown? So before I get into my whole night, let me answer the three questions we all asked each other on the way there — because chances are you're wondering the same things.
QUESTION 1: CAN YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE GAME, OR IS IT JUST BACKGROUND NOISE?
This was my biggest worry. Some spots slap one TV in a corner and call themselves a sports bar. Not the case at Crafty Squirrel. There are 16 TVs spread across the space, and I genuinely could not find a seat without a clear view of at least two of them. We grabbed a spot at the communal seating near the center and had one screen with our game, another with a totally different matchup, and a third with highlights rolling. My buddy who obsessively tracks three teams at once was in absolute heaven. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Pete has grown into one of the region's liveliest nightlife corridors, and honestly you feel that energy the second you walk in here — but it never drowned out the game. The volume was dialed right where a real fan wants it.
QUESTION 2: IS THE FOOD GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY THROUGH ALL FOUR QUARTERS?
Short answer: yes, and then some. We came in hungry and left rolling. Game day for me lives and dies on the food, and Crafty Squirrel gets it. We started with a round of wings and some loaded apps to share, which disappeared embarrassingly fast, then moved on to tacos because you kind of have to. I went back for a handheld wrap in the third quarter and had zero regrets. If you want to plan your attack ahead of time, the full food menu is worth a scroll — I actually pulled it up at the table so we could pre-order our second round before halftime crowds hit. Tacos, wings, sandwiches, wraps, loaded apps: it's exactly the lineup you want when you're settling in for a long afternoon of yelling at a screen.
QUESTION 3: IS IT ONLY FUN IF YOUR TEAM WINS?
Here's the thing that surprised me most. Even if the game went sideways — and ours did get tense — there was so much going on that nobody in our crew got mopey. Crafty Squirrel isn't a one-note sports bar. It's a full high-energy spot with live DJs, a packed dance floor, and those big industrial garage doors that roll open right onto Central Avenue for that indoor-outdoor feel. So when the game hit a boring stretch, we drifted toward the music, cooled off by the open-air side, and honestly had just as much fun. That mix is why I'd put it near the top of any list of downtown St. Pete nightlife spots that pull double duty.
THE DRINKS KEPT THE ENERGY UP
Now let's talk beverages, because a proper game day bar needs the drinks to match the intensity. We did a pitcher for the table early to keep things simple, then branched out. One friend went straight for a margarita, another grabbed a seltzer, and I talked two of us into splitting a fishbowl by the second half, which was maybe the most fun decision of the night. There are cocktails, beers, shots, and more, and the whole spread is laid out on the drink menu if you want to strategize your round. My tip: peek at the timing. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends 3PM to 6PM, so if your game lines up with those windows, you'll want to check what's running.
WHAT THE VIBE ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE ON CENTRAL AVE
Sitting at 259 Central Ave, right in the heart of downtown, Crafty Squirrel has this rare quality where it shifts moods with the crowd. During the game, it was all cheers, groans, high-fives with strangers, and that shared-room electricity you only get when a room full of people cares about the same thing. As the afternoon rolled toward evening, the DJ ramped up and the dance floor started filling in. Because the garage doors stay open, you get the downtown breeze and the street energy blending right into the room. The specials and themed nights rotate through the week too — Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, Sunday brunch — so it never feels like the same night twice. I'd definitely recommend checking the current specials page before you go, since deals change and you'll want to know what's live on your day.
WHY IT BEAT THE OTHER SPOTS WE CONSIDERED
We'd tossed around a couple other options that night, and looking back, the reason Crafty Squirrel won is exactly the thing that makes it stand out among game day bars St. Petersburg FL fans keep recommending: it doesn't force you to choose between watching sports and having a real night out. You get the 16 TVs and the fan energy, plus the food, the DJs, the dance floor, and that open-air Central Ave setting all under one roof. The hours help too — open until 3AM every night — so when the final whistle blew, nobody had to rush home. We just kept the night going.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Crafty Squirrel nails game day by pairing 16 TVs and real fan energy with tacos, cocktails, live DJs, and an open-air Central Ave vibe — so your night's a win no matter the final score.
Come get squirrely with us at 259 Central Ave and turn your next game day into a full downtown St. Pete night out. Check the latest specials before you head over so you know exactly what's running when you arrive.
FAQ
Q: How many TVs does Crafty Squirrel have for watching the game?
A: Crafty Squirrel has 16 TVs spread throughout the space, so you can catch your game from just about any seat. It's a great fit whether you're locked in on one matchup or trying to follow several at once.
Q: What time does Crafty Squirrel open on game days?
A: They're open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM and Saturday through Sunday from 11AM to 3AM. That means whether it's an early weekend kickoff or a late-night matchup, you're covered.
Q: Is there food beyond typical bar snacks?
A: Yes, the menu includes tacos, wings, handheld sandwiches and wraps, and loaded apps, so there's plenty to keep you fueled through all four quarters. You can browse the full menu online to plan your order before you go.
Back to BlogQUESTION 1: CAN YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE GAME, OR IS IT JUST BACKGROUND NOISE?
This was my biggest worry. Some spots slap one TV in a corner and call themselves a sports bar. Not the case at Crafty Squirrel. There are 16 TVs spread across the space, and I genuinely could not find a seat without a clear view of at least two of them. We grabbed a spot at the communal seating near the center and had one screen with our game, another with a totally different matchup, and a third with highlights rolling. My buddy who obsessively tracks three teams at once was in absolute heaven. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown St. Pete has grown into one of the region's liveliest nightlife corridors, and honestly you feel that energy the second you walk in here — but it never drowned out the game. The volume was dialed right where a real fan wants it.
QUESTION 2: IS THE FOOD GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY THROUGH ALL FOUR QUARTERS?
Short answer: yes, and then some. We came in hungry and left rolling. Game day for me lives and dies on the food, and Crafty Squirrel gets it. We started with a round of wings and some loaded apps to share, which disappeared embarrassingly fast, then moved on to tacos because you kind of have to. I went back for a handheld wrap in the third quarter and had zero regrets. If you want to plan your attack ahead of time, the full food menu is worth a scroll — I actually pulled it up at the table so we could pre-order our second round before halftime crowds hit. Tacos, wings, sandwiches, wraps, loaded apps: it's exactly the lineup you want when you're settling in for a long afternoon of yelling at a screen.
QUESTION 3: IS IT ONLY FUN IF YOUR TEAM WINS?
Here's the thing that surprised me most. Even if the game went sideways — and ours did get tense — there was so much going on that nobody in our crew got mopey. Crafty Squirrel isn't a one-note sports bar. It's a full high-energy spot with live DJs, a packed dance floor, and those big industrial garage doors that roll open right onto Central Avenue for that indoor-outdoor feel. So when the game hit a boring stretch, we drifted toward the music, cooled off by the open-air side, and honestly had just as much fun. That mix is why I'd put it near the top of any list of downtown St. Pete nightlife spots that pull double duty.
THE DRINKS KEPT THE ENERGY UP
Now let's talk beverages, because a proper game day bar needs the drinks to match the intensity. We did a pitcher for the table early to keep things simple, then branched out. One friend went straight for a margarita, another grabbed a seltzer, and I talked two of us into splitting a fishbowl by the second half, which was maybe the most fun decision of the night. There are cocktails, beers, shots, and more, and the whole spread is laid out on the drink menu if you want to strategize your round. My tip: peek at the timing. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends 3PM to 6PM, so if your game lines up with those windows, you'll want to check what's running.
WHAT THE VIBE ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE ON CENTRAL AVE
Sitting at 259 Central Ave, right in the heart of downtown, Crafty Squirrel has this rare quality where it shifts moods with the crowd. During the game, it was all cheers, groans, high-fives with strangers, and that shared-room electricity you only get when a room full of people cares about the same thing. As the afternoon rolled toward evening, the DJ ramped up and the dance floor started filling in. Because the garage doors stay open, you get the downtown breeze and the street energy blending right into the room. The specials and themed nights rotate through the week too — Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, Sunday brunch — so it never feels like the same night twice. I'd definitely recommend checking the current specials page before you go, since deals change and you'll want to know what's live on your day.
WHY IT BEAT THE OTHER SPOTS WE CONSIDERED
We'd tossed around a couple other options that night, and looking back, the reason Crafty Squirrel won is exactly the thing that makes it stand out among game day bars St. Petersburg FL fans keep recommending: it doesn't force you to choose between watching sports and having a real night out. You get the 16 TVs and the fan energy, plus the food, the DJs, the dance floor, and that open-air Central Ave setting all under one roof. The hours help too — open until 3AM every night — so when the final whistle blew, nobody had to rush home. We just kept the night going.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Crafty Squirrel nails game day by pairing 16 TVs and real fan energy with tacos, cocktails, live DJs, and an open-air Central Ave vibe — so your night's a win no matter the final score.
Come get squirrely with us at 259 Central Ave and turn your next game day into a full downtown St. Pete night out. Check the latest specials before you head over so you know exactly what's running when you arrive.
FAQ
Q: How many TVs does Crafty Squirrel have for watching the game?
A: Crafty Squirrel has 16 TVs spread throughout the space, so you can catch your game from just about any seat. It's a great fit whether you're locked in on one matchup or trying to follow several at once.
Q: What time does Crafty Squirrel open on game days?
A: They're open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM and Saturday through Sunday from 11AM to 3AM. That means whether it's an early weekend kickoff or a late-night matchup, you're covered.
Q: Is there food beyond typical bar snacks?
A: Yes, the menu includes tacos, wings, handheld sandwiches and wraps, and loaded apps, so there's plenty to keep you fueled through all four quarters. You can browse the full menu online to plan your order before you go.
