Game Day Bars St. Petersburg FL: My Big Night at Crafty Squirrel
When I rolled into Crafty Squirrel this July 2026, I already had a feeling it was going to be one of those nights that starts with a game on the screen and ends with me on the dance floor sweating out my third fishbowl. If you have ever gone hunting for game day bars St. Petersburg FL has to offer, you know the struggle — half of them are too quiet, the other half don't have enough screens, and almost none of them turn into an actual party once the final whistle blows. Crafty Squirrel does. That's the whole reason I keep coming back, and after this particular night, I had to write it all down.
THE PLACE THAT DOES IT ALL
Crafty Squirrel sits right at 259 Central Ave in the heart of downtown St. Pete, and the first thing that hits you is those big industrial garage doors thrown wide open onto Central Avenue. It's that indoor-outdoor feel that makes the whole place breathe — you can catch the game inside where it's loud and electric, then step toward the open air when you need a breather. I walked in around late afternoon with a couple of friends, and the energy was already building. If you want a sense of the wider scene, downtown St. Pete has become a genuine destination for bars and nightlife, and this corner of Central is right in the thick of it.
WHY IT WINS ON GAME DAY
Here's the thing that separates Crafty Squirrel from other game day bars St. Petersburg FL locals argue about: 16 TVs. Sixteen. No matter where our group of five landed at the communal seating, everybody had a clear line of sight to a screen. We had one game we actually cared about and two others we pretended to care about, and every single one was playing somewhere in view. The place gets loud in the best way when a big play happens — strangers high-fiving, the whole bar reacting at once. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown has grown into one of the liveliest districts on Florida's Gulf Coast, and standing in the middle of Crafty Squirrel on a busy afternoon, I completely believed it. You can see what live sports and other happenings are on the calendar over on their events page, which is what I check before every trip.
THE FOOD KEPT US IN OUR SEATS
We were not going anywhere on empty stomachs, so we went a little overboard on the food, and I regret nothing. Tacos were the centerpiece — we ordered a round to share, plus wings and a couple of loaded apps that disappeared faster than the first quarter. There are also handheld sandwiches and wraps if you want something you can eat with one hand while your eyes stay glued to the screen, which honestly is the ideal game day setup. Everything came out fast enough that we never missed a big moment. I always tell friends to peek at the full menu before they go so they can plan their attack, because when the place is packed you want to know what you're ordering.
DRINKS THAT MATCH THE ENERGY
Now let's talk drinks, because this is where Crafty Squirrel really leans into the party. We started responsibly with beers while the game was close, then things escalated. Somebody at our table ordered a fishbowl, which is exactly as ridiculous and fun as it sounds, and from there it was margaritas and a round of shots to celebrate a comeback. They've got cocktails, seltzers, and pitchers too, so it's easy to keep a big group happy without everyone ordering the same thing. If you're the type who likes to scope out your options ahead of time, the drink menu lays it all out. And a real tip from experience: their Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM, so if you time your game day arrival right, you can catch both the pre-game and the deals. Specials do change, so I always double-check the current specials page before heading over.
WHEN THE GAME ENDS, THE PARTY STARTS
This is the part I love most and the reason Crafty Squirrel earns its spot as one of the top game day bars St. Petersburg FL has going. At most sports bars, the crowd thins out the second the game is over. Here, the DJ takes over and the same crowd that was screaming at the TVs is suddenly out on the packed dance floor. There are live DJs all week, so the night just rolls straight from sports into a full-on party without missing a beat. We stayed way later than we planned, and since the kitchen and bar keep going late — the place is open until 3AM every night — there was no rush to leave. That seamless flip from game day to dance night is genuinely rare, and it's the reason my group always picks this spot.
MAKING IT A BIG GROUP THING
Because we had five people and things sometimes balloon to ten, I'll also mention that Crafty Squirrel is easy to do as a group. The communal seating means you're not fighting to squish a crew into a tiny booth, and if you want to level it up for a birthday or a bigger celebration, they do VIP and group bookings through their VIP page. Between Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, and Sunday brunch, there's always a reason to gather the crew beyond just game day, too.
KEY TAKEAWAY: With 16 TVs, a full food-and-drink lineup, and live DJs that turn game day straight into a dance party, Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave is the rare St. Pete spot that keeps the energy going long after the final whistle.
So next time there's a big game on, come get squirrely with us at Crafty Squirrel, right in the heart of downtown at 259 Central Ave. Check out the current specials before you go, grab your crew, and I'll see you on the dance floor when the game wraps.
FAQ
Q: What makes Crafty Squirrel a good game day bar in St. Petersburg?
A: Crafty Squirrel has 16 TVs so you can catch the game from just about any seat, plus tacos, wings, and loaded apps to keep you fueled. Best of all, live DJs take over after the game so the energy rolls straight into a party.
Q: What are Crafty Squirrel's hours and where is it located?
A: Crafty Squirrel is at 259 Central Ave in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. It's open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 3AM.
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have happy hour and specials on game day?
A: Yes, Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM. Since specials change regularly, check the Crafty Squirrel specials page for the latest deals before you head over.
Back to BlogTHE PLACE THAT DOES IT ALL
Crafty Squirrel sits right at 259 Central Ave in the heart of downtown St. Pete, and the first thing that hits you is those big industrial garage doors thrown wide open onto Central Avenue. It's that indoor-outdoor feel that makes the whole place breathe — you can catch the game inside where it's loud and electric, then step toward the open air when you need a breather. I walked in around late afternoon with a couple of friends, and the energy was already building. If you want a sense of the wider scene, downtown St. Pete has become a genuine destination for bars and nightlife, and this corner of Central is right in the thick of it.
WHY IT WINS ON GAME DAY
Here's the thing that separates Crafty Squirrel from other game day bars St. Petersburg FL locals argue about: 16 TVs. Sixteen. No matter where our group of five landed at the communal seating, everybody had a clear line of sight to a screen. We had one game we actually cared about and two others we pretended to care about, and every single one was playing somewhere in view. The place gets loud in the best way when a big play happens — strangers high-fiving, the whole bar reacting at once. According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, downtown has grown into one of the liveliest districts on Florida's Gulf Coast, and standing in the middle of Crafty Squirrel on a busy afternoon, I completely believed it. You can see what live sports and other happenings are on the calendar over on their events page, which is what I check before every trip.
THE FOOD KEPT US IN OUR SEATS
We were not going anywhere on empty stomachs, so we went a little overboard on the food, and I regret nothing. Tacos were the centerpiece — we ordered a round to share, plus wings and a couple of loaded apps that disappeared faster than the first quarter. There are also handheld sandwiches and wraps if you want something you can eat with one hand while your eyes stay glued to the screen, which honestly is the ideal game day setup. Everything came out fast enough that we never missed a big moment. I always tell friends to peek at the full menu before they go so they can plan their attack, because when the place is packed you want to know what you're ordering.
DRINKS THAT MATCH THE ENERGY
Now let's talk drinks, because this is where Crafty Squirrel really leans into the party. We started responsibly with beers while the game was close, then things escalated. Somebody at our table ordered a fishbowl, which is exactly as ridiculous and fun as it sounds, and from there it was margaritas and a round of shots to celebrate a comeback. They've got cocktails, seltzers, and pitchers too, so it's easy to keep a big group happy without everyone ordering the same thing. If you're the type who likes to scope out your options ahead of time, the drink menu lays it all out. And a real tip from experience: their Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM, so if you time your game day arrival right, you can catch both the pre-game and the deals. Specials do change, so I always double-check the current specials page before heading over.
WHEN THE GAME ENDS, THE PARTY STARTS
This is the part I love most and the reason Crafty Squirrel earns its spot as one of the top game day bars St. Petersburg FL has going. At most sports bars, the crowd thins out the second the game is over. Here, the DJ takes over and the same crowd that was screaming at the TVs is suddenly out on the packed dance floor. There are live DJs all week, so the night just rolls straight from sports into a full-on party without missing a beat. We stayed way later than we planned, and since the kitchen and bar keep going late — the place is open until 3AM every night — there was no rush to leave. That seamless flip from game day to dance night is genuinely rare, and it's the reason my group always picks this spot.
MAKING IT A BIG GROUP THING
Because we had five people and things sometimes balloon to ten, I'll also mention that Crafty Squirrel is easy to do as a group. The communal seating means you're not fighting to squish a crew into a tiny booth, and if you want to level it up for a birthday or a bigger celebration, they do VIP and group bookings through their VIP page. Between Taco Tuesday, midweek karaoke and bar games, Saturday bottomless mimosas, and Sunday brunch, there's always a reason to gather the crew beyond just game day, too.
KEY TAKEAWAY: With 16 TVs, a full food-and-drink lineup, and live DJs that turn game day straight into a dance party, Crafty Squirrel on Central Ave is the rare St. Pete spot that keeps the energy going long after the final whistle.
So next time there's a big game on, come get squirrely with us at Crafty Squirrel, right in the heart of downtown at 259 Central Ave. Check out the current specials before you go, grab your crew, and I'll see you on the dance floor when the game wraps.
FAQ
Q: What makes Crafty Squirrel a good game day bar in St. Petersburg?
A: Crafty Squirrel has 16 TVs so you can catch the game from just about any seat, plus tacos, wings, and loaded apps to keep you fueled. Best of all, live DJs take over after the game so the energy rolls straight into a party.
Q: What are Crafty Squirrel's hours and where is it located?
A: Crafty Squirrel is at 259 Central Ave in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. It's open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 3AM and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 3AM.
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have happy hour and specials on game day?
A: Yes, Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3PM to 7PM and weekends from 3PM to 6PM. Since specials change regularly, check the Crafty Squirrel specials page for the latest deals before you head over.
