My Sunday Brunch Downtown St. Petersburg FL Adventure at Crafty Squirrel
When I rolled into Crafty Squirrel this July 2026 for a lazy weekend hang, I honestly wasn't expecting much more than a couple of drinks and a plate to share. But somewhere between the first sip of my mimosa and the moment the garage doors framed the sunshine spilling in off Central Avenue, I realized I'd stumbled into one of the most fun Sunday brunch spots in downtown St. Petersburg FL. This is my honest recap of the whole thing — the food, the drinks, the vibe, and the little moments that made me want to come back next weekend.
WHY I PICKED CRAFTY SQUIRREL FOR BRUNCH
I've done my fair share of brunches around town, and a lot of them lean either too stuffy or too sleepy. I wanted somewhere with a pulse. Crafty Squirrel sits right at 259 Central Ave, smack in the heart of downtown St. Pete, and it has this indoor-outdoor thing going on that I adore — big industrial garage doors that roll up and open the whole place onto Central Avenue. On a Sunday, when the weekend energy is still humming but nobody's in a rush, that setup is perfect. You get the breeze, you get the people-watching, and you get the sense that you're part of the neighborhood rather than tucked away from it. The whole downtown corridor has genuinely become a destination lately, and if you've read anything from Visit St. Pete Clearwater about the city's dining and nightlife boom, you already know Central Ave is where the action lives.
THE BOTTOMLESS MIMOSA MOMENT
Let's talk mimosas, because that's where my morning turned into an afternoon. Crafty Squirrel does a Saturday bottomless mimosa thing, but Sunday brunch here still comes with a proper lineup of drinks that made deciding weirdly difficult. I like that they keep the drink menu broad — cocktails, margaritas, beers, seltzers, and even fishbowls if you're feeling festive with a group. My friend went straight for a margarita while I stuck with the classic brunch pour, and we both agreed the pacing felt right for a Sunday: bright, easy, not overly fussy. Because the specials rotate, I'd say don't take my word on exactly what's pouring on any given day — check the current Specials page before you go so you know what deals are live. That's the move I wish I'd made before showing up, honestly.
THE FOOD THAT STOLE THE SHOW
Here's where I have to be real with you: the food is what elevated this from a good brunch to a great one. Crafty Squirrel is known for tacos, and yes, we ordered tacos at brunch, and no, I have zero regrets. We also split a loaded app because we're the kind of people who order too much and call it strategy. The menu leans into that shareable, handheld, dig-in-together energy — tacos, wraps, wings, loaded apps — which is exactly what you want when you're sitting communal-style and chatting across the table. I found myself scrolling the full food menu just to plan a return trip. Everything felt built for a relaxed group hang, not a formal sit-down, and that matched the mood of the whole place perfectly.
THE VIBE: BRUNCH WITH A HEARTBEAT
What surprised me most was that brunch here didn't feel like a totally different animal from the nightlife Crafty Squirrel is famous for. There were still TVs going — all 16 of them scattered around, so if there was a game on, we could have caught it while eating. The music kept the energy up without being overwhelming, and you could feel the DJ-driven, dance-floor identity of the place simmering under the daytime calm. It's the kind of spot where brunch can gently roll into an afternoon session and then into a full night out if you let it. That flexibility is rare, and it's a big part of why the wider downtown St. Pete bar scene keeps pulling people back weekend after weekend. Crafty Squirrel manages to be a brunch spot, a sports bar, and a dance destination without ever feeling like it's trying too hard to be all three.
THE LITTLE MOMENTS I KEEP THINKING ABOUT
It's funny what sticks with you. For me it was sitting near the open garage doors, sun on my arms, a taco in one hand and a mimosa in the other, watching downtown St. Pete slowly wake up and stroll by. A group next to us was clearly celebrating something — laughter, cheersing, the whole deal — and it reminded me that this place works just as well for a big celebration as it does for a quiet two-person recovery brunch. If you're planning something bigger, they do VIP and group bookings, which I filed away for the next birthday that rolls around in my friend group. That mix of casual and celebratory is exactly the sweet spot I look for on a Sunday.
PLANNING YOUR OWN VISIT
A few practical things I picked up: Crafty Squirrel opens at 11AM on weekends, so you can get in early for brunch before the crowds build, and it stays open until 3AM if your Sunday decides to become a whole thing. The location at 259 Central Ave is walkable from most of downtown, so I'd genuinely recommend making it one stop on a bigger day out. If you want the exact hours or directions before heading over, the contact page has everything you need. And since happy hour runs Sat–Sun from 3PM–6PM, you could theoretically brunch, take a walk, and swing back for happy hour — which is a plan I'm absolutely stealing for myself next time.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Crafty Squirrel delivers a Sunday brunch downtown St. Petersburg FL that blends easygoing mimosas and shareable tacos with real Central Ave energy — making it just as good for a chill catch-up as a full-blown celebration.
So here's my invitation to you: grab your crew, roll down to 259 Central Ave, and come get squirrely with a mimosa and a plate of tacos this weekend. Peek at the menu before you go, and I promise your Sunday will thank you.
FAQ
Q: What time does Sunday brunch start at Crafty Squirrel?
A: Crafty Squirrel opens at 11AM on Saturdays and Sundays, so you can head in early for brunch before things get busy. Since the kitchen and drink offerings rotate, check the Specials and Menus pages for the most current details on what's being served.
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have drink specials on the weekend?
A: Yes, there's a weekend happy hour running Saturday and Sunday from 3PM–6PM, plus recurring weekend features like Saturday bottomless mimosas. Because specials change regularly, I'd recommend checking the live Specials page before your visit for exactly what's on offer.
Q: Is Crafty Squirrel good for groups and celebrations?
A: Absolutely — the communal seating, shareable food, and indoor-outdoor space make it a natural fit for group hangs and celebrations. They also offer VIP and group bookings, so it's easy to plan something bigger for birthdays or special occasions.
Back to BlogWHY I PICKED CRAFTY SQUIRREL FOR BRUNCH
I've done my fair share of brunches around town, and a lot of them lean either too stuffy or too sleepy. I wanted somewhere with a pulse. Crafty Squirrel sits right at 259 Central Ave, smack in the heart of downtown St. Pete, and it has this indoor-outdoor thing going on that I adore — big industrial garage doors that roll up and open the whole place onto Central Avenue. On a Sunday, when the weekend energy is still humming but nobody's in a rush, that setup is perfect. You get the breeze, you get the people-watching, and you get the sense that you're part of the neighborhood rather than tucked away from it. The whole downtown corridor has genuinely become a destination lately, and if you've read anything from Visit St. Pete Clearwater about the city's dining and nightlife boom, you already know Central Ave is where the action lives.
THE BOTTOMLESS MIMOSA MOMENT
Let's talk mimosas, because that's where my morning turned into an afternoon. Crafty Squirrel does a Saturday bottomless mimosa thing, but Sunday brunch here still comes with a proper lineup of drinks that made deciding weirdly difficult. I like that they keep the drink menu broad — cocktails, margaritas, beers, seltzers, and even fishbowls if you're feeling festive with a group. My friend went straight for a margarita while I stuck with the classic brunch pour, and we both agreed the pacing felt right for a Sunday: bright, easy, not overly fussy. Because the specials rotate, I'd say don't take my word on exactly what's pouring on any given day — check the current Specials page before you go so you know what deals are live. That's the move I wish I'd made before showing up, honestly.
THE FOOD THAT STOLE THE SHOW
Here's where I have to be real with you: the food is what elevated this from a good brunch to a great one. Crafty Squirrel is known for tacos, and yes, we ordered tacos at brunch, and no, I have zero regrets. We also split a loaded app because we're the kind of people who order too much and call it strategy. The menu leans into that shareable, handheld, dig-in-together energy — tacos, wraps, wings, loaded apps — which is exactly what you want when you're sitting communal-style and chatting across the table. I found myself scrolling the full food menu just to plan a return trip. Everything felt built for a relaxed group hang, not a formal sit-down, and that matched the mood of the whole place perfectly.
THE VIBE: BRUNCH WITH A HEARTBEAT
What surprised me most was that brunch here didn't feel like a totally different animal from the nightlife Crafty Squirrel is famous for. There were still TVs going — all 16 of them scattered around, so if there was a game on, we could have caught it while eating. The music kept the energy up without being overwhelming, and you could feel the DJ-driven, dance-floor identity of the place simmering under the daytime calm. It's the kind of spot where brunch can gently roll into an afternoon session and then into a full night out if you let it. That flexibility is rare, and it's a big part of why the wider downtown St. Pete bar scene keeps pulling people back weekend after weekend. Crafty Squirrel manages to be a brunch spot, a sports bar, and a dance destination without ever feeling like it's trying too hard to be all three.
THE LITTLE MOMENTS I KEEP THINKING ABOUT
It's funny what sticks with you. For me it was sitting near the open garage doors, sun on my arms, a taco in one hand and a mimosa in the other, watching downtown St. Pete slowly wake up and stroll by. A group next to us was clearly celebrating something — laughter, cheersing, the whole deal — and it reminded me that this place works just as well for a big celebration as it does for a quiet two-person recovery brunch. If you're planning something bigger, they do VIP and group bookings, which I filed away for the next birthday that rolls around in my friend group. That mix of casual and celebratory is exactly the sweet spot I look for on a Sunday.
PLANNING YOUR OWN VISIT
A few practical things I picked up: Crafty Squirrel opens at 11AM on weekends, so you can get in early for brunch before the crowds build, and it stays open until 3AM if your Sunday decides to become a whole thing. The location at 259 Central Ave is walkable from most of downtown, so I'd genuinely recommend making it one stop on a bigger day out. If you want the exact hours or directions before heading over, the contact page has everything you need. And since happy hour runs Sat–Sun from 3PM–6PM, you could theoretically brunch, take a walk, and swing back for happy hour — which is a plan I'm absolutely stealing for myself next time.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Crafty Squirrel delivers a Sunday brunch downtown St. Petersburg FL that blends easygoing mimosas and shareable tacos with real Central Ave energy — making it just as good for a chill catch-up as a full-blown celebration.
So here's my invitation to you: grab your crew, roll down to 259 Central Ave, and come get squirrely with a mimosa and a plate of tacos this weekend. Peek at the menu before you go, and I promise your Sunday will thank you.
FAQ
Q: What time does Sunday brunch start at Crafty Squirrel?
A: Crafty Squirrel opens at 11AM on Saturdays and Sundays, so you can head in early for brunch before things get busy. Since the kitchen and drink offerings rotate, check the Specials and Menus pages for the most current details on what's being served.
Q: Does Crafty Squirrel have drink specials on the weekend?
A: Yes, there's a weekend happy hour running Saturday and Sunday from 3PM–6PM, plus recurring weekend features like Saturday bottomless mimosas. Because specials change regularly, I'd recommend checking the live Specials page before your visit for exactly what's on offer.
Q: Is Crafty Squirrel good for groups and celebrations?
A: Absolutely — the communal seating, shareable food, and indoor-outdoor space make it a natural fit for group hangs and celebrations. They also offer VIP and group bookings, so it's easy to plan something bigger for birthdays or special occasions.
