Boardwalk to Pass-A-Grille Beach- St. Petersburg, Florida

Pass-A-Grille Beach, located on the southern end of St. Pete Beach, is a popular spot amongst locals due to the pristine nature (you will notice an absence of hotels and restaurants lining the beach, unlike commercialized St. Pete Beach). Although a bit less crowded than St. Pete Beach, it is still hard to find parking on a weekend. You may have to circle around for a bit to find a open parking spot, especially if you arrive later in the day. Taking a glance at the photo below, you can see that, although this beach is quite beautiful, there is not much room to spread out, especially on busy weekend afternoons.

Summer day at Pass-A-Grille Beach - St. Petersburg, Florida

Old Florida Appeal

Pass-A-Grille is a quaint, historic shopping, dining, and residential area. Beautiful colorful homes and lush landscaping replace chains and commercialization. There are plenty of local restaurants and hotels, each with their own individual charm. The area has a charming “Old Florida” look, which many find more appealing than the many chains/shops/arcades found lining the streets in the surrounding beach areas.

Although trademark white, the sand was not very smooth with too many cigarette butts lying around everywhere. Too rocky and too much seaweed for a beach walk as you can see in the photos below. On the other hand, it’s a decent shelling destination. Do not visit on a weekend if you are seeking peace. On weekends, you will find lots of people playing loud music on the beach – definitely not a place for a romantic stroll or quiet afternoon of reading. A bit too crowded for my taste, however, weekday mornings are much more laidback.

Light waves at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
A view of the sand at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida

This beach is consistently ranks as one of the hidden gems of Florida. Honestly, I have been to much better beaches, although Pass-a-Grille is a great choice for anyone seeking something a bit less commercialized. On the plus side, I did not notice many umbrella rentals on the beach, which I feel take away from the peaceful nature of a beach. Another bonus is opportunities for lots of sea shell collecting, especially at the furthest south end of the beach near the jetty.

Pretty views by the jetty

Seashell collecting by the jetty at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Birds flying over the water - Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Looking down the beach from the jetty - Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Snowy Egret at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida

The water here is clear and shallow like all of the other Gulf Beaches I have visited thus far. Take a few looks below:

Clear water at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Walking along the clear water at Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Water so clear you can see your feet - Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida

Great for swimming!

In addition, swimming with light waves (from the constant boats going by) always makes things a bit more exciting. The beach is several miles long, and would be great for a stroll (with shoes on) on the less busy weekday mornings. I am definitely going to visit on a weekday morning to see if the beach is any less crowded and noisy.

A few more scenes around the beach on a Saturday afternoon

White sand and clear water - Pass-A-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida
Enjoying a summer afternoon at St. Petersburg's Pass-A-Grille Beach

From a distance, you can see a stand out pink building, the Don CeSar. This historic hotel on St. Pete Beach maintains a classic Florida look. This architectural beauty opened in 1928 and was referred to as the “Pink Palace.” The classic hotel has been renovated inside, and includes rooms with balconies facing the Gulf.

Pass-A-Grille is a very popular Florida beach for weddings. In fact, we saw one being set up this afternoon!

Best time to visit

Although quite busy on weekends, early morning/sunset/weekday offers a much more tranquil and less touristy vibe. Not only will the temperatures be cooler, but the crowds will be non existent. I noticed that other area beaches tend to thin out later in the day as the sun begins to go down. I think I would rather visit when the temps are cooler as I can’t bear the intense heat of a June Florida afternoon!

Location/Parking

Pass-A-Grille Beach is located at the southern end of St. Pete Beach (starting at 22nd Avenue in St. Petersburg). Once you have gone past the big pink hotel (Don CeSar), you will be in the right area. Parking is metered.

Where to eat

Seahorse is a highly recommended local cafe for breakfast. They serve a huge menu and offer outdoor seating. If you are seeking something a bit more casual, Cafe Soleil is a decent local coffeeshop. They serve great coffee from local roaster Kahwa and make fresh pastries daily. I recommend the Lemon Flan or Chocolate Croissant.

Coffee and pastries at Cafe Soleil in St. Pete Beach, Florida

Have you ever visited Pass-A-Grille Beach? What is your favorite St. Petersburg beach?