Since opening nearly a year ago, Concrete Jungle has gone from downtown’s hot new thing to becoming an established local favorite in St. Pete’s dining and nightlife scene, thanks not only to their stellar culinary and cocktail programs, but also to the wildly popular lineup of events in their jungle-inspired basement lounge at 475 Central Avenue.

To kick off Labor Day Weekend, Concrete Jungle is hosting one of its biggest and swankiest events yet, as The White Party takes over on Friday, August 30, bringing a night of incredible live performances, fashionable dress, drink specials, and plenty of dancing. Guests are, of course, encouraged to wear white, as the Patron Tequila-sponsored event welcomes in an incredible array of performers, including fire dancers, live drumming, Phoebe’s Samba Dance Team, and music from four prolific stars of Humble House DJs.

The party starts at 9 pm, and all guests arriving from 10 am – midnight will receive a complimentary welcome drink, thanks to Patron. VIP packages are also available, each of which comes with a complimentary bottle of Patron El Cielo. To reserve VIP tables and bottle service you can text (727) 922-9220.

Concrete Jungle showcases Tulum-inspired lifestyle

The opening of Concrete Jungle last fall was one of St. Pete’s longest anticipated moves, as the iconic downtown venue was been given new life thanks to Hunger Thirst Group (HTG). The Tulum-inspired restaurant and bar is located at 475 Central Avenue in the former Iberian Rooster space, and it is one of the rare new downtown concepts that has only become more popular in the months since its debut.

While the nightlife is a huge draw, Concrete Jungle also has one of the area’s more unique and refreshing culinary programs (see the full menu here), open through dinner and into late-night drinks, and also open at 10:30 am for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The ground floor is the primary sit-down restaurant space, while the basement bar stays open late for cocktails and music.

In addition to bringing a unique concept to St. Pete, Concrete Jungle is reviving one of the city’s best bar and restaurant venues. The two-story space is inside the historic Kress building, and the dual first-level and below-ground areas has given HTG founder Stephen Schrutt plenty of room to get creative with his latest passion project.

The food menu at Concrete Jungle, available daily for lunch and dinner, places an emphasis on lighter and healthier dishes such as jackfruit flautas, charred watermelon, wood-fired catch of the day, and other creations inspired by Tulum and the Yucatán Peninsula. The cocktail program showcases two different styles, with the main bar on the first floor providing an “easy-drinking cocktail list with a fresh and light focus,” while the intimate downstairs bar heavily features tequila and mezcal cocktails.

“I have always loved this historic building and space since the first time I saw it back in 2012,” Schrutt said when opening Concrete Jungle last fall. “It’s been a long process, but it’s been really cool to be able to bring my vision to life. I think the two levels of the space really help bring the duality of the concept together. It’s a place that people can enjoy no matter the time of day.”

The menu has a long list of shared plates, from ahi tostadas and Spanish octopus, to crispy brussels sprouts and savory chicken skewers. The flatbreads come highly recommended, as well, and we can speak from experience that both the hanger steak and the Oaxacan pappardelle are stars on the entree list. We didn’t get a taste of them ourselves, but we’re told the hot honey churros are the star of the dessert menu.

Concrete Jungle is part of the robust lineup of HTG concepts, including The Avenue, Park & Rec, No Vacancy, Good Fortune, Lost & Found, Dirty Laundry, and the soon-to-open Summer Camp bar HTG announced last year. Follow Concrete Jungle on Instagram for more.