Paradeco Coffee Roasters in downtown St. Petersburg has been named to the shortlist for Best Designed Café in the Americas by Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. The bright venue was already considered one of St. Pete’s most Instagrammable locations, and now it has the credentials to prove it.

Paradeco is one of five finalists honored in the Café category, along with three other cafes in the U.S. and another in Monterrey, Mexico. The atmosphere of the local haunt was an immediate hit when it opened in 2020, dubbing itself “a dose of paradise” in downtown. With bright colors, tons of natural light, clean lines, and an airy feel to the café, Paradeco has become a staple of St. Pete Instagram feeds, a phenomenon that helped it gain the attention of the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Of course, it isn’t all about good looks. Like anything else, it’s what on the inside that counts, and it’s the caffeine-filled goodness inside the coffee mugs that’s helped Paradeco remain popular and develop a local following. The café roasts its own beans and crafts coffee and espresso drinks (hot or cold) that create a buzz of their own.

Perhaps the most underrated part of Paradeco, however, is the delicious food menu. The café boasts an excellent selection of sandwiches, toasties, healthy bowls, and bakery items. For a truly decadent breakfast, order a plate of the French toast, or spring for the kimchi potato hash.

If Paradeco wins best in the Americas, it will go on to face winners from Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, and Australia and the Pacific, vying for the title of world champion. Considered “the most important and influential design competition for food and beverage spaces worldwide,” the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards is now in its 14th year. All 20 categories can be explored on their website, and finalists for Best Designed Café in the Americas can be viewed here.

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