Whether a password is required or not, the best modern speakeasies make you feel like you’re somewhere off limits. The new speakeasy bar at St. Petersburg Distillery manages to accomplish exactly that.
The local spirits company recently opened 31 South, a cozy, 45-seat speakeasy overlooking the production floor of its distilling facility in the Warehouse Arts District. The new after-hours bar is open Thursday through Saturday from 6 to 11 pm inside their facility at 800 31st Street South.
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The distillery has made a big swing on 31 South, not settling for a mere elevated tasting experience, though the second-story bar is literally that. The new speakeasy features a small bites menu curated by a chef with several awards and Michelin ties to his name, as well as a full craft cocktail menu featuring the spirits made within view of the bar. You can, of course, still sample those small batch whiskeys, vodkas, rums and liqueurs.
As the distillery describes it, the second-floor lounge “draws on the spirit of the Prohibition era,” featuring deep greens and blues, warm wood finishes, and gold accents. Locally sourced furnishings and historic photography fill the intimate space, “creating a setting that feels both transportive and genuinely local.”
We’ve been inside the space in years past, and even before it transformed into 31 South, it truly did blur the line between feeling like another city and an underground version of St. Pete at the same time.
“During the day, St. Petersburg Distillery is a place where guests can experience the spirit of St. Pete in our Spirits Garden, Welcome Salon, and tour Florida’s top craft distillery,” said Evan Brownstein, CEO of St. Petersburg Distillery. “Now, at night, guests can discover a whole new experience, a place true to St. Petersburg’s elegant bootlegger spirit in a convivial club-like social setting.”
Some highlights from the cocktail menu, courtesy of the distillery:
- Matcha Latte Martini with Banyan Reserve Vodka, Hibiscus Gimlet with Old St. Pete Tropical Gin
- Mai Tai with Old St. Pete Righteous Rum & Spice and Tippler’s Orange Liqueur
- Maple Old Fashioned with Old St. Pete Sunshine Whiskey
- Espresso Martini
While space is limited, reservations are not required for 31 South. Follow them on Instagram to get the password for entry. We also recommend pairing your visit with the monthly Makers & Shakers Market in their Spirit Garden.
