St. Petersburg:
A Mediterranean- style Escape in Florida
By: Nancy Esteves
I discovered a place where you can have your beach and Mediterranean escape all at the same time, and better yet, without leaving the country.
Hotel Zamora located in St. Petersburg, Florida, a city which glimmers between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay is a hidden gem.
With white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water as its back drop, this Mediterranean inspired Boutique Hotel has the best ingredients for a great getaway.
The first new hotel to be built in St. Pete Beach in decades, The Hotel Zamora is a white-washed Mediterranean palace with all the modern amenities yet with an old Europe feel as it was inspired by the architecture of its namesake Spanish province–Zamora. The hotel’s striking Romanesque façade is the framework for its luxury suites with “balconies overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Gulf of Mexico. It’s the perfect combination of the old with the new. What’s great is that it’s not a huge hotel so you have a more private experience, less touristy. As many locals visit their award winning restaurant, you can truly enjoy the whole St. Pete’s experience.
For beach lovers, St. Petersburg boasts one of the top 10 U.S. Beaches, so if you came for the beach experience, the Hotel Zamora offers sun loungers and umbrellas and even – a daybed built for two – for a luxury beach day.
The accommodations:
Stylishly decorated, The Hotel Zamora’s luxurious oversized king suites and guest rooms feature king-size or double queen-size beds and comfortable work spaces. Walk-in spa showers, soaking bathtubs and plush Terry bathrobes create a spa-like retreat. From my balcony I had amazing views overlooking both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico.
Amenities include an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a 24-hour exercise room and a 7-slip dock marina. I even enjoyed a morning of paddle boarding right off the property and took a boat cruise right off their marina to view dolphins. No need to go anywhere as the property offers many services. If you’d like to check out the hotel: www.thehotelzamora.com.
Hotel Zamora’s Castile Restaurant
The Castile Restaurant and their rooftop bar have outstanding food and views.
The Hotel Zamora, recently welcomed new Executive Chef Louis Scaramuzzi to lead the culinary team at Castile Restaurant. Chef Louis conceptualizes menus for the restaurant as well as the property’s new 360° Rooftop, which offers amazing unobstructed, panoramic views of downtown St. Petersburg and the Gulf of Mexico.
Chef Louis Scaramuzzi brings more than 25 years of knowledge and experience to Castile’s talented culinary team.
The food is outstanding:
My favorite appetizers: Conch Fritters with brandy mustard sauce, Bloody Mary cocktail sauce, yucca and plantain chips; Jumbo Stuffed Meatball made from beef, chorizo, crispy Serrano ham, queso fresco and chimichurri sauce.
Relaxing Sundy Brunch: I love their Fried Oyster Eggs Benedict with Creole hollandaise.
Terrific Tapas: Zamora Mussels with fennel and heirloom tomatoes; the boneless Short Rib with celery root puree, and sweet potatoes fries; Oak Grilled Tenderloin with crispy fingerling potatoes, and a roja cinnamon reduction; Seared Diver Scallops with manchego risotto (my all-time favorite) with smoked tomatoes prosecco cream and the coriander crusted
; Ahi Tuna with mafongo, crispy pork belly and tomatoe orange broth.
At the 360° Rooftop, I enjoyed amazing sunsets, appetizer and great signature cocktails. During a Bloody Mary extravaganza, I made my own Bloodys in their private room that included shrimp, oysters and delicious fixings!
By the pool, Chef Louis prepared an amazing Paella Zamora made with shrimps, scallops, mussels, fish, saffron risotto and roasted garlic crostini.
Around St. Pete’s:
This waterfront escape is a perfect family getaway, couples romantic escape or a nice break for anyone who wants tranquility! But don’t let that peaceful ambiance fool you, there is actually plenty to do.
Along with award-winning beautiful beaches, St. Petersburg is home to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, top-rated restaurants and beautiful Fort De Soto Park. Downtown St. Petersburg is the city’s heart, home to great shopping, restaurants, bars and attractions.
For a unique tour of the city, you must try the Pedal Pub, where you can drink and pedal your way through the city and look at some cool art, too much fun! www.pedalpubstpete.com.
There are also some really nice breweries for beer lovers www.stpetebrewingcompany.com/. Eateries abound too and we had some great organic aged drinks and amazing tapas at Cask and Ale: www.thecaskandale.com
St. Pete is a great place to check out art as they boast the largest collection of Dali’s work outside of Spain. The Chihuly Collection offers blown glass art viewings. There’s even wall art like Wyndwood Walls in Miami.
A must visit is Locale Market, a one-of-a-kind 20,000 sq-foot marketplace offering the freshest and finest artisanal foods. Owners Michael Mina and Don Pintabona pride themselves in having the highest quality, hand-selected culinary offerings from local farmers and artisanal producers–from fresh local produce, rare specialty finds, cured meats and cheeses from Italy or Florida stone crab in peak season, you’ll find it here. The FarmTable Kitchen Experience is an exclusive eight-course chef’s tasting dinner experience for up to 10 guests in the intimate Private Dining Room. Here I sampled an unforgettable homemade pasta with lobster and butternut squash ravioli!www.localegourmetmarket.com.
Another must visit and just a few minutes ride from St. Pete is John’s Pass, a turn of the century quaint fishing village featuring unique retails shops, quaint seafood restaurant and dolphin watching.
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