I think I may have been one of the first few followers of the Wild Child Instagram account. I’m not sure how I came across it but I know the moment I saw there was a new cocktail bar coming to the Grand Central District in Downtown St. Pete with the name “Wild Child” I knew it was going to be something special. Having already been there more times in the last few weeks than anywhere else, it’s accurate to say I’m a fan.

Wild Child: A Tropical Hideaway on Central Avenue

I actually first visited the spirited new downtown restaurant with my photographer, Kris Holman – purely hoping to get a drink and take some pictures for Rooftop Collective. However, due to an untimely storm rolling in, we opted to postpone the pictures and just have an appetizer and a few drinks together. Let me just say – I was hooked from that point on! From the moment we were seated inside, Kris and I were excitedly enjoying the vibrant decor (TOTALLY Instagram-worthy), the wonderfully curated menu, and the playlist that seemed to have the perfect mix of enjoyable throwbacks and current favorites.

From that night, I went on to visit several more times with other friends and my husband (it’s kind of the cutest casual date night spot – like when you want to be casual chic with a wide-brimmed hat and enjoy quality food without feeling the need to pull out the stilettos). Each time I tried various things off the menu and I think to-date have sampled almost every cocktail. (I am not even joking you – they are ALL good and have the cutest names.)

With a stylishly decorated interior and an outside patio area that will soon be home to live music and another bar, Wild Child is truly the perfect spot for friends to gather.

I had the opportunity to chat with Matt Kaye recently who owns Wild Child with business partner, Chef Rob Reinsmith. If these names sound at all familiar, it may be because Matt famously owns the popular downtown dive bar The Bends and Rob was formally the Executive Chef of Noble Crust, another St. Pete favorite spot.

.05 seconds into our conversation it was obvious why Wild Child was such an instant success. Not only had Matt and Rob clearly put an incredible amount of thought and effort into this new restaurant, but they were also passionate about it. The reason why the vibe, food, and drinks were so likable is that they genuinely believe in this new venture and have incorporated details into both the ambiance and menu from their lifelong travels around the world.

Wild Child is the perfect location for:

• Celebrations where you want a more casual, fun atmosphere but still killer food.
• Drinks! Meeting someone out for cocktails? Wild Child has a fantastic craft cocktail list (my favorite is the Jungle Cat)
• Out-of-town Visitors: If you’re anything like me, when family or friends come to visit from out-of-town, I cannot wait to show them around St. Pete. Wild Child’s young and friendly vibe is a great snapshot of what much of St. Pete is like. In my opinion, a lot of the Wild Child menu is easily sharable making the outside patio area the perfect place for a larger party to hang out and enjoy dinner together.

Wild Child’s Menu

Online, the menu is described as “New American cuisine.” Now I am not a food blogger and never claim to be one, so I really can’t tell you all that category entails. However, I do know that from personal experience I would describe Wild Child’s menu as fresh, cohesive and memorable.

Food

Though I have yet to try everything off the menu (that day will come, trust me) the favorites I have had the pleasure of ordering so far are:

• Whipped Ricotta – How on earth can you go wrong with the opportunity to spoon ricotta cheese into your mouth with toasted sourdough? You cant.
• Snapper Ceviche – when looking around each time I visited Wild Child, it seemed nearly every group of people had this dish on their table. Why? It’s the most wonderfully refreshing ceviche I’ve ever tried.
• Roasted Beet Salad – This beautifully presented salad changed my outlook on beets forever.

Cocktails

I would say my favorite part of Wild Child’s menu is its cocktail list. I’m a sucker for a drink with a fun name and I think the owners know who their target market is. Wild Child’s cocktails are refreshingly bright and summery, perfectly complementing anything you select off their menu.

• 

• 

New spots like Wild child are exactly why I love St. Petersburg so much. The Sunshine City is a large enough city to attract unique and memorable businesses but small enough that you feel you’re part of a close-knit neighborhood.

With plans to further build out the outdoor patio area, guests will soon enjoy an additional bar, beutifully decorated seating areas, and a small stage for live music (YAY!)

If you’re looking for a new spot to try, I obviously recommend this new gem — odds are, you may see me there.