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    Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar

    3.6 (28 reviews)
    ModerateBars
    Open 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar Photos

    Business Info

    LOBBY BAR AT THE DON CESAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Upscale
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Live music

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    Recommended Reviews - Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar

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    Lobby bar menu.
    Mel C.

    Great area to unwind after the St. Pete beach sunset and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in here. Drinks aren't cheap at the bar, but we also brought down our own drinks, from our room, and sat closer to the lobby area on our own. There was a very good mix of people at the bar and at tables and on our first night Saturday, there was live music in the bustling lobby. The seats are very comfortable and decor is interesting to look at. Definitely take some time to visit the lobby bar if you stay here. One of the best lobby bars I've seen and fantastic service.

    Best espresso martini
    Leah M.

    Beautiful bar with amazing service! I enjoyed the best espresso martini while the bartender gave me tips on where to take photos and get beautiful views. It was so much fun just walking around the hotel and enjoying the views!!

    Don rose
    Ginger L.

    This has serious potential... This was my first visit to The Don since their renovations and I was thrilled to see it. I like it. For the most part. I think the mid century design sacrificed some of the beachy charm for trendy design but I wasn't surprised to see it. I also love that they are bringing in live vocalists for entertainment. They were definitely in the process of training during my visit. And while I can understand, I think expectation management would have given guests like myself a better experience. We waited wayyyyy too long for any service. And after finally getting a chance to place an order the wine I selected was out of stock. We enjoyed a glass of the Don Cesar sparkling rose instead. It was really nice! Maybe even a blessing that they were out of the Oregon wine I initially ordered? My best advise for locals would be to keep waiting it out before visiting. Let them work out some kinks first. Also it can never be noted enough, valet is EXPENSIVE ($35+) and they do not offer fee waiver if you dine in any outlets. So locals might want to stick to street parking.

    pink building with palm trees
    Alexis A.

    One of my favorite places in all of Pinellas county! This place is so special. Grab a bite to eat at one for the restaurants in the Don or along st Pete beach and park on the street (outside of the parking lot). The parking lot at the Don is expensive! Or if you are staying on St Pete Beach use the Free Beach ride. Come around 8pm when the live music starts (it ends around 11). Only order a couple drinks - they are pricey! Enjoy the wonderful music and beautiful decor! Nothing beats how exquisite the hotel is and the music is always 10/10.

    Lobby Bar
    Angie T.

    Yes the drinks are kind of fancy and yes they are definitely pricey, but you can't beat the ambiance after a long day on the beach. There is live music on Saturday's which adds to the eclectic vibe in this historical hotel.

    Eric W.

    Chances are good if you are staying at the Don you'll have a drink in the lobby bar. However, even if you are not a guest of the hotel it's a nice excuse to get a peek inside this grand hotel. On most nights there will be live piano music and on special occasions there is even a band. It's been a regular tradition of our to start New Year's Eve with a drink here as we coordinate with friends where we will be heading next. But even if it's not a holiday a drink at the bar is a special occasion to bask in the glow of this beautiful icon on St. Pete Beach. PS. Be sure to wander down the the ground level to see the photos and history of the Don Cesar. Did you know it was once was a VA hospital?

    Clyde L.

    The Lobby Bar is magnificent, just like the rest of the Don Cesar Hotel. We enjoyed going there late at night and having a wonderful drink concocted by the very friendly bartender. He explained just what was in each of the cocktail specials. His very kind attitude added so much to an already terrific stay!

    Private P.

    There was a bartender with a ATTITUTE We came in from work looking to unwind, I played the piano (years of training) I think he called somebody about my playing their rackity old piano. The manager was not helpful when I asked him if I could simply leave something behind the desk while I was in the bar with my co-workers. A bunch of trashy red necks were loud, talking cackling, screaching and wow the bartender guy I think his name is "Sid" or or sommething but totally rude to us, not friendly seemed annoyed we were pleasant. They seem to cater to the "locals" low brow crowd and yes some nice travelers but if you are out for a happy time and dont want a bartender with attitude. When I go somewhere and Tip I think its only reasonable I be treated nicely...we felt like we were being watched or from another planet. Who knows....maybe my type are just not welcome with their environment.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The old fashioned was made to perfection, but the bartender was not very friendly. The ambiance while we were there was not great.

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    5 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    The entire history and ambiance coupled with great service, food and drinks. Beach location is the cherry on top!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    $17 for a glass of vodka? Ok, I can live with that. But then $2 for the ice in the glass??? BS!!

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Spent $70 on lunch for 2, then spent all night being sick. Had seafood very disappointed.

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    Ask the Community - Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar

    Review Highlights - Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar

    Sid was our bartender when we were there for a conference and he was incredibly patient and kind!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I love that you can either walk up straight from the beach or dine in on a regular day! They have…read moreso many great drink options and a fabulous pizza.

    Wow. I expected more from a place rated 4 stars. To be…read morespecific we went to the beach bar because the restaurant wasn't open yet. The very first issue was parking. Parking is minimum $50 a day + fees. A cocktail? For an hour? Haha no. I'm being mildly disingenuous. The bar staff (and likely restaurant staff) will give you a QR code to validate all $58 of your parking. But it made me acutely miss a time when you could just park and patronize an establishment. Just don't forget to validate your parking, cuz they sure didn't ask preemptively. They were celebrating a 3-day grand reopening when we went on Saturday. There was *one* artisan in their market space. The music was pumping loud enough to not be able to converse. Although it drew a crowd of younger folks, there was not much to behold from the "grand" reopening. Not even s cost of paint. The beach bar may not have been part of the sprucing up idk, I didn't see anything worth celebrating. I meant to look at the size of the cocktail cup that we got (small), but $13-14 for a cocktail is highway robbery for the end result. And $18 for 6 wings ($3 a wing) was a little disappointing. I expected better of a Hilton adjoined restaurant. No one part was terrible. It was just the way they matched up - loud, expensive, small portions. If you're loud maybe you're cheap and tasty. If you're expensive, maybe you're fast and delicious. This was all the worst parts of a bar that doesn't care about its patrons' economics. A bar that wants to serve tourists with mediocrity and move on to the next crop of people who will never be there again. If you're a tourist it'll probably be fine, if overpriced. If you're a local, don't bother. To be fair, we should ask if there was anything good. hm ... no. We won't be returning. 3 stars is probably generous.

    Photos
    Indoor Seating
    Indoor Seating
    Delicious!
    Delicious!
    Cocktail

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    Undertow Beach Bar

    Undertow Beach Bar

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    Undertow is a hidden gem. We came here to enjoy some drinks while watching the sunset. The staff…read morewas welcoming and friendly. We got freshly made pina coladas, they were so good. The bar was fairly busy, but had plenty of room for us to sit and enjoy the beautiful views. They have a lot of fun games you can play too. The prices can't be beat! The bathrooms were nice and clean too. We will definitely be back. I'm not sure about the food, I didn't see a kitchen or food menu, but we just came for drinks! @living.with.reg

    I really wanted to love UnderTow because the beach bar vibe is spot on, but the experience was…read morebogged down by some head-scratching policies. We brought a cooler (and while I totally understand why those aren't allowed inside) the staff made us trek it a quarter-mile away to a random sign rather than offering a convenient solution. The real kicker was leaving: despite being steps away from the street, we were forced to lug the cooler back through the sand and around the building rather than just walking through the parking lot. The logic just wasn't there, especially considering we spent over $150 on drinks while we were there. It's not like we weren't supporting the business; we were happy to pay, but we didn't appreciate being treated like an inconvenience. Also, as someone who isn't a "hardcore" environmentalist, seeing the beach littered with plastic straws was disappointing. I thought I found shells in the sand twice, only to realize I was digging up plastic. Great spot for a drink, but be prepared for some frustrating hurdles and a lot of plastic waste.

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    The Undertoe Bsach bar say they own the beach?? Not good for locals or tourists!!
    The Undertoe Bsach bar say they own the beach?? Not good for locals or tourists!!
    Undertow Beach Bar
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    Level 11 Rooftop Bar & Lounge

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    Level 11 is at the top of the Bellwether Hotel. Take the elevator up and you are greeted by a bar -…read morego to the sides and this is where they had seating both longue type and dining. Seating is seat yourself. Most of the seating is very tight/narrow and is about as wide as a hallway. The longue area is a bit bigger and more spacious but not great views of the beach or sunset. Bathrooms are by the longue area. Come for the sunset views and stay for the drinks/food. If your plan is to come to see the sunset, then you need to get here early in order to get a good seat. Two bars - one in the back by the elevator and one on the other side that faces the beach. There is a ledge type area that allows for more people to stand to look at the beach/sunset. We were told it's best to order your drink/food at the bar and then go sit down to have it brought out to you. Food menu is limited and pricey. We got a crab cake and samba waves (cowboy caviar type dip with wantons). The food was excellent, fresh and good portion size. Drink wise, we were on our babymoon, so I got a mocktail and it was delicious! Bartender made me a raspberry mojito mocktail. The views of the sunset are beautiful considering how high up you are. After the sunset most people got out of there and it was quiet.

    Yes, I do recommend this place to enjoy the sunset and listen to some music. The turn off is the…read morecharge you $4 for ice on your drink without mentioning it to you. My husband ordered two rounds of whiskey on the rocks, so end up paying $8 for ice,l and they're not even the big ice cube. Just order beers and you're good.

    Photos
    The views at night
    The views at night
    This vibrant rooftop venue boasts commanding views of the beach and sparkling Gulf of Mexico.
    This vibrant rooftop venue boasts commanding views of the beach and sparkling Gulf of Mexico.
    Level 11 Rooftop Bar & Lounge

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    Lobby Bar at The Don Cesar - bars - Updated July 2026

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