Special Tryst on St. Pete's Beach Drive

ST. PETERSBURG – It's hard to miss Tryst Gastro Lounge among the restauarants and boutiques on Beach Drive.

Distinguishing the high-end lounge and restaurant is the gleaming bar that lines the sidewalk. Instead of a plate-glass window, the rectangular bar with high stools sticks out of the building and fronts the walkway, inviting visitors to pull up a stool.

Casual outdoor tables and comfy chairs are positioned nearby as well. Outdoor vertical torches light up the night as visitors clearly enjoy the temperate weather and invitation to pause, people-watch and have a few drinks or even dinner. Food options include Drunken Mussels and Clams (soaked in a garlic butter sauce and served with grilled ciabatta bread) and Mushroom Alfredo Pappardelle.

In the past couple of years, a number of restaurants have opened on the downtown St. Pete strip, including and . Now, the new kid on the block is Tryst Gastro Lounge.

Renaud Cowez is originally from Paris and is part owner of Tryst. “We wanted to do something different” said Cowez. “Something that no one had ever seen in St. Pete or in Tampa.”

A foundation of night life and city vibe have been developed in downtown St. Pete in the past five years. Business owners like Cowez can feel confident when they open up shop that there will be a receptive crowd of patrons.

From the lavish decor inside to the plush outdoor seating area, Tryst certainly reflects the new generation of night life downtown.

Cowez and company are eager to expand. There is talk of a second Tryst location opening in Tampa.

For now, Tryst is building a reputation as a new favorite for lunch on the weekends and a party destination at night. The response has been so positive that Tryst is about to launch a late night menu for folks who hanker a late-night meal but don't want to sacrifice fine dining simply because of the hour.