Fantastic Five-Star Views - With Work It Will Be A High Star Rating
St Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: American, Bar
Average Price: $
Dined in: April 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
The Nepa Hut Beach Bar in Southern Saint Petersburg is the last bar before the bridge. A Nipa hut, also known as a Payag, Kamalig, or Bahay Kubo, is a type of stilt house indigenous to the cultures and islands of the Philippines. This description fits the Nepa Hut beach bar at the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove perfectly. Go past the lobby and through the Periscope Restaurant, continue outside around the outdoor pools and to the man-made beach sitting next to the Tampa Bay. On that sandy area is the tiki style Nepa Bar situated on stilts with the bar on the second floor.
With nearly panoramic views of the bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge connecting the peninsula to the rest of the state you have a choice to sit on a patio that circles the hut, or inside and away from the sun on stools around the bar. You can play a game of darts, indulge in a video golf game, watch sports on one of the four TVs on each corner, or just sit and watch the happenings of the bay while you sip on a tropical cocktail.
Certain times depending on how full the hotel gets, the bar gets very crowded, and it is tight in there when the hotel is empty and the bar fills up with the locals. Avoid low tide when you visit or a day after a major storm because tons of seaweed washes ashore covering the man-made beach, and as the sun bakes it, the smell is unbearable. Like most typical beach bars in the central Florida area, the selection is limited to under six or seven tap choices, but the price is higher, taking advantage of the visiting tourists. If it wasn’t for the views, and the fact that locals can walk here from their condo’s, it wouldn’t get much local business. If you order food it will come from the kitchen that prepares items for the Periscope Restaurant only limited to typical small bar bites delivered in styrofoam to-go boxes instead of plates like you get in most other beach bars attached to a hotel with restaurants. It also takes a good amount of time for that food to arrive, delivered by a manager at most times as it seems there is never enough staff to run all the areas during low check-in times.
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| Nepa Hut / Bar view |
The bartender does the best she can base on the fact that the hotel doesn’t seem to have a second one to come in when it gets rushed, but only when the hotel is nearly booked. This wait for drinks or bar bites is more the fault of management then it is of the bartenders and cooks. It is a great little escape and has little issues that need to be fixed to make it great. Find a way to expand the hut, improve the menu and the ways in which it is delivered, expand the drink selection as well as giving the bartender extra professional help and you will have a recipe for success.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Bar Articles and Restaurants similar to the Nepa Hut:
725 South Casual American eats at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, Tampa, Florida
10 Pin Lanes Improved food and lots of fun. Bowling alley’s join better dining in St Petersburg, Florida
Anclote Brew Gourmet grilled cheese and a bar in Greek country, Tarpon Springs, Florida
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s A family-friendly chain restaurant based in Florida, reviewed from St. Petersburg
Bongos Bar and Grille Eclectic beachfront bistro, Cuban and American cuisine, in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Captain Tony’s Saloon Old school pub and landmark from 1851 in Key West, Florida
Cave Dubai A French-style wine bar at the Conrad Hotel, Downtown Dubai, UAE
Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill Casual pub grub sports bar in St. Petersburg, Florida
Jungle Prada Tavern American Bar/Tavern next to the Narvaez historical site in St. Petersburg, Florida
Lucky’s Lounge slick lounge with a cool retro vibe at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts
O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille Waterfront American eats and drinks in Gulfport, Florida
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
Rowe Bar Cool cocktails and coastal eats at the Loews Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, Florida
The Cork and Stogie Laid-back bar with cocktails, wine, and cigars in Key West, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St. Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Laid-back dockside spot for global eats
St. Petersburg, Florida
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Lively Bar and Grill
At the Hollander Hotel
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Relaxed eatery & comfort foods At the Albert Whitted Airfield
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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A Chef driven Beach-style Bistro
Holmes Beach, Florida, USA
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Italian-inspired seafood at the Opal Sands Resort
Clearwater / Beach, Florida USA
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Multi-day festival and tasting
Key West, Florida, USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
***
Corkage fees:
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This Bar does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Contemporary, Trendy, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, G Scenic views, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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The Nepa Hut Beach Bar is a non-smoking bar
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Nepa Hut:
6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33711
Contact Information:
Website:
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Maître d or host:
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(727) 867-1151
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Website contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Daily: Mon-Sun
11:00 am - 12:00 am
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Social Media
and
Accolades for The Nepa Hut:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Top 10 American fine-dining ornate chophouse
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Turkish culinary journey with an eclectic European twist
Plaza Versace Hotel, Dubai, UAE
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Seasonal Irish with French gastronomic dining
Dublin, Ireland
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Other Pictures of The Nepa Hut:
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| Nepa Hut |
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| Nepa Hut |
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| Nepa Hut |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
