Drift Bar, a new 150-seat open-air cocktail bar, sets opening date at Sundial in downtown St. Pete
/Drift Bar opens later this month at Sundial in downtown st. Pete | St Pete Rising
A new open-air cocktail bar from the hospitality group behind Forbici Modern Italian is preparing to open in downtown St. Petersburg later this month.
Drift Bar will officially open on Saturday, November 28th, at 155 2nd Avenue North in the courtyard of Sundial, bringing tropical cocktails, casual bar food, and live entertainment to the downtown shopping and dining complex.
The grand opening celebration will begin at 3 p.m. with complimentary bites and the full food and drink menus available for purchase.
DJ Fresh will take the stage at 6 p.m., while the Tampa Bay Lightning's game against the Florida Panthers will be shown on a large screen. No reservations are required.
Drift Bar is a collaboration between Next Level Brands, the Tampa-based hospitality group that opened Forbici Modern Italian at Sundial earlier this year, and Paradise Ventures, which co-owns the complex with Ally Capital Group.
Drift Bar, a new open-air cocktail bar from the hospitality group behind Forbici Modern Italian, is opening soon in downtown St. Pete | AZP
The 150-seat bar is situated in the center of Sundial's outdoor courtyard, with 30 seats surrounding a central bar and another 120 spread across two patios.
Designed by Atelier Zébulon Perron, the space takes cues from 1980s Miami Art Deco with teal tile, wave-shaped trim, scalloped umbrellas, striped lounge seating, and tropical plants. Warm lighting and a pink neon-style DRIFT sign will illuminate the courtyard after dark.
Drift Bar's cocktail program, led by bar manager Alex Rosenbleeth, focuses on tropical fruit and citrus flavors.
Among the cocktails are the Pink Flamingo, made with Condesa Gin, lychee, lemon, and grapefruit soda, and the Drift Sour, which combines Sarti, Dutch Barn Vodka, guava, lemon, and lime.
A menu developed under the direction of chef Jacob Rios will offer shareable bar food, including chicken wings, sliders, and smoked fish dip.
Drift Bar takes cues from 1980s Miami Art Deco with teal tile, wave-shaped trim, scalloped umbrellas, striped lounge seating, and tropical plants | AZP
“It's where you meet before dinner, catch a game or hear some live music,” said Jeff Gigante, co-founder of Next Level Brands, in a statement. “And if you're out downtown, it's a great place to finish the night with one more drink.”
Beyond the opening celebration, Drift Bar plans to host live music Thursday through Saturday, screen football games on Sundays, and offer a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. with discounted drinks and shareable bites.
“Next Level Brands has already established a presence at Sundial with Forbici, and Drift Bar gives us an opportunity to collaborate in a new way,” said Michael Connor, president and CEO of Paradise Ventures, in a statement. “The pavilion has tremendous potential as a gathering place, and this partnership allows us to make better use of the outdoor space while adding another option for people visiting Sundial.”
Drift Bar is expected to operate from 3 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Drift Bar is the latest addition to Sundial, following the recent openings of Forbici Modern Italian and Go Greek Yogurt, with Side Splitters Comedy Club set to follow in early 2027.
For more information, visit Drift Bar's website or follow the bar on Instagram.
