THE BIRCHWOOD, St. Petersburg

The Birchwood - A Historic Spanish Mission-Style Hotel with Rooftop Lounge and Waterfront Views in Downtown St. Petersburg

Located in a Spanish Mission-style building listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, this 4-star St. Petersburg hotel features historically accurate architecture with modern amenities. The Birchwood's rooms come equipped with 42-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and coffee machines, while select rooms offer balconies overlooking Tampa Bay and clawfoot bathtubs with rainfall showerheads. Guests can dine at Birch & Vine, established in 1922, which serves globally-inspired cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating options. The Canopy Rooftop Bar and Lounge provides unobstructed views of Tampa Bay, Straub Park, Historic Beach Drive, and the downtown skyline. A Grand Ballroom featuring two outdoor terraces overlooks the waterfront. The hotel's exterior showcases a 12-by-24-foot mural of a birch forest on its southern wall. Within walking distance, guests find the Museum of Fine Arts (1-minute walk), Saint Petersburg Museum of History (6 minutes), and The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art (0.5 miles).

Pros

Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, preserving authentic Spanish Mission architecture

Sommelier-curated wine wall featuring hundreds of bottles

Two outdoor terraces in the Grand Ballroom with panoramic waterfront views

Premium bedding and modern safety features in all rooms

Cons

Some rooms face the city rather than the waterfront

Distance to Sunken Gardens requires transportation (1.5 miles)