Rare Olivesimilar businesses >

727-822-7273
Picture for Rare Olive
City's Best

300 Central Ave # 101
St Petersburg, FL 33701

Average Rating 5 (6 Ratings)

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Find this business under: Night Clubs

  • Credit Cards Accepted: Cash, Credit Cards

More than just a mainstay for specialty martinis, The Rare Olive features food, nightly entertainment and St. Pete's only back room cigar lounge. It's one of a few Bay area venues to offer regularly scheduled jazz bands -- Latin jazz favorite Gumbi Ortiz, an acclaimed conga player known for his work as a longtime member of guitar great Al Di Meola's band, plays weekly. In addition, local acts such as Bus Stop, Paper Stanleys and Le Jazz Quartet play danceable pop and smooth grooves.

Those who feel too old or too young at most bars will find a happy middle ground at Rare Olive because there's just not one set age group. On a typical night, University of South Florida graduate students are a just a few stools down from WWII vets as European tourists hobnob with St. Petersburg Times staffers. A weekly singles night caters to the unattached, and '80s nights offer new wave nostalgia for aging Generation Xers. With an emphasis on lively libations (be sure to check out the Sexual Alligator!), good old-fashioned fun, and no flashy gimmicks, The Rare Olive is a rarity indeed.

6 Ratings and Reviews

  • Old Hang Out

    Review rating : 5out of 5   LoveTheRedWings - 07/09/2008

    Used to hang out here when I lived in the area. It was my favorite. Lots of friendly regulars and staff. Rare Olive is a great happy hour option where you can carry on conversation and enjoy great entertainment afterwards. Truly, St Pete's "Cheers" where you can meet & greet friends old and new. Hope all are well. Jim

  • It's a bar, a REAL bar.

    Review rating : 5out of 5   ginandtonicks - 07/03/2008

    No techno, great drinks, awesome staff and all the comforts of a party in your best friend's living room. The live bands on Friday and Saturday are diverse but play music anyone can dance to. Weekday happy hour is a great place for business drinks or meeting up with friends before dinner at one of dozens of restaurants within walking distance. A definite stop for any visitor to the area.

  • The Rare Olive - St. Petersburg, FL

    Review rating : 5out of 5   princess20326471 - 07/02/2008

    If you want to go to a bar that has plush leather couches, romantic candle light, oversized padded chairs, service that makes you feel like you are a house guest not just a customer, then this is the place for you. Of course if you like the traditional hard wood chairs that I find uncomfortable, you can just belly up to one of the bars and make yourself at home. They make the best drink in town by far. The weekends bring fun, drinking, and dancing with their live bands, but if quiet is what you seek then they also have what the call 'The Backroom Bar' where you can escape to a queiter more relaxed setting even on the weekends.

  • lionelrocks

    Review rating : 5out of 5   mkeane1006 - 01/27/2005

    loved it just want line up

  • CUONZORRO's Review

    Review rating : 5out of 5   cuonzorro - 04/05/2003

    We went there for my daughter's bachelorette
    party....great music, great service. The best place in St Petersburg

  • CarlottaAnn's Review

    Review rating : 4out of 5   carlottaann - 03/30/2002

    for those of you looking for mexican food ....well the chips and salsa are outta this world but thats the only mexican dish I saw on the menu. From what I heard it has changed hands making the description obsolete They have subs, salads and appetizers of which have a gourmet flare. The food was excellent! The staff was very nice although our service from the bar was slow. Live band and dancing, what more do you want?

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 reviews