A fresh set of design renderings have been revealed for Chef Chris Ponte’s OLIVIA, a modern Italian restaurant, debuting early next year in downtown St. Pete.

The 5,550-square-foot restaurant, which was announced in March, will be located on the ground floor of the recently completed 36-story Ascent apartment and hotel tower at 225 1st Avenue North.

“We’ve begun the permitting process with the City of St. Petersburg and are in the early phases of contractor bidding on the project,” said JT Mahoney, son of Chef Ponte and Partner at OLIVIA, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

OLIVIA’s Tampa location debuted in 2019 and has garnered a loyal following for delivering all the authentic flavors of a traditional Italian trattoria with innovative, modern touches from the mind of Chef Ponte.

The importance of Chef Ponte returning to Pinellas County’s culinary scene and setting up shop in downtown St. Pete can’t be overstated. In many ways, Chef Ponte helped put the Tampa Bay culinary scene on the map during his 18-year run operating Cafe Ponte in Clearwater.

A past nominee for the highly prestigious James Beard Foundation Award, Chris Ponte is also a Partner at On Swann in the Tampa’s Hyde Park Village and more recently launched Ponte in Midtown Tampa with his two sons JT and Andy Mahoney and his wife Michelle.

For OLIVIA St. Pete, Ponte hired Tampa-based api(+) to serve as the restaurant’s architect.

“The new OLIVIA exterior exudes an urban interpretation of the original Tampa location, featuring charcoal brick and white stucco detailing,” stated a press release from the architect.

The restaurant will include a dough room with large windows into the dining room, allowing guests to observe OLIVIA’s chefs baking fresh breads and pastries. A well-stocked wine vault and full bar will activate the central core, surrounded by various seating styles in a modern urban chic atmosphere, accentuated by warm lighting and elegant paneled columns.

OLIVIA will seat 180 diners and include an expansive outdoor patio. It is anticipated to open in Spring 2024.

“We’re excited to break ground in St. Pete and bring OLIVIA to Pinellas County,” said Mahoney. “It’s an exciting time for our brand and an equally exciting time for the city of St Pete. We can’t wait to be a part of it.”