New coastal restaurant SouthSeas Tapas to open at SkyBeach Resort in St. Pete
/The skybeach resort | photo provided
A tropical-themed restaurant and bar with French and Asian influences will debut inside St. Pete’s SkyBeach Resort.
Located at 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane South, near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, SouthSeas Tapas will honor the property's history as the former Outrigger Inn—a beloved 1960s retreat known for its Polynesian dining, lush décor, exotic cocktails, and Hawaiian-inspired performances.
“While researching the former Outrigger Inn, we stumbled upon vintage advertisements and promotional materials for the hotel's restaurant, including a vintage cocktail menu. These served as our inspiration for SouthSeas Tapas, including how we decided to name the restaurant,” said Executive Chef of SkyBeach Resort Chef Tom Legg.
Executive Chef at the SkyBeach resort Chef Tom Legg | photo provided
Chef Tom Legg, a 20-year hospitality industry veteran, most recently at Cabot Citrus Farms golf club in Brooksville, plans to open the 115-seat SouthSeas Tapas this spring.
The team is still crafting the menu, but it will feature fresh Gulf Coast dishes with locally sourced ingredients infused with French and Asian flavors, according to Chef Legg.
Guests can expect dishes like Bone Marrow Tartare with chili crisp and black garlic, Hogfish with peppadew romesco, Crab Ravigote with pickled onion and fried capers, and Hokkaido Scallops with chorizo broth and forbidden rice ramen.
Drawing inspiration from The Outrigger Inn's cocktail menu, SouthSeas Tapas will offer nostalgic, yet upscale Tiki-inspired drinks, and other innovative and classic cocktails.
SouthSeas Tapas will also feature live music, however there are currently no plans to have Hawaiian-themed performances, a historic staple of the Outrigger.
When SouthSeas Tapas opens in the second quarter, it will initially serve dinner, with plans to expand hours and introduce a happy hour soon after.
Located just off the resort’s main reception, the restaurant will connect to the back of the hotel, offering views of the 29-slip marina.
The new restaurant is the latest addition to the waterfront resort, which reopened as the SkyBeach Hotel and Marina in 2024 (now branded as SkyBeach Resort) after investor Ben Willner purchased the 18-acre property in 2022 for over $17 million, renovating the former Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove resort that had fallen into disrepair and closed in 2020.
The resort contains 113 renovated guest rooms, an expanded private beachfront, a rebuilt marina, and a new sports complex with pickleball courts.
The two-story Skybar | st. pete rising
At the center of the resort is the two-story SkyBar, formerly the Nepa Hut Beach Bar, offering panoramic views of Tampa Bay. The second level features fruity cocktails, while the lower level has been updated with new seating and tables.
Near the resort’s sports center, a food truck called The Salty Pelican will serve casual bites and beverages to visitors and guests at the sports complex.
Be sure to follow SouthSeas Tapas on Instagram and Facebook for the upcoming opening announcement, as well as SkyBeach Resort on Instagram and Facebook for the latest resort offerings.
