We stumbled upon Dunedin by accident, as it was only a 10-minute drive from Bill & Reggie’s Airbnb in Clearwater Beach. The winter home to the Toronto Blue Jays and (in my estimation) a hub for recent retirees (not a lot of walkers and wheelchairs), Dunedin is a unexpected but appreciated addition to the Clearwater – St. Petersburg – Tampa loop you find yourself in on the Gulf Coast. The move here is to stay within 1/4-mile of the downtown and make sure you’ve got a golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation in Dunedin.

Check In

We stayed in an Airbnb in nearby Clearwater (a 10-minute drive) and there seem to be plenty of great Airbnb options in Dunedin close to downtown. If a hotel is more your style, there is The Fenway right on the water.

Eat Like It’s An Olympic Sport

Pho’Edin: Vietnamese takeout with covered outdoor seating. The pork belly pho and shrimp summer rolls with peanut sauce are the standouts.

The Living Room: This buzzing bistro has an impressive menu that you typically wouldn’t expect in a Gulf Coast town. Grab a table outside on the corner patio, people watch the comings and goings of downtown Dunedin and munch on global bites like wagyu curry bolognese, chicken schnitzel with blackberry bordelaise and udon carbonara.

Salty Soul Island Kitchen: A scene-y spot for drinks and Caribbean-influenced food like tuna poke tostadas. There’s a small indoor dining room, but the best spots are outside on the bar deck or at one of the picnic tables.

Old Bay Cafe: Located in the marina close to the causeway to Honeymoon State Park, Old Bay is where you can feast on seafood and cocktails outside on the water. I’m still thinking about the ahi tuna over cold sesame noodles.

Drink Like A Local

Downtown Dunedin is packed with breweries, wine bars and local distilleries. Hit up HOB Brewing for tons of outdoor seating, grab a glass of wine and people watch at Cork & Beans or try a local brew from Soggy Bottom Brewery. Sonder Social Club is the spot for well-done cocktails and snacks.

Where to Caffeinate

For locally roasted coffee, check out Veskolini Cafe and TüKrō Coffee.

Shop Around

Downtown Dunedin is packed with all sorts of shops and spas, from clothing to pet shops to locally made candles and more.

Take a Break from Eating & Drinking

Walk the trails or chill on the beach at Honeymoon Island State Park, take your bike out for a cruise along the Pinellas Trail that runs through town, or catch a Blue Jays spring training game. You can also take a short ferry ride from Honeymoon State Park to the untouched beaches of Caladesi Island State Park,

Worth a Detour

Only 20 minutes away is St Pete Beach and Tampa; both are packed with beaches, restaurants & bars, and things to do.