Allelo
Allelo occupies a gut-renovated space at 300 Beach Drive NE in downtown St. Petersburg, overlooking Straub Park, the banyan trees and the waterfront, steps from The Pier and The Vinoy. Owners Shawn and Jeanna Damkoehler, with Volet Hospitality, bought the Annata and Alto Mare restaurants in late 2020 and opened Allelo in September 2022. The demising wall between the two units was opened up to create a single Mediterranean-inspired dining room giving the combined footprint a new identity.
Design firm Avrøko shaped the interior, with Brand Bureau on brand development. The name comes from allelomimesis, the way birds come together to form a flock, and that idea runs through both the shareable menu and the space. Teak woodwork, gilded mirrors, a tile-encased open kitchen, and bespoke brass lighting set a warm, polished tone. The bar is anchored by a 12-foot glass-enclosed wine cellar. The adjacent dining room is lined with plush banquettes. Behind the bar, a large backlit mural by local artist Annette Gloomis depicts Florida’s endangered birds. The restaurant seats 165 inside, with a palm-lined sidewalk patio along Beach Drive framed by colorful tiled planters.
Merging two formerly independent service kitchens required close coordination between the owners’ vision for an elevated neighborhood gathering place and back-of-house practicality. The wine program has since earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and a No. 5 ranking among U.S. wine bars on USA Today’s 10Best list.
