Elliot Aster opening in the Vinoy
The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, a landmark on downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront, is set to unveil its new signature restaurant, Elliott Aster, in mid-May. This opening marks the completion of the first phase of an extensive renovation of the historic hotel.
Located at 501 5th Avenue Northeast, The Vinoy has been a defining feature of downtown St. Petersburg since its construction in 1925. Owned by Bryan and Shanna Glazer—who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the hotel has undergone a comprehensive renovation aimed at modernizing its amenities while preserving its historic charm.
The Glazers purchased the property for $188.5 million in 2018 and embarked on a transformation that included updates to the hotel’s veranda, porte-cochère, lobby, guest rooms, spa, and restaurants. Additionally, The Vinoy was rebranded as part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
Elliott Aster replaces Marchand's Bar & Grill, which closed in 2020, and introduces a sophisticated Italian steak and seafood concept developed in collaboration with the Chicago-based Boka Restaurant Group. Leading the culinary team is Michelin-award-winning Chef Lee Wolen, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist.
The partnership was born over dinner at GG's Chicken Shop, a Boka restaurant in Chicago, where the Glazers proposed the idea to Wolen. Having spent part of his childhood in Florida and previously working at the Four Seasons Palm Beach in the early 2000s, Wolen was eager to bring his expertise to The Vinoy.
Elliott Aster is named after Elliott’s aster, a Florida-native wildflower with pink-purple daisy-like blooms that attract Monarch butterflies.
