The Scott, a distinctive new hotel bar, opens at the Cordova Inn in downtown St. Petersburg

New Hotel Collection has opened a new hotel bar called “The Scott” in the lobby of the Cordova Inn, honoring the historic downtown hotel’s original name, Hotel Scott.
The bar, which features classic cocktails at night and craft coffee from local roaster Hogg Batch Coffee by day, is part of a striking refresh of the lobby, which also included adding a room for a business center and hanging more than 30 photos that showcase St. Petersburg’s colorful past.
During the day, The Scott is a spot for hotel guests and visitors to try coffee from Hogg Batch Coffee, a St. Petersburg roaster founded by David and Duane Hogg. In addition to creating a special daytime brew for The Scott, the Hogg Batch team also offers specialty coffees. For those coffees, the Hogg brothers age their beans in barrels previously used to store liquors of various types. For example, some beans are infused with tastes from rum, while others might be stored in barrels used for tequila or whiskey.
“We are excited to be part of the activity at The Scott, which in turn will give more people in St. Petersburg the opportunity to try our coffees,” said David Hogg. “Also, The Scott has an exclusive blend for sale for folks who would like to experience our coffee at home.”
New Hotel Collection, which also has ownership stakes in hotels in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida; Indian Shores, Florida; and Sevierville, Tennessee, purchased the Cordova Inn in December. The hotel, built in 1921, was called the Hotel Scott for several years before being renamed the Hotel Cordova. More recently, it was known as the Pier Hotel, before becoming the Cordova Inn in 2015.
The 32-room inn, at 253 2nd Avenue N, is designed to appeal to both leisure visitors and business travelers looking for a downtown St. Petersburg location that’s close to shops, restaurants, offices, and museums.
“We are pleased to open The Scott, part of a new experience at the Cordova Inn that also honors the past as we mark the hotel’s 100-year anniversary,” said Tommy Del Zoppo, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Pinellas County-based New Hotel Collection. “As we look beyond the pandemic, we expect the Cordova Inn to be a major draw for visitors, whether they are looking to stay overnight or to visit The Scott for quality coffee and drinks in a relaxing atmosphere.”

At night, The Scott will serve a variety of quality cocktails such as The Burg (a Manhattan), The Scott (an Old Fashioned), and Mr. Collins (a Tom Collins). The bar features a variety of top-notch liquor brands, such as Banyan Reserve Vodka (from St. Petersburg Distillery), Basil Hayden’s bourbon, and St. George Gin. The Scott also has four beers on tap, ranging from light to hoppy to dark.
Completing the atmosphere, the hotel owners worked with the St. Petersburg Museum of History to pick photos for the first floor that commemorate the city’s rich past. Visitors will see photos of such moments in St. Petersburg history as:
• Chess games at the Checkers/Chess Club in the ‘30s. (The club was located near where Bayfront Tower is today along Beach Drive.)
• Riders aboard the St. Petersburg and Gulf Railway Trolley headed for Gulfport in 1905. (Trolley service ended in 1949.)
• The entrance of well-known Webb’s City, dubbed the “World’s Most Unusual Drug Store.”
• Percival Fansler, A.C. Pheil and Tony Jannus by the Benoist plane prior to the historic first
commercial flight across Tampa Bay on January 1, 1914.
“We are honored and excited to be a part of the renaissance of one of the city’s spectacular historic hotels,” said Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History. “The Cordova Inn will provide a great experience for visitors, while reflecting the hotel’s unique place in St. Petersburg’s history.”
The Scott is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, and from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
To celebrate the opening, The Scott will be offering a two-for-one cocktail special from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the month of June. Guests and patrons are encouraged to check The Scott’s Facebook page for additional information and updates on future events and specials.