Where to Get the Best Burger

As burger joints go, BRGR Kitchen + Bar at Treasure Island Beach Resort serves up plenty of style and Florida vacation vibes along with its juicy menu items. Case in point: It's not everywhere that you can order up a custom-seasoned burger with a view of the Gulf. 

Burger afficionados will appreciate the variety of handhelds on offer here, with everything from beef burgers to a "bison gone wild" burger and a turkey burger topped with rosemary tomato jam. 

Vegetarians can dig into an Impossible burger stacked with grilled portabello mushrooms and melted mozzarella.

Gigglewaters may play cinematic favorites on the daily, but their "Giggleburgers" steal the show! Ditch the popcorn and order one of their popular burgers, made with 100% Wagyu beef. 

Ease into your day with a brunch burger topped with bacon, cheddar and a sunny-side up egg. Keep it classic with their "GiggleMelt" with pimento cheese, sauteed onions and thousand island dressing. Or opt for a tidal wave of flavor when you order “The Commissioner,” (featured on the Cooking Channel's Man v. Food): This beauty of a burger incorporates a sugar waffle, bacon, gouda cheese and a drizzle of cookie butter. 

Sure, you could order a cheeseburger in paradise (it's actually on the menu here), but why not go for the Surf and Turf, 7 ounces of Angus beef topped with lobster, shrimp and Swiss cheese? You'll thank us for this one.

Succulent, butter-poached lobster meets a burger with caramelized onions, melted cheddar and a delicious herb aioli at The Helm Seafood Parlour in St. Pete Beach. Tip: If you can, save room for the sour orange pie.

Bet you've never had a burger before like the Frita, a Cuban-style concoction of beef and pork topped with spicy mayo, avocado and matchstick-thin crispy fries. It's a standout on a star-studded menu of Cuban sandwiches and delicious platos.

What goes best with a delicious burger? Well, amazing craft beer, of course. Good thing you can have both at 3 Daughters Brewing in Clearwater Beach, served up with some chill vibes and salt air. Ask for the Brewers Burger with American cheese and bacon on a brioche bun and wash it down with one of their rotating seasonal brews.

This no-fuss burger joint, open since 1964, fills to the brim with hungry patrons happy to order burgers a la carte and beer by the pitcher. Wood paneling on the walls, yellow and red condiment bottles on the tables, and servers who get right down to business dictate the vibe. There's an outside patio, too.

Wait ... should you order a burger at a place that's legit famous for fresh, local fish? Generally, no, but we're going to make an exception for the jumbo cheeseburger at Ted Peters. Not fancy, just classic, and topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and a thick slice of onion. (Tip: Order the smoked fish spread as an appetizer. Best of both worlds.)

Grab a table quickly in this shotgun-style restaurant, especially when the happy hour crowd starts trickling out of nearby bars. With TVs throughout the restaurant, Engine No. 9 is your go-to spot for watching the game with great food and good company. Plus, the burger menu is unbelievably creative (and extensive, too, with more than 20 options). 

Go spicy with the "Black Flag" burger, blackened with Cajun spices and topped with hot sauce, jalapeno bacon and Pepperjack cheese. Or sin just a little when you order "The Saint," a meaty blend of brisket and short rib topped with a potato pancake, beer-battered chicken, bacon and cheese. 

What’s better than the best burger on St. Pete Beach? That burger with a sunset backdrop! Ask locals where they go for the best burgers in the area and you’ll always hear Sandbar Bills’ Bar and Grill at Bon-Aire Resort in the mix. Expect just the classics here: hamburgers or cheeseburgers served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle, served on a sesame seed bun.

This upscale steakhouse in St. Pete just happens to have an amazing burger. What makes this one so special? It's Wagyu beef topped with red wine onion, aged cheddar, garlic aioli, arugula and tomato and cooked to your preferred temperature. A side of parmesan truffle fries adds the perfect crispy, salty accent.

Calling all Iowa expats: This is your home away from home. Pete & Shorty’s is an Iowa bistro down to the posters and news clippings on the walls and the clientele around the bar. That said, you don’t have to be from the Midwest to appreciate a homey experience while chowing down on their popular char-grilled Angus burgers. Choose from offerings such as the "Chalet 'Shroom Burger" with melted swiss cheese and mushrooms or the "Two Bleu Burger," topped with bacon and bleu cheese.

You know something is a local gem when it looks like a shipping crate set up in a parking lot, but it's still full of eager diners. Folks coming straight off the beach at Honeymoon Island State Park stop at the Sandbar Grill for a Sandbar burger, a cold beer and the laid-back vibe. 

You might stumble upon the Tarpon Tavern if you go too far on your bike trip on the Pinellas Trail. You’re going to need a tall beer and one of their famous burgers, stat! It's also a great spot to hang out and grab a bite after spending a few hours at the Replay Amusement Museum, a nostalgic arcade. This cozy low-light tavern situated in a 1920s-era building is beloved by locals. Go for the cheesy "Smash Burger" with grilled onions (you can even order this as a triple!) or the beef sliders with garlic aioli.