Innkeepers, Bob and Martha Bruce, invite you to visit the St.
Petersburg, FL and Tampa Bay area's only Four Diamond bed and breakfast
and the only Four Diamond bed and breakfast on the entire west coast of
Florida. And, one of the only 5 in the entire state.
Enjoy the gracious hospitality and contemporary comforts that will
assure you a memorable visit in our bed and breakfast inn.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served each morning in the dining room area. The green
walls and colorful rug along with an attractively set table create an
inviting place each morning for guests to enjoy a hearty continental
plus breakfast with gourmet coffee and teas during the week and more
sinful delights on the weekends like "Apple Dapple French Toast
Cobbler." Complimentary beverages and baked goods are available 24
hours in the butlers pantry.
Rooms:
The rooms at Sunset Bay Inn have been named to capture the memories
of Martha’s childhood in this home as well as the memories Bob and
Martha cherish in their life together. Each room is named for places
that have been a special part of their life, and tastefully decorated
theme rooms have been created for all their guests to enjoy.
Each of the rooms feature the best in contemporary comforts:
- AC & heat
- Hair dryers
- Ceiling fans
- Sound insulation
- Cable TV and VCR
- In-room telephones
- Separate dataport line
- Top quality mattresses
- Ironing boards and irons
- Jacuzzis and showers (1)
Augusta Room:
Old wooden shaft golf clubs, used by Martha’s grandfather, accent
the subtle golf theme in this room. Visits to the famous Masters Golf
Tournament in Augusta, GA are a part of Bob and Martha’s memories,
and that feel is captured with décor indicative of the beautiful
colors of azaleas in bloom at this April event. The room is hunter
green with walnut queen size canopy bed, extra long whirlpool tub and
shower, double sinks and high ceilings with skylight in bath.
Highlands Room:
This room is named for Highlands, NC where Bob and Martha were
married. The golden color walls provide warmth to this bright room
with Williamsburg designed drapes, comforter and accessories,
highlighted with magnolias and dogwoods and lovely tiffany lamps. This
is a large room with king size bed.
Sunset Bay Suite:
Sunset Bay Inn’s signature room provides a décor of roses and
lace which create the "midnight and roses" theme that offers
a perfect place for honeymoon or romantic getaways. The room is
painted a deep rose and has a king size canopy bed and other
furnishings in a striking black shaker style design; a separate
sitting room with a view towards the bay adds to the charm of this
room. The large bath has a double size whirlpool tub and separate
shower.
Kihei Room:
Kihei is a quaint town on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Bob and
Martha honeymooned there and have returned there many times. The room
takes on a tropical effect with birds, flowers and beach accents.
Several pictures in this room are the needlework of Martha’s mother
and depict scenes from Maui. A decorator queen size bed of gold iron
and green ivy highlights this light and airy room painted in a yellow
with green willow comforter and matching drapes, whirlpool tub and
shower.
Sapphire Room:
The peace and tranquility of Sapphire, NC that has been a getaway
place for Bob and Martha is presented in this room decorated in soft
blues and yellow with cherub accents. The room is located on the third
floor and offers a unique arrangement and privacy. A view of the
beautiful blue skies through the skylights over the brass queen size
bed provides an extra touch to this relaxing and peaceful hide-a-way.
A sleigh bed in this room provides additional sleeping accommodations.
Marthasville Room:
Marthasville was one of the original names of Atlanta, GA, and
Bob’s home for over 30 years. This was also Martha’s room in her
childhood. The room is dramatically decorated with Waverley Pleasant
Valley burgundy and green wallpaper, comforter and window treatment in
both floral and stripes. This room offers third floor privacy, also
with skylights to brighten the room. The queen size bed is cherry with
wrought iron trimming, and a love seat opens to a twin sleeper. The
bathroom contains the original claw foot soaking tub to ensure your
total relaxation.
About The House:
In addition to the beautifully restored guest rooms, our guests will
enjoy relaxing or pleasant conversation with Bob and Martha or other
guests on the verandah with its rockers and ceiling fans or in the
living room painted in a warm salmon color with its attractive
furnishings and fireplace.
The adjacent sunroom, originally an outdoor porch, still maintains
the historic Cuban tile floor of red, arranged with Ivy décor couch and
love seat which gives this room a truly eclectic look. It is bright and
a great reading room. It also has a large screen TV for those "must
see" events.
Special attention has been paid to providing a safe and healthy
environment for our guests, including a water purification system that
eliminates the chlorine from our drinking water. Our own special bottled
water, as well as ice made from this great water, is available at all
times. Since this is a "whole house" system, there is no
chlorine in the bathing water so your relaxing Jacuzzi bath will leave
your skin feeling soft and clean.
While guest pets are not permitted, our resident poodle, Amie, who
considers the inn hers, will welcome those guests who miss their own
pets. She has a love for all people and now gladly poses for a picture
with anyone who cares to have a memory of her to take home with them.
Attractions:
Sunset Bay Inn provides a central location for your stay in St.
Petersburg. Museums, galleries, restaurants, churches, The Vinoy,
antique and gift shops, are all within walking distance. The beautiful
gulf beaches, golf, tennis, boating, outlet shopping and sporting events
are just minutes away.
Local Attractions
- The Colliseum
- The Palladium
- Mahaffey Theatre
- Museum of History
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Salvador Dali Museum
- P. Buckly Moss Gallery
- Renaissance Vinoy Resort
- The Pier and Pier Aquarium
- Great Explorations Museum
- Florida International Museum
- Florida Orange Groves Inc. and Winery
- Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Devil Ray Baseball)
Area Attractions
- Busch Gardens
- The Florida Aquarium
- Beautiful Gulf Beaches
- Weeki Wachee Springs
- Derby Lane (Dog Racing)
- Ice Palace (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Tampa Bay Downs (Horse Racing)
- Disney World, Sea World, Universal, MGM
- Ellenton and Sarasota Outlet Factory Shops
History:
Sunset Bay Inn invites you to return to an earlier era and experience
the history and romance of early 1900’s by beautiful Tampa Bay.
Whether vacation or business brings you to St. Petersburg, Florida, a
variety of history, culture and entertainment can be enjoyed.
Resident owners-innkeepers, Bob and Martha Bruce, have returned to
Martha’s childhood home place. Sunset Bay Inn, formerly the Boyce
Guest House was owned and operated by Martha parents, Bob and Barbara
Boyce, from 1947 –1967.
The Bruces have lovingly restored this 1911 structure to it original
significance, and the home has been designated an historic landmark. The
main house with adjoining carriage house combine many styles of
architecture, from craftsman detailing and colonial revival, to traces
of Georgian characteristics including large brick columns and balusters.
The elegant roof lines and bracket detailing are the icing on the cake.
Directions:
Sunset Bay Inn is conveniently located in the prestigious "Old
Northeast" district near downtown St. Petersburg on the corner of
Bay Street and Sixth Avenue N.E.
From Tampa International Airport:
- Follow signs to 275 South to St. Petersburg.
- Take I-275 South to Exit 10 (I-375 "The Pier").
- Off I-375, take Exit 2 which will put you on Fourth Avenue North.
- Continue on Fourth Avenue east for 6 blocks and turn left at Bay
Street.
- Go 2 blocks and the Sunset Bay Inn will be on the northeast
corner.
- If approaching St. Petersburg from the south (traveling north on
I-275) take Exit 10 and follow the same directions.
