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The Ultimate Guide to Tampa’s Bar Scene

We all need to blow off some steam every so often and there is no better way to do that than by getting a few friends together and hitting the town for a fun night out visiting the local pubs and rooftop bars for a couple of drinks, especially when you’re in Tampa Bay.

people enjoying a drink at a bar in tampa

There are so many different bars and clubs to hit around Tampa Bay that it can be difficult to choose exactly which ones have the right atmosphere that you’re looking for, depending on what mood you’re in, so we went ahead and compiled a list of all the best bars in Tampa Bay to make it way easier. Now, the next time you’re looking for a place to let loose and dance under some bright lights and loudspeakers, you’ll know exactly where to go, or even if you just want a quiet night with a fancy cocktail at a rooftop bar, this guide has it all covered. 


Ciro’s Tampa

2109 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-251-0022
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First up on our list of bars in the Tampa Bay area is one of our personal favorites, Ciro’s, located off of Bayshore Boulevard and S Howard Ave in the Historic Hyde Park North neighborhood. We love Ciro’s for their classy and elegant ambiance coupled with masterfully-crafted cocktails made with premium liquors at their cocktail bar. Ciro’s even offers small gourmet dishes like a fantastic Wagyu beef tartare or an artisan cheese plate. Our favorite drink to order from the cocktail menu here is called Tommy’s margarita and it’s made with Lunazul Reposado tequila, agave, and lime to make one of the best drinks ever. 


Independent Bar and Café

5016 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: 813-341-4883
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Next up is a place called Independent Bar and Café located off of North Florida Avenue and West Wilder Avenue, and we think they are a truly amazing cocktail bar. They have a massive selection of craft beers here at Independent Bar and Café and we also love their expansive list of sandwiches and other delicious foods available on their menu. This is a great place to go if you enjoy sampling new beers often because they update their draft menu all the time with new and unique brews that you won’t find anywhere else.


Lowry Parcade

1213 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Phone: 813-915-9180
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You can find Lowry Parcade off of West Waters Avenue and North Willow Avenue in the Lowry Park North neighborhood, and we think they are one of Tampa’s best bars to go to for an exhilarating night out. What makes Lowry Parcade so much better than any normal bar are all the old-fashioned arcade games like pinball as well as a pool table and plenty of cold beer on tap.

See also  The Ultimate Guide to the Tribeca Bar Scene

Pups Pub

2202 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-422-4583
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This next place, Pups Pub, has to be one of the most creative and fun places that we have ever been to and they are definitely one of our favorite spots in the Tampa Bay area because why wouldn’t you want to take your dog to a pup-friendly pub? Pups Pub is an off-leash bar with indoor and outdoor seating where you can bring your four-legged friend along with you to play and socialize while you enjoy some delicious cocktails and do the same.  The entire floor is astro-turfed to give the pooches the feeling of running around in the grass, along with plenty of water bowls and fans to keep them and their owners nice and cool in the Florida heat on their massive outdoor patio space.


c.1949

6905 N Orleans Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Phone: 813-990-8883

The next bar on our list is called c.1949 and it’s a phenomenal cocktail bar as well as a great place in the city to get something tasty from various food trucks. Look for c.1949 off of North Orleans Avenue and West Sligh Avenue in the Lowry Park Central neighborhood, right next to Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, so it’s a great destination for drinks after a fun day with the animals.  


Blind Goat Tampa 

4106 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629
Phone: 813-515-7962
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Next up is the Blind Goat Tampa over off of Henderson Boulevard and South Clark Avenue in Palma Ceia West, and we think they are one of Tampa’s best spots to get a beer or cocktail, by far, thanks to their happy hour drink deals. The location of Blind Goat is extremely convenient, being right in the heart of South Tampa, but what we really love about this bar is that they have a huge assortment of premium liquors, quality wines, and craft beers to go along with their delicious food which even includes a brunch menu 


Hooch and Hive

1001 W Cass St, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-251-1234
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Hooch and Hive is one of the best places to go for a drink in Tampa and they’re located off of West Cass Street and North Edison Avenue in the West Riverfront district of West Tampa, just north of the University of Tampa. Hooch and Hive serves cocktails like we’ve never had before and they also have both indoor and outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the sunny Florida weather. One of the best craft cocktails to order here is called “Bee’s Knees” and it’s made with organic gin, fresh lemon juice, and local raw honey.

See also  The Ultimate Guide to the Midtown Bar Scene

The Anchor Bar

514 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813-223-6050
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You’re going to want to head towards Downtown Tampa for this next place where you’ll find The Anchor Bar, one of the top sports bars in Tampa Bay for when you’re looking to get a happy hour drink in a casual sports bar setting with great bar food. Look for The Anchor Bar off of North Franklin Street and East Twiggs Street, right down the street from the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Glazer Children’s Museum, not far from historic Ybor City. 


EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge 

1207 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: 813-999-8700
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This next rooftop bar is a SoHo favorite of ours called EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge and it’s located inside the luxurious Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection 4-star hotel with a scenic view of the city from the rooftop overlooking S Howard Ave near Hyde Park. They serve unique craft cocktails here at EDGE’s rooftop bar, but the only food you’ll find here consists of small, tasty snacks like cheese and charcuterie boards or a shrimp cocktail.


The Hub Bar

719 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813-229-1553
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Next stop is called The Hub Bar located in Downtown Tampa, right off of North Franklin Street and East Polk Street, and we definitely would rank them as one of Tampa Bay’s favprite bars thanks to their vintage 1940s-style atmosphere. The Hub Bar truly is a hub of good vibes where you can find live music all the time along with a full liquor bar and some fun games like foosball, pinball, and classic arcade games.


The Pub Tampa Bay

2223 N Westshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 813-443-5642
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The Pub Tampa Bay is located inside the International Plaza and Bay Street shopping mall right off of West Bayshore Boulevard, directly adjacent to the Tampa International Airport, so we think it’s one of the best bars in Tampa for a relaxing drink after a long flight. One reason we really love The Pub is because of the charming British theme and atmosphere throughout the place, not to mention their delectable fish and chips that they’ve become famous for. 

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Miguelitos Taqueria y Tequilas

2702 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: 813-872-5600
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Miguelitos Taqueria y Tequila is located off of West Kennedy Boulevard and South Arrawana Avenue in the Courier City/Oscawana neighborhood near Historic Hyde Park North, and we think they’re one of the top spots for a drink in Tampa thanks to their massive tequila selection. 

If you are a tequila lover, then look no further because Miguelitos Taqueria y Tequila is going to be your new favorite place to get a drink in the city once you try their chilled, infused tequilas that they have on tap. 


Ybor City Wine Bar

1600 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
Phone: 813-999-4966
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This next place, Ybor City Wine Bar, is located inside the Centro Ybor shopping center, right in the heart of historic Ybor City, and we think they’re one of Tampa’s top wine bars, if you ask us. This one is for all of our fellow wine lovers out there who live for fine vino and delicious food paired together. They offer over 200 different wines here at Ybor City Wine Bar, as well as 100-plus different bottled beers, so you are sure to find something to satiate your thirst.  


Hotel Bar

200 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: 813-999-4080
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Right off of North Tampa Street in Downtown Tampa is Hotel Bar, one of the best bars in Tampa Bay, just down the road from the famous Tampa Riverwalk park. This is a swanky place for some craft cocktails made with premium liquors and fresh ingredients that you are bound to love just as much as we do. Make sure to try some of their small bites like their delicious deviled eggs and cured salmon to accompany your drinks for a little extra satisfaction.  


Red Star Rock Bar

5210 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: 813-237-0012
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The last place on our list is called Red Star Rock bar and we think they are one of the best bars in Tampa if you’re looking for a huge outdoor patio setting and some awesome live music while you grab a drink. Look for Red Star Rock Bar off of North Florida Avenue in the Rivercrest neighborhood where they have lots of live rock and roll as well as plenty of liquor and draft beers. 

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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