All the Tampa restaurants featured in the 2023 Florida Michelin Guide

Three Tampa restaurants earned the city's first ever Michelin stars this week at the unveiling of the 2023 Florida Michelin Guide in…

By CL Staff

Rocca
323 W Palm Ave., Tampa. 813-906-5445
Michelin ranking: 1 Star
"Chef Bryce Bonsack blends his New York know-how with Italian training to great effect in this of-the-moment eatery. Naturally, there's an assortment of pastas, skillfully made in house and showcasing classic flavors and scrupulous technique, as in spaghetti al limone, tossed with knobs of blue crab and lemon, shaved garlic and zucchini."
Photo by Google Street
25 slides

After 50 years, iconic Tampa restaurant Mel's Hot Dogs is for sale

After 50 years in the glizzy game, the owner of Mel's Hot Dogs is finally ready to relish his retirement. Owner Mel…

By Colin Wolf

After 50 years, iconic Tampa restaurant Mel's Hot Dogs is for sale
33 slides

20 essential boba shops and cafes in every corner of Tampa Bay

National Bubble Tea day happens on Sunday, April 30 this year, and there’s no shortage of Tampa Bay boba shops and cafes…

By Kyla Fields, Jenn Thai

Tsaocaa
Locations in Tampa & Pinellas Park.  
Some folks come for the egg waffles, shrimp dumplings and Korean fried chicken, while others frequent Tsaocaa for its massive spread of milk and fruit teas, Yakult yogurt drinks, virgin mojitos and slushies topped with its prized milk foam. From purple rice and popping boba to red beans and pudding, Tsaocaa offers some of the most extensive drink toppings in all of Tampa Bay. 
Photo via tsaocaa/Facebook
20 slides

Munchies: The Tampa Bay restaurants you must visit when you're high

Annual stoner Christmas 4/20 is around the corner, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by toking it up with your…

By Kyla Fields

Xtreme Tacos
5609 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa,(813) 304-2639
This taqueria’s 18 inch-long “stoner burrito” is loaded with your choice of protein, french fries, rice, beans, pico and cheese—but there's a slew of other Mexican favorites like tacos and quesadillas you can also indulge in. Xtreme Tacos gets a few extra points for being accommodating to vegan and vegetarian stoners, too. 
Photo via Xtreme Tacos/Facebook
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All the taco and drink specials you can try during Tampa Bay Taco Week (4/20 - 4/30)

Live every day like it's Taco Tuesday during Tampa Bay Taco Week! This year,  taco lovers get 10 days of exclusive tacos…

By CL Staff

Taco Dirty
2221 W. Platt St., Tampa, FL 33606
tampabaytacoweek.com/taco-dirty

$3 tacos on Tuesdays, Saturdays & Sundays

$5 margaritas during Tampa Bay Taco Week (offer runs through Cinco de Mayo!)
29 slides

Photos: Margarita Wars 2023 at the TPepin's Hospitality Centre in Tampa

You came, you saw, and drank so much you had to leave in an Uber. Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s Margarita Wars went…

By CL Staff

Photos: Margarita Wars 2023 at the TPepin's Hospitality Centre in Tampa
232 slides

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The 20 hottest new Tampa Bay bars and restaurants to open so far in 2023

As the temps begin to climb, so does the hype around this year's new eateries in Tampa Bay. As of now, 2023…

By Tyana Rodgers

Boulon Brasserie
1001 Water St., Tampa ,(813) 768-9988
Also from Next Level Brands, Boulon Brasserie is all about fine dining, featuring a French-style menu with a cafe and full-service bar. Guests can expect a spread of seafood and steak options whipped up by Chef Habteab “Hab” Hamde who was the executive chef at Bern’s Steak House. The layout includes two outdoor patios, a 7,000 square-foot dining room, sleek decor and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo via  Boulon Brasserie & Bakery/Facebook
20 slides

Tampa Bay's best restaurant and bar patios with ridiculously scenic views

Rooftop views, ocean views, skyline views, Tampa Bay restaurants and bars really do have some top-notch patios. Here you'll find some of…

By Brandalynn Nuñez Cepeda, Tyana Rodgers

Cane & Barrel
104 2nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-610-5427
Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Cane & Barrel is a Cuban-inspired rooftop bar and cocktail lounge. The spot features two different bars, and features bites like a Cubano sandwich and yuca fries.
Photo via Cane & Barrel/Facebook
38 slides

Over 20 Tampa Bay restaurants ranked among Yelp's 'Top 100 Places to Eat in Florida 2023' list

Florida has plenty of great places to eat, and according to Yelpers, some of the best spots are here in Tampa Bay.…

By CL Staff

49. Lenny's Restaurant  
21220 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, (727) 799-0402
"Doesn't look like much from the road but the line around the entrance should be a clue that there is GREAT FOOD inside." Amy M.
21 slides

20 Tampa Bay bars and restaurants competing at Margarita Wars 2023 (4/7)

The area's best bars and restaurants are battling it out for the title of Tampa Bay's Ultimate Margarita on Friday, April 7th,…

By CL Staff

American Social
americansocialbar.com
20 slides

Tampa Bay's essential women-owned restaurants of 2023

It's easy to see why Tampa Bay's women-owned restaurants are making a huge mark on an otherwise male-dominated history.  Since March is…

By CL Staff

Independent Bar
Veronica Danko
5016 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-341-4883
With a fun indoor-outdoor environment and wide selection of drinks and bites, this neighborhood staple European-inspired bar and cafe offers wine, beer, coffee and pastries with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options fit for everyone.
51 slides

20 Tampa Bay restaurants every new resident needs to try to call themselves a local

If you're gonna live in Tampa, you have to eat like a Tampeño.  Last summer, the Florida Legislature estimated that 850 people…

By Tyana Rodgers

Antojitos Latin Cravings
2302 W Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-251-9688
For over 25 years Antojitos has been serving up classic Colombian dishes. The menu spans Cuban sandwiches and various baked goods like chicharrón De Guayaba and pan de yuca.

Photo via  Antojitos Latin Cravings/Facebook
19 slides

All the new bars and restaurants coming to Tampa Bay this year

Sure, 2022 was undoubtedly a great year for new eats in Tampa Bay, but we're here to tell you that this year's…

By Tyana Rodgers

Cane & Barrel 
110 2nd St. N., St. Petersburg
The newest rooftop destination located in the heart of downtown St. Pete—Cane & Barrel, a Cuban-inspired rooftop bar and cocktail lounge—is expected to open in February. Set for the 8th floor of the 36-story hotel and apartment tower Ascent St. Pete, the new location will feature two separate bars. The spot has plans to offer signature cocktails to match the decor and ambiance. The star of the new rooftop bar’s menu will be rum, as the name itself is a homage to the spirit's voyage from "cane" to "barrel."
Photo via Cane & Barrel/Facebook
20 slides

Here's where to get a good mezcal cocktail in Tampa Bay

A fun and somewhat surprising fact is that the United States as a country consumes the most tequila overall each year, although…

By Jourdan Ducat

Saigon Blonde
Inspired by 1960s Saigon, this tiki bar on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg offers a warm and inviting oasis for those looking to relax with a craft cocktail. There’s a set list of specialty cocktails that can be made with mezcal as well as rotating mezcal specialties like the Baked & Famous, which combines mezcal, aperol, lime and yellow chartreuse.
265 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. saigonblonde.com
11 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw when Brunched 2023 took over the Tampa River Center

You came, you saw, you ate way more bacon than you ever expected. We all had a great time when Creative Loafing…

By Ray Roa

Photos: Everyone we saw when Brunched 2023 took over the Tampa River Center
212 slides

Tampa Bay's 25 most romantic restaurants of 2023, according to Yelp

Here you'll find a few of the best local spots for Valentine's Day, or just a good date night for that matter.…

By Tyana Rodgers

BellaBrava
4 out 5 stars, 111 reviews
 1015 Gramercy Ln., Tampa
”BellaBrava has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area! Their service is incredible, the food is always delicious and fresh, and their drink selection is super extensive and also delicious. I can't leave the restaurant without having their calamari, stuffed gnocchi and their freshly filled cannolis! Each of their locations is phenomenal, but I love having one in Midtown with so many other things around it. Also, Jenny is an amazing waitress if you want to ask for someone who knows the menu like the back of their hand and will help you have the best experience possible at this restaurant!” - Tiffany B.
Photo via Google Maps
25 slides

The 25 Black-owned restaurants in Tampa Bay everyone should know about

There's plenty of praise to pass around when it comes to Tampa Bay's restaurants. But any examination of our local dining scene…

By Tyana Rodgers

Yuppi
1821 E 7th Ave and 9024 W Hillsborough Ave., Town 'N' Country
 At Yuppi's two locations—and especially at its Ybor City counter on 7th Avenue—Executive Chef Kyle Luke is known for whipping up the infamous “Yuppi Wings,”  with a sauce that is sweet, savory, and tangy (definitely squeeze the lime on it). The half and half special is great for newcomers because it features a little bit of everything, two proteins, and two sides. Choose between fish, shrimp and the Yuppi pattie, which is actually a plant-based burger.
Photo via website
25 slides

All the Tampa Bay businesses sampling at Brunched 2023

Looking for the ultimate brunch experience with your besties? Brunched is back at Tampa River Center on Saturday, February 18th, with an…

By CL Staff

Ava
avatampa.com
22 slides

25 hard-to-get restaurant tables in Tampa Bay that are always worth the wait

There's busy restaurants, and there's ones that seem to always be slammed. Tampa Bay has a thriving restaurant scene and some of…

By Tyana Rodgers

Noble Rice
615 Channelside Dr #112, Tampa, (813) 542-2021
 Noble Rice, a modern Japanese restaurant that recently opened a new location in Sparkman Wharf, features a menu with nigiri and sashimi, as well as appetizer-style shareable plates, ramen bowls, grilled dishes and desserts. Diners can expect high quality selections such as bluefin tuna otoro, hokkaido scallops, and uni. There is also an extensive Japanese whiskey selection and signature cocktails that include the Hibiscus 75, a blend of Roku gin, hibiscus syrup, lemon and sparkling wine. Frank Anderson, Noble Rice’s executive chef, was most recently the creative culinary director at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. 
Photo via Google Maps
25 slides

Tampa’s Deviant Libation brewery opens in Ybor Heights next weekend

Nearly three-and-a-half years after getting the keys to his Ybor Heights brewery, longtime Tampa brewer Tim Ogden is ready to open the…

By Ray Roa

Tampa’s Deviant Libation brewery opens in Ybor Heights next weekend
14 slides

The 25 hottest new restaurants in Tampa Bay right now, according to Yelp

Sure, we love letting readers know about new places to eat around Tampa Bay, but sometimes you need to hear from someone…

By Tyana Rodgers

Del Taco
4.5 out 5 stars, 15 reviews
5610 Manatee Ave., Bradenton
”Excellent food! It was so nice to learn that a Del Taco was coming to this area. I have only seen them in California, so it's nice to see them around here.
The menu is nice and big with burritos, tacos and much more. The prices are fair and the quality is great. Combos come with fries, instead of tortilla chips. I definitely will be back.
I think more Del Taco locations are planned for the surrounding area too! Keep it up!!” - Robert W.
Photo via Google Maps
25 slides

All the Tampa Bay bars and restaurants that closed in 2022

It's been a tough year for Tampa Bay's restaurant scene, especially following the aftermath of the pandemic. Some major local institutions decided…

By Min Craig

Faedo Family Bakery
 5150 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Faedo Family Bakery has closed its doors, opening up room for La Segunda to expand. La Segunda has baked in Ybor City for over a century, and is now expanding with this, a fourth location in Tampa Bay. It is still unsure when this new location will be opening, but the La Segunda in Seminole Heights is fully open.
Photo by Kyla Fields
24 slides

The 25 most-anticipated Tampa Bay bars and restaurants opening in 2023

Without a doubt, 2022 was a great year for new eats in the Tampa Bay area, and it actually looks like 2023…

By CL Staff

Boulon Brasserie 
1001 Water St., Tampa
Boulon Brasserie, the latest concept from Next Level Brands, announced its plan to open at Water Street’s Thousand & One building in downtown Tampa last fall. The French bistro-style restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a three-in-one space featuring a restaurant, bar, and cafe. The Brasserie joins other recently announced projects that are currently in the works—at various stages of development—for the new work-live-play waterfront neighborhood including Ohio-style pizza spot called Small Giant Bar & Restaurant and Wine on Water, a modern neighborhood wine and liquor shop with around 200 wines plus some spirits as well.
Photo via Rockaway PR
25 slides

Everyone we saw at Tampa Bay's 2022 Highball craft cocktail competition

Last week, Tampa Bay's top mixologists showed up at Nova535 for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's annual Highball craft cocktail competition. Presented by…

By CL Staff

Everyone we saw at Tampa Bay's 2022 Highball craft cocktail competition
150 slides

Tampa Bay's 25 best new restaurants of 2022

Tampa Bay's restaurant scene has been serving up great eats for years, but it's safe to say this year has been one…

By CL Staff

 Lucky Tigre  

 1101 S Howard Ave. Ste B, Tampa, 813-761-2088
Lucky Tigre, Tampa's first Filipino 'sari-sari' counter, opened back in October, and has been selling out on a daily basis ever since. Covered in vintage Filipino magazine advertisements, your titas and titos will certainly enjoy the menu, which spans everything from beef and pork dumplings, to steamed bao buns, and traditional rice dishes. 
Photo by Rickey Kim
25 slides

All the bars and restaurants competing at Tampa Bay's 2022 Highball Cocktail Competition

Highball is back on Dec. 8, and this year, we're switching things up a bit by highlighting the namesake drink, the highball…

By CL Staff

Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro
Competing with Haku Vodka
piscessushibistro.com
799 Highland Ave, Dunedin, FL 34698
15 slides

Breaking bread: A culinary history of Tampa in 10 meals

If food defines culture, then what kind of city is Tampa? The answer can be found in these 10 notable meals, which…

By Andrew T. Huse

Tampa Bay Hotel opens, 1891
When tycoon Henry Plant brought his railroad to Tampa in 1884, he found a pathetic hardscrabble town of 700 people. But in the years after the railroad connection, Tampa’s elite clamored for Plant to open a luxury hotel in his latest terminus. On Feb. 5, 1891, Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel opened with a grand ball. At 9 that evening, the capacity crowd enjoyed an opera. Then Mayor Herman Glogowski led a grand procession to the dining room for a reception and dancing. At 11, a buffet offered oysters, fish, cold roasts, salad and desserts. The party didn’t wind down until 1 a.m.; the guests slept on couches and chairs in the lobby, as the bedrooms had not yet been furnished.
The Tampa Bay Hotel frequently made headlines, especially during the Spanish-American war when journalists and generals commiserated from the veranda’s rocking chairs. The kitchen served up lavish meals with menus written entirely in mangled French. But with a short tourist season of just four months, the hotel never really flourished. The old Tampa Bay Hotel is now home to the University of Tampa and the Henry Plant museum.


Photo via Burgert Brothers/USF
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23 under-the-radar Tampa Bay taco spots you need to try before you die

When it comes to tacos, Tampa Bay has some very classic, well-known haunts. But there are also smaller spots with some cult…

By Alexandria Jones

Hector’s Mexican Food 
3121 E Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3646
Looking for a midnight snack? Hector’s extensive menu will get you right each and every time. Find this hidden gem close to two other Tampa gems: Sanwa Farmer’s Market and basically across the street from Esther’s Cafe.
   Photo via Hector’s Mexican Food/Google
23 slides

20 legit Hillsborough County dive bars, and why you should get a drink at all of them

The local watering hole has long been a source of comfort for what ails you. There's just something about the sight of…

By Jourdan Ducat

Retreat 
123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, 813-254-2014
At this long-running bar across from the University of Tampa, you’re likely to be sitting next to a service industry worker who’s either just finished a shift or is having some liquid courage before starting one. It can get pretty packed with the college crowd on nights and weekends, so your best bet is grab a seat at happy hour if you’re looking for a more relaxing experience. This is another spot that allows smoking indoors, plus all day specials and bar snacks to soak up that Rumplemintz shot you just did with the bartender. 
   Photo via Retreat/Facebook
20 slides

All the new chain restaurants calling Tampa Bay home in 2022

A recent study ranked the Tampa area among the nation's top cities in 2022 for "fast food lovers," and it's easy to…

By Min Craig

Dave’s Hot Chicken  

Location TBA, Phone number TBA
Earlier this year, this popular Los Angeles-based chicken shop announced eight new locations in the Tampa Bay area, with outposts planned for Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. The menu is simple and straightforward, including chicken staples, as well as mac & cheese, cheese fries and house made kale slaw. 
   Photo via Dave’s Hot Chicken/Facebook
25 slides