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As a free weekly publication, website, content marketing, and event company, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has served the Tampa Bay area for more than 33 years with its cultural and news coverage.

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27 Black-owned restaurants in Tampa Bay everyone should visit

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, Colin Wolf, Kyla Fields

Wha Gwaan / Jamaica Jamaica Restaurant and Lounge Tampa and Town ‘N’ Country With flavors as Jamaican as its name, this spot uses scotch bonnet peppers and jerk spices for island specialties like jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail and curried goat. Wha Gwaan also has vegan dishes and homemade vegan ice cream.
27 slides

'Security isn't built on children's corpses': Tampa activists rally against Israel's ongoing conflicts [PHOTOS]

Thousands of "No Kings" protesters took to the sidewalks outside Tampa City Hall last Saturday, but the demonstrations didn't end there. Less…

By Ray Roa, Dave Decker

Protesters in Tampa, Florida on June 15, 2025.
85 slides

Tampa's 20 best 'hot and trendy' restaurants right now, according to Yelp

Yelp is a controversial word around the Bay area lately, after Tampa restaurant Hales Blackbrick filed a lawsuit against a user who left…

By Marleigh Brown, Jani Burden

Sacred Pepper 15405 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Sacred Pepper is my favorite restaurant in the Tampa area. They have awesome selections of wine/cocktails, shareable plates, dinner entrees, sides, after dinner drinks and delicious desserts. The chef's menu is a symphony of flavors. The restaurant itself has a pleasant ambiance and is tastefully decorated. Very comfortable chairs and a gorgeous bar area. The service staff at Scared Pepper is "Exceptional" and everyone is so friendly, attentive, efficient, knowledgeable, and very welcoming. —Ken V
20 slides

Photos: Tampa 'No Kings' protesters face MAGA protestors and Proud Boys

Anti-Trump protesters in Tampa joined largest mobilization against his second term last Saturday, and at one point were faced with Trump supporters and…

By Dave Decker, Selene San Felice

Protesters outside Tampa City Hall in Tampa, Florida on June 14, 2025.
194 slides

June 12, 2025

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