Guidebook for Tampa
Food Scene
Southern cooking in a casual, yet creative space. Good to grab a drink or a full meal. Indoor and outdoor seating. Thursday is "Slursday" when select drafts are buy one get one free.
39 locals recommend
Fodder & Shine
5910 North Florida AvenueSouthern cooking in a casual, yet creative space. Good to grab a drink or a full meal. Indoor and outdoor seating. Thursday is "Slursday" when select drafts are buy one get one free.
Casual place to grab a quick rice or noodle bowl. They are very easy on the wallet and are right down the road. Jon and I get take-out from here a couple times a month.
56 locals recommend
Chop Chop Shop
4603 N Florida AveCasual place to grab a quick rice or noodle bowl. They are very easy on the wallet and are right down the road. Jon and I get take-out from here a couple times a month.
Casual lunch/dinner option that is easy on the wallet. Indoor & outdoor seating. I like their happy hour Monday-Friday where I can get half price house wine. I believe it comes out to 2.50 a glass or so.
96 locals recommend
Front Porch & Bart's Tavern
5924 N Florida AveCasual lunch/dinner option that is easy on the wallet. Indoor & outdoor seating. I like their happy hour Monday-Friday where I can get half price house wine. I believe it comes out to 2.50 a glass or so.
Starbucks
1508 N Westshore BlvdWell....you know. Coffee
This is your typical diner food at a cheap price point. Nothing fancy, but always filling.
53 locals recommend
Three Coins Diner
7410 N Nebraska AveThis is your typical diner food at a cheap price point. Nothing fancy, but always filling.
McDonald's
8214 N Florida AveClosest McDonalds
Tapas /small plates. I have only been there once, but there are plenty of reviews online. On the pricier side, but you will experience dishes that are different than most places.
144 locals recommend
Rooster & the Till
6500 N Florida AveTapas /small plates. I have only been there once, but there are plenty of reviews online. On the pricier side, but you will experience dishes that are different than most places.
Great deep dish pizza, as well as thin crust. Warning: they only take cash.
93 locals recommend
Cappys Pizzeria
4910 N Florida AveGreat deep dish pizza, as well as thin crust. Warning: they only take cash.
If you are looking for something a little fancier. Their menu changes weekly and the chef has won many awards.
73 locals recommend
The Refinery
5910 N Florida AveIf you are looking for something a little fancier. Their menu changes weekly and the chef has won many awards.
Quirky place to grab dinner. Lots of interesting art pieces to look at while you eat and hang out. They have a huge deck you can eat/drink on. They open at 5 for dinner and offer great happy hour prices on select drafts from 5-7.
201 locals recommend
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe
5119 N Nebraska AveQuirky place to grab dinner. Lots of interesting art pieces to look at while you eat and hang out. They have a huge deck you can eat/drink on. They open at 5 for dinner and offer great happy hour prices on select drafts from 5-7.
$2.50 for a huge (2 feet) fresh loaf of Cuban Bread in this local take-out bakery. They also have other pastries for sale like guava and cheese or simple donuts. Grab a treat and walk next door to Spaddy's coffee cart and grab a delicious drink and relax at one of many tables in the shade. They are open 24 hours a day and only close from noon Saturday until Sunday morning.
22 locals recommend
Mauricio Faedo's Bakery
5150 N Florida Ave$2.50 for a huge (2 feet) fresh loaf of Cuban Bread in this local take-out bakery. They also have other pastries for sale like guava and cheese or simple donuts. Grab a treat and walk next door to Spaddy's coffee cart and grab a delicious drink and relax at one of many tables in the shade. They are open 24 hours a day and only close from noon Saturday until Sunday morning.
Want to drink coffee where the locals do? Try Spaddy's coffee cart out. It is right next to a bakery where you can grab a loaf of delicious Cuban Bread or a smaller pastry.
63 locals recommend
Spaddy's Coffee Co. - Seminole Heights
5206 N Florida AveWant to drink coffee where the locals do? Try Spaddy's coffee cart out. It is right next to a bakery where you can grab a loaf of delicious Cuban Bread or a smaller pastry.
The Revolution Ice Cream Co.
6701 N Florida AveA local shop serving up unique ice-cream flavors.
Great sushi in a converted historic bungalow. We really enjoy their fresh selection and great prices.
Open for lunch (11-1:30) and dinner(5-10pm) Tuesday -Sunday.
32 locals recommend
Ebisu Sushi Shack
5116 N Nebraska AveGreat sushi in a converted historic bungalow. We really enjoy their fresh selection and great prices.
Open for lunch (11-1:30) and dinner(5-10pm) Tuesday -Sunday.
Essentials
Great little corner store that sells a lot of local/craft beers and wine. They also have a few other food items that rotate based on local vendors.
43 locals recommend
Jug & Bottle Dept.
6203 N Florida AveGreat little corner store that sells a lot of local/craft beers and wine. They also have a few other food items that rotate based on local vendors.
This is the closest pharmacy/drugstore in case you need any essentials while you are here.
Walgreens Pharmacy
1704 W Hillsborough AveThis is the closest pharmacy/drugstore in case you need any essentials while you are here.
Everything Else
Publix Super Market
6001 N Nebraska AveStock up on groceries for your stay.
Angry Chair Brewing
4101 N Florida AveA brewery two blocks away...great beer/no food though.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with a lot of craft beer on tap as well as interesting food options. Inside and outside seating.
114 locals recommend
Mermaid Tavern
6719 N Nebraska AveBar with a lot of craft beer on tap as well as interesting food options. Inside and outside seating.
Great craft beers and sandwiches/bratwursts. They have a lot of outdoor seating as well as some inside during inclement weather.
153 locals recommend
Independent Bar and Cafe
5016 N Florida AveGreat craft beers and sandwiches/bratwursts. They have a lot of outdoor seating as well as some inside during inclement weather.
Bar only, sometimes they have food trucks outside. They have full-liquor and beer and awesome bar trivia on Tuesdays. Play alone or with a team.
53 locals recommend
Red Star Rock Bar
5210 N Florida AveBar only, sometimes they have food trucks outside. They have full-liquor and beer and awesome bar trivia on Tuesdays. Play alone or with a team.
A nice local spot to grab a glass of wine or a beer. They serve small plates (not really somewhere to go for dinner).
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Open at 4-pm.
14 locals recommend
Seminole Heights City Wine Bar
6703 N Florida AveA nice local spot to grab a glass of wine or a beer. They serve small plates (not really somewhere to go for dinner).
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Open at 4-pm.
Try your luck at the Hard Rock Casino. Poker and slot machines await you. Grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants, or just hang out with friends at one of the many bars.
376 locals recommend
Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa
5223 Orient RdTry your luck at the Hard Rock Casino. Poker and slot machines await you. Grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants, or just hang out with friends at one of the many bars.
Shopping
This Spanish supermarket is a great place to grab a few items you may need. My favorite part of this store is the hot food counter. They serve many traditional Spanish dishes and cuban sandwiches for under 5 dollars. They also make breakfast Cuban sandwiches. They do not have seating, so it is great for takeout. Open from 7 am til 8 pm. P.S. No need to habla Espanol...they know English :)
9 locals recommend
Huracan Supermarket
402 E Sligh AveThis Spanish supermarket is a great place to grab a few items you may need. My favorite part of this store is the hot food counter. They serve many traditional Spanish dishes and cuban sandwiches for under 5 dollars. They also make breakfast Cuban sandwiches. They do not have seating, so it is great for takeout. Open from 7 am til 8 pm. P.S. No need to habla Espanol...they know English :)
International Plaza and Bay Street
2223 N Westshore BlvdHuge indoor mall.
Outdoor pedestrian shopping village with a Cinebistro movie theater and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat.
283 locals recommend
Hyde Park Village
1602 W Snow AveOutdoor pedestrian shopping village with a Cinebistro movie theater and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat.
Sightseeing
We suggest parking at the northern-most point (where Ulele's restaurant is) and after enjoying the park, head south along the beautiful riverfront path which connects 5 museums, 7 parks, and numerous outdoor gathering spots. If you follow it to the end, you will end up in Channelside where the Florida Aquarium is located.
620 locals recommend
Tampa Riverwalk
Tampa RiverwalkWe suggest parking at the northern-most point (where Ulele's restaurant is) and after enjoying the park, head south along the beautiful riverfront path which connects 5 museums, 7 parks, and numerous outdoor gathering spots. If you follow it to the end, you will end up in Channelside where the Florida Aquarium is located.
This iconic street runs along Tampa Bay for 4 and 1/2 miles one way. There is a pretty fantastic sidewalk about 10 feet wide that thousands of people use to walk, run, skate, and stare at beautiful people....I mean houses. Some of the area's most expensive houses line this street. It is always a fun activity if you are active. Great waterfront views along the entire route. You can start in the downtown area and head south.
222 locals recommend
Bayshore Boulevard
Bayshore BoulevardThis iconic street runs along Tampa Bay for 4 and 1/2 miles one way. There is a pretty fantastic sidewalk about 10 feet wide that thousands of people use to walk, run, skate, and stare at beautiful people....I mean houses. Some of the area's most expensive houses line this street. It is always a fun activity if you are active. Great waterfront views along the entire route. You can start in the downtown area and head south.
Parks & Nature
This Zoo and surrounding park are a great way to spend the day if you want to spend a couple hours relaxing close to the house.
903 locals recommend
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
1101 W Sligh AveThis Zoo and surrounding park are a great way to spend the day if you want to spend a couple hours relaxing close to the house.
This Hillsborough County park is a great Florida experience. There is a long boardwalk to travel through natural habitat while looking for gators, snakes, and turtles. The observation tower is great to get a bird's eye view of the river and surrounding area. I believe there is a small fee (3-5 dollars) at the gate. They also rent canoes here if that is on your bucket list. Don't fall in...the gators are pretty large in this area ;)
49 locals recommend
Lettuce Lake Park Boardwalk and Nature Trail Observation Tower
Lettuce Lake Park TrailThis Hillsborough County park is a great Florida experience. There is a long boardwalk to travel through natural habitat while looking for gators, snakes, and turtles. The observation tower is great to get a bird's eye view of the river and surrounding area. I believe there is a small fee (3-5 dollars) at the gate. They also rent canoes here if that is on your bucket list. Don't fall in...the gators are pretty large in this area ;)
Check out their website to see if it is manatee viewing season. It is about a half hour drive, but if you are out in the eastern side of the county it is a great place to stop to see manatees in their natural habitat. They come to the warm waters of the power plant during the winter season.
183 locals recommend
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman RdCheck out their website to see if it is manatee viewing season. It is about a half hour drive, but if you are out in the eastern side of the county it is a great place to stop to see manatees in their natural habitat. They come to the warm waters of the power plant during the winter season.