Nightlife · Tampa · United States
Tampa nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Tampa, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Tampa · Photo: TampAGS , for AGS Media, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Tampa nightlife ranges from Ybor City's crowded bar and club strip to SoHo's cocktail bars and riverside food halls. Bars in Hillsborough County can serve until 3am. The main areas are Ybor City, SoHo, Downtown and Water Street and Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Ybor City
- Local drink
- Cigar City craft beer
Plan a trip to Tampa
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Where to go out
Ybor City
7th Avenue's clubs, bars and late-night food, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights and during Guavaween.
SoHo
South Howard Avenue's cocktail bars and restaurants, with a slightly older, dressier crowd.
Downtown and Water Street
Hotel rooftop bars and newer restaurants around the Channel District and the arena.
Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights
Breweries, wine bars and the Armature Works food hall for a relaxed evening.
Nightlife tips
- Use a rideshare home; DUI enforcement is strict and the districts are spread out.
- Ybor City can get rowdy late at weekends; stick to the main streets.
- Many bars have happy hours in the late afternoon with half-price drinks.
Evening sights
Neighbourhood · Ybor City
Ybor City Historic District
Visit by day for the history and cigar shops, then come back after dark if you want the bars on 7th Avenue.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Food
- After dark
Historic site · Ybor City
Columbia Restaurant
Book the flamenco dinner show ahead; at lunch, the café side serves a classic Cuban sandwich without a reservation.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- History
- Couples
- After dark
Architecture · Downtown
Tampa Theatre
Seeing a film is the best way in; guided balcony-to-backstage tours run on some days.
- Time needed
- 2 hours with a film
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Couples
Market · Tampa Heights
Armature Works and Heights Public Market
Take the Pirate Water Taxi from downtown and arrive by river.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Outdoors
What to drink
- Cigar City craft beer — Tampa's craft-beer scene took off with Cigar City Brewing, whose Jai Alai IPA is now found across Florida, and the city has dozens of breweries.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 25°C (77°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:56 | 11°C (52°F) | 6 |
| April | About 19:55 | 17°C (63°F) | 4 |
| July | About 20:28 | 25°C (77°F) | 17 |
| October | About 19:01 | 20°C (68°F) | 5 |
Getting home late
- Tram — Service is less frequent early in the morning; check the timetable if you rely on it for dinner in Ybor.
- Ferry — The seasonal Cross-Bay Ferry links downtown Tampa with downtown St.
- Bus — HART runs the city bus network, including a route between the airport and downtown; it is cheap but infrequent for sightseeing.
- Ride-hailing — Uber and Lyft are widely used, and easier than parking in Ybor City or downtown in the evening.
Late-night bites
- Deviled crab — Cuban bakeries, Ybor City cafés and old-school West Tampa sandwich shops.
Staying safe at night
Visitor areas are generally fine, but keep an eye on belongings in Ybor City late at night and use rideshares between districts. The bigger hazards are natural: summer heat, frequent lightning storms (leave the beach or water when you hear thunder) and hurricanes from June to November — follow official instructions if a storm approaches.
- Emergency number
- 911
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, culture, food lovers and budget
Ybor City
Founded in 1886 by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor, the district drew Cuban, Spanish and Italian workers whose mutual-aid clubs and bakeries still stand. By day it is a National Historic Landmark District with museums and cigar shops; by night 7th Avenue (La Séptima) is Tampa's main nightlife strip. Chickens roam the streets and are protected.
- Good
- Most historic part of the city; Excellent Cuban and Spanish food; Streetcar to downtown
- Watch out
- Loud and crowded on weekend nights; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City Museum State Park, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, 7th Avenue
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Tampa?
Ybor City, SoHo and Downtown and Water Street. 7th Avenue's clubs, bars and late-night food, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights and during Guavaween.
+Which area of Tampa is best for nightlife?
Ybor City: Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street.