Best Places to Eat in Tampa, Florida
Take advantage of a culinary adventure through the vibrant city of Tampa, Florida where every bite satisfies your taste of culinary delight. Tampa’s diverse city influences many different cuisines from fresh seafood straight from the Gulf, mouthwatering Cuban foods, to spectacular sweet treats. Take time to indulge your taste bud on some fantastic food options as you enjoy this bustling and welcoming coastal city. As one of our favorite cities to visit in Florida, I know you will find something that will satisfy your taste buds.
Tampa Florida’s energetic food scene
Restaurants you must try in Tampa or the surrounding areas include:
Black Rock Bar and Grill Tampa
Doodle Noodle Bar
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Kichi Taiyaki
Lona
M. Bird
Olivia
Sweet Soul
Ulele
Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill
Willa’s
Yard House
Black Rock Bar and Grill Tampa
Black Rock Bar and Grill provides a unique culinary experience when you order a steak. Each steak is brought to the table on a 755 degrees volcanic sizzling rock. This amazing experience allows you to make sure each bite is cooked to perfection and each bite is as juicy as the next. They have a variety of delicious foods from tacos, burgers, lobster, soups, salads, chicken, desserts, and of course made your way steaks.
Address: 11702 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Hours: Sunday 11am to 10pm, Monday to Thursday 3pm to 10pm, Friday 3pm to 11pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm
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Cruise along the Gulf of Mexico to see the history and wildife (dolphins, manatees) along Keewaydin Island near Naples, Florida. Prices start at $53.50 per person.
Doodle Noodle Bar
Doodle Noodle Bar is a fun and unique bar that feels like you are walking into a cartoon. Each wall creates the illusion of a doodle pad and provides a space to chill while sipping a fruit drink and enjoying one of their many specialty noodle meals.
Address: 9620 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm
Instagram @doodlenoodlebar
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Our absolute favorite ice cream shop is Jeni’s Ice Cream. They have multiple locations throughout the US, and we have tried this ice cream in Florida, Tennessee, and St Louis. They are all amazing. The Brambleberry Crisp is my favorite with mixed fruit and granola. They have so many amazing and unique flavors. Check them out for your favorite flavor or purchase a pint to take home. Publix Grocery Store also sell’s pints of Jenni’s ice cream for $7.99 each. Some of Jeni’s amazing flavors include:
Gooey Butter Cake
Salty Caramel
Boston Cream Pie
Darkest Chocolate
Lemon and Blueberry Parfait
Banana French Toast
Brandied Banana Brulee
and many more delicious flavors
Address: 305 W Palm Ave, Tampa
Scoop Shop Hours: Monday to Thursday 1pm - 11pm, Friday to Sunday 12pm - 12am
Instagram @jenisicecreams
Facebook Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Kichi Taiyaki
This dessert place, Kichi Taiyaki, we went to is located in Brandon which is only about 20 minutes away. This place is worth the trip. This is a Japanese dessert restaurant, and the food was delicious, and the portions were good size. We tried multiple desserts so we could have a variety of foods to share. The Mango cheesecake was amazing although the cheesecake piece was really small compared to what you get but overall, it was a large dessert.
Cost for our meal 2024: Mango Cheesecake $12.50, Taiyaki cone with 2 toppings (ice cream in a cup with fish shaped cake on top) $7.75, Souffle pancake (we chose the cookies and cream flavor) $14.55. Total was $52.18
Address: 2020 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon
Hours: Daily from 12pm to 10pm
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Lona
One of my favorite restaurants with authentic Mexican food is located at the Marriott Hotel in Tampa, across from the Amalie Arena where you can watch a exciting Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey game. From the moment you step into Lona, you will be faced with an amazing vibe from brick lined walls, tapestries, stoneware and other cultural furnishings, making the vibe in this restaurant a place you will want to stay a while as you sip on your favorite drink and snacking on the complimentary chips with the best salsa that has a hint of corn and black bean.
There is no skimping on flavor here. I had the chicken tortilla soup ($12) which is now my favorite soup of all time. The flavors blend together nicely, and the chicken is so tender, making every savory bite excellent. The guacamole ($15) was perfect, and the poblano enchiladas ($22) were fantastic as well. This is one of my top restaurants in Tampa that I highly recommend you try!! Stay a while and watch a sporting event on their multiple TVs. (2024 prices)
Address: 505 Water Street, Tampa. Located inside the Tampa Marriott Water Street
Parking: Complimentary valet parking up to three hours on non-event nights, pull up to the front of the hotel for this service. No direct parking at the hotel other than metered parking across the street and throughout Tampa.
Boats: You can also visit by waterway at 32 boat slip marinas.
Payment: No cash accepted, only credit card, room charge, or mobile pay.
Hours: Monday to Friday 4pm to 11pm, Saturday to Sunday 11am to 11pm
Instagram @lonatampa
M. Bird
You have to stop at this fabulous roof top bar/restaurant when visiting Armature Works in Tampa. The food at M. Bird was so so good, and the view was fantastic. On the roof top you have a view of the Hillsborough River and the surrounding Riverwalk.
Their menu is limited but they have some unique food options, and you will no doubt find something good to eat. We had the M - Burger which had great flavor with added chipotle cherry, brie, bacon, crispy onions, and a sesame brioche bun and include truffle fries. If you have never had truffle fries, you have to try these. The are soo good. Truffle has a hint of mushrooms flavor but even if you don’t like mushrooms, you will like these fries. My husband had the spicy garlic shrimp which he said was really good. This consisted of garlic shrimp, chorizo, homemade tomato sauce with herbes, and grilled sourdough bread. Although the portion was small, it was good. We also had lemonade to drink, which was not good at all, so I do not recommend it.
Address: 1903 Market Street, Tampa
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 4pm - 12am, Thursday 4pm - 2pm, *Friday 3pm - 2am, *Saturday 12pm - 2am, *Sunday 12pm - 11pm. *21+ after 6pm. Thurs, Fri, Sat only
Olivia
This elegant modern Italian restaurant, Olivia, provides lots of class and spectacular food options. The meal options are unique and tasty. Experience the making of the Italian inspired pizza dough made in house and baked to perfection with the unique wood-fired grill flavor. For the wine lovers, they have an extensive wine menu for your drinking pleasure. This was some of the best food we have experienced at a restaurant in Tampa.
Reservations are recommended but not required. There is a fee to confirm online reservations. Parking is limited and valet parking is available.
Address: 3601 West Swann Ave, Tampa
Hours: Brunch and lunch from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday only, Dinner from 5pm to 10pm Sunday to Thursday ad 5pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday.
Instagram @olivia_tampa
Sweet Soul
Sweet Soul offered the best acai bowl I had ever had. The fruit toppings were fresh, and the superfood options were incredible. we had the Dragon Fruit Blend ($11.50) which was so amazing. The mango topping we added was so fresh that it just melted in my mouth. We also added the superfood, bee pollen which added the right amount of stress reducer and included other health benefits. We also had the Cherry Colada smoothie ($9 + $2 for vanilla protein) which was just as good! (2024 prices)
Address: 1101 South Howard Ave, Tampa
Hours: 8:30am to 9:00pm daily
Instagram and Facebook: @ilovesweetsoul
Ulele
One of the best restaurants along the riverfront is Ulele. This restaurant and menu are inspired by native and early Spanish explorers. They have some of the best food in the area. You have to try the carrot fries, they are so good, who knew! They also craft their own beer for those beer lovers out there.
Address: 1810 North Highland Avenue, Tampa
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am - 11pm
Whisky Joe’s Bar and Grill
This fantastic restaurant is located right on the water in Tampa Bay. Enter the parking area and be taken back by the view of the bay. This is the perfect location to sit and watch the sunset after enjoying an amazing meal at Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill. This restaurant has five locations throughout Florida where you can sit back and enjoy a drink and amazing grub while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Enjoy foods like seafood, alligator, chicken, oysters, salads, tacos, burgers, and more. At the Tampa location you can step outside at the Tiki Bar and dip your toes in the sand while you sip away at your favorite drink and listen to live music. If you have a boat or other water vessel, you can dock it at their sand bar while you enjoy a meal before heading back out into the waters.
Address: 7720 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10:30pm (Happy Hour 3-6pm), Friday 11am to 12am (Happy Hour 3-6pm), Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 10:30pm
Instagram @thewhiskeyjoes
Facebook Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill Tampa
Willa’s
Willa’s is such a cute little restaurant. Willa’s has a wonderful young vibe, and the decor adds just the right touch to make you feel at home. Our service was amazing, and the food was just as great. We ordered the Bacon Cheddar Disco Fries for $15 and Chicken Schnitzel for $23 for a total of $38.70. The cheese on the fries was to die for and my chicken was cooked perfectly! Everything we ate was delicious and I highly recommend you check them out! As their saying goes, “Where There’s A Willa, There’s A Way-A”. Stop by for happy hour as they have a huge drink menu.
Address: 1700 W Fig Street, Tampa
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 9am to 9pm, Sunday 9am to 8pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Happy Hour Wednesday to Sunday 3pm to 6pm
Instagram @willalovestampa
Yard House
This new restaurant in Tampa, Yard House, proved to be one of my favorite places to eat. This has a bar vibe with friendly staff and a large bar selection that is inspired by the owners California roots. They have indoor and outdoor seating. I had the pork sandwich with blueberry ketchup ($14.99) with truffle fries ($2.00) which I absolutely loved. My husband had Sweet and Spicy Shrimp Noodles ($22.49) which he stated was really good. I also had the Smoked Pink Dragon drink ($12.79) which came out smokin’ and tasted so good! You have to stop here to eat, you won’t be disappointed! (2024 prices)
Address: 450 Channelside Drive, Tampa
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 12am, Friday and Saturday 11am to 1:20am
Instagram @yardhouse
Ybor City is full of rich history and vibrant streets lined with amazing dining options, chickens, and entertainment. You will find some amazing food options in Ybor City as well. Check out this blog post for more details.
Tampa has so much to offer from theater, nightly entertainment, cultural experiences, foodie opportunities, and so much more. I find Tampa a favorite place to visit in Florida. With so many different events and restaurants to enjoy, I find myself gravitating toward Tampa often. You can experience the most authentic vibe and culture within this city.
This list of Best Places to Eat in Tampa Florida will be added to often. I have personally eaten at each of these restaurants and highly recommend them.
Bookmark this page and check back often for updated restaurants.
Need a place to stay while visiting Tampa? Check out booking.com or VRBO.com to find the perfect place.
Enjoy the journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. (me sitting at Willa’s)
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