Ultimate Restaurant Guide to Tampa

Tampa has seen an abundance of restaurants popping up in recent years and is on its way to solidifying itself as a foodie destination. It’s been my mission to try as many of these restaurants as possible, as my never-ending list keeps growing due to others’ recommendations or cute places I pass while driving. Continue reading to discover my ultimate restaurant guide to Tampa, Florida.

Best Latin Restaurants in Tampa

Columbia Café

Craving some authentic Cuban food while visiting Tampa? Make a visit to Columbia Café, located in downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center. This café has an adorable outdoor seating area, as well as a bar. My aunt ordered the Cuban sandwich, while I opted for empanadas. Along with her sandwich, she also ordered Columbia’s Original 1905 Salad, a dish they are known quite well for. The margaritas here are also a hit. We both thoroughly enjoyed our food and drinks, as well as the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.

Taco Dirty

Taco Dirty is the perfect alternative to Chipotle. This fast-casual Mexican spot in Tampa serves fresh ingredients and house-made sauces that help you build the perfect bowl or taco catered to your liking. Each bowl includes at least one choice of a base, veggie, protein, Mexi thing, and sauce. However, bowls are customizable, as some include more than one selection of protein, veggies, etc.

There are also a variety of sides and beverages to choose from. Join them for a daily happy hour from 2-6pm, which includes deals on tacos and drinks.

bartaco

Located in Hyde Park, bartaco is a hipster taco joint with plenty of selections. My friend and I got here just before the lunch rush and, thankfully, did not have to wait long for a table. The tacos are very diverse, ranging from pork tacos to fish tacos to duck tacos. They came at a great price as well - $2.75 each! You can easily stock up on delicious tacos and margaritas here. After eating, take a stroll around Hyde Park and do some shopping.

JOTORO Kitchen and Tequila Bar

Jotoro is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Tampa, mainly due to its mouthwatering chips and queso. Located at Sparkman Wharf, this Mexican spot offers a large selection of authentic dishes and tasty drinks.

This restaurant fuses its dishes with tastes from various cuisines, leveling up on the classics. After a bite here, you can explore the rest of Sparkman Wharf, grabbing an additional drink to enjoy on their lawn or popping in line for some ice cream to top off the night.

Jimmy’s Tacos

After being told that Jimmy’s Tacos has the best birria tacos in Tampa, I knew I had to make the short trip to Ybor to test these out for myself. This family-run taqueria serves tacos, quesadillas, taco bowls, and more, but they seem to be most well-known for their birria. I was so impressed with the birria tacos here that I returned another two times the following week.

I also highly recommend the churros here! They are served with a chocolate dipping sauce and have a creamy filling, making the perfect finale to your meal.

The taqueria also has a daily happy hour, but it becomes most crowded as the evening goes on, staying open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Margaritas

Located on Davis Islands, Margaritas is a classic Mexican restaurant serving a variety of – you guessed it – margaritas. The service can be hit-or-miss here, as wait times can sometimes be lengthy. But what kept me returning to this restaurant was the incredible food and drinks we received. I’m a personal fan of the blue margarita and the taco salad, two of my favorite items to order at Mexican restaurants. While you’re over on Davis Islands, consider taking a drive around town to spot some homes of the rich and famous.

Best Restaurants in Tampa for Variety

Salt Shack on the Bay

While it does have some long wait times on peak days, Salt Shack on the Bay is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Tampa. With the combination of the bar scene, food selection, and waterfront views, this is a local favorite containing coveted tables. Especially in the evening, patrons can enjoy a spectacular view of the sunset while chatting over a fresh meal.

Santoro’s Pizzeria

Need a new neighborhood pizza place? Santoro’s Pizzeria brings a slice of Jersey to Tampa and is located just blocks away from the owners’ alma mater. The regular line out the door is a testament to how popular this spot has become for locals and nearby college students.

Santoro’s prides itself on its plain pizzas, but they have a variety of specialty pizzas on their menu as well, in addition to starters, subs, pasta, and sweets. However, my personal favorite order from Santoro’s is their garlic knots. Bathed in butter, these garlic knots are probably the best I’ve had in my life! Make your next pizza night in Tampa at Santoro’s.

Armature Works

Armature Works is an upscale food market with a variety of restaurants to choose from. Whether you’re craving sushi, cookies, burgers, pizza, or Cuban food, Armature Works will be a crowd-pleaser with any group. Customers can split up and buy a meal from whichever restaurant they are craving, then eat at one of the indoor or outdoor tables or on the lawn space located beside the Tampa Riverwalk.

Goody Goody

If you find yourself near Hyde Park again, you should definitely check out Goody Goody, a fun diner suitable for both breakfast and lunch. While it is fun to dine in, the restaurant also has a take-out window for customers to order from. Wanting to stick to the diner feel of the restaurant, I ordered a burger and was not disappointed. This is a great location to grab brunch with a group of friends.

Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Tampa

Willa’s Provisions

As a remote worker, I’m always on the lookout for cute coffee shops, preferably with free parking available. Willa’s Provisions is a chic corner cafe located in the North Hyde Park neighborhood. 

Upon entering Willa’s, it will appear to be a small venue with limited seating, but there’s an additional spacious room located to the left of the coffee bar with the cutest seating options. 

After trying a variety of coffee shops in Tampa, Willa’s quickly became my favorite due to its ease of parking and cute decor. As someone who is not a huge coffee drinker, to begin with, the environment is what matters most to me.

Sweet Soul

I’ve been on the search for the perfect acai bowl in Tampa, as it’s been difficult to find one comparable to my favorite shop in the town I grew up in. However, my search has finally come to an end thanks to Sweet Soul!

This colorful local shop serves acai bowls, smoothies, and plant-based soft serve. My favorite aspect of Sweet Soul is how customizable the bowls are. Customers can choose their base, fruits, sweets, granola, drizzles, and toppings in order to personalize their bowl as much as they’d like, creating the perfect reason to return in order to try different adaptations.

On my first visit, I kept my order pretty similar to what I would get at home. However, I branched out a bit on my second visit, ordering a blue base with different fruits and toppings.

Sweet Soul always hits the spot, whether you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or a sweet snack throughout your day.

Buddy Brew Coffee

Buddy Brew has various locations throughout Tampa and has become quite popular among locals. This franchise is continuing to grow and even sells beans for you to enjoy at home. I recommend visiting at least one of their locations the next time you go on a coffee run.

Best Bars in Tampa

Mandarin Heights

One of the more unique locations I visited in Tampa was Mandarin Heights. This cocktail bar is filled with fun décor, including a bathtub the staff decorates for major holidays. I visited during the week of Saint Patrick’s Day, meaning that the bathtub was decked out in its best clover attire. Out of all the days to visit, I recommend going on a Thursday, also known as Tequila Thursday. On these days, all drinks containing tequila are only $6 during happy hour. They have other deals throughout the week as well, but this was by far my favorite.

The Sail Plaza

If you want to enjoy some outdoor drinks on the riverwalk, then look no further than The Sail. This popular bar is located next to the Tampa Convention Center, offering stellar views of the riverwalk and docked boats.

This outdoor atmosphere is a popular spot for dog owners, sports fans, post-workout drinks, and sunset views. It’s a casual spot to hang out for a drink or two, and you can even take some drinks to-go on the riverwalk.

The C House

To close out my restaurant guide to Tampa, I had to mention The C House. This trendy spot is most famous for its customizable charcuterie boards. If you’re someone who enjoys grazing off a good charcuterie board but does not have the talent or patience to assemble one yourself, The C House is an excellent place to dine in. You can choose from a variety of meats or other selections for your board, as well as wine or other alcohol pairings. We had live music when we visited, the perfect addition to the overall atmosphere.

M.Bird

This rooftop bar at Armature Works offers incredible views of downtown Tampa and the riverwalk. It can get quite crowded here around happy hour and into the evening, but it’s worth stopping by M.Bird at some point during your time in Tampa. 

This chic lounge is the place to be for sunset, offering delicious cocktails, shareable plates, entrees, and brunch options.

Let me know if you make it to any of these suggestions from my ultimate restaurant guide to Tampa! New places are always popping up, so I suggest checking back in the future to see what places might have been added.

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