Heading to Tampa and looking for things to do? Well check out my list of must do things in Tampa for your next visit!
During a recent trip to Florida, I took some time to scope out some local favorite spots! This list is filled with some excellent food and wine spots that everyone should try at least once!
Eat lunch in Hyde Park Village
This little shopping area is located less than 10 minutes from the river walk. Hyde Park Village is filled with cute restaurants and lots of local boutiques.
Head down to this area for an early lunch or even a late dinner. If you can, grab lunch at Forbici and order the meatball appetizer and Aperol Spritz to drink! This spot is so cute and is perfect for a lunch date. If you are traveling solo, no need to fret because there is a bar and high-top table area. I took myself out for a lunch date with no issue and then enjoyed some shopping time afterwards.
Side note though, if you decide to have dinner down here, be sure to make reservations prior to because wait times can be pretty long.
Walk the Tampa River Walk
While I was in Tampa, I spent some time walking the river walk just to clear my head for a bit and I am so glad that I did it! Depending on the direction that you enter from, there will be a park on one side and then the open boardwalk on the other. This park area is perfect for a cute day picnic or even just for sitting and reading a book. If you decide to walk the boardwalk, there are a handful of restaurants that you can check out. To be honest, I was in my head that day, so I just found a bench and enjoyed the river view.
Another bonus to this area is that there are tons of bike rentals along this path, so grab a bike and ride along the boardwalk! Or even do a kayak rental and explore the river itself!
Visit the Gen X Bar
Looking to time travel back to the 80s and 90s? Well, then Gen X Tavern is for you. This bar, which is located right across the river walk, is the perfect spot to grab a beer and just catch up with your friends.
The tavern features old school décor and posters all throughout. Even the bathroom will remind you of the days when your walls used to be plastered with posters of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC everywhere. Be sure to hit up those old arcade games as well!
Have dinner at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant
Let me tell you this. I am obsessed with Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants! $16 for Wine Flights??! Who can say no to that?
Beside the wine flights, Cooper’s is an excellent spot if you want to treat yourself to a nice dinner and a bottle of wine. Now let tell you this, order the burrata bruschetta! It was sooo good!
Not going to lie, but this burrata came very close to the one at Flinder’s in Stamford CT.
I also had the filet and crème brulé as well, and they both delivered. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu.
Grab drinks at Sparkman’s Wharf
I absolutely love Sparkman Wharf. If you are looking to go on a date night or even just enjoy some time with your friends, this is the perfect spot! Head to this area on Friday nights if you want to listen to some live music, all while eating some great food and enjoying drinks.
Now the best way to explain the wharf is to think of a food truck area, but just shipping containers! Yup, that’s right! Shipping containers. There are about ten food vendors containers in shipping containers and then a couple other restaurants surrounding the wharf itself. The food ranges from burgers to ice cream to bbq to vegan options. Like I am not kidding, there are so many choices, that everyone can find something that fits their diet.
When I visited the Wharf, I ended up ordering pizza from the LightHaus Beer Garden. It’s not widely advertised, but if you walk up the bar, you will see the pizza menu. And it’s not some little pie either, it’s massive! So, if you have a group, this is the perfect thing to share while you all drink some beers.
Explore Armature Works
Armature Works is the Public Market near downtown Tampa. The market features multiple food and consignment vendors. There are multiple food vendors, so if you are torn on meals, I would suggest getting a few items from different vendors and then sharing with your group. However, if you are traveling alone and love sushi like me, then swing by Zukki Sushi and order the sushi burrito. I can literally taste it all over again as I am writing this…yum.
One benefit to this Public Market is that they have tons of seating options. If you take advantage of the outdoor seating, pick a spot closest to the water. They have Adirondack chairs and plenty of games for the little ones.
Note: If you need some of fantastic ice cream, then I suggest walking across the street to Jeni’s Ice Cream! This spot has so many flavors that I cannot even list them out. But if you are unsure of what to get, just ask for some samples until you make your decision. The peanut butter option is my go to!
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tampa, and cannot wait to head back again in the near future.
If you decide to take a trip out there, then I highly recommend trying these places out. If you have other suggestions, please comment below and share!
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As always, happy traveling!