The 10 Best Restaurants in Tampa
Not only is this Florida city famous for its championship sports teams and close proximity to beaches, but it also boasts an excellent dining scene. Some of Tampa’s best restaurants are located in some of the city’s biggest hotels and on roofs, so be sure to check them out. Essentially, right out in the open.
Around the city’s redeveloped neighborhoods, some of Tampa’s most ambitious new eateries have opened, allowing you to see some of the city’s main attractions while savoring excellent cuisine. To begin with, you can find eateries nestled inside the Heights Public Market, a 1901 trolley warehouse transformed into a bustling restaurants row, or along the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk. Styles vary, from the traditional Cuban cuisine found in Tampa’s historic Ybor City—home.
1. Ulele
The award-winning restaurant Ulele on the Tampa Riverwalk is well-known for its combination of Florida and Native American cuisine. A barbacoa grill, which cooks everything from burgers to charred oysters, is the focal point of the eatery. Get the alligator hush puppies for a true taste of Florida; it’s a sweet, spicy, and savory treat made with fresh alligator meat, country ham, and jalapeño.
2. On Swann
The fine American food at On Swann is well-known for having a touch of Italian flavor. The restaurant’s menu is seasonal, so customers can expect fresh and exciting new dishes in addition to classics like steak frites and pimento cheeseburgers. Order one of the sharable boards, which includes all the fixings and either cheese or meat, if you’re going with friends. This place has a unique cocktail menu that includes a long list of craft cocktails as well as non-alcoholic craft soda.
3. Oak & Ola
Diners may get practically everything to stuff their faces at Oak & Ola, an American restaurant, including salads, fresh fish, and steaks. On the restaurant’s rooftop terrace, patrons can enjoy a specialty drink before indulging in a lavish meal. Consider ordering many rounds of appetizers if you’re the sharing kind. Some examples are the Mediterranean-inspired mezze board, which has a range of finger food options including roasted eggplant dip and goat cheese smears, or the Pommes frites with garlic aioli.
4. Rooster & The Till
After receiving the esteemed Michelin Bib Gourmand award, Rooster & The Till restaurants is a Tampa attraction that is highly recommended. The inventive tiny meals and changing menu at this tapas-style restaurant are well-known. Though roasted cauliflower and crispy Brussels sprouts are crowd favorites, there are also delicious options like ginger tofu dumplings and scallop crudo. A great Tampa feature of this restaurants is that it offers a variety of options for vegan and gluten-free diets, so anyone can enjoy this laid-back yet lively dining spot.
5. Bern’s Steak House
Having served customers since 1956, Bern’s Steak House is among the most recognizable eateries in Tampa restaurants. The steakhouse is well-known for its sophisticated atmosphere and for enforcing a dress code that is at least business casual. With a variety of fresh seafood options, including half-shelled oysters and prawns, the lunch is a sophisticated event that culminates with caviar. The main attraction is the steaks, which are hand-selected and internally dry-aged for up to eight weeks.
6. The Deviled Pig
Although the Deviled Pig offers smoky and sweet barbecue in a variety of unexpected ways—including as a pizza topping—locals seem to be obsessed with one particular meal. With brisket, pulled pork, and homemade bologna on top, this barbecue-inspired take on Tampa’s famous Cuban sandwich is known as the Pitmaster Queban. It comes with mustard sauce, Swiss cheese, and Deviled Pig pickles.
7. The Columbia Restaurant
The Columbia Restaurant, located in Ybor City, is the oldest restaurant in Florida, having opened its doors in 1905. One of the largest Spanish restaurants in the world, it was previously a local cafe that catered largely to cigar workers during the industrial age of Ybor City. Don’t leave without eating the restaurant’s renowned 1905 salad, which is created table-side with iceberg lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, olives, tomato, Romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and a handmade garlic dressing. Legendary sangria pitchers are also available. We’ve been using this recipe for more than a century.
8. Rome + Fig
Rome + Fig is a world-renowned restaurant located in the North Hyde Park neighborhood. One of their best appetizers is definitely this Southern spin on the classic Italian Caprese salad, which uses fried green tomatoes instead of red ones (we won’t judge if you end up eating it twice). Anticipate similar takes on menu staples such as fillet mignon and scallops, which change depending on what’s in season.
9. Spinners Rooftop Grille
Take a short journey from Tampa’s downtown to St. Pete Beach and visit Spinners Rooftop Grille. Everyone gets a window seat here, as the restaurant on the 12th floor is a bit of a show stopper, including floor-to-ceiling windows all around the area that provide 360-degree views of the ocean. Seeking a recipe that will stand out? Get the fresh catch ceviche, which comes with crispy plantains, shaved jalapeños, fresh lemons from the area, and leche de tigre. The chef uses the freshest fish they can find that day.
10. Goody Goody Burgers
Almost anything you can think of is served at the well-liked neighborhood diner, Goody Goody Burgers, located in Hyde Park Village. Reputable for its delicious breakfasts that feature all the classics, it’s also a well-liked burger place, as its name implies. Are you eager to try the burger that made this eatery famous? It’s that easy to order the “Pox,” a burger topped with pickles, onions, and secret sauce.