5 Best Nightlife in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Offering the fruits of the adjacent Cigar City brewery, this large tasting room puts Tampa on the map for craft beer enthusiasts. On tap, it offers mainstays like Jai Alai IPA and Maduro Brown Ale as well as an interesting rotation of seasonal beers. The staff is friendly, and the music is generally good, but beware: happy hour can be packed.

If frozen DayGlo concoctions spinning around in washing machine–like mechanisms are your thing, this place should certainly be on your list. If not, this is still a good go-to weekend watering hole across the street from Madeira Beach. In addition to selections like the Grape Ape and the Voodoo Loveshake, there's a respectable selection of beer on tap and a full bar. Entertainment includes some excellent funk and rock bands Thursday through Sunday. The food menu highlights seafood, of course (oysters are a winner), and the late-night menu is served until 1:30 am.

Notorious Spanish pirate José Gaspar was known for swashbuckling up and down Florida's west coast in the late 18th and early 19th century. His legend has inspired a massive, raucous street festival each winter. This Ybor City drinkery has adopted his name, and rightly so. Decked out in tons of pirate memorabilia, it's the cornerstone to any night spent barhopping on the Ybor strip. The sangria is a good choice, but the aged rums might be even better. You'll also find a food menu that goes well beyond standard bar fare.

Overlooking vast dunes leading down to the beach, this default stop for tourists and locals alike has an open-air beach bar with seating for all, as well as several full bars. The food and beer selections aren't too exotic here, but they make a mean mai tai. There's live music virtually every afternoon and each night on one of two stages.

Although it's considered something of a dive—albeit a lovable one—this well-established bar (circa 1946) has a loyal local following that ranges from esteemed jurists to nose-ring-wearing night owls. It's known for its strong drinks and its fantastic jukebox.