11 Best Bars in St. Petersburg, The Tampa Bay Area

On tap at this local craft brewery, set in a converted industrial space, is a spate of excellent in-house creations (the Bimini Twist IPA is a favorite). There's live music some nights, as well as a few game options. The brewery is also close enough to Central Avenue to walk (or take a short trolley ride) to or from Tropicana Field and Grand Central District restaurants.

Fans of IPAs, saisons, stouts, you name it (even kombucha) will find their brew of choice on the lengthy list of draft beverages at this cornerstone of St. Petersburg's exploding exploding craft beer scene. Live music is also regularly on tap, and although there's some seating inside, the action tends to happen out in the courtyard, where there are plenty of tables and space for listeners to gather when there's a band playing. Although the place is a late-night draw, kids and dogs are welcome, and you can grab food from one of several nearby restaurants to accompany your brew.

Connected to Ruby's Elixir, a speakeasy and music venue, this homey lounge encourages patrons to enjoy cigars with their cocktails, beer, or wine. Opt for Central Cigar's private-label brand or choose from the large selection of cigars produced by some of the world's top brands.

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.

Part neighborhood watering hole, part energetic nightclub, this welcoming, multilevel venue caters to the LGBTQ+ crowd and their straight allies. Enjoy daily drink specials, as well as great happy hour deals from the time the bar opens until 9 pm. There's something entertaining happening just about every night, too, from drag shows or DJ jams to talent competitions or karaoke.

This taproom and event venue offers everything from lagers and lighter styles to hoppy IPAs and darker beers (including some tasty stouts) and sours. Although it has spacious indoor and outdoor seating areas, you can also grab a seat at the brewery's neighboring LALA expansion, which features French-inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and private karaoke rooms.

The name of this bar is a nod to the green benches that once lined Central Avenue and were often occupied by retirees. But the Sunshine City has shaken its rap as a sleepy retirement town and has become a craft beer town, as evidenced by breweries like this one. Barkeeps here serve brews made on-site as well as those from a few guest kegs. The interior has a lodgelike feel (as much as a bar can in Florida), but the real atmosphere is outside, where Adirondack chairs and badminton sets are scattered across the lawn. It's also just a couple of blocks from Tropicana Field, so the place can get packed before and after the Rays play.

Until very recently, Tampa Bay's beach towns were something of a craft beer dead zone, even as the rest of the region teemed with such establishments. This spot, located in John's Pass, is a shining example of how things are changing. Most of the draft beers are brewed on-site, though there are a few guest taps. There's plenty of space at the bar, and the barroom is not only massive, but it's also styled after a German beer hall—large tables and all. There's foosball and indoor beanbag tossing if you're feeling competitive, live music many nights, and a bar-food menu.

The drinks menu at this classy yet jubilant spot with a speakeasy vibe is as vintage as the decor. Many of the cocktails are classics—including a mean Bloody Mary—made the old-fashioned way, but you'll also find innovative concoctions and craft beers, as well as either live music or a DJ most nights.

If you want to scope out some vintage jazz, blues, or swing, this is the place to do it. It has much better ventilation than most other bars Downtown (despite being attached to a cigar bar), and you can bring your beverages to one of the outdoor tables—if you can snag one. It's also a great place to find a unique cocktail.

Just off Downtown's main drag, this welcoming tasting room offers tons of craft beer options, including longtime local favorite, St. Pete Orange Wheat. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, the clientele tends to be friendly, and this is one of the best places to grab a beer if you have a dog in tow.