Things to Do in Tampa, Florida

What to Do in the Tampa Bay Area

There is no shortage of fun things to do in Tampa, Florida! Whether you’re here for a quick trip or you’re a local trying to branch out of your routine, there are plenty of cool spots to check out in the Tampa area. I’m a huge fan of the restaurant and brewery scene in the city. The walkable areas you can find all along the water also make the city special. Here, I’ll be sharing some of the best things to do in Tampa, Florida!

Table of Contents:

Fun Things to Do in Tampa Bay

One of my favorite things about my adopted home city of Tampa is the restaurant scene. As you’ll see in this guide, a lot of the top picks are geared towards foodies. I separated out a section for breweries, though. Lumping them together with food and drink would do them a disservice.

Think of these separate categories as a kind of Venn diagram, with overlaps from one to the other. Use them to craft the perfect day in Tampa Bay!

Where to Eat, Drink, & Spend a Day in Tampa Bay

Armature Works

Armature Works is a great option for anyone looking to eat, shop, and people watch. Basically, it is a huge mixed-use destination just off the water in Downtown Tampa. A restored historic structure, Armature Works is home to almost twenty eateries, ranging from coffee shops to market fare to rooftop bars to fine dining. Really, there’s something for everyone here, no matter what you’re craving! As far as things to do at Armature works, the location also offers some light shopping and seasonal craft fairs throughout the year. You can see more about the resident vendors as well as the various events Armature Works hosts on their Instagram here and on their website’s calendar.

Address: 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
Useful Links: Website | The Armature Works Directory | Instagram

Oxford Exchange

A highlight of design in Tampa, Florida, Oxford Exchange is one of my favorite spots in the city. This European-inspired space houses a delicious restaurant, a must-see bookstore, a lovely home decor shop, and two of my favorite local businesses: TeBella Tea and Buddy Brew Coffee. With an Instagram-worthy staircase, carefully curated design pieces, and an atmosphere of creativity and community, it’s easy to see why Oxford Exchange is such a popular spot in Tampa!

Get all the details on Oxford Exchange in my full write up and review here!

Address: 420 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33606
Useful Links: Website | Menu | Instagram

Sparkman Wharf

A similar concept to Armature Works, Sparkman Wharf offers an array of waterfront outdoor dining with a busy event lawn and beer garden. Dedicated to supporting Tampa’s community and culture, and often hosts local events on their lawn, including live music, trivia, and athletic classes.

Address: 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
Useful Links: Website | The Sparkman Wharf Directory | Instagram

Areas of Town to Visit

Ybor City

Also known as Cigar City (not to be confused with the brewery of the same name), Ybor is en epicenter of Tampa’s history and cultural roots. Celebrated as the Cigar Capital of the World, Ybor has retained the iconic red brick buildings of its past as it has grown into a thriving social center. Plus, if you are into cigars, there are plenty of cigar companies still in operation that you can visit. Oh, and there are also a ton of chickens and roosters that live in the area. They add even more character to Ybor!

Notable Spots to Visit in Ybor:

• Barriehaus Beer Co. (learn more about Barriehaus here)
• Bastet Brewing
• The Columbia Restaurant (Florida’s Oldest Restaurant)
• Coppertail Brewing Co. (read more on Coppertail here)
• La Segunda Bakery
• Tampa Bay Brewing Co. (as seen in my Tampa Brewery Guide)
• Zydeco Brew Werks

Hyde Park Village

One of my favorite spots to spend a day, Hyde Park Village has everything a local or visitor to Tampa needs: great restaurants, quality shopping, and easy parking! Covering six city blocks, Hyde Park Village hosts farmer’s markets, art fairs, and seasonal community events throughout the year. Their pumpkin patch around Halloween is the stuff of legend! As far as shopping goes, Hyde Park has it all: home, beauty, style, pets, and more! I always stop by the Madewell when I’m there. The new Zimmermann boutique is absolutely gorgeous, too — well worth a stop!

Notable Spots to Visit in Hyde Park Village:

• Buddy Brew Coffee (one of my favorites! Learn more about the coffee shop here)
• CinéBistro
• Downtown Dogs Pet Store
• Forbici Modern Italian Restaurant (learn more in my Tampa Italian restaurant guide here)
• The Hyppo Popsicle Shop
• Leafy Luv Affair Plant Shop
• Meat Market Restaurant
• On Swann Restaurant (read my full review here)
• Paper Source
• Sur La Table

Address: 1602 W. Snow Ave Tampa, FL 33606
Useful Links: Website | Directory | Instagram

The long list of restaurants to choose from at Hyde Park can almost be overwhelming!
Click here for my top restaurant picks from the area.

Restaurants to Try

Part of my Tampa City Guide here on Cats & Coffee is an extensive library of Tampa restaurant reviews. Click through any of the links just below to see the individual reviews:

• BellaBrava – Traditional Italian Fare
• Boulon – French Classics with a Modern Twist
• The Independent – European Style Bar & Cafe
• The Library – Book Inspired Restaurant
• Oggi – Rustic Italian Tavern
• On Swann – Seasonal New American Cuisine
• Oxford Exchange – Fine American Dining
• Pacific Counter – Fresh Fusion in South Tampa
• Predalina – Seafood & Mediterranean Restaurant
• Rocca – Michelin Star Italian Dining
• Rome + Fig – Contemporary, Global Inspired Cuisine
• Thai Prime – Crowd Pleasing Thai Food
• Willa’s – Neighborhood Restaurant & Bar
• Yummy House – Chinese Bistro in South Tampa

Tampa’s Brewery Scene

Tampa and the surrounding areas are a haven for craft beer lovers. Between Tampa Bay and St. Pete, there are upwards of 100 breweries and counting. When I started my Tampa Brewery Guide in summer of 2021, for reference, the number of breweries in the area was somewhere around 50. A rough estimate, but an estimate nonetheless. Now, as of summer 2023, according to That’s So Tampa, approximately a quarter of Florida’s craft beer operations are based here!

Be sure to visit my Tampa Brewery Guide here for all the details you need on the best craft breweries in the area. I wanted to give shoutouts to a few of my favorites here, and I’ll split them up into Tampa and St. Pete to make your planning easier:

Tampa Breweries to Visit

• Barriehaus Beer Co. – My favorite brewery in the area! Barriehaus brews some of the best lagers around, and it’s a great spot to visit and hang out. Plus, they have a brewery cat named Tivvy (and a beer named after him!). Learn more about Barriehaus here!
  
  
• Common Dialect Beerworks – A newer brewery in Seminole Heights, Common Dialect has a great atmosphere both inside and out of the tap room. With a comfy patio and plenty of parking, it’s a great stop on your Tampa brewery tour. Plus, there’s a great beer hall and cafe across the street, The Independent. It’s also next door to a fun pet store! Learn more about Common Dialect here!
  
  
• Coppertail Brewing Co. – A Tampa staple, Coppertail has great beer, fantastic food, and the best steampunk craft beer vibes you could ask for. There’s lots of seating inside and out. We love going there for lunch or dinner with friends because you can get great food but also just hang out for a while and chat. Learn more about Coppertail Brewing Co. here!
  
  
• Cigar City Brewing – Like Coppertail, Cigar City is a Tampa classic. And, chances are, you’ve seen — or even tried — their beer throughout the East Coast. With a wide distribution operation, Cigar City does not skimp on the small craft brewery atmosphere in their Spruce Street tap room. With a diverse menu of great meals and snacks, plus a number of rotating taps, Cigar City is popular for a reason. Learn more about Cigar City here!

St. Pete Breweries to Visit

• Pinellas Ale Works (PAW) – PAW works hard to brew “doggone good beer” while hosting monthly charity events for rescue animals and maintaining one of the most dog-friendly breweries in the Tampa/St. Pete area. It has a comfy and casual smaller brewery vibe and is centrally located in downtown St. Pete (and down the street from a great indie book store!). Learn more about PAW here!
  
  
• St. Pete Brewing Co. – Inspired by the character of St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Pete Brewing Co. creates delicious craft beers to enjoy with the city’s waterfront views. The brewery itself is centrally located in downtown St. Pete, close to a variety of restaurants and other renowned craft breweries. It’s a great spot to stop for a drink while at one of the areas many craft fairs, for example, or as the first stop on a self-guided brewery tour! Learn more about St. Pete Brewing Co. here!
  
  
• 3 Daughters Brewing – another big name in the Tampa/St. Pete brewery scene, 3 Daughters has everything you could want when it comes to a brewery experience. With a robust tap list, consistently delicious menu, and community events, this is a perfect spot for the whole family. Learn more about 3 Daughters here!

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Check out my complete Tampa Brewery Guide here for more details on the breweries listed above, along with a handful of others you’ll want to add to your itinerary!

Theme Parks, Attractions, Museums, & More Top Things to Do Near Tampa

With Orlando just an hour and a half to the north, it can be easy to overlook the theme park attractions that Tampa has to offer. If you’re into roller coasters, you’ll definitely want to check out Busch Gardens. For a more laid back kind of attraction, the Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa at Lowry Park are great options!

Besides theme parks, there are a number of amazing museums and performing arts centers between Tampa and St. Pete. For reference, some of the museums below participate in a program to provide free museum tickets with EBT. There are lots of museums in the Tampa/St. Pete area, and lots of culture to enjoy! Here are a few you might want to check out:

• Chihuly Collection – A permanent art installation in St. Pete, this collection is housed in a building specifically designed for the display. Quite the experience!
  
  
• The Dalí Museum – A surrealist building for a surrealist artist, the Dalí Museum is a piece of art on its own. Housing an impressive collection of Salvador Dalí’s works, this museum is great for a day out. Plus, it’s conveniently located in St. Pete!
  
  
• Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg – The museum itself is a work of art, with gorgeous wall colors and intuitive displays throughout. I visited for a floral arts show earlier in the year and was stunned by the space!
  
  
• Straz Center for the Performing Arts – from Off Broadway productions to concerts of all genres, the Straz is the largest facility of its kind in our region and always has something fun going on.
  
  
• Tampa Bay History Center – A Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, this history center has exhibits covering 12,000 years of Florida history, including insights into Tampa’s own cigar industry!

Photo from my visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.

This post is part of my Tampa City Guide, which is full of the best of the best that Tampa Bay has to offer. Check out the full guide here for all of my favorite eateries, coffee shops, breweries, and more!

Thanks for reading! If you found this post useful and want to support my work with Cats & Coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful!

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*This post was originally published as part of my Tampa City Guide on May 29 2023. It was most recently updated on November 13, 2023.