South Tampa residential pocket along MacDill Avenue. Cru Cellars wine bar since 2005, Datz comfort-food gastropub, Streetlight Taco on Henderson.
Streetlight Taco on Henderson Boulevard in South Tampa is Chef Michael Brannock's Bib Gourmand taqueria, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house for its tacos.
Signature: Nixtamalized corn tacos, Esquites, Carne asada tostada
Order: Three tacos on house-nixtamalized corn tortillas plus a side of esquites and the chile de arbol salsa.
Tip: Brannock travels through Mexico annually for menu R&D; the open kitchen runs counter service plus a small bar for walk-ins.
Datz in South Tampa is the city's bacon-hoarding comfort-food gastropub, open since 2009 for big-plate brunch and gut-busting comfort dinners.
Signature: Biscuits and Crazy, Nashville chicken doughnut, Eggs Barbacoa
Order: Biscuits and Crazy at brunch with buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, two eggs, bacon and three potato preparations.
Tip: Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am until 3pm fills the patio; Sunday dinner runs late.
Wright's Gourmet House on Dale Mabry Highway has run a Tampa sandwich and bakery counter since 1963, famous for Cuban sandwiches and the legendary rum cake.
Signature: Cuban sandwich, Roast beef sandwich, Rum cake
Order: The Cuban sandwich pressed crisp and a slice of the famous rum cake to take home.
Tip: The Casper family bought Wright's from the founders in 2024 to keep the recipes in Tampa hands; cash and card both work.
Wright's Gourmet House on South Dale Mabry has built Tampa's classic Cuban and roast-beef sandwiches plus the famous rum cake since 1963. A Tampa table.
Order: Cuban sandwich pressed and a slice of the rum cake to take home.
Tip: Pete and Marjorie Wright started the shop on April 20, 1963; the Casper family bought it in 2024 to keep it Tampa-owned.
Streetlight Taco on Henderson Boulevard is Chef Michael Brannock's Bib Gourmand taqueria, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house for every tortilla.
Order: Three tacos on house-nixtamalized tortillas and a side of esquites.
Tip: Counter service with a small bar; arrive before 7pm to avoid the queue.
Datz in South Tampa is Tampa's bacon-hoarding comfort-food gastropub since 2009, with the city's biggest brunch and a 100-tap craft beer wall.
Order: Biscuits and Crazy at brunch or the Cheesy Todd burger at dinner.
Tip: Brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 3pm; the patio fills first.
Buddy Brew's Bay to Bay store on Henderson Boulevard in South Tampa runs the most relaxed of the Buddy Brew locations, with a quiet work-friendly room.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over
Pane Rustica in South Tampa is a bakery, cafe and Italian dinner spot from the Rosen-Coxe family, with rustic Italian breads, ciabattas and seasonal pastries.
Worth the queue: Olive sourdough boule
Wright's Gourmet House has run a Tampa bakery and deli since 1963, with hundreds of thousands of rum cakes sold, plus seasonal pies and cakes.
Worth the queue: Rum cake
Cru Cellars on MacDill Avenue has been Tampa's most-awarded wine bar for over four years, with a secluded brunch garden and 50+ wines by the glass.
Signature pour: Bordeaux Rive Gauche flight
Wine focus: Boutique world wines by the glass
Food: Charcuterie and small plates
Wright's Gourmet House on Dale Mabry has pressed Cuban sandwiches since 1963, with the Genoa salami included and a steady Tampa lunch counter line.
Try: Tampa-style Cuban sandwich
Streetlight Taco's South Tampa counter serves Michelin Bib Gourmand tacos on house-nixtamalized heirloom-corn tortillas, with rotating salsas.
Try: Heirloom-corn tacos
Datz Eats food truck runs across Tampa events with the bacon mac and cheese, Cheesy Todd burger sliders and big-plate American comfort food.
Try: Bacon mac and cheese
Datz in South Tampa is Tampa's biggest brunch destination, with Biscuits and Crazy, Nashville Chicken Doughnut, Eggs Barbacoa and the Bacon Bloody Mary.
Order: Biscuits and Crazy: buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, two eggs, bacon, three potato types.
Cru Cellars on MacDill runs weekend brunch in a secluded wine garden, with charcuterie boards, brunch small plates and 50+ wines by the glass.
Order: Charcuterie brunch board with an orange wine flight.
Datz on MacDill Avenue runs comfort food and cocktails until midnight Friday and Saturday, with a 100-tap craft beer wall and the Cheesy Todd burger.
Try: Cheesy Todd burger