Upscale in Tampa

Bern's Wine Room ★ 4.9

hyde-park · 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Bern's Wine Room runs the in-cellar dining experience at Bern's Steakhouse, with table service inside the 500,000-bottle, 6,500-label wine cellar.

Tanto ★ 4.8

seminole-heights · 5707 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

Tanto on North Florida Avenue runs a creative Latin-inflected cocktail program with mezcal, agave spirits and a small-plates menu of Latin American bites.

Bern's Bar Below 1208 ★ 4.8

hyde-park · 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Bar Below 1208 sits underneath Bern's Steakhouse and runs creative cocktails using the Bern's cellar inventory, with vintage vermouth and rare amari.

Rome and Fig Cocktail Bar ★ 4.7

north-hyde-park · 1701 N Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33607

Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs a cocktail bar alongside the Mediterranean restaurant, with seasonal cocktails and an aperitivo program.

Mandarin Heights ★ 4.7

seminole-heights · 5901 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

Mandarin Heights in Seminole Heights is a mid-century palm-beach-chic cocktail lounge with classic drink recipes and a forward-thinking program.

CW's Gin Joint ★ 4.7

downtown-tampa · 633 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

CW's Gin Joint downtown is a sultry speakeasy with live jazz and piano Thursday through Sunday, craft cocktails and a Roaring Twenties room.

Rooster and the Till ★ 4.6

seminole-heights · 6500 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

Rooster and the Till in Seminole Heights holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Ferrell Alvarez's modern American small plates with Asian and Italian accents.

Tip: Co-owner Chef Ferrell Alvarez is a 2017 James Beard Foundation Best Chef South semifinalist; the room is intimate, book through Resy.

Rooster and the Till ★ 4.6

seminole-heights · 6500 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

Rooster and the Till in Seminole Heights holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Ferrell Alvarez's modern American small plates with Asian and Italian accents.

Tip: Intimate dining room; book through Resy and ask for the chef's counter if available.

Jekyll ★ 4.6

hyde-park · 1614 W Snow Cir, Tampa, FL 33606

Jekyll in Hyde Park Village runs rare vintage spirits and hand-crafted molecular cocktails, with smoke domes, dehydrated garnishes and a serious whiskey list.

The Hub Bar ★ 4.6

downtown-tampa · 719 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

The Hub on North Franklin downtown has run a dive bar since the 1940s, known for the strongest cocktail pours in Tampa and a no-frills room.

Edison Food and Drink Lab ★ 4.6

hyde-park · 912 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606

Edison Food and Drink Lab on Kennedy is Chef Jeannie Pierola's five-time James Beard semifinalist restaurant with innovative cocktails and bar service.

Cru Cellars Palma Ceia ★ 4.6

palma-ceia · 2506 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33629

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.

Columbia Restaurant ★ 4.5

ybor-city · 2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

The Columbia Restaurant on East Seventh Avenue has plated 1905 Salad and Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City since 1905 and is Florida's oldest restaurant.

Tip: Book the flamenco performance nights Monday through Saturday; the restaurant spans an entire city block with 15 dining rooms.

Noble Rice ★ 4.5

water-street · 615 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Noble Rice at Sparkman Wharf is the minimalist Japanese sushi room flying bluefin and uni from Toyosu weekly, recognized in the Michelin Guide.

Tip: Reservations open on the 15th of each month for the following month through Tock; the chef's counter books out first.

Steelbach Bourbon Bar ★ 4.5

tampa-heights · 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Steelbach at Armature Works runs a bourbon-forward Southern cocktail bar with 200-plus whiskeys, a roof patio over the Hillsborough River and small Southern.

Kettle Of Fish ★ 4.5

seminole-heights · 907 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

Kettle of Fish downtown runs a dive-style cocktail bar with creative drinks, a slim seating room and a strong late-night crowd from the Franklin Street strip.

Palihouse Lobby Bar ★ 4.5

hyde-park · 601 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Palihouse Hyde Park's lobby bar runs creative cocktails in a hotel lounge setting, with a velvet-banquette room and a chosen whiskey program.

Ulele ★ 4.4

tampa-heights · 1810 N Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Ulele on the Tampa Riverwalk in Tampa Heights cooks native-inspired Floridian fish, alligator and pompano over a 10-foot open barbacoa grill.

Tip: The 1903 water-works building sits on the Riverwalk; ask for a riverside table and walk to Armature Works after dinner.

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery ★ 4.4

water-street · 1001 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Boulon Brasserie at Water Street in Tampa serves modern French classics, a working in-house bakery and a brunch menu that lands among the city's best.

Tip: Pastry chef Summer Bailey runs the bakery counter from 7am for grab-and-go croissants, kouign-amann and pain au chocolat.

Rome and Fig ★ 4.4

north-hyde-park · 1701 N Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33607

Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs Mediterranean small plates, a chosen wine list and a creative cocktail bar in a sleek Howard Avenue room.

Tip: Bar seats first-come; the wine room books for special occasions.

Mise en Place ★ 4.4

downtown-tampa · 442 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606

Mise en Place across from Oxford Exchange has run modern American since 1986 under chef-owner Marty Blitz, with a tasting-style chef's menu and famous Sunday.

Tip: Marty Blitz has been a James Beard semifinalist multiple times; the menu changes monthly.

Agave Social Tampa ★ 4.4

ybor-city · 1500 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Agave Social in Ybor runs Tampa's deepest tequila and mezcal collection, with smoky cocktails, Mexican small plates and a serious agave-flight program.

Hotel Bar ★ 4.4

downtown-tampa · 211 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602

Hotel Bar in downtown's Floridan Palace runs creative classic cocktails in a 1926 hotel room, with a vintage lobby and an Art Deco feel. Open year-round.

Morgan's Cove ★ 4.4

downtown-tampa · 210 N Morgan St, Tampa, FL 33602

Morgan's Cove is a pirate-themed speakeasy downtown by Don the Beachcomber, sister to Yeoman's Pub next door with tiki cocktails behind a hidden door.

The Independent Bar and Cafe ★ 4.4

seminole-heights · 5016 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603

The Independent in South Seminole Heights pairs a deep Belgian and Florida craft beer list with European cafe fare and live music in a longtime neighborhood.

Ybor City Society Wine Bar ★ 4.4

ybor-city · 1908 N 15th St, Tampa, FL 33605

Ybor City Society Wine Bar runs an Old World focused wine list with Spanish, Italian and French heavy by-the-glass options in a quiet Ybor side street.

Bar Ten and Cheese Please ★ 4.4

seminole-heights · 5110 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603

Bar Ten and Cheese Please in Seminole Heights pours natural wines, runs cheese boards, and pairs the two in a tight Florida Avenue room. Open year-round.

Cru Cellars Westshore Marina ★ 4.4

downtown-tampa · 5232 Bridge St, Tampa, FL 33611

Cru Cellars at Westshore Marina is the newest of three Cru locations, with the same 300-label list, brunch service and a marina-view patio in South Tampa.

Wine on Water ★ 4.4

channel-district · 1057 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Wine on Water is the Channel District's tiny wine and cocktail bar on Water Street, with a tight by-the-glass list and tinned-fish boards nightly.

The Pearl ★ 4.3

water-street · 823 Water St Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33602

The Pearl on Water Street in Tampa is Cameron Mitchell's downtown gastropub, an oyster room and tavern with a pie-only dessert menu by an in-house pastry.

Tip: Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10am; the bar takes walk-ins when the dining room is fully booked.

Jotoro ★ 4.3

water-street · 615 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Jotoro at Sparkman Wharf is Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori's modern Mexican kitchen, with tableside guacamole, birria tacos and a deep mezcal list.

Tip: Same kitchen team also runs Jodog Craft Hot Dogs across the wharf for a casual second stop.

Forbici Modern Italian ★ 4.3

hyde-park · 1633 W Snow Cir, Tampa, FL 33606

Forbici in Hyde Park Village runs modern Italian from a Roman-pizza-cut-with-scissors angle, with handmade pasta and a bistecca alla fiorentina that serves.

Tip: Hyde Park Village location with a patio facing Village Circle; weekday happy hour 4 to 6pm.

Union New American ★ 4.3

downtown-tampa · 1111 N West Shore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607

Union New American in Westshore runs a modern American chophouse menu with dry-aged steaks, big seasonal salads and a serious bourbon list. Open.

Tip: Patio seating overlooks the Westshore corridor; the bar runs a deep bourbon and whiskey program.

Forbici Modern Italian ★ 4.3

hyde-park · 1633 W Snow Cir, Tampa, FL 33606

Forbici in Hyde Park Village runs modern Italian from a Roman pizza al taglio angle, with handmade pasta and a bistecca alla fiorentina that serves two.

Tip: Patio facing Village Circle; weekday happy hour 4 to 6pm at the bar.

Irish 31 Pub Hyde Park ★ 4.3

hyde-park · 1611 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Irish 31 on Swann Avenue runs a classic Irish pub with proper Guinness pours, traditional pub food and the largest Irish whiskey list in the Tampa Bay area.

The Bricks ★ 4.3

ybor-city · 1327 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

The Bricks on East Seventh runs a daytime cafe by morning and a cocktail bar by night, with the same Ybor brick-walled room across the day. Open.

Wine and Wood Hyde Park ★ 4.3

hyde-park · 614 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Wine and Wood pairs more than 100 wines and a wine-on-tap program with wood-fired pizza and seasonal small plates in a brick-walled SoHo room.

Barcelona Wine Bar ★ 4.3

bayshore · 2907 W Bay to Bay Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

Barcelona Wine Bar on Bay to Bay pours Spanish, Portuguese and Mediterranean wines by the glass alongside an ever-changing seasonal tapas menu.

La Setima Club ★ 4.3

ybor-city · 1724 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

La Setima Club is Tampa's natural wine bar in a stylized 1,200 square-foot Ybor lounge with mid-century salvaged art and a Louisiana-inspired vegan kitchen.