FloridaBeachBar | Tampa Saint Pete Area

The Tampa area covers beach bar cities from Hudson, north of Tampa, to Tampa Bay to the south of the city. Included in this area are Florida beach bar hot spots; Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. These two beach locations are as different as night and day. Clearwater is home to 2 of Florida Beach Bar’s 2011 TOP 10 beach bars. St. Pete Beach is home to Jimmy B’s voted Florida Beach Bar’s BEST for 2011.

At the northern most point of this area, beach bars are far and few between. Hudson and Port Richey are both small towns with entirely different personalities. Hudson is a quaint little beach town with a history dating back to before its founding in 1878. At one point it was home to pirates who used coves and bayous to cover up their sinister activity. The new Hudson beach waterfront is the focal point of the town and it is home to Sam’s on the Beach. Sam’s features a grass covered tiki bar that sits right by the water. From there you can view what must be the longest string of channel markers you will ever see.

Port Richey is a small town of about 2,000 people and is located on the Pithlachascotee River (Cottee River, for short). The name of the river seems like a good word to use for a sobriety test. Singer Johnny Cash owned a home along the Pithlachascotee River from 1979 until 2002.

The Crab Shack, located in Port Ritchie is an eclectic collection of Florida Americana. A large tree grows through the deck and the top of the tiki hut. It is a Florida beach bar and a classic. Live cats and parrots, not parrot heads, greet you at the door.

Just a bit northwest of Tampa is Tarpon Springs. This is a Greek fishing village and home of the famous sponge docks and the world's finest sponges. The first Greek immigrants arrived in Tarpon Springs, named for the abundant tarpon seen jumping from the waters, during the 1880s. These immigrants were hired to work as divers in the growing sponge industry. This area has two great Florida beach bars, Captain Jack's Tiki Bar and Miss Vicki's. The only sponges at these bars are people trying to get you to buy them a drink. (Sorry, just couldn't pass on that joke).

Captain Jack's is a large, newly renovated Florida tiki bar. Miss Vicki's is well off the beaten path in the back of a marina and actually located in Holiday. It is a great place and our web page can help you find it. It's places like this, hidden away in the corners of a Florida town, that make visiting beach bars around the state a neat experience.

Tampa is a great city with plenty of entertainment including lots of bars. While Tampa is on the water, it is not on the beach. For that you will need to travel west to Clearwater Beach or St. Pete Beach. There are, however, several bars on the water that fit the criteria for a Florida Beach Bar. The Hula Bay Club and Duke's Retired Surfers Island Bar is one of them.

Located on Old Tampa Bay, the Hula Bay Club and Duke's Retired Surfers Island Bar has a name that alone qualifies this place as a Florida beach bar. It is named after Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing. As Hula Bay says, it is “a combination of Hang Ten and Take Five”. It is on the water and has boat access. There is music nearly every day of the week.

Clearwater Beach is an old Florida beach town located just west of Tampa. It has recently gone through a transformation that has done away with some of the older bars, t-shirt shops, and hotels. In their place are updated or renovated beach bars and the brand new Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. All the new makes Clearwater Beach a cleaner and nicer place to visit. The renovation was done in way that still makes Clearwater Beach a familiar place for long time visitors. Clearwater Beach is always recognizable in photos by the rows and rows of bright blue beach umbrellas.

Clearwater Beach has been a long time favorite of spring breakers. It is one of the top spring break spots on the west coast barrier islands. With plenty of beach and beach bars Clearwater Beach has all the ingredients that breakers need to have a good time. The rest of the year Clearwater Beach is a playground for those of us whose college days are well astern. It’s a place where season starts early in the year and continues through the summer. That means many of the beach bars offer live bands and entertainment nearly year round.

The north end public beach has two great Florida beach bars, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill and Palm Pavilion, one on each corner of the public parking lot. Both are situated on the beach, must visits and draw large crowds of beachgoers. Frenchy’s is familiar name to locals and return visitors with several locations in Clearwater Beach. The Rockaway Grill is right on the beach and was voted a 2011 Top 10 Florida Beach Bar.

At the other end of the island is Shephard’s Beach Resort, home to one of the best beach bars anywhere. It too was voted a 2011 Top 10 Florida Beach Bar. Shephard’s is a on a beach, although its beach is smaller than the otherwise expansive Clearwater Beach. There are several bars, a bandstand that jets out over the water and live music just about every day of the week, day and night. Shephard’s is always fun, and there is always a crowd. If you love Florida Beach Bars, this is a must visit.

Located between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach is quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village called John’s Pass, Pinellas County's #1 tourist attraction. The village is located on the inlet to Boca Ciega Bay. There you will find over one hundred merchants offering everything from unique retail shopping to dolphin watching and shelling tours. And, of course, you will find beach bars like the Bamboo Beach Bar located at the north end of the parking lot.

The Hut Bar and Grill, part of Sculley's restaurant, looks like a Hawaiian tiki hut inside. It has a second story stage over a 70 foot waterfront bar that features music nearly every day of the week and twice on weekends. A dock jets out from the bar to a deck covered with umbrella sheltered tables. The deck sits over the water and from there you can listen to live music, watch the boats go by, and enjoy a unique beach bar experience.

On the south side of the inlet is Gators Cafe and Saloon, a local favorite that pays homage to the University of Florida Gators. Technically this beach bar is on Treasure Island but just a stone skip across the inlet from John’s Pass. If you are a Florida Gators fan, you have to visit this bar.

The City of St. Pete Beach is located just southwest of Tampa and south of Clearwater Beach. It incorporates the towns of Pass-a-Grille, Belle Vista and St. Pete Beach. St. Pete Beach is classic old Florida with visitors ranging from snowbirds to spring breakers. From Treasure Island to the north to Pass-A-Grille at the southernmost tip, St. Pete Beach has more beach bars than any other single location in Florida. Many are right on the beach and many are connected with a hotel or motel.

St. Pete is an older beach with a young attitude. The crowds are a mixture of baby boomers and young adults with a common goal, party on the beach. There are even some great smaller Florida beach bars at the local hotels that have music and are a good place to go when you want to get away from the larger crowds.

With 4.5 miles of beach, you’ll probably not be walking from bar to bar. Parking can be a challenge. But if you are looking for place that has more beach bars than you can visit in day, this is it. St. Pete Beach is also home to Jimmy B's Beach Bar, voted Florida’s Best Beach Bar, 2011, by FloridaBeachBar.com’s web site visitors.

Jimmy B's Beach Bar is part of the Beachcomber Hotel on St. Pete Beach and is more than worthy of its Number 1 status. It has a large deck, two bars, music twice daily every day, and is right on the beach. Live music is provided by some great local bands. At sunset, Jimmy B’s and guests toast the end of the day, or beginning of the evening, with FREE sunset shooters. It is all that you would expect from the top Florida beach bar.

On Treasure Island is Caddy's on the Beach, and it is a “toes in the sand”, right on the beach bar. The crowd here is typically young and ready to party. There is music daily, twice a day. Be part of the action on the lower level or enjoy the views and watch the action from the upper deck. The upper deck is reserved for the over 21 crowd. Even with its own parking lot, this bar’s popularity makes parking a challenge. But once you are there, you will have all the fun that a beach bar can offer.

Just across the street is Ka’Tiki Sunset Beach, best described as local yet rustic bar that is one of those secrets you will be glad you uncovered. Ka’Tiki is a laid back tiki bar just across the street from the beach and a favorite of locals. It is a great example of the diversity you’ll find with St. Pete beach bars.

Of the dozens of beach bars on St. Pete Beach, some are on the beach and others are on the street across from the beach. One such on-the-street beach bar, and another popular local favorite, is Ricky T's Bar and Grille. Located on Gulf Blvd. it bills itself as Treasure Island's most popular bar and restaurant. The outdoor patio is usually packed day and night with music every day of the week.

Pass-a-Grille is the southernmost point of St. Pete Beach and the location of The Hurricane located right across the street from the beach. From the street it looks more like an old two story home than a beach bar. Walk through the bottom floor restaurant and head upstairs to get to roof top bar. This cozy little bar has a great view of the sunset and music nightly. It’s the perfect place to start or finish a tour of St. Pete Beach bars.

Tampa Saint Pete and the Surrounding Area