TBAYtoday City Guide Play Banner

Presented by  

Let’s make date night unique in Tampa Bay

Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date in the Tampa Bay area.

Pia Trattoria's patio is bathed in sunlight with tables around the area. There is a wooden covering and some open air sating with wooden tables + chairs and red and white table cloths.

Grab a cocktail, lemonade, and a romantic table for two on Pia’s Trattoria’s patio.

Photo by TBAYtoday

Table of Contents

Kids, this is the story of how I met your mother, and it was all thanks to TBAYtoday.

Ok, so maybe that’s not exactly how the 2000s sitcom went, but if Ted Mosby had consulted us for date night ideas, we could’ve shaved the show down to two seasons (and saved his kids a lot of time).

Regardless of whether you’ve met “the one” or are hoping to impress someone new, we’ve got 50+ local date night ideas that are legen — wait for it — dary.

A hand holds chopsticks holding a sushi roll. There is a champagne flute with orange liquid behind, and other food on a wooden table. Greenery is blurry in the background and provides a tropical flair.

Meat Market’s Hyde Park Village patio is a buzzy spot to be.

For the ones who want a night out on the town

A hand holds up a cup of ice cream in front of a building with the sign "Chill Bros. Ice Cream" with a line out the door of people.

Get your ice cream fix in a cup, cone, or to-go pint at Chill Bros.

If the way to their heart is through their stomach

  • Stop by Lona at Tampa Marriott Water Street for an authentic Mexican meal. We’re eyeing the Red Snapper Aguachile and Skirt Steak Fajitas.
  • Impress your date with high tea at The Vinoy. The historic hotel’s History and High Tea experience combines a one-hour walking tour with Earl Grey tea and in-house sweet treats from the pastry team.
  • Order piping hot ciabatta loaves, chicken piccata, and sour orange pie on the romantic patio at Pia’s Trattoria.
  • Stop by for Sunday brunch at Jackson’s on Harbour Island. There are chefs on hand to make you personalized pasta and omelets, fresh sushi, and a host of other treats.
  • Roam tons of local food vendors at Armature Works + take your spoils to the lawn’s Adirondack chairs.
  • Sample everything from barbecue to peanut butter banana pudding at food truck lot St. Pete Social.
  • Wow your date at one of our Michelin Star restaurants like Lilac at the Tampa EDITION, whose four-course prix-fixe dinner menu is the stuff of local legend, or Rocca, whose Italian cuisine blends traditional flavors with modern twists.
  • Try the Eggs In Purgatory or the Dutch Baby Pancake from The Market at EDITION.
  • Channel old-school Chicago vibes with a meal at Historic Kenwood’s Beau & Mo’s Italian Steakhouse.
  • Tuck into local fare in the open-kitchen dining room at On Swann.
  • Transport straight to Paris with steak tartare or duck confit at Boulon Brasserie.
A yellow pirate water taxi moves along a calm Hillsborough River. There are buildings in the background and a cloudless blue sky above.

Take in the sunset and Tampa skyline on a Pirate Water Taxi cruise.

If you love the great outdoors

  • Pack a picnic basket (pun intended) and a blanket to watch the sunset over Tampa Bay from your perch at Picnic Island.
  • Watch mermaids dance + manatees sway at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
  • Sail down the Hillsborough River on a Pirate Water Taxi. Pro tip: The taxi drops you back off in downtown so you can grab dinner or drinks if everything is going smoothly. A stroll along the Tampa Riverwalk is also an option.
  • Run, bike, play a little volleyball, or chill out in a hammock with your date at the waterfront North Shore Park.
  • Grab a cooler, beach chairs, and sunscreen for a day at the beach. Want something quiet? We recommend Honeymoon Island State Park. Something more fun? Treasure Island could be for you.
  • Or get your doggo’s paws sandy. Davis Islands Dog Beach offers off-leash fun for you + Fido.
  • Look for birds and other wildlife while hiking at the tree-laden Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.
  • If you want to explore the waterfront on your own, rent a kayak or SUP and explore Hillsborough Bay or the Hillsborough River.
The sun is setting at Sunset Beach. The sky is a mix of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red and there are two people walking a dog just in front of the ocean.

There’s worse places for a romantic stroll.

Photo by TBAYtoday

For the ones who like to play games (just not with your heart)

Dairy Joy's walk-up window. There is pink and white coloring all over, including at umbrellas in the background, an awning, and on the walls surrounding the building. People are sat on benches in the background and there is a blue partially cloudy sky ahead.

City Editor Bailey reccomends ordering a scoop of coffee ice cream (it comes with peanut butter cups).

Photo by TBAYtoday

If you want an “old fashioned”-style date

  • Catch a classic flick or indie release at the opulent Tampa Theatre.
  • Here’s one for fans of “The Bear.” Mel’s Hot Dogs packs in 50+ years of flavor into its Chicago-style dogs + sandwiches.
  • Sip on a Manhattan or Hollywood Land cocktail at The Dan Tampa, located on the ground floor of the historic Hotel Flor Tampa.
  • Swoon your date with a visit to the romantic + delicious Harry Waugh Dessert Room at the historic Bern’s Steak House.
  • Head to Bo’s Ice Cream in Seminole Heights for a sweet treat. The spot’s been family-owned since it opened in 1954.
  • Bowl to your heart’s content at the Wes Anderson-esque Ten Pin Lanes.
  • The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theater offers old-timey charm, and showed its first flick back in 1952. And it’s authentically cash-only.
  • Last but certainly not least, we’ve got to mention The Columbia Restaurant. Florida’s oldest eatery has 17 rooms, enough space for 1,700+ diners, and legendary Spanish-Cuban cuisine in timeless surroundings.

If you wanna show off by knowing all the hottest events in town

  • Shameless plug: Sign up for our free daily newsletter, where we call out our top picks of things to do around town. Your date doesn’t have to know we’re behind it; you can take all the credit.
  • Stay up-to-date on the coolest local events around the Tampa Bay Area with our events page.

What did we miss? If you know a perfect date spot that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction using this survey.


City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.

Check out our other Guides
Dining in Tampa and St. Pete is always a fresh experience with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Check out these 16 hiking trails catered to all skill levels in and around Tampa + St. Pete for outdoor adventures.
From Hyde Park to Clearwater, we’re giving you all the pertinent details about some of the elementary, middle, and high schools in Tampa Bay.
Dig into delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian fare in every corner of the Tampa Bay area.
Here’s where to grab a slice at 15+ places in Tampa Bay.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
Tell us you’re from Tampa Bay without telling us you’re from Tampa Bay.
Ready for your lunch break? Check out these 15 lunches, from Cuban sammies to broiled burgers.
How well do you know Tampa Bay, FL? We’re bringing you some fun facts about the city and its history. If you’re a trivia master (or local enthusiast), give this a try.
Check out this list of local spots to host your special event.
TBAYtoday Phone
Good news for Tampa Bay.
Get the best local news & events sent to your inbox each morning, for free.