We love a Downtown Tampa date night

How to have the perfect Downtown Tampa date night
Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre is a Tampanian institution from classic movie Sundays to community events and author talks. | Photo by @tampatheatre
By the end of this guide, you’ll be asking us to plan all your date nights. With its mix of local haunts and buzzy bars, Downtown Tampa is a fantastic option for taking someone new out on the town or impressing your life partner with a thoughtful + memorable night.

There’s a few different date avenues — all great — a relaxed night on the waterfront, a glammed up trip to see a show, or a foodie experience. We’ll let you decide.

Start here:
  • Grab a couple slices – or a whole box to go — at Eddie and Sam’s. It’s New York style pizza in Tampa + it will travel well to your next stop. 🍕
  • When you go to the ~theater~ it should be a moment. Nestled in a former federal courthouse, Bizou Brasserie delivers on old world ambiance. We suggest the kale salad or charred octopus. 🐙
  • The ultimate pick for Tampa’s experienced diners, edison: food + drink lab serves five course tasting menus that are fresh + will expand your palate.
What to do:
  • If you’re craving some casual conversation and people watching, a picnic on the Riverwalk may be the perfect option. Bring a cozy throw and chow down on the University of Tampa side of the river under the iconic palm trees. 🌴
  • Catch a show at the Straz Center or the Tampa Theatre. We recommend the Theatre’s classic film options on Sundays and some popcorn of course. 🎥
  • There’s a multitude of renowned museums to check out in the Downtown, from to Tampa Bay history at the Henry B. Plant Museum to shooting basics at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
End the night with:
  • Cap off the night with a classic — drinks at the historic Floridian Palace’s lobby bar or Sapphire Lounge.
  • Share a cup of Tampa Bay-inspired ice cream at Chill Bros Scoop Shop + find loads of vegan sugar rush options for your new boo at Bright Ice Scoop Shop. Both are conveniently located on Water Street. 🍨
  • Strawberry Moon cocktails or Don Julio Margaritas at M. Bird + the insane view of the Hillsborough River. 🍹
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Today
  • Castle & Key Bar Crawl | Mon., Sept. 26 | 6-9 p.m. | Armature Works | Free | Hit the trifecta — Castle & Key, M. Bird, and Stone’s Throw — in search of the perfect cocktail. 🍸
Tuesday
  • Kpeas Kids Enrichment Class | Tues., Sep 27 | 10-11 a.m. | Armature Works | $15 | Tote the little one over to Armature Works for a toddler enrichment class with Ms. Karen. 🧒
  • Yoga in the Park | Tues., Sep 27 | 7 p.m. | Lassing Park, 2042 Beach Dr. SE., St. Petersburg | $10 | Botanic Body Yoga leads you in a relaxing sunset practice at the scenic waterfront park. 🧘
  • Pop Up at The Studio @620 for Hispanic Heritage Month | Tues., Sep 27 | 7-8 p.m. | The Studio @620, 620 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | Free | Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by taking in performances from Latin performers + make sure to pre-register.
  • CIGARS N’ SOUL: Taco Tuesdays | Tues., Sep 27 | 7-10 p.m. | Red Star Live, 9847 E. Adamo Dr. | $5+ | Saxophonists and singers amp up taco Tuesday to a different plane. 🎷
Wednesday
  • Lightning pre-season games | Wed.- Thurs., Sept. 28-29 | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena | $12 | The Lightning warm up for the season with games against the Carolina Hurricanes + Florida Panthers. ⚡
  • Green Day’s American Idiot | Wed., Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. | American Stage, 163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg | $45 | Based on Green Day’s hit album, this award-winning musical follows two friends as they deal with a post 9/11 world.
Thursday
  • Luncheon with St. Pete Mayor, Ken Welch | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Big Catch at Salt Creek, 1500 2nd St. S, . St. Petersburg | $30+ | Join the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Pinellas County for Mahi sandwiches, shrimp, and some facetime with Mayor Ken Welch. 🦐
  • Best of the Bay Party | Thurs., Sept. 29 | Seminole Hard Rock Event Center | $55 | Sample fare from the restaurants, bars, and other Tampa Bay vendors won the local vote for Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay. 🎉
Plan Ahead

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 90º | Afternoon thunderstorms | 67% chance of rain
  • It’s time to get that hurricane kit prepped. Gov. Ron DeSantis placed Florida under a State of Emergency Saturday as Tropical Storm Ian approaches. Text TAMPAREADY to 888-777 to sign up for storm alerts, or TAMPALISTA to 888-777 for alerts in Spanish. Follow BayNews 9 for the latest storm updates. ⚠️
Sunrise + sunset
  • Rise: 7:20 a.m.
  • Set: 7:21 p.m.
Tide
Old Tampa Bay
  • High: 3:43 a.m. + 4:14 p.m.
  • Low: 9:49 a.m. + 10:13 p.m.
Clearwater Beach
  • High: 12:19 a.m. + 12:42 p.m.
  • Low: 6:24 a.m. + 6:49 p.m.
Announced
  • Hillsborough County government offices will be closed today as Tropical Storm Ian approaches. Hillsborough County Schools (many of which are used as shelters) will be shut down until Thursday. Three Pinellas County Schools will be closed today while the rest will be shuttered Tuesday + Wednesday. (Tampa Bay Times)
Civic
  • Applications are officially open for the St. Petersburg City Council seat recently abdicated by Lisa Wheeler Bowman. To qualify, applicants have to have lived in District 7 for the past year, submit financial disclosure forms, and drop off their application in person. The deadline to submit is Oct. 3. (WFLA)
Outdoors
  • The University of South Florida is looking at solutions for protecting mangroves + replenishing coral reefs thanks to a new $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Potential solutions could include using concrete in mangrove planting. 🪸 (WUSF News)
Arts
  • Shhhh. We don’t exactly know where, but Banksy is coming to Tampa Bay this fall. The unauthorized tribute show for the legendary street artist will be in town Nov. 18-20. Tickets to the 15 daily time slots will start at $22. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Eat
  • Boulon Brassiere has nabbed ex-Bern’s Steak House chef Hab Hamde. The new Water Street Tampa restaurant is projected to open in November, serving French bistro classics with a twist. Think steaks, seafood, and pastries — ooh la la. 🇫🇷 (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Giveaway
  • Flights, flights, flights, everybody. Frontier Airlines is giving away 500 flights to lucky Tampa Bay residents. Stop by Zydeco Brew Werks, 1902 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City, on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6-9 p.m. to enter to win + the first 100 guests get a free drink ticket. ✈️ (That’s So Tampa)
Legacy
  • A third generation owner of La Segunda Central Bakery died earlier this month. Raymond Clark Moré grew up around the beloved Ybor City bakery, first helping out his father, then learning the trade, and eventually took over with his cousin. Read more about Moré’s life, here. 🥖 (Tampa Bay Times)
Health
  • Did you know? Our allergy triggers change and evolve over time as we age. Read: You might have new allergies you don’t even know about — to find out your most updated allergy triggers, take Picnic’s easy, at-home allergy quiz. Pro tip: Picnic can prescribe customized allergy medicine for relief, too.*
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Events

We’ll cheers to that
People in traditional German outfits pose with their brews on the St. Pete Pier.
Tampa Bay residents are sure to pack the Pier for toasting, canoodling, and good fun at the 2nd annual Piertoberfest. | Photo by @stpetepier
It’s time to prost. 🍻

The inaugural Piertoberfest is this Saturday, Oct. 1.. Get that lederhosen pressed + wear some good walking clogs, the festivities last from 12-8 p.m.

Bring friends or fam to sample + toast 9 different brews including Hefe-Weizen (wheat beer), Munchner Lager (one of the most popular Munich lagers), Oktoberfest Marzen (the quintessental amber beer). Soak up that heavy beer with traditional German beer garden fare — currywurst, sauerkraut balls, scnitzel, German potato salad, and more.

Once you’re done feasting — or need a break — partake in the Bavarian games like stein hoisting or keg tossing or the costume competition.

General admission tickets are $20, and VIP tickets are $90 for access + a shaded seating area, collectible 1L beer stein, private restrooms, snacks, and drink tickets.
THE WRAP
Bailey Lefever in a park near a pond

Today’s issue was written by Bailey.

Editor’s pick: I think you should try the Riverwalk idea. And bonus pick, if you’re not a cheap pizza fan, consider stopping for sushi at Sakana for your picnic meal. Sushi travels extremely well.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We shuffle (lol) through some of the history behind St. Petersburg’s famous shuffleboard club, here.
Read More
Connect with us.

Editorial: Bailey LeFever, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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