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Photograph: Melissa SantellRome + Fig Bistro

The 15 best restaurants in Tampa

From Native American fusion to iconic Cuban sandwiches and Southern BBQ, the best restaurants in Tampa are heating up.

Megan duBois
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Megan duBois
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This Florida city is well-known for its nearby beaches and championship-winning sports teams, but let's not forget its dining scene: the best restaurants in Tampa are not to be missed and often right around the corner on rooftops and in some of the best hotels in the city. Basically, right in plain sight.

Some of Tampa’s most ambitious new restaurants have popped up around the city’s revitalized areas, meaning you can check off some of Tampa’s top attractions while eating top-notch food. You’ll find restaurants along the buzzing 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk or even tucked inside the Heights Public Market (a reimagined 1901 streetcar warehouse), just for starters. Ranging in style from authentic Cuban food in Tampa’s historic Ybor City (this is the birthplace of the iconic Cuban sandwich, after all) to sweet and smoky barbecue, there’s no shortage of flavor here. Of course, with Florida's first Michelin Guide now live, there are some exceptional restaurants to check out on that list too.  Have a few days to explore? These are the best places to eat in Tampa.

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Best restaurants in Tampa

Ulele, an award-winning restaurant along the Tampa Riverwalk, is known for its Native American and Florida fusion. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a barbacoa grill that cooks everything from burgers to charred oysters. For a real taste of Florida, get the alligator hush puppies—the dish combines fresh alligator meat, country ham, corn, and jalapeño into one sweet, spicy, and savory bite.

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On Swann is known for its upscale American cuisine with a hint of Italian flair. With a seasonally rotating menu, guests never know what specials and new dishes may be available, though mainstays like the steak frites and pimento cheeseburger are always crowd pleasers. If you're going with friends, order one of the sharable boards, which comes with meat, cheese, or both, along with all of the accouterments. Cocktails here are also a special affair with a lengthy menu of craft creations, and non-alcoholic craft soda. 

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Oak & Ola is an American restaurant where guests can get just about anything their hearts (and stomachs) desire, from pizza and steaks to salads and fresh fish. The restaurant's rooftop terrace is a fun spot to hang out with friends and enjoy a craft cocktail before sitting down inside for a decadent meal. If you're into sharing, consider ordering a few rounds of appetizers, including the Mediterranean-inspired mezze board which comes with a variety of snacky options like roasted eggplant dip and goat cheese smears, or the pommes frites with garlic aioli. 

Rooster & The Till won the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand award, making it a destination worth checking out in Tampa. The tapas-style restaurant is known for its creative small plates and a rotating menu of options. Crispy brussels sprouts and roasted cauliflower are fan favorites, but other scrumptious options include ginger tofu dumplings and scallop crudo. One of the best things about this restaurant is that there are multiple options for those who partake in gluten-free and vegan diets, allowing everyone to enjoy this casual, yet exciting dining destination. 

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One of the most iconic restaurants in Tampa is Bern's Steak House, which has been welcoming guests since 1956. The steak house is known for its upscale feel where a dress code of at least business casual is enforced. The meal is an elevated affair with a wide selection of fresh seafood, like shrimp and oysters on the half shell to start, followed by caviar. The star of the show is the steaks, each of which has been hand-selected and dry-aged in-house for up to eight weeks. 

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The Deviled Pig serves up sweet and smoky BBQ in a range of surprising ways—even as a pizza topping—but there’s one sandwich that locals can't seem to get enough of. Called the Pitmaster Queban, it’s a barbecue twist on Tampa’s iconic Cuban sandwich topped with brisket, pulled pork, and house-made bologna served with mustard sauce, Swiss cheese, and Deviled Pig pickles.

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The Columbia Restaurant, located in Ybor City, has been around since 1905 (in fact, it’s Florida’s oldest restaurant). Once a local cafe that mainly served cigar workers back in Ybor City’s industrious heyday, it’s now one of the largest Spanish restaurants in the world. Its sangria pitchers are legendary, and don’t leave without ordering the restaurant’s signature 1905 salad—it’s been made the same way for over a century by tossing iceberg lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, olives, tomato, Romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and a house-made garlic dressing all together table-side.

Rome + Fig, located in the North Hyde Park neighborhood, serves a variety of globally inspired dishes. A perfect example, and certainly one of their most popular appetizers, is a Southern twist on the classic Italian Caprese salad that swaps red tomatoes for fried green tomatoes (if you end up ordering it twice, we won’t judge). Expect similar riffs throughout the menu with entree staples like scallops and filet mignon that change based on seasonal ingredients.

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At St. Pete Beach, just a short drive from downtown Tampa, make your way to Spinners Rooftop Grille. Here, everyone gets a window seat: the 12th-floor restaurant is a bit of a showstopper with 360-degree ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows that surround the space. Looking for a standout dish? Order the fresh catch ceviche, which features the best fish the chef can get their hands on that day plus fresh local lemons, shaved jalapeños, leche de tigre, and crispy plantains.

Goody Goody Burgers, in Hyde Park Village, is a beloved local diner that serves just about everything you can imagine. Known for its scrumptious breakfasts with all the classics, it's also a popular burger joint (as its name suggests). Keen to order the burger that put this place on the map? Order the “Pox,” a burger with pickles, onions, and secret sauce—yep, it's as simple as that.

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Oxford Exchange is part shop, part bookstore, part restaurant, and totally magical. For an experience that’ll feel quintessentially English, book the Sunday brunch—the experience includes tea, sandwiches, scones, and desserts served in a traditional British manor. And if you’re a breakfast fanatic, you’re in luck: breakfast is served all day each and every weekday, which means you can indulge in one of their massive cinnamon rolls (served warm, and loaded with cream cheese glaze and fresh strawberries) even at 4:30pm.

Hands down, this casual spot serves some of the best sushi in the Tampa area. The sushi counter is located inside the Heights Public Market at Armature Works, a former streetcar warehouse built in 1910 that was reimagined as a hip mixed-use venue (you’ll find plenty of restaurants alongside Zukku if you want to make your visit a food crawl). Order the lobster volcano roll, a spicy combo of tuna, asparagus, crab mix, and avocado with a whole tempura fried lobster tail—it’s indulgent, but worth every bite. If you’re feeling creative you can also make your own poke bowl or sushi burrito with your choice of toppings and fillings.

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Located within the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa, treat yourself to dinner at Council Oak Steaks and Seafood. The luxe restaurant’s steaks are dry-aged on-site in rooms outfitted with pink Himalayan salt walls—sounds like a spa for precious steaks, if you ask us—and if that’s not enough ritz, the restaurant will take your meal over the top with table-side caviar service. You’ll end up spending the big bucks here, so reserve this place for a big night out.

Noble Crust, which has three locations in Tampa and the St. Pete area, gives traditional Italian dining a southern twist. The seasonal menu reflects the simplicity of Italian cuisine while highlighting local ingredients, serving anything from fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese to traditional ricotta gnocchi. The wood-fired pizzas are also a crowd pleaser—order their Margherita 2.0 and you’ll get a next-level pie with toppings like Calabrian chili, fresh mozzarella, whipped ricotta, avocado, and more.

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The Safety Harbor neighborhood is home to a unique prohibition-themed restaurant called Gigglewaters Social Club and Screening Room. The casual eatery serves everything from burgers to loaded macaroni and cheese, but the real star of the show is the hidden movie theater in the back of the restaurant. Here you can sit and watch a classic or recently released film while you munch on your meal and sip a cocktail. Be sure to make friends with the bartenders who can whip you up a perfect bourbon cocktail.

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