From sports lounges to waterfront patios and polished cocktail bars, Tampa Bay has a bar for every mood. Here are the restaurants TAMPA Magazine readers voted Best Bar in our 2026 Best Restaurants List, along with the runners-up and the spots voters also loved.
Winners
Featured Winner
Top Shelf Sports Lounge
Top Shelf Sports Lounge brings an upscale, made-from-scratch menu to downtown Tampa, with a second location in Wesley Chapel. Order the wings, marinated overnight in mojo, garlic and oregano, or the Ybor eggrolls, a fried take on the Cuban sandwich.
- Allelo
- American Social
- Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill
Runners-Up
- Bar Terroir
- Boulon Brasserie
- CW’s Gin Joint
- The Blind Goat
Voters Also Loved
- Alter Ego
- M.Bird
- Rome + Fig
Tampa Bay’s Bar Scene
Downtown Tampa, Ybor City and South Howard Avenue anchor the area’s nightlife, while St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue and Beach Drive keep the bay’s other side lively. Game days pack the sports bars near the arena and stadium, and year-round mild weather means patios and rooftops stay busy well into the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bar in Tampa?
In TAMPA Magazine’s 2026 Best Restaurants List, readers named Allelo, American Social, Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill and Top Shelf Sports Lounge the winners for Best Bar. Bar Terroir, Boulon Brasserie, CW’s Gin Joint and The Blind Goat were the runners-up.
How were the winners chosen?
The results are based entirely on votes from TAMPA Magazine readers in our annual Best Restaurants contest. Advertising has no bearing on the results.
Where can I find the other categories?
See every category on our 2026 Best Restaurants List, or browse the newest results on our Best Restaurants List.
« Back to the full 2026 Best Restaurants List
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