Like peanut butter and jelly or the Lightning and winning, dinner and a show is a classic combination. Here are several spots within walking distance of Amalie Arena to get dinner before a hockey game, concert or live show.
Harbour Island
American Social
601 S. Harbour Island Blvd. | americansocialbar.com
Visit this sports bar on Harbour Island for upscale, yet casual American dining, a diverse craft beer and cocktail menu and large resort-style waterfront patios with Downtown Tampa views. Live entertainment and music is the specialty at American Social and there are many daily specials, including burger Monday, taco Tuesday, social hour and late night specials.
Café Dufrain
707 Harbour Post Drive | cafedufrain.com
An awarding-winning, family owned and operated restaurant right on the Harbour Island waterfront, Café Dufrain offers a diverse palette of wine and craft beer selections, plus seasonal New American cuisine. Patrons can indulge in a full contemporary bar (with happy hour daily from 3 to 7 p.m.) as they spend an afternoon or evening at this spot just over the bridge from Amalie Arena.
Jackson’s Bistro
601 S. Harbour Island Blvd. | jacksonsbistro.com
This independently owned waterfront spot features an extensive dinner menu, including flatbreads, sushi, pasta and much more. Jackson’s also has a massive selection of over 500 wines and is located next to Amalie Arena on Harbour Island.
Watervue Grille
700 Harbour Post Drive | watervuegrille.com
With great views of Downtown Tampa, this restaurant’s waterfront setting provides gorgeous sunset views. Watervue serves up fresh seafood sourced from the waters of Tampa Bay as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Watervue Grille also offers a full bar, with fresh handcrafted cocktails featuring selections from all over the globe, as well as craft beer taps from local breweries. Like Café Dufrain, Watervue Grille is just over the bridge from the arena.
Downtown (Water Street)
Anchor and Brine
505 Water St. | anchorandbrine.com
At Tampa’s Marriott on Water Street, Anchor and Brine offers a refined, yet approachable seafood-forward menu, inspired by what’s local around Tampa Bay. The restaurant is a concept from award-winning chef Richard Sandoval and includes elegant indoor seating and waterfront views on the terrace. Thoughtful craft cocktail pairings are the perfect addition to your meal.
Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center
801 Old Water St. | columbiarestaurant.com
With covered outdoor seating overlooking the Tampa Riverwalk, this mini version of the iconic Columbia features a full bar and offers lunch and dinner daily, plus live music on the patio every Friday and Saturday night. An array of Columbia favorites are available as well, including Cuban sandwiches, the 1905 Salad and chicken and rice “Ybor.” The café is directly across the street from Amalie Arena.
Driftlight
510 Water St. | driftlighttampa.com
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Driftlight is located on the ground floor of Water Street’s JW Marriott hotel and is modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows so guests can ingratiate themselves into the energy of the surrounding Water Street neighborhood. Fresh American cuisine is the focus of Driftlight’s menus. The Driftlight Lounge offers a lobby bar and a locally inspired, light-bite menu.
Garrison Tavern
505 Water St. | garrisontavern.com
Inside Tampa’s Marriott Water Street, this restaurant concept is home to a Tampa-inspired menu created by world-renowned chef restaurateur Richard Sandoval. Along the waterfront, guests can enjoy upscale pub fare and craft beer, plus refine their swing in Garrison’s Topgolf Swing Suite.
Turntable
510 Water St. | marriott.com/jw_marriott/tampa
If you’re in the mood for something quick and casual, Turntable at the JW Marriott Water Street is a fast-casual grab-and-go spot with burgers, sandwiches, sides like french fries and onion rings, and other seasonal food and drinks on the menu. Outdoor seating is available on benches right alongside Water Street, offering a great view of all the downtown action.
SiX Tampa
510 Water St. | sixtampa.com
An airy upscale bistro located on the sixth floor of the JW Marriott Water Street, SiX has indoor and outdoor dining and a menu that celebrates Florida’s culinary diversity and history. Visitors can enjoy downtown views while enjoying creative American cuisine.
Downtown (Channelside)
Cena
1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 112 | cenatampa.com
Located in Channelside’s Grand Central Building, Cena serves modern Italian food in a stylish, contemporary setting. The menu is simple and fresh with traditional Italian favorites like pizzas, pastas and risotto dishes.
District Tavern
116 N. 12th St. | districttaverntampa.com
On the ground floor of Skyhouse Channelside, District Tavern is Channelside’s neighborhood bar with an upscale twist. American cuisine, craft cocktails, wine and beer are available. Open daily from 11 a.m., brunch is also offered on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fabrica Pizza
142 S. Meridian Ave. | fabricapizza.com
Fabrica is a Neapolitan pizzeria with signature and build-your-own pizzas, salads and small bites like cheesy bread, burrata Caprese and meatballs. Italian cuisine, tap wines and beers are available in a casual atmosphere in Pierhouse at Channelside.
Farmacy Vegan Kitchen
17 N. 12th St. | farmacyvegankitchen.com
This Channelside branch of Farmacy offers the fully vegan menu that made Farmacy a popular Tampa eatery. Plant-based cheesesteaks, burgers and sandwiches are on the menu next to lighter fare like salads and pasta dishes.
Firestick Grill
401 Channelside Drive | amaliearena.com
Located within Amalie Arena, Firestick Grill features open-fire “action stations” in a buffet-style environment. A Bacardi OakHeart Bar and Lounge also opens once each game or event begins. Available only during select events, this spot is super convenient if you’re checking out an event at the arena. The meal price is all-inclusive and can be pre-purchased on the Amalie Arena website. Other locations within the arena itself include Corona Cantina, the Big Storm Bar and many more.
JoToro
615 Channelside Dr. | jotoro.com
An original Mexican Restaurant by Michelin star Chef Joe Isidori. JoToro opened in 2021 and features wood-fired tacos, knife-and-fork burritos, golden margaritas and Mexico City-style street corn. Located on the corner – and at the entrance of Sparkman Wharf. Just steps from the Amalie Arena.
Noble Rice
615 Channelside Dr., #112 | noblericeco.com
Modern Japanese cuisine is presented using high-quality ingredients flown in weekly from the famous Toyosu Market in Japan. A renowned Tampa sushi destination, Noble Rice’s menu offers fresh takes on classic dishes like sushi, ramen, yakitori and Omakase.
Downtown (Other)
Bamboozle Cafe
516 N. Tampa St. | bamboozlerestaurants.com
A casual cafe with a large assortment of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes, Bamboozle is a health-forward Vietnamese restaurant where patrons can find summer rolls, pho, banh mi and other popular Vietnamese dishes.
Eddie & Sam’s NY Pizza
203 E. Twiggs St. | eddieandsamspizza.com
Using dough made with real New York City tap water, this authentic pizza spot helps bring the taste of the big city to the people of Tampa Bay. Dig into a wide, foldable slice of flavorful crust and enjoy the sights and sounds. Other New York specialties are available as well, including cheese calzones and stuffed meat rolls, a few blocks from Amalie.
Gaspar’s Grotto
1805 E. 7th Ave. | gasparsgrotto.com
Paying historical homage to the legendary (though mythical) pirate José Gaspar, this pirate-themed locale offers an array of appetizers, wings, tacos and more. This is the perfect spot to eat, relax and take the free trolley from Ybor City — where parking is much easier to come by — to Amalie Arena afterwards.
Sparkman Wharf
Battery
615 Channelside Dr. | batterytpa.com
If you’re looking for fine dining, Battery is a bourbon-forward concept with an extensive whiskey selection, whiskey vault and food menu that showcases prime steaks, house-made pasta and shareable appetizers and sides. Battery is also known for craft cocktails and housemade cheesecake.
Dang Dude
615 Channelside Dr. | dang-dude.com
Dang Dude is Sparkman Wharf’s Asian dining option. Award-winning chefs came together to create a menu featuring creative spins on Asian street food like dumplings, double-fried, Asian-style chicken wings, rou-jia-mo and (spiked or traditional) boba.
Gallito Taqueria
615 Channelside Dr. | gallitotampa.com
One of the many dining options at outdoor beer and dining garden Sparkman Wharf, Gallito Taqueria is a modern taqueria serving its unique twist on Mexican street food classics. The menu includes options like quesabirria tacos, Mexican street corn and nachos.
Flock and Stock
615 Channelside Dr. | flockandstock.com
Southern hospitality is on the menu at Flock and Stock, located inside Sparkman Wharf. The menu features Philly cheesesteaks, jumbo fried chicken sandwiches and sides like roadside waffle fries and fresh waffles.
Murph’s BBQ
615 Channelside Drive #5 | murphsbarbecue.com
At Sparkman Wharf, Murph’s serves some of the best of great American barbeque. Choices include Texas-style brisket, South Carolina whole hog barbecue and Kansas City-inspired rotisserie chicken, along with an assortment of sides and sauces, as well as hot dogs and siders.
Naked Farmer
615 Channelside Dr. | eatnakedfarmer.com
Fast, casual, seasonal farm-to-table new American meals are what Naked Farmer is all about. At Sparkman Wharf, all the items on this menu are healthy and locally sourced from small and medium-sized farms in the area. Fresh meats, vegetables and chef-crafted sides change regularly to ensure the best of the season is always available.
Splitsville
615 Channelside Dr. | splitsvillelanes.com
At Channelside Bay Plaza, Splitsville is a bowling center and restaurant serving upscale, Southern-inspired bar food alongside cocktails, beer and wine. Other games like pingpong, billiards, darts and shuffleboard are also available at this fun spot.
