National Dive Bar Day falls on July 7, and this year it happens to be on a Sunday, which is arguably one of the better days to imbibe at your favorite hole in the wall.
In recent years, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay has published lists for both Pinellas and Hillsborough dives, including ones that often get overlooked. Many of the beloved haunts have been around for years, and remain staple must-tries everyone should visit at least once.
Some watering holes, however, have rebranded, including Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern, now known as The Friendly Tarpon Tavern. The nearby Tapper Pub changed ownership and went non-smoking at the beginning of the year, and more recently got rid of the nostalgic red booths and added outdoor seating.
Others have sadly closed, including both of Tampa’s Elmer’s locations, plus South Tampa’s I Don’t Care Bar & Grill, meaning Gandy Boulevard’s Warehouse Liquor Store and Bar is the last place in Hillsborough County where you can still smoke inside and order food in house.
Ybor City also lost First Chance, Last Chance and Boneyard, but Dirty Shame and Reservoir Bar are thankfully still going strong.
Pinellas didn’t escape changes to its dive scene either, with Steve’s going non-smoking and Abbey Road permanently closing. Though it’s not recent news, all dive bar enthusiasts are encouraged to pour one out for the bygone Wilson’s, which is sorely missed by regulars and casual fans who may have recognized the spot as the exterior shots for the original “Magic Mike” movie.
As always, bring cash and check your expectations at the door, but most importantly, get ready for a damn good time. Cheers to the Tampa Bay dive bars that have lasted through the years.
35 legit Tampa Bay dive bars you should get a drink at right now
By Jourdan Ducat on Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Photo via Google Maps
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American Legion Seminole Post 111
6918 N Florida Ave, TampaThis haven for cheap drinks also has a swear jar, dance nights, open-minded regulars, and a steady rotation of America’s best touring underground rock acts.—Ray Roa
Photo via Photo via Google Maps
Anclote River Boat Club
1761 Beckett Wy, Tarpon SpringsThe Boat Club, as regulars affectionately call it, is quite possibly the diviest bar on this list. If your car doesn’t bottom out trying to access the treacherous parking lot, you’ll notice an actual wood burning fireplace just inside the entrance for that one week it gets cold in January. The entire building seems ready to give way into the river it’s situated on, so you may feel buzzed before you’ve even had a beer. Bring some bug spray and enjoy a slightly cold domestic on the dock.
Photo via ancloteriverboatclub/Facebook
Bar Mastiff
4021 54th Ave. N, St. PetersburgIf you’re a longtime dive bar patron, you may have visited Bar Mastiff when it was known as Marsha’s Wayside Inn. The drinks start flowing here at 8 a.m., so it’s an apt place to get a hair of the dog from the spirited bartenders while listening to the regulars poke fun at each other. Every day from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. you’ll get a raffle ticket for each drink ordered, with a winner receiving a free drink on the hour.
Photo via Google Maps
Beer Shed
11222 Casa Loma Dr., Riverview, 813-671-1885Situated right on the Alafia River, this is a great place to have a cold one on a nice day. It’s a beer-and-wine-only spot that provides carpet samples for you to rest your drink on and an adjacent snack shack that offers up BBQ on most days. This is definitely a good ol’ boys bar, so check your pretentiousness at the door and just relax.
Photo via Beer Shed/Facebook
The Bends
919 1st Ave. N, St. PetersburgTake a selfie for the @bendsbathroom Instagram account, then have a seat inside or out and enjoy what are lowkey some of the best cocktails—dive or not—in St. Pete. Stay late for any one of the always-free concerts in the shotgun style performance space in the back.—Ray Roa
Photo by Xebulon Emmz
Boardwalk Tavern
2600 54th Ave. N, St. PetersburgA dive in every sense of the word. The outside looks like something straight out of Roadhouse, hand painted signage and all. Once inside, you’ll find loads of smoke-stained memorabilia intermingled with assorted chairs, a pool table and random pieces of fabric strewn over windows. It’s cash-only and they only offer beer, but the regulars come up with some interesting picks on the TouchTunes that make for good conversation starters.
Photo via Boardwalk Tavern/Google
The Dirty Shame
1929 E 7th Ave, Ybor CityThe Shame offers a decent selection of higher quality liquor (including the bartender’s personal favorite digestif, Underberg), as well as some great craft beer options on tap or to-go. You can smoke inside but the high ceilings and well ventilated bar room offer respite, as does the outdoor patio. It’s one of the last remaining bars that trusts its patrons with steel tipped darts and also has two pool tables.
Photo via The Dirty Shame/Facebook
The Dog Saloon
3311 W Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, 813-832-8211You may remember hearing about this place when it was called Red Dog Saloon and the bartenders still wore risque attire. The Dog is a full liquor bar with an extensive draft selection and trivia on Tuesdays. It’s a popular place to watch a game because of the abundance of TV’s, including individual sets for most of the suspended wooden tables. They offer a variety of bar games and a full food menu as well.
Photo via The Dog Saloon/Google
Emerald Bar
550 Central Ave. N, St. PetersburgEstablished in 1950, Emerald Bar is one of the oldest dive bars in St.Petersburg. Offering bar games, indoor smoking, live music and happy hour, Emerald bar is a casual and cozy spot to grab a drink with friends.—Min Craig
Photo via Emerald Bar/Google
Fisherman’s Pub
9602 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-915-9009If you come in for happy hour, you’ll be surrounded by a group of fun-loving and genuinely nice people who can’t stop talking about how much they love it here. Each chair is numbered and the bartender occasionally draws numbers to reward one lucky patron with a free drink. While they don’t have liquor, they do carry Fireball minis if you’re looking to up your buzz.
Photo via Fisherman’s Pub/Google
Flamingo Sports Bar
1230 9th St. N, St. PetersburgThis St. Pete institution has been open in some form or another in the same location since 1937 and is said to have been a haunt of the late writer Jack Kerouac. It’s easy to see how the Flamingo could have been the perfect place for him to retreat with his thoughts, given its dark and smoke-filled interior and complete lack of pretension. The blue collar regulars are likely to regale you with tales of the past, that is if they’re not involved in a game of pool.
Photo via Google Maps
Fox and Hounds British Pub
229 E Brandon Blvd., Brandon, 813-438-8913This Brandon staple is a cozy spot that claims to be the oldest pub in town. Locals come here to watch the game with a pint or have bites of a burger in between darts or pool. The dark wood furnishings and traditional decor will make you feel like you're actually across the pond, as will their traditional English breakfast (served on Sundays only).
Photo via Fox and Hounds British Pub/Facebook
Franks Sports Bar
4201 62nd Ave. N, Pinellas ParkThis Pinellas County dive, located in an unassuming strip center, has all of the makings of a great neighborhood watering hole. You’ve got the accommodating Franks regulars who are quick to introduce their fellow comrades, a kind-but-no-bullshit bartender who also plays the role of cook during day shifts, and well-priced booze that your new friends might even treat you to. Food is offered during select hours, so call ahead to make sure they’re serving if you need a burger to go with your Bud.
Photo via Google Maps
Photo via Friendly Tarpon Tavern/Facebook
Friendly Tarpon Tavern
3120 W Gandy Blvd., TampaFormerly known as Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern, this quaint “dive bar” on South Gandy has undergone some major renovations in recent months under new ownership. While the bar currently doesn’t serve liquor, it does offer a hefty selection of craft beers, seltzers and even sake-based spirits. For now, patrons can order hot dogs and snacks like boiled peanuts, but the food menu will soon expand to include more game day favorites. And, yes, say hi to Jourdan while you’re there.
Harbor Bar
840 Main St., Safety HarborThis Safety Harbor dive serves shots in plastic cups but offers a decent liquor selection, including the Italian amaro Fernet, a rare sighting in most dive bars. The rectangular bar is usually packed with regulars smoking Marlboros and bullshitting, while the service is fast and friendly. If you like pickles, you’ll be pleased to hear the owner makes his own, which means your pickleback just got a locally made upgrade.
Photo via Google Maps
Honeysuckle Bar
119 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-932-1429Buckle up for this one because it’s a true dive, nicotine-stained NASCAR merch and all. The outside is very unassuming and to be honest, so is the inside. It’s beer-only, so you’ll have to make a choice between Bud or Busch, and pay with cash. Between the cigarette vending and coin-operated washing machines, you’ll find this is a place to have a strong opinion about one way or the other.
Photo via Honeysuckle Bar/Google
The Hub
719 N Franklin St., TampaThis downtown staple with an attached package store has been voted Best Dive Bar in the Bay on and off for several years. The Hub is about as iconic of a dive that you’ll find in the area, with a loyal following that up until recently included the late and dearly beloved regular of over 30 years, Texas Tim. Locals know that you never order a double here because the pour is probably the strongest in town, so don’t take it personally if you get cut off after your second Long Island.
Photo via Ray Roa
Lana’s Place
109 107th Ave., Treasure IslandThis Treasure Island bar is situated just behind the popular VIP Mexican restaurant, so it’s a great place to pregame while you're waiting for your table. Once your eyes have adjusted to the extremely dark interior, have a seat next to a sun-soaked regular and order a cheap shot or something from Lana’s decent selection of craft beers. If you haven’t stopped in post-pandemic, you’ll be surprised to find that the place no longer allows indoor smoking but has expanded its outdoor seating area.
Photo via Google Maps
Lucky Star Lounge
2760 Central Ave., St. Petersburg,Claiming to serve the “stiffest drinks in the district since 2008,” Lucky Star is an LGTQ+ hole-in-the-wall. This bar features a jukebox, so you can grab a drink while bumping to your own tunes.—Min Craig
Photo via Google Street
Mahuffer's
19201 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 727-596-0226The ceilings here are laden with dangling bras and buoys, the couches quite literally look salvaged from the side of the road, and there are enough signed dollar bills on every surface to pay for a John Daly bar tab. The bartenders can be a bit surly after years of dealing with obnoxious tourists, but once you sink into the dark depths of the inside bar with a cheap shot ,you won’t even notice. Mahuffer’s lost its long-time resident iguana, Ernest, in November 2022, but you’ll still catch some bar cats sprawled across the bar tops.
Photo via Mahuhffer’s/Facebook
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