A group of approximately fifteen people in festive evening wear poses together indoors, cheering and raising their hands. Two individuals are holding "Best of the Bay" award plaques. A blue and orange backdrop is visible behind them.
Dr. Eric Khairalla (center) of Bodze, winner of the 2025 readers pick for ‘Best Doctor For a Nip and Tuck.’ Credit: Caesar Carbajal / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

The Hard Rock Event Center was packed two weeks ago for Creative Loafing’s 2025 Best of the Bay party—and we know it was a hard ticket to score.

While so many of the hundreds of winners, plus finalists, got to celebrate last month, many of you did not, so we’re throwing a few no-cover “Best of the Bay hangover” parties to give folks on both sides of the Bay a chance to pick up their awards, take pictures and enjoy some of the best food and drink the neighborhood has to offer.

  • The first one happens on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. in Dunedin on The Veranda of The Fenway Hotel (453 Edgewater Dr., Dunedin)
  • The second is Thursday, Oct. 9 from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at Lara in Ybor City (1919 E 7th Ave., Ybor City)
  • The third and final 2025 Best of the Bay hangover party happens Thursday, Oct. 16 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at The Birchwood lobby bar (340 Beach Dr., NE, St. Petersburg)

Lara, helmed by chef Suzanne Crouch, is a 2025 finalist for “Best New Restaurant” and recipient of a critics pick for “Best Long Time Coming.” 

The Fenway took home 2025 readers picks awards for Best Hotel (Clearwater/Dunedin) and Best Chef (Clearwater/Dunedin).

The Birchwood’s canopy venue was a 2025 readers pick winner for Best Rooftop Bar.

Welcome to the Best of the Bay 2025. We're glad you're here.

Welcome to Creative Loafing’s Best of The Bay 2025

At a time when being online can be insufferable, and taking care of business in the real world gets overwhelming, these winners give us a chance to log off, take a breath, and check out that cool thing our neighbors are up to.

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky

This article appears in Oct. 2 – 8, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...