Food & Drink Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Two hands holding a hot coffee to-go cup and an iced coffee, both with buddy brew dog logos, cheers in front of a Sprouts Farmers Market

Buddy Brew to double cafe count with Sprouts collab

They’ll be the first Buddy Brew Coffee shops in Pinellas and Pasco.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

The Tampa-based coffee company announced a partnership last week with Sprouts, including new cafes at its grocery stores in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco County, and Sarasota counties.

Nutella being drizzled onto a crepe

Point Chaud opens second cafe in St. Pete Beach

So far, the crepes don’t fall flat.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

Twitch streamer Tfue buys Woody’s Waterfront in St. Pete Beach

Ask your nephew what a Twitch stream is.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

Jimmy’s Tacos expands to St. Pete

The shop won “Best Guacamole” and “Best Ybor City Restaurant” in CL Tampa’s Best of the Bay 2025.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 28, 2026

festive mason jar of iced tea from Tiki Tea Inc. topped with a patriotic cupcake and American flag decorations

The Florida State Fair puts a patriotic spin on its ‘food’ next week

You’ll want to know where the bathrooms are.

by Selene San Felice January 26, 2026January 26, 2026

People sit at outdoor patio tables shaded by black umbrellas in front of "DI Coffee Bar" and an adjacent business labeled "HomeWork." The sunlit scene shows individuals engaged in conversation and looking at papers, while leafy trees cast shadows across the sidewalk and the white storefronts.

DI Coffee Bar will open third location next month at Midtown Tampa

The first DI Coffee Bar opened in 2014 on E Davis Boulevard., where Perez and his wife, Marilyn, work as homebuilders.

by Kailey Aiken January 26, 2026January 26, 2026

The exterior of "Lara Apothecary Bar & Bazaar," a two-story tan brick building with a black awning and green double doors. The storefront features large windows reflecting the street, a vintage-style black lamppost with five white globe lights in the foreground, and a geometric tiled sidewalk out front.

Ybor City restaurant Lara celebrates first anniversary with free beer and tacos, more

Chef Suzanne Crouch opened the much-anticipated concept after years in other peoples’ kitchens.

by Ray Roa January 24, 2026January 26, 2026

Karma Juice Bar spins off with upcoming Bakery and Kitchen

The menu includes Filipino-small plates.

by Selene San Felice January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

exterior of a Kahwa coffee shop with a mustard colored building top.

Kahwa Coffee opens Tampa drive-thru on Kennedy

It’s the chain’s third drive-thru.

by Selene San Felice January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

A stack of crusty artisan bread loaves and baguettes displayed in front of a mural that reads 'Factory Dunedin'

St. Pete’s Crumb Factory expands to Dunedin

Do you know the cruffin man?

by Selene San Felice January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

Trendy dining space with crushed velvet pink seating, rattan lighting, and pop-art style animal portraits.

Concrete Jungle closes in St. Pete

Hunger + Thirst Group still has several other St. Pete spots, and is planning another.

by Selene San Felice January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

Two adults stand at an outdoor food festival table, smiling toward the camera while holding food and drinks. Trays of food and beverage cans sit on the table in front of them, with sunlight, trees, and a covered venue visible in the background.

Food & Drink, Food & Drink Events, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

Photos: All the cool mother shuckers we saw at Tampa Oysterfest 2026

Organizers shipped 20,000 oysters from Chesapeake Bay into Tampa.

by Ray Roa January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Two adults stand side by side in a restaurant kitchen, facing the camera. One wears a dark top and necklace, while the other wears a cap, T-shirt, and a white apron. Stainless steel equipment and shelves with containers and supplies fill the background.

Owners of downtown Tampa Chinese food staple move and rebrand in new location just blocks away

Oriental Express closed on Halloween and has reopened as Sunset Lotus.

by Ray Roa January 12, 2026January 14, 2026

A modern restaurant interior with a long marble bar lined with dark upholstered stools, neatly set dining tables, and large windows letting in natural light. Shelves of liquor bottles line the back bar, with contemporary lighting and artwork throughout the space.

Mise en Place’s new Ybor City location is now open

A ribbon-cutting is set for Friday, Jan. 9.

by Ray Roa January 8, 2026January 8, 2026

A stacked oyster burger topped with creamy sauce sits on a sesame-seed bun in a blue basket, served with fries and a small metal cup of dipping sauce on a red tabletop.

St. Petersburg fish camp and raw bar Cheeky’s now offers lunch

Frozen espresso martinis are better than lunch coffees, right?

by Ray Roa January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

A Krispy Kreme doughnut shop with a green awning and drive-thru lane sits on a corner lot, with a roadside sign reading “Krispy Kreme Doughnuts” and “Drive Thru,” trees lining the street, and cars parked nearby on a sunny day.

St. Pete’s only Krispy Kreme is being replaced by Chipotle

Enjoy the glow of that ‘hot now’ light while you can.

by Ray Roa January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

A group of people at an outdoor festival posing with oysters on the half shell

Tampa’s shucked up Oyster Fest returns this weekend

Live music is also on the menu.

by Selene San Felice January 5, 2026January 6, 2026

A long, low, light-blue building with a flat roof sits along a paved parking lot at dusk. A bright yellow and red sign on the facade reads "The World Famous Tiny Tap Tavern," and several small windows are visible, one featuring a neon blue palm tree sign.

Tampa’s fabled Tiny Tap Tavern has finally sold, but don’t expect much to change

Now former owner Casey Powell says its new caretaker plans to ‘keep the party going.’

by Ray Roa December 30, 2025January 6, 2026

A vendor in a teal beanie pours a sample of a Dayzed beverage for an attendee at a crowded booth during the High & Dry Festival.

High and Dry Festival brings dozens of THC drink brands to St. Pete this weekend

Sip, sip, pass.

by Selene San Felice December 29, 2025January 5, 2026

Mythos Greek Bistro opens on St. Pete’s Central Ave.

The Greek restaurant takes over the former Salty Nun spot, a block from Baba.

by Selene San Felice December 12, 2025December 12, 2025