National Daiquiri Day is on Friday, July 19, and there are plenty of Tampa Bay Area bars that serve up delicious and unique variants on this classic cocktail that was beloved by famed author Ernest Hemingway.

The origin of the daiquiri is attributed to an American named Jennings Cox, who was working as an engineer in the Cuban town of Daiquiri towards the end of the Spanish-American War. The story goes that Cox chose to mix local light rum with the easily accessible additives of lime and sugar, likely in a glass of ice to combat the warm, tropical climate.

Famed author Ernest Hemingway had a love for daiquiris, which is said to have been the seasoned drinker’s favorite cocktail. He was a purist when it came to preparation, once stating,”It shouldn’t taste of rum, it shouldn’t taste of lime and it shouldn’t taste of sugar. It should just taste of daiquiri.” In the years that have followed, the daiquiri has seen many updates in both ingredients and preparation methods.

While there are many cocktail bars in the Tampa Bay area that offer an elevated or traditional daiquiri cocktail, there are also multiple beach bars that serve up frozen versions of the beverage to help beat the summer heat. Regardless of how the daiquiri is prepared, it’s sure to refresh and delight during these brutal Florida summers.

The area’s ever-expanding cocktail scene and personal tastes of both locals and tourists alike makes it nearly impossible to definitively name the best daiquiri spots, so use this list as a starting point and discover which daiquiri is your personal favorite. Cheers!

Copper Shaker Multiple locations For those looking for a more refined version of the daiquiri, Copper Shaker’s locations in both Ybor City (1502 E 7th Ave.) and Downtown St. Pete (169 1st Ave. N) definitely fit the bill. Both are locally-owned-and-operated and take pride in exceptional service, fresh and top notch cocktails and gourmet eats. Credit: CopperShaker/Facebook
Don the Beachcomber 15015 Madeira Wy #100, Madeira Beach This upscale tiki bar and restaurant, located on the bottom floor of the Cambria Hotel in Madeira Beach, brings a welcome nod to the nostalgic tiki bars that were popular in the mid-20th century. The Hemingway Daiquiri is among the impressive list of both traditional and nuanced tiki drinks to be enjoyed in the immersive space. Photo via Don the Beachcomber Credit: Photo via Don the Beachcomber
Columbia Restaurant 2117 E 7th Ave., Ybor City While the oldest restaurant in Florida certainly gets plenty of accolades for its traditional Spanish-Cuban cuisine and housemade sangrias, the specialty cocktail menu also features a true homage to the most famous daiquiri drinker. The Hemingway Daiquiri is a blend of blonde rum, grapefruit juice, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and fresh lime juice. There’s also Columbia’s El Floridita Daiquiri with silver rum, fresh lime juice, that Luxardo liqueur and a splash of grapefruit, shaken and served on the rocks in a sugar-rimmed glass. Photo via ColumbiaRestaurant/Facebook
Daiquiri Shak 14995 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach This raw bar and grill in Madeira Beach is very popular among tourists, but locals can still enjoy the huge selection of specialty daiquiris and extensive food menu, especially during off season. Daiquiri Shak even offers a daily daiquiri special and daiquiri flights, ensuring there’s always something new to try. Photo via daiqshakmadbeach/Facebook
Hotel Bar 200 N Tampa St., Tampa The bartenders here have an uncanny knack for creating inventive cocktails that go beyond your standard riffs on classics, and guests are welcome to order off the menu and let the expertise of the staff guide the experience. While this would be a great place to enjoy a classic daiquiri, there’s likely a fun twist the mixologists have up their sleeves, just ask. Photo via hotelbartampa/Facebook
Hurricane Seafood Restaurant 809 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach This iconic and historic restaurant has been a favorite for Pass-A-Grille tourists for decades, but locals escape here when the season dies down or bring out of town guests to sample local fare. The rooftop bar offers nearly unparalleled views of this part of the coast, as well as frozen strawberry and mango daiquiris and an abbreviated food menu. Photo via thehurricanefl/Facebook
Mandarin Hide and Mandarin Heights Multiple locations These craft cocktail bars are both locally-owned-and-operated and offer unique experiences based on location, with a commitment to innovative mixology being a common thread. Bartenders at either concept (located in Tampa at 5901 N Florida Ave. and St. Pete at 231 Central Ave. N) are trained in both nuanced concoctions and strictly classic cocktails, like this month’s honorary daiquiri. Photo via TheMandarinHide/Facebook
Salt Shack on the Bay 5415 W Tyson Ave., Tampa This South of Gandy hotspot was on the New York Times’ 2023 list of 50 best restaurants and boasts waterfront views, mouthwatering seafood and of course, delicious cocktails. The frozen daiquiri here comes in mango or strawberry and is the perfect companion to sticking your toes in the sand. Photo via saltshacktampa/Facebook

Tiki Docks

Multiple locations
If you’re looking for a beachy vibe without the crowds on Gulf Boulevard, Tiki Dock’s locations in both Riverview (10704 Palmetto St.) and St. Pete near the Sunshine Skyway (3769 50th Ave. S) have got you covered. Sip on frozen daiquiris in either banana or strawberry flavoring, nibble on some tropically inspired bites and take in the waterfront views.
Photo via tikidocksriverviewfl/Facebook
Undertow Beach Bar 3850 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach This St. Pete Beach staple is a great place to have a frozen daiquiri on a hot summer day. The open-air, beachfront bar serves their frozen drinks in styrofoam cups, keeping your casual cocktail so cold that you may get a brain freeze. Parking here is very limited; we recommend parking at a public beach lot, then utilizing rideshare or St. Pete Beach’s Freebee app for a free ride to numerous beach hotspots. Photo via Google Maps (screengrab by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)