Seminole Heights: Destinations

Food & Drink

1. American Legion Seminole Post 111 You don’t have to be a war vet to enjoy this old-time favorite on most nights. Known for cheap cocktails and a homey, salt-of-the-earth vibe, the Legion is the perfect antidote to hipster overload (until, of course, it’s taken over by hipsters). 6918 N. Florida Ave., 813-236-2281, seminolepost111.org.

2. Bo’s Ice Cream The beloved old-fashioned ice cream stand (est. in 1954) has a walk-up order window and newfangled drive-thru. Nearby residents stroll with pooches and friends, gathering at patio tables for soft-serve cones, dips, splits and sundaes. 7101 N. Florida Ave., 813-234-3870.

3. Blue Sea Fish Market The clean, friendly market and eatery has a wide selection of frozen seafood and a few fresh catches. Fried items are popular; call ahead to find out what’s in stock as it varies daily. 7110 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-234-5085.

4. Cappy’s Pizza It’s the best place in town (not just Seminole Heights) to get a good slice. But be sure your kiddos are well-behaved, and you have cash on hand (CASH ONLY). 4910 N. Florida Ave., 813-238-1516, cappyspizzaonline.com.

5. Cold Storage Craft Brewery Cold Storage produces three local beers: Florida Avenue Blueberry, Florida Avenue IPA, and Florida Avenue Ale. Public tasting room open Tuesday-Thursday 4-8 p.m., Friday 2-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 4101 N. Florida Ave., 813-374-2101, coldstoragecraftbrewery.com.

6. Corner Club The neighborhood favorite makes you feel at home with a variety of regulars from all walks of life amidst mid-’70s décor with low ceilings, earth tones and a fine illustration of Willie and Waylon. Karaoke nights Fri. and Sat. are the best in town. 1502 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, 813-231-5010.

7. Domani Bistro Lounge Home to a Best of the Bay-winning fusion dessert, as selected by food critic Jon Palmer Claridge. Also home to great mixologists like LCBG’s Pete Siewruk. 6419 N. Florida Ave., 813-644-5995, domanibl.com.

8. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café Ernie Locke’s edible and aural swamp couture roosting spot. Go for Soul Food Sundays; order too much brisket and pulled pork. Wash it down with a Bloody Mary sporting a short rib for garnish. 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-234-1000, ellasfolkartcafe.com.

9. Front Porch Grill and Bar It’s a neighborhood spot for casual dining and music, any night of the week. Live music almost every night. Family-friendly. 5924 N. Florida Ave., 813-237-5511, frontporchgrill.com.

10. The Independent Bar and Café Eat the indelibly delicious “Indie” Grilled Cheese with pears and Gouda on rye. Chances are any of the pints you order on tap or bottle will blow you away. 5016 N. Florida Ave., 813-341-4883, independenttampa.com.

11. Mauricio Faedo’s Bakery Real Cuban bread made in a real Cuban bakery, where burly men rip through fresh dough all day, all night. Barflies gather outside the “Hot Bread Now” sign like moths to a flame. 5150 N. Florida Ave., 813-237-2377.

12. Mermaid Tavern The grooviest little bar in Seminole Heights serves beer, wine, sake, mead, and a limited menu of delicious treats. Eat the Kefta Burger with goat cheese. Lay down some tracks on Tuesdays at Bring-Your-Own-Vinyl night. 6719 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-238-5618.

13. Mikey’s Cafe & Bakery Enjoy some coffee, free hi-fi and order custom-decorated or just-plain-delicious cakes, cookies, breads and “comfort food with a gourmet twist.” The family-owned and operated spot helps anchor the Central/Hanna historic block. 6114 N. Central Ave., 813-234-3755, cafe-bakery.com.

14. Nicko’s Fine Foods It’s the best greasy spoon in town, plus Elvis ate there after his show at the armory in 1956. Menu consists of grits, burgers, fries, and a smattering of Greek foods. 4603 N. Florida Ave., 813-234-9301.

15. The Refinery Chef Greg Baker (a James Beard semi-finalist twice) and his wife Michelle, that sassy minx, run one of Tampa Bay’s best dining spots. Get an unforgettable romantic meal downstairs. Or grab a beer and burger upstairs at their lovely new outdoor patio (it’s covered!). 5137 N. Florida Ave., 813-237-2000, thetamparefinery.com.

16. Red Star Rock Bar Owner Brian Bosco says his new drinking establishment will also feature food trucks, a spring daytime concert series, and classic car shows. Scheduled to open April/May. 5210 N. Florida Ave., 813-770-4624.

17. Reservations Gourmet To Go A large and accomplished range of sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts and “pop it in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes” chilled entrées. And now you can dine there at night: Elke and Anthony Catania have just started Reservations After Dark, serving their menu in-house on Saturdays from 6-10 p.m. 4703 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-231-6800, reservationsmenu.com.

18. Sabroso Cuban Restaurant The Cuban restaurant/bakery’s name lives up to its name — Spanish for “savory” — serving affordable homemade favorites, fresh bread and delectable postres; owned by La Teresita proprietors Luis and Anita Capdevila. 5214 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-443-4587, 813-443-5286 (takeout), sabrosocubanrestaurant.com.

19. San Carlos Tavern One of the area’s best Latin night clubs, the Colombian-owned spot gets overlooked by those disgruntled about it replacing the trendy Liar’s Club (which replaced the landmark Spinnaker Bar). They’re missing out. San Carlos is a hospitable spot with great music and spirited dancing — and pleasant patio seating. 6416 N. Florida Ave., 813-234-1267, sancarlostavern.com.

20. Southern Brewing and Wine Making It’s arguably responsible for the humble beginnings of many a local brewery. Get your homebrew equipment, homebrew classes, and homebrew friends all in one stop. 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., southernbrewingwinemaking.com, 813-238-7800.

21. Starbucks We know, we know, it’s Starbucks, for god’s sake. But even though its arrival in the neighborhood was greeted warily by some, it has proven to be a popular spot. 502 E. Hillsborough Ave., 813-231-4276.

22. Taco Bus The original. Fresh, authentic Mexican food (soft corn tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas) are served on-the-cheap from a bus parked at the eatery’s rear. Taco Bus is now open 24 hours. 913 E. Hillsborough Ave., 813-232-5889, www.taco-bus.com.

Goods & Services

23. Bali Bay Trading Company A big blast of boho chic, this exuberant collection of beachy dresses and colorful accessories offers tropical flair at a bargain. 4222 N. Florida Ave., 813-238-3295, balibaystores.com.

24. Brooksie’s Market Michelle Brooks, aka “Brooksie,” has gathered an assortment of the funkiest tchotchkes in her Seminole Heights shop. Find everything from handmade stationery to spices and locally made pastas. 5805 N. Florida Ave., brooksiesmarket.com.

25. Cleanse Apothecary This welcoming boutique of bath and body essentials soothes instantly with its sleek and simple décor. Browse natural products and nifty accessories that’ll make you feel bubbly inside and out. 5127 N. Florida Ave., 813-374-0305, cleanseapothecary.com.

26. Culture and Thrills Collectibles Gallery Attention, geeks and closet geeks (you know who you are): Shop here for comics, toys, movie memorabilia and more. Check the shop’s website for special events. 5205 N. Florida Ave., 813-237-5400, cultureandthrills.com.

27. D&D Antiques & More A favorite among seasoned pickers. Specialists in vintage and traditional furniture, lamps, chandeliers, textiles and collectibles, with an indoor garden room and a vast selection from all time periods. 4709 N. Florida Ave., 813-625-3703, ddantiquesandmore.com.

28. Family Dollar According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 7,100 Family Dollar stores in the U.S. To some Seminole Heights residents, it seems like half of them are located in their district. The most controversial branch, the one that led to intense town hall meetings last summer, is scheduled to open soon. 5100 N. Florida Ave., familydollar.com.

29. Figure 8 Art Supplies Established in 2011, this one-stop shop for papers, oils, acrylics and all the other must-haves for the busy artist is right in tune with the aesthetically inclined populace of Seminole Heights. 6502 N. Florida Ave., 813-385-4081, figure8artsupplies.com.

30. Forever Beautiful Salon & Day Spa A full-service salon and wine spa, Forever Beautiful does manicures, pedicures and colors. Located right next door to the uber-hip Refinery. 5135 N. Florida Ave., 813-231-3378, foreverbeautiful.us.

31. Green Shift Music and Comics This shop (est. 1983) is dedicated to new, used and vintage musical instruments and gear, thousands of new and back-issue comics, as well as graphic novels, memorabilia, toys, action figures, and more random nerdy goodies. 5226 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-238-4177.

32. Hair Performance Salon Suites Highly capable, independent salon professionals have been renting suites and working out of this chic hair studio for nearly three decades. 5409 N. Miami Ave., 813-237-1050.

33. Health Mutt Soon after it opened, the natural pet market and dog wash won the hearts of Heights residents with health-conscious food brands, accessories, grooming services, special events and more. 6116 N. Central Ave., 813-231-3137, tampahealthmutt.com.

34. Microgroove A boutique indie record shop owned and operated by New Granada Records leader Keith Ulrey, who stocks his small retail space with new and used vinyl, used CDs, new CDs by local acts, turntables and supplies, and the odd musical treasure. 4906 N. Florida Ave., 813-667-7089.

35. Moates Florist Moates began operating in 1901, and the flower shop with the characteristic wagon out front continues to offer personalized service and international delivery, in addition to custom arrangements for all occasions. 5034 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-239-3535, moatesflorist.com.

36. A Modern Line Need to make your pad groovy? Then head to this hep shop with ultra-sleek, mid-to-late-’40s through late-’70s furniture, lighting and accessories; selection includes Heywood Wakefield and other items that aren’t ridiculously overpriced. 6415 N. Florida Ave., 813-234-4500, amodernline.com, amodernline.blogspot.com.

37. Olsen's VW Seminole Heights' own Volkswagen restoration and repair shop. Open for more than 40 years, it's a good stop for DIY repair or professional care. Stick around after hours, and you're likely to hear owner Larry Olsen play some drums, too. 4902 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-238-4226, olsensvw.com.

38. Pink Cheetah Vintage Located inside the ever-popular Seminole Heights Antiques shop, the spunky retailer gussies up the place with unique, affordable fashion finds, quirky accessories and more. Check out their equally stylish website with pics by Kimberly Yau. 4713 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, pinkcheetahvintage.com.

39. Seminole Heights Antiques & Home Décor Housed in that characteristic green building with maroon awnings on Osborne and Florida, the store has 15 dealers inside hawking one-of-a-kind collectibles. 4713 N. Florida Ave., 813-237-5850, seminoleheightsantiques.com.

40. Seminole Heights Garden Center The recently remodeled, charming brick clubhouse was built in 1938. Public art is on display outside on a verdant lawn where neighborhood families gather. 5800 N. Central Ave., 813-274-8518.

41. Sherry’s YesterDaze Browse vintage clothing, decor and accessories from a wide range of time periods — the late 1800s to the early 1990s — for women, men and children, in addition to fine and costume jewelry from bygone eras. 5207 N. Florida Ave., 813-231-2020, yesterdazevintage.com.

42. Susan Gott Art/Phoenix Glass Studio Gott has worked in glass for 30 years and specializes in cast glass to create one-of-a-kind sculptures. She and her team craft items for sale, periodically conducting fun and fascinating demonstrations and art shows. 811 E. Knollwood St., Tampa, 813-237-3473, gottglass.com.

43. Tempus Projects "The best exhibits of contemporary art outside of the region's museums," wrote CL Visual Art Critic Megan Voeller in her 2012 Best of the Bay award for Tempus. Read what's happening at the gallery right now in Megan's profile in this week's A&E section. 5132 N. Florida Ave, 813-340-9056.

44. Vélo Champ The boutique bicycle shop appeals to diehard cycling enthusiasts with a nice selection of performance road, cyclocross and track bikes in addition to townie and commuter bikes. Owner Jordan Miller organizes a monthly pub bike ride and other events. 6112 N. Central Ave., Tampa, 813-374-2424, velochamp.com.

This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2013.