25 iconic Tampa Bay dive bars everyone should visit at least once

Flamingo Sports Bar

1230 9th St. N, St. Petersburg
Flamingo Sports Bar originally opened in March 1937 as a drive-in restaurant selling wine, beer, ice cream and sandwiches. In the 1950s, the spot evolved from a stand to an indoor space. The legendary writer, Jack Kerouac, once drank there, and now the bar has a mural, photos and novels inside the bar to commemorate him. The bar is one of the oldest in St. Petersburg.
Photo via Flamingo Sports Bar/Google

Drunken Clam

46 46th Ave., St. Pete Beach
The Drunken Clam is known for its “naked” unbreaded wings. Even with a small kitchen, the staff cooks fresh wings for about 20 minutes and douses them in a variety of sauces including the award winning cajun parmesan garlic sauce. The Drunken Clam also has fresh steamed clams, shrimp, seared sesame tuna and fresh ground beef burgers. The bar also serves breakfast and features live music.
Photo via Drunken Clam/Google

The Beer Shed

11222 Casa Loma Dr., Riverview
Float away with some drinks on the deck and boat docking at Beer Shed, then stay for karaoke. The bar's kitchen serves fresh fish, and plenty of other eats. Family-run and serving snacks from all over the world like Thai, American, Southern fare and seasonal specials.
Photo via Beer Shed Eats/Facebook

Copper Mug

1463 S Belcher Rd., Clearwater
The Copper Mug is a classic TB watering hole. Dart and golf games are available, and the store sells lottery tickets. Drink cheaply, and kick back and relax.
Photo via Copper Mug/Facebook

Dead Bob’s

6717 Central Ave S, St. Petersburg
Known for its burgers, live music and late hours, Dead Bob’s serves drinks in both St. Petersburg and Tampa. According to the website, the bar is named after a boisterous and lively drinker named Bob. As a very old man, Bob carried around an oxygen tank and drank until he almost fell out of his barstool. Sadly, he eventually passed away, but the man’s legend lives on in the bar.
Photo via Dead Bob’s/Facebook

Mahuffers

19201 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores
Mahuffers is full of salvaged junkyard artifacts: fish traps on the ceiling, cash and profanity on the walls and stickers everywhere. Outside, the sign says “wurst place on the beech, warm beer, lousy food.” Expect a good laugh at this hole-in-the-wall.
Photo via Mahuffers/Facebook

1933 Pub and Grill

2245 Nursery Rd., Clearwater
1933 Pub and Grill is an 8-year-old casual eatery and bar. On Wednesdays, it has $3.95 burgers, and on weekends musicians perform live. The bar also serves sandwiches and salads.
Photo via 1933 Pub & Grill/Google

American Legion Post 111

6918 N Florida Ave., Tampa
Here you'll find cheap drinks, great live music, and an Italian restaurant led by Chef Tony Macaroni & Co. inside. The American Legion has about 2.4 million members in 14,000 posts worldwide; with almost 400 in Florida.
Photo via American Legion Post 111/Google

The Hub

719 N Franklin St., Tampa
The Hub is one of the oldest bars in Tampa, founded in 1949. The classic dive bar is casual and easygoing, with a jukebox and graffiti etched on the walls. The pours are famously heavy, and you really never know who will pop in here on any given night.
Photo via Brian Mahar

Wilson’s Sports Lounge

3030 4th St N, St. Petersburg
Since "Magic Mike" was filmed outside Wilson’s Sports Lounge, you know it’s an interesting place. It's always smokey and packed, just as you’d expect from an excellent dive bar.
Photo via Google Maps

Abe’s Place

1250 S Missouri Ave., Clearwater
At Abe’s Place, you’ll find some of the best wings in town, with or without the bones, top notch beef burgers and a selection of 44 craft and draft beers on tap. Plus, you can rack up wing points and discounts when you register for the Friends of Abe’s program.
Photo via Abe’s Place/Google

49th Street Pub

860 49th St. N, St. Petersburg
49th Street Pub is a good ole divey sports bar with pool tables, plenty of jello shots, daily specials and live music. Stop by for a wide liquor selection and a wide variety of peeps.
Photo via 49th Street Pub/Google

Blue Parrot

85 Corey Cir, St Pete Beach
The Blue Parrot is located right by the water, and serves fresh seafood like baked onion crusted salmon, grouper florentine and shrimp pasta. The Blue Parrot also offers classics like meatloaf and shepherd’s pie. Chill out on the pavilion under the cooling fans, or rock out to some local blues bands.
Photo via Blue Parrott/Google

Hole in the Wall

1735 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
If a bar is called Hole in the Wall, you know damn well it is one. In the center of Hole in the Wall, stands a pole for dancing. This true dive bar is open every day from noon until 3 a.m. The happy hour runs from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m and includes two mixed drinks for $5, $6.50 frozen margaritas and five jello shots for $5.
Photo via Hole in the Wall/Google

Jungle Prada Tavern

1700 Park St N, St. Petersburg
The Jungle Prada Tavern still upholds the original Spanish-style architecture, with arches separating the rooms. The bar serves bar classics like fried pickles and burgers, as well as some unique plates like cajun meatloaf and peaches and cream smothered chicken.
Photo via Jungle Prada Tavern/Google

Mick’s Pub

2140 Drew St., Clearwater
Previously known as The Quick Red Fox, Mick’s Pub is where Saint Patrick’s Day is every day. The Irish bar offers a karaoke jukebox, pool tables, steel and electronic darts, live sports and outdoor seating. It also has $4 sandwiches and $5 fish and chips.
Photo via Mick’s Pub/Google

Old Northeast Tavern

201 7th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Old Northeast is mostly a locals pub, but sometimes, even Tampa Bay Rays players stop by. The food isn’t typical bar food either; it includes plenty of salads, pizza and lots of sandwiches like smoked salmon.
Photo via Old Northeast Tavern/Facebook

Reservoir Bar

1518 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
Located in Ybor City, the Reservoir Bar is a certified classic Tampa dive, with bar games like dart and pool. It even occasional pool tournament (and once saw late rapper DMX kick everybody's ass at the table after a concert). The bar calls itself the “finest hole-in-the-wall in town.”
Photo via Reservoir/Google

Smugglers Tavern

1120 Pinellas Bayway S., St. Petersburg
Stop by Smugglers Tavern for $2 jello shots, a jukebox, a dart board and drinks and cigarettes to-go. The sports bar is located on the island of Tierra Verde, south of St. Pete Beach and on the way to Ft. De Soto Park. Smuggler’s doesn’t serve food.
Photo via Smugglers Tavern/Google

Shadracks

114 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach
Famous since 1972, Shadracks is a classic St. Pete bar, just a couple of minutes walk from the beach and surrounded by little shops. Biscuit, a bartender, serves up specials like $2 Busch Lights on Mondays and $2 drafts on Tuesdays. Every day, there are specials for cold brews.
Photo via Google Maps