Tampa Bay's hottest new bars and restaurants to open so far in 2023

Trophy Fish

5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 727-758-7883
St. Pete seafood hotspot opened its second location in Seminole Heights last March. Originally founded in 2017 by St. Pete natives Ryan Griffin, Bill Griffin and Blake Thompson, Trophy Fish is known for its award-winning cocktails like the pistachio Mai-tai, and menu favorites like the grouper sandwich, seafood boil for two, and housemade cheesecake.
Photo via Trophy Fish/Facebook

Cane & Barrel

110 2nd St. N Ascent, St. Petersburg, 727-610-5427
Located on the eighth floor of the 36-story hotel and apartment complex Ascent St. Petersburg, Cane and Barrel is a Cuban-inspired bar and lounge that opened in early March. There’s an indoor bar and outdoor patio, with rum being the star of the menu, as the name itself is a homage to the spirit's voyage from "cane" to "barrel." Cane and Barrel is open from 4 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-midnight on Friday, 10:30 a.m.-midnight on Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Photo via Cane and Barrel/Facebook

5 Bucks Drinkery

7402 49th St. N, Pinellas Park, 727-896-5118
After 12 years of First Friday beer slinging, and booze-friendly food like burgers and tacos, St. Pete’s 5 Bucks Drinkery opened its second location in Pinellas Park on June 15. Thanks to inflation (insert sad face here), cocktails that used to only go for only $5 now tend to be around $5.99, but luckily all domestic beer tall boys go for $3.50.
Photo via 5 Bucks Pinellas Park/Facebook

PopStroke

25297 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz, 813-738-8590
In a collaboration between golf legend Tiger Woods, the TaylorMade Golf Company and founder Greg Bartoli, comes one of the newest locations of PopStroke. Featuring two 18-hole putt-putt courses, with synthetic turf, bunkers, rough and other obstacles normally found on a typical golf course, the concept also offers a digital ordering system through its app, which also doubles as a scorecard. In addition to the courses, PopStroke’s sixth location, and fifth in Florida, also features a full dining menu, an ice-cream parlor and a playground.
Photo via PopStroke/Facebook

Raising Cane’s

2525 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727- 431-1408
Known for its American classic’s of chicken tenders, fries, texas toast and coleslaw, Raising Cane’s opened its first Tampa Bay location at the end of January in Clearwater, joining three other Florida locations in Homestead, Miami and Gainesville. The fast food chicken joint is one of the newest contenders to Clearwater’s already competitive tendy market, with Church’s, Huey Magoos and PDQ within a 10-mile radius.
Photo via Raising Cane’s/Facebook

The Pearl

823 Water St. Suite C-100, Tampa, 813-709-7776
One of the latest additions to the booming Water Street district of Tampa, The Pearl had its grand opening at the beginning of March. Its interior was inspired by vintage and urban design, and offers a variety of menu options, from weekend brunch favorites like chicken and waffles, to dinner specialities like ricotta dumplings with acorn squash. Indoor dining room seating is available, but its outdoor patio offers a view of the city and the Amalie Arena. And kids of all ages will love the deviled egg appetizer.
Photo via The Pearl/Facebook

Rollin’ Mullet Bar and Grill

6401 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-245-5465
With a fully-stocked airstream bar, a dozen (if not more) 65-inch TVs and a rotating menu of gourmet hot dogs, Rollin’ Mullet Bar and Grill is set to be a new Seminole Heights hotspot. The open-air bar opened in early February, with mayor Jane Castor pouring its first brew. The bar’s beer menu is over 50% local, featuring Bay area favorites like 3 Daughters, Coppertail, Green Bench, Tampa Bay Brewing Company and Motorworks Brewing.
Photo via The Rollin’ Mullet/Facebook

Ebbe

1202 N Franklin St., Tampa
Internationally-acclaimed, two-time Michelin star winner Chef Ebbe Vollmer’s newest restaurant Ebbe (stylized “EBBE”) opened in what used to be Mole y Abuela’s in late May. “Our menu. Our choices…a fixed menu that features all the best seasonal produce,” Ebbe's newly-formed website reads. Currently the restaurant offers two different reservations: Chef’s Counter Small Menu featuring a five-course meal ($115 a person), and Chef’s Counter Full Tasting Menu, which offers a 14-course meal ($285 a person).
Photo via Ebbe Vollmer/Instagram

Florida Avenue Brewing Co.

4315 N Florida Ave., Seminole Heights, 813-358-2927
Florida Avenue Brewing Co.’s newest location is owned by the same people who brought you Brew Bus Brewing. The 4,000-square foot space includes a taproom and small-batch brewery, with an on-site kitchen and shaded outdoor patio. The new brewery boasts 16-taps and a full-liquor bar.
Photo via Florida Avenue Brewing Co./Instagram

The Adnoraf

119 S Dakota Ave., Tampa, ​​727- 458-1352
Hyde Park’s new member only supper and social club, The Adnoraf, opened its doors at the beginning of March. The Adnoraf only allows 150 members, who will have access to monthly dinners hosted by a rotating selection of chefs and cuisines. There are three tiers of membership, the first costs $5,000 upfront with an additional $175 in monthly dues. The second is $2,500, with $145 in monthly dues. The cheapest membership is reserved for ages 21-27, for $750 and $75 in monthly dues. The higher tier, the more access and availability members have for their experience.
Photo via The Adnoraf/Instagram

Deviant Libation

3800 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 727- 379-4677
Almost three and a half years after originally obtaining the keys to his Ybor Heights bar, owner Tim Ogden finally opened its doors at the end of January. With a dark interior fashioned by artists at Tampa’s Livework collective, the bar looks more like a cathedral, with a bright pink floor offering an intense contrast. Twelve people can sit at the bar, and 30-or so more can sit at the communal tables and outside patio. While there will be classics like IPA’s, helles, stouts and sours, Ogden’s unique take on all styles—and his unwillingness to bend to traditional notions of what those styles should taste like—will keep Tampa Bay’s biggest beer nerds coming back again and again.

Sesh

2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-933-0266
St. Pete’s highly-anticipated craft brewery and restaurant, Sesh, has finally opened after years of restoring its historic 4th Street building. With a history of supposed ghost sightings, Sesh embraces its past, calling its kid’s menu for ‘lil goblins.’ Sesh St. Pete is now open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for brunch on Sundays.

bb.q chicken

3805 Northdale Blvd., Northdale, 813-722-9464
A slice of Seoul opened in Northdale back in April. Whether you’re in the mood for simple golden fried chicken, super spicy wings of fire, or non-stop K-Pop playing in a sit-down atmosphere, bb.q guarantees its customers the “best of the best quality,” because after all, that's what bb.q stands for. While the restaurant has over 3,500 locations worldwide, this is only the second location in Florida, with the first in Orlando.
Photo via bb.q chicken/Facebook

Boulon Brasserie

1001 Water St., Tampa, 813- 768-9988
From the same company as Union New American comes Boulon Brasserie, this French style brasserie with a modern twist that opened in Tampa’s Water Street District towards the end of January. The 7,000-square foot restaurant spared no expense in design and buildout, and features two outdoor patios and floor to ceiling windows. Its menu boasts entrees like scallop risotto, and duck confit, and was created by Chef Habteb ‘Hab’ Hamde, who previously worked as executive chef at Bern’s Steakhouse for 26 years. Don’t skip out on the blue crab croquette.
Photo via Boulon Brasserie and Bakery/Facebook

Hong BBQ and Hot Pot

5840 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-515-6098
Featuring unique meats you may not have seen at other KBBQ or hot pot locations, including chicken gizzard, or beef tongue, Hong BBQ and Hot Pot opened in North Tampa back in January. Guests can pay $30.99 to do hot pot or KBBQ, or $35.99 to partake in both dinner methods. Children ages 4-10 cost $15.99 for one style of dinner, or $21.99 for both. But don’t pick off more than you can chew, as Hong can charge you $13.99 a pound for wasted food.
Photo via Hong BBQ and Hot Pot Fowler/Facebook

Mutts & Martinis

2900 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-284-6750
Mutts & Martinis, Tampa Bay’s only backyard bar and doggy waterpark, features a variety of “muttgaritas” and “dogtinis.” The concept was announced in 2020 and is the latest from Natalie Corner, who also owns both locations of Love My Dog Resorts. “Human hours” are 2 p.m.- 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, noon-midnight on Friday, and 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday. “Dog hours” are until 9 p.m. every night, afterwards no dogs will be allowed on the premises to make way for live music and other late-night entertainment.
Photo via Mutts & Martinis/Facebook

Small Giant

1011 E Cumberland Ave., Tampa, 813-921-0571
Boasting a large dining room with easy to eat food and drink like Columbus-style pizza and cocktails, Small Giant has deemed itself a “little bar with a big heart” according to its Instagram. Small Giant opened in mid-February in the booming Water Street district, and is owned by Cru Hospitality, which also owns six other concepts in Tampa Bay. Some highlights of the menu include the kimchi bacon cheese burger, and its featured blush and bashful beer.
Photo via Small Giant/Facebook

Union New American

1111 N Westshore Blvd. Annex B, Tampa, 813-768-9989
After literal years of hype, Union New American finally opened in early April. The 10,000 square-foot, two-story restaurant says it's a place where people can do it all, from mid-day business, to after work cocktails. Boasting a total of 284 seats, the restaurant offers a hefty beer and wine menu, alongside a variety of lightbite seafood, heartier steaks and chicken, and dessert to close out the night.
Photo via Union New American/Facebook

Coasis

7701 N Nebraska Ave. ,Seminole Heights, 813-551-0791
Known for her mouth-watering success with Three Generations food truck, Chef Melissa “Melly” Gardner opened her debut brick-and-mortar restaurant, Coasis, in February. Coasis was created in a partnership with Gardner’s business and life partner Brandi Gergle, known for her local salons and wig business, B Blaze Hair Boutique. Offering weekend brunch, modern steakhouse dinners, and late small-plates, the restaurant wants to expand on the culture built with the Three Generations food truck.

Fatburger

9950 Upper Alafia Ct., Riverview, 813-741-3030
Fatburger first made its debut in the Florida food scene 20 years ago in its Clearwater Mall and International Mall locations, both of which have since closed. Now, the brand has over 180 locations worldwide, with a location opening in Riverview on June 19. The California-based fast food chain is known for its highly-customizable and made-to-order burgers and vegan options, milkshakes and fries.
Photo via Fatburger/Instagram