The Most Delectable Dive Bars in Tampa

The Dirty Mullet

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"5 stars for this popular neighborhood "dive bar" that is open 11 AM to 10 PM seven days a week. It's a bar that attracts motorcyclists & many others. There's NO FOOD SOLD HERE, but prepare yourself for a room filled with typical bar games; sports on TV; & often a musician to occupy the stage behind the bar. The Dirty Mullet's SLOGAN is "Warm beer. Lousy Service. We've set the bar low so we don't disappoint."There are 3 parts to this bar; there's a larger dimly lit orange front room w/ games (see pics), an orange room w/ a cool large wooden bar & small stage (see pics), & a small side patio that contains a few tables w/ unbrellas (see pics). There are 20 WALL TVs in the game room & the room w/ the bar. LOTS of sports watched here!There's live music on the weekends; an annual chili cook-off; events to raise money for philanthropic causes; a karaoke night; trivia night; NFL Sundays, & more! Follow this bar's Facebook page for updates on events & drink specials.The lone bartender at 11 AM was very friendly. The bar patrons (all males, but two) were as well. While there, patrons were dressed in motorcycle attire (black shirts, black pants, leather, chains, etc) & they were in their 40's & 50's. AS A PRECAUTION, NO GROUP/GANG COLORS ARE ALLOWED. The Dirty Mullet, w/ its full bar; friendly staff; most interesting patrons; live music; & TVs & games galore is DEFINITELY A SPOT I'D RETURN TO OFTEN if I were local & a drinker. As a non-drinker, I'll definitely stop in to catch the live music whenever I'm in the area. I LOVE this type of off-the-beaten-path bar! Nothing generic here, which easily makes this a 5-STAR BUSINESS."

Whiskey Willie's

★★★☆☆ 3 (24) • $

"This place is as divey as it gets in Land O Lakes/ Lutz. There are no frills, I mean none. If you are a smoker it's one of the few places you can still smoke inside. They usually have a drink special and their prices are extremely low the last time I went they had a pint of bud select for $1.50. They're open 365 days of the year, even Christmas. If you're expecting craft beer, high end liquors, or fancy cocktails, don't come here unless you enjoy being disappointed. If want a jack and Coke or a bud light they can accommodate. The place is extremely dark, it is one of the very few windowless type of establishment. They have pool tables, darts, and a lot of seats."

Simon's Pub

★★★★☆ 4.3 (26) • $

"So this place is a cool old dive bar with food! No smoking (hooray). We came on a Monday night for the $5 burger. OMG so impressed! Chef cooked it perfectly! Comes with lettuce tomato onion and pickle. Chips and even a small side of your choice! Might be a new hangout for us. Want to try the other menu items. Friendly bartender and locals seem nice too! Give them a try"

Norton's Sports Bar Southside Clearwater

★★★★☆ 4 (15)

"The bartenders are friendly while expertly serving up drinks quickly, efficiently with a smile. The food is on point . Quesadilla had perfect balance of cheese and chicken and the wings were really good not too salty"

The Seabreeze Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (24) • $

"I'm sorry for dogging the whole place for one bad experience with an individual. It's a great place to chill drink beer and they always have great food."

Edison's Swigamajig

★★★★☆ 3.6 (76)

"Just popped to see creatorofcocktails from IG and get her to whip up a potion for me. As per usual she crafted a wonderful libation and I was pleased at the flavors invading my pallet. Not sure what she called it but damn it was good. Let's get real anything with Edison's in front of the name is gonna be good. (See Edison's food + drink lab) i will be back to try some of the food."

The Hub Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (168) • $$

"Great little place just re opened. Temporarily non smoking so that is great. Been open since 1949. Quaint little place and my first time here in the 22 years I have we worked downtown. They might allow smoking soon, so that will keep me away again.Bartender was great and they offer package service.The drinks are fairly priced. It's worth a stop if your downtown."

Rachel's Place

★★★★☆ 4.2 (14) • $

"Not to be confused with Rack-Hell place, which is when your boobs are so big that the back pains are hellish.This is a cute bar located in Tampa where you will find the quintessential bar atmosphere, and it's friendly and not too expensive and not even too far from the beach - just be careful that you don't drive from here after drinking, for your safety and everyone's, but also as the cops in Florida are not too friendly and you don't want to hurt anybody.We didn't stay long but it has a great vibe and we'll be back."

Petes Place North

★★★★☆ 3.9 (9)

"This place is hidden in plain sight! I work in Dale Mabry in Carrollwood and this is our go to spot for drinks after work when we want to sit outside.The beer is cheap, we order Yingling bottles for $3 all of the time not just happy hour. The bartenders are fast! The outdoor area is large with a stage though I've never been there when they were using the stage. This is just a completely chill bar with cheap beer and a great outdoor bar that makes you feel like you are miles away from where you are.That's 4 stars in my book!"

Pete's Place South Tampa

★★★★☆ 4 (80) • $

"Pete's is a small local dive bar that knows how to deliver a good time. The drinks are incredibly cheap, making it an easy choice for a budget-friendly night out. The karaoke setup adds a fun and lively element to the atmosphere, perfect for those looking to belt out their favorite tunes. While it's a bit on the smaller side, it adds to the cozy, local vibe that makes Pete's so charming. Definitely worth checking out for a casual and entertaining evening"

Bauser's

★★★★☆ 4.1 (26) • $

"Great for a quick beer before a BlueJay game. Great prices. Don't judge this book by it's cover. Its a friendly place to drink. No food."

Velvet Gypsy

★★★★★ 4.5 (61)

"Love this place. Service was great and the drinks were made with exceptional skill and presented them beautifully . I ordered a Mai Thai and my husband ordered an old fashion. The bartender was really friendly. The music was a little weird. The ambiance was really good! The parking situation is not ideal but overall a great experience. Would come again!"

Tiny Tap Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.9 (63) • $

"The dive bar of dive bars in Tampa. This has been a bar for almost 70 years and is one of the oldest continuously operated bars still running in Tampa. This is a Tampa hallmark and must-see if you are into dive bars. You might want to avoid the men's bathroom, but that's part of what gives it character. The pool tables haven't moved in decades as evidenced by the worn linoleum. And... they finally take credit cards!!!! So come get a PBR tall boy and feel like a local!"

The Bridge, A Locals Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (38) • $

"This karaoke bar is the place you want to be at. With indoor and outdoor seating, plenty of space on a stage to belt those tunes it's a perfect place to go spend time. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday they have karaoke on a lifted stage with a sound system and dj. The words are plenty large above you while you face a crowd and the bar like you are performing a real concert. We had a blast watching people and doing it ourself."

5 Star Dive Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (13) • $

"Walled in here just to grab a drink while we figured out where to have dinner but this ended up being one of he best little spots! We had 32oz margs for $6 each and a order of Brussels that were awesome. I wanted to stay and keep hanging out. This place is a great mix of dive bar, good eats, and inexpensive but delicious and big cocktails. Def stop in here this place was great and Joshua was the best!!"

The Hole In The Wall Bar-Tampa

★★★★☆ 3.8 (13) • $

"As far as a dive bar goes, this place is awesome! It's small, it has a pool table, darts, touch tunes music control, and best of all- there is NO SMOKING inside. That's always my one complaint about dive bars- is that I leave smelling like an ash tray. But not at Hole in the Wall! Smoking only allowed outside.I would have given this place 5 stars if they also had liquor- but alas, due to zoning laws of the church nearby, they are not allowed to serve liquor. However, bonus points for the fact that have "wine based liquor flavored alcohol"- so it's like imitation vodka, tequila, etc. Since it's a lower alcohol content, every drink is automatically made a double.Friendly bar servers round this place out. They also mentioned they'll be doing viewing parties for football and will have wings and pizza available for free (they don't have a kitchen) I look forward to coming back here often! Welcome to the neighborhood!"

Sully's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (8)

"This dive bar is small and smoky. My kinda joint! There are no beers on tap here, everything is served via bottle. It is not a full Liquor Bar either, but they do have wine for those who do not like beer. Choices are limited, I'm guessing due to the small size of the place, but they do offer about 8 or 9 craft beer options in addition to the usual domestic suspects. The bar does not serve food, but there is a vending machine with plenty of potato chips and other assorted crunchy snacks to eat. And there is a communal microwave, oddly positioned next to the pool table for those who perhaps bring food which needs to be heated up?This place opened in 1961 and claims to be the oldest bar in Dunedin. This is interesting because just the other day I was hanging out at The Inn Lounge on the Dunedin Causeway and they're open date is 1960, a full year before Tumbleweeds. Bar Wars, anyone?Victoria is a very friendly bartender, and I would potentially consider revisiting this place simply because it's been around for a really long time. However, it is a cash-only business and I cannot freaking stand cash-only businesses."

Longbar Pub & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (67) • $

"I'm very surprised about some of the comments here. I've been to the Longbar several times and the service and the food have always been excellent."

Tapper Pub

★★★★☆ 4 (40) • $

"So, this is my third visit to Tappers. I found it when looking for hole in wall bars. My main issue with place is smoking in there as it just permeates your clothes. The food not bad, the small grill area is behind bar. But, the highlight would be the cheap beer. A small pitcher is only $5.00, there is only 4 varieties on tap. But this bar is a straight throw back to the standard american dive bar. So, if you don't mind smelling of a cigarette and enjoy cheap American beer. This is the place for you."

San Antonio Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (18)

"San Ann Lounge has been good...consistent...and very cheap. Service is not the greatest if you are at a table...they are tending mostly to customer at the bar. But the food is pretty good and the drink flow at a fraction of the cost of other places in east Pasco."

Reservoir Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (53) • $

"What to say about Rez, it's been around Ybor for a decade a least. I can't be sure because anytime I'm in Ybor my memory is fuzzy for some reason?!? Maybe I need an MRI?Rez is my favorite Ybor dive bar, anyone is welcome: smokers, jokers, and midnight tokers.Located at what I like to call the top of Ybor(West end) Rez is a staple of what ybor is about, drinking! The bathroom has no door on it ,Ladies can meat gaze as they exit the bathroom if you stand back from the urinal. The walls are plastered with Graffiti and black, some from patrons and probably some from the staff. Which look like they would fit in a Rob zombie movie. I think there's a pool table and jukebox and their prices are low for Ybor. There was bands I think, not sure about now. I went during daylight hours which is the slow time. They have stone hands in Rez and your drink will be an over pour. They have some good booze choices and the craft beer selection is limited, but are you going to Rez for craft beer? No you go to smoke inside and scare away tourists. You can drink alone and no one will bother you."

The Pit Stop Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (16) • $

"I think it's a requirement to be a true dive bar that you been in a seedy looking strip mall and have some very gnarly regulars. This place hits both those check boxes. While cruising around and exploring T and C, I happened to spy the sign on this place and decided to give it a whirl. The front and door looks like an old world pub, and when you walk in, you find a bar that I could probably stretch my arms out and hit both sides, but that feels its a football field long. My first time here, the second I sat down a lovely, very short Asian man began to scream at the top of his lungs at me and cackle uncontrollably. I smiled, nodded, and pretended I was transfixed on whatever was on the tiny television, and proceeded to avoid all eye contact. A few mins later he decided to scream elsewhere. I then proceeded to have a nice chat with a fellow about motorcycles and he gave me the low down on all the biker bars and the best routes to avoid cops. Every bartender here I've ever interacted with has been quick to smile, very friendly, and quick to sling some suds. You can also tell they know the regulars well. I glanced over and saw a pretty large dog walking in from the back parking lot, and the bartender quickly grabbed some treats from beneath the bar and tossed them in the dogs direction. Apparently the dog is visually impaired and was playing with an empty Popov bottle as a chew toy. With shenanigans like this, I really want to give this place 4 stars. The biggest issue for me was the smoke. Yes, dive bars are smokey, but this place took the cake. After a few minutes, I was sitting there crying into my $1.25 mug of beer, probably looking like I had just been dumped. I'm glad I didn't know anyone well enough for them to ask me what was wrong. Or perhaps, that's what the Asian man had been screaming."

CJ's Saloon

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (15) • $

"The epitome of a dive bar, without question. People watching was an A+++. I saw all different types in there, from bikers, to nerds, to trashy people with homemade tattoos. This place had the gamut. We came here on a Saturday. It's in a small strip mall and when you walk inside , you see a couple of security guys (with earpieces, btw. Really? It's a dive bar, not the White House) and the overwhelming smell of smoke just slams your nasal passages. Right away you see a room full of drunk people. Some trying to do karaoke, some trying to dance. It was pretty entertaining. About 30 minutes after we got there, the roar of Harley's filled the air. No kidding, about 20-30 bikes pulled up and their leather vest-cladded riders came inside. They pretty much kept to themselves and didn't start any trouble, but one guy had a swastika patch on his vest. Oy vey. Can you say ex con scumbag?Drinks were surprisingly expensive given the fact it's a dive bar. Averaged about $4 per beer. It was packed too. Like really packed, but I was served quickly, so I was happy about that. I even did karaoke. In front of bikers. So I can cross that off my bucket list. All in all, I had a great time and will definitely be back. Let's hope the smoke air cleaner thingy is operational this time."

Old Man Frank's

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (106) • $$

"We've been trying to get to this hiddden gem for a couple years. It was worth the wait. Spectacular view of Lake Howard (I think). You'll find mainly seafood on the menu, as well as a full bar. We had oysters, boiled shrimp, and fish tacos. We had no issues or complaints. It was all delicious. We sat at the outside bar. The bartenders were helpful and attentive. I recommend sitting outside, weather permitting. Inside is a little dark. More suited for nighttime dining or cocktails. Old Man Frank's was a fun and tasty experience. The next time we're in the area we'll go back."

The Shipwreck

★★★★☆ 3.8 (126) • $

"A bit down the road from the newer, more touristy drag which made the street and this bar in particular, quite quiet. If it were in a different city, the area may have seemed a bit seedy but it wasn't at all. Upon entering, your senses are almost overwhelmed by the lights and overall theme of the bar. On one side is a pool table room which looks straight out of the 70's and not in a good way. One the other side is the bar, dim but colorfully lit with string lights, and decorated almost like a pirate cove ran into an aquarium. We did go on a Tuesday night, in the off season which more than likely accounted for how dead it was inside. It was just my family and what seemed like the local drunk. The bartender was prompt, nice, and a bit over the top, which is what I had hoped for from the other reviews. We got three of their specialty drinks which definitely looked cool and were Instagram worthy, though their looks and the Otter Pop in them were the best part of them. They tasted pretty terrible to be honest and were overly expensive. It was a fun"ish" 20 minutes but I don't think I would come back if it wasn't my last stop on a bender or if it wasn't already poppin' inside."

Joy Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (14) • $

"Four calling birds, three French hens, two dollar drinks"... fa la la la la! What a fun place to make merry with friends. Nobody's a "misfit" in this festive Christmas themed bar (though you might spot several "Yukon Cornelius" lookalikes-or maybe the "Wet Bandits"). Located on Armenia, just north of Sligh, not far from ZooTampa... it's an unassuming place, with a liquor store next door. There's a little parking lot-and I'm told you'll get towed if you park in the shopping center across the street-so you might want to carpool, take a ride share or get a lift from Santa (I think there's room to land "up on the housetop.") When we first walked in-letting sunlight stream in, it felt like everyone turned to stare-and it was so quiet, there could have been maybe a record scratch in the background. But we were greeted with smiles and so many twinkle lights-Clark Griswold approved. It's easy to see this place packs both comfort *and joy. There are definitely regulars-but everyone was very welcoming. There's a pool table, darts, beer pong, a Claw machine and holiday touches everywhere... including some intriguing shots ( like Santa's Lap) You can imagine Rudolph and the boys hanging out here after their big run.We didn't get to hang out long, but it was definitely fun-with Touch Tunes going and a good conversation spot-under Santa's watchful eye. I don't think they serve food, but there's a vending machine and we saw people bring in Taco Bell. (Jingle those taco bells!)You don't have to be an elf to get in... but you'll feel all kinds of jolly once you do-and not just because of the four-sided bar, or the spinning "wheel of joy." (Spin for a shot) Go try it out... yule (!) be glad you did."

Dunedin House of Beer

★★★★☆ 4 (121) • $$

"Loved this place.Clean,Friendly Staff,Good .Def check them out.Parking is a little hard if you don't get there early."