Skip to Main Content
La Fête du ChampagneCode: PEARL
← Destinations
Destination Dossier

Tampa Bay

Gulf coast seafood and Cuban heritage

Tampa Bay travel destination
Tampa combines Wine Spectator award-winning cellars with Italian fine dining, Japanese omakase and Nordic-inspired tasting menus. Across Tampa Bay, our guide includes 4 Michelin-starred restaurants with 4 Michelin stars in total. Historic Hyde Park has Bern’s Steak House and Haven, pairing extensive wine selections with dry-aged steaks and modern American small plates respectively. In Gilchrist's A W Oak Grove, Lilac’s Mediterranean cooking accompanies a wine program shaped around France, Italy and Greece, while Boulon Brasserie & Bakery brings French brasserie cooking and an extensive list. Tasting-menu dining extends across Tampa Heights, Hyde Park and North Franklin Street, with Japanese and Scandinavian influences among the kitchens. The region also has wine bars built around different styles of drinking: Cellarmasters pours natural wine in St Petersburg, and Wine on Water combines small-production wines with a bar-and-shop format in Tampa. Sarasota contributes New Orleans-inspired cooking at Lucky 8, while Clearwater Beach has rooftop resort dining with Star Wine List recognition.

Michelin-starred dining in Tampa

Tampa’s starred restaurants include Italian fine dining, Japanese omakase and Nordic-inspired tasting menus. Wine and sake programs accompany these different kitchen formats.

  • Ebbe

    Ebbe in North Franklin Street holds a Michelin star for Nordic-inspired fine dining. Its tasting menu combines Scandinavian influences with local Florida ingredients at a U-shaped marble chef’s counter, accompanied by an extensive wine list.

  • Kōsen

    Kōsen in Tampa Heights is a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant serving omakase at a chef’s counter. Its tasting-menu format blends Japanese tradition with innovation, and a sake program accompanies the cooking. The chef trained under Masa Takayama.

  • Rocca

    Rocca in Tampa Heights is a Michelin-starred modern Italian restaurant with tableside fresh mozzarella and house-made pastas. Its extensive wine list accompanies a la carte dining and small plates, with regional Italian cooking shaped by Bryce Bonsack’s time in Piedmont.

  • Koya

    Koya in Hyde Park is a Michelin-starred omakase restaurant serving a Japanese tasting menu at an intimate counter. Premium seafood comes from Toyosu Market, and the drinks program includes sake alongside an extensive wine list.

Wine programs in Tampa

Tampa’s wine-focused restaurants include a Grand Award steakhouse, a Mediterranean prix fixe restaurant and a French brasserie. Sommelier-led lists also accompany modern American cooking.

  • Bern’s Steak House

    Bern’s Steak House in Historic Hyde Park pairs dry-aged steaks with an extensive wine list and one of the world’s largest private wine collections. The restaurant holds a Wine Spectator Grand Award and James Beard recognition for wine service and its wine program.

  • Ponte

    Ponte in Midtown Tampa serves modern American cooking with French-Italian influences, including steaks, seafood and tableside presentations. Its extensive, sommelier-led wine list accompanies a la carte dining and small plates. The restaurant holds Michelin Plate and Star Wine List recognition.

  • Boulon Brasserie & Bakery

    Boulon Brasserie & Bakery in Gilchrist's A W Oak Grove serves French classics in an Art Deco-inspired brasserie with an attached bakery. Its extensive wine list holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and the restaurant also has Star Wine List recognition.

  • Lilac

    Lilac in Gilchrist's A W Oak Grove serves John Fraser’s Mediterranean cooking with Greek heritage influences through prix fixe and tasting-menu formats. Its sommelier-led wine program focuses on France, Italy and Greece and holds a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.

Bib Gourmand restaurants in Tampa and Sarasota

Tampa’s Bib Gourmand restaurants include modern American, Greek and Mexican cooking. Sarasota adds a New Orleans-inspired luncheonette to this selection.

  • Rooster and the Till

    Rooster and the Till in Old Seminole Heights holds Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for modern American cooking with global influences. Its tasting menu, small plates, a la carte and family-style formats accompany a sommelier-led wine program with Star Wine List recognition.

  • Psomi

    Psomi in Old West Tampa is a modern Greek bakery and eatery with Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. House-made breads and pastries anchor its baking program, while Christina Theofilos’s Greek-American cooking includes house-made dolmades and octopus ceviche.

  • Streetlight Taco

    Streetlight Taco in South Tampa holds Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for contemporary Mexican cooking. Michael Brannock’s kitchen serves inventive tacos and tostadas, including a crab-and-mango preparation. The restaurant offers a la carte dining and small plates alongside craft cocktails.

  • Lucky 8

    Lucky 8 in Southside Village holds Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for its New Orleans-inspired cooking. The luncheonette serves an a la carte menu drawing on Cajun and Creole traditions, including gumbo and po’boys, alongside beer.

Bars in St Petersburg and resort dining in Clearwater Beach

St Petersburg has natural wine bars and cocktail venues with seasonal cooking. Clearwater Beach adds rooftop resort dining with Star Wine List recognition.

  • Wild Child

    Wild Child in Grand Central District combines a tropical-themed patio with globally inspired seasonal dishes. The drinks program includes craft cocktails, mezcal and tequila, and the bar has James Beard Award semifinalist recognition alongside its wine list.

  • Cellarmasters

    Cellarmasters is a St Petersburg wine bar pouring a selection of natural wines. Themed, tranquil rooms provide a setting for conversation, with industry veterans and newcomers among its drinkers. The bar holds Star Wine List recognition.

  • JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

    JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa in Clearwater Beach is a beachfront hotel with rooftop dining and multiple dining and drinking venues. The property holds Star Wine List recognition and Michelin Selected recognition, with Gulf views from its rooftop pool.

Planning FAQ

Which neighborhoods in Tampa have award-winning wine programs?

Historic Hyde Park, Gilchrist's A W Oak Grove and Turman's East Ybor have Wine Spectator winners in our guide. In Historic Hyde Park, Bern’s Steak House holds a Grand Award and Haven a Best of Award of Excellence. In Gilchrist's A W Oak Grove, Lilac holds a Best of Award of Excellence and Boulon Brasserie & Bakery an Award of Excellence. Columbia holds a Best of Award of Excellence in Turman's East Ybor.

How many Michelin-starred restaurants are in Tampa Bay?

There are 4 Michelin-starred restaurants in our Tampa Bay guide, with 4 Michelin stars in total across the included cities. Rocca, Kōsen, Ebbe and Koya are the starred restaurants in this selection, and all are in Tampa.

Where can I find tasting menus in Tampa Bay?

Tampa has tasting menus at Lilac, Kōsen, Ebbe, Koya, Rooster and the Till, Restaurant BT and Mise en Place. Kōsen and Koya offer Japanese omakase, Ebbe serves Nordic-inspired cooking at a chef’s counter, and Lilac serves Mediterranean cuisine with Greek influences.

Which restaurants in Tampa Bay hold Wine Spectator awards?

Bern’s Steak House, Lilac, Columbia, Haven and Boulon Brasserie & Bakery hold Wine Spectator awards in our guide. Bern’s Steak House has a Grand Award; Lilac, Columbia and Haven hold Best of Award of Excellence recognition; Boulon Brasserie & Bakery holds an Award of Excellence.

By Emmett Haley · Updated October 8, 2026 · Editorial standards

Awards in Tampa Bay

Top 16 accolades

Hover any badge for the full award name. Counts reflect venues holding each accolade in Tampa Bay.

4
2
18
7
2
2
1
1
1
48
7
43
3
1
11
1

Tampa Bay

Where to eat in Tampa Bay

Selected entries from the current guide for Tampa Bay.

Columbia restaurant in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Columbia

Florida's oldest restaurant, Columbia has anchored Tampa's Ybor City since 1905, earning a Michelin Plate in 2024 and consecutive Opinionated About Dining Casual North America rankings. The menu draws from Cuban and Spanish traditions built over more than a century, placing it in a different competitive tier than Tampa's newer fine-dining arrivals, a living document of the city's immigrant food heritage rather than a reaction to current culinary trends.

Tampa, United States
Psomi restaurant in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Psomi

A Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient on North Howard Avenue, Psomi is Tampa's answer to the neighbourhood Greek daytime spot done with genuine craft. Chef Christina Theofilos brings second-generation Greek-American cooking to a breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch format, with house-made dolmades, octopus ceviche, and an all-day baking program that gives the name, Greek for bread, its full meaning. Priced at $$, it earns its following through consistency, not spectacle.

Tampa, United States
Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co. restaurant in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co.

A Michelin Plate-recognised sandwich shop in Tampa's NoHo neighbourhood, Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co. draws consistent lines for its Italian-American format built around house-made schiacciata and fillings rooted in New York deli tradition. At a single-dollar price point, it occupies a different tier entirely from Tampa's Michelin-starred dining rooms, but the 2025 Plate recognition places it in serious company regardless of format.

Tampa, United States
Flaming Mountain restaurant in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Flaming Mountain

Flaming Mountain holds consecutive Michelin Plate recognition for 2024 and 2025, placing it among a small group of Chinese restaurants in Tampa drawing serious culinary attention. Located in the University Plaza area on Tampa's northern edge, it operates at an accessible price point that makes Michelin-noted Chinese cooking unusually approachable in a city where the recognized dining tier skews toward upscale Contemporary and Japanese formats.

Tampa, United States

Tampa Bay

Where to stay in Tampa Bay

Selected entries from the current guide for Tampa Bay.

JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa hotel in Clearwater

Clearwater, United States

JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

Opened in 2023, JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa repositions the Gulf Coast's most visited stretch of sand with a design-forward approach that trades coastal kitsch for a sleek turquoise-and-neutral palette. Ranked #39 on Condé Nast's Best Resorts list for 2025 and recognized by Star Wine List in 2026, the property offers rooftop dining, four dining and drinking venues, and a sea-inspired spa across generously sized rooms from 420 square feet.

Clearwater, United States
Hotel Haya hotel in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Hotel Haya

Selected by the Michelin Guide Hotels 2025, Hotel Haya occupies a restored building on Tampa's Ybor City corridor at 1412 East 7th Avenue, where Cuban and Spanish architectural vernacular meets a design sensibility that reads as contemporary without erasing its surroundings. For travelers who want a hotel that places them inside a neighbourhood rather than above it, Haya is the Tampa property that earns that distinction with credentials to back it up.

Tampa, United States
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach hotel in Clearwater

Clearwater, United States

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach

Positioned directly on Clearwater Beach's Gulf-front strip, the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach operates at a scale that puts it among the area's most prominent resort addresses. A Condé Nast Traveler Best Resorts ranking (No. 35, 2025) places it in measurable company. The property suits travelers who want Gulf views, a full resort footprint, and the reliability of a major international brand on one of Florida's most consistent beach destinations.

Clearwater, United States
Sandpearl Resort hotel in Clearwater

Clearwater, United States

Sandpearl Resort

Sandpearl Resort occupies a direct beachfront position on Clearwater Beach at 500 Mandalay Ave, placing it within the upper tier of Gulf Coast resort properties that prioritize water access and full-service dining over boutique minimalism. The property draws guests seeking a structured resort experience with multiple food and beverage outlets, proximity to the Gulf, and the kind of operational scale that independent hotels in the area rarely match.

Clearwater, United States
The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection hotel in St Petersburg

St Petersburg, United States

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club occupies a 1925 Mediterranean Revival landmark on St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront, where the building's terracotta roofline and hand-painted ceilings have become as much a part of the city's architectural identity as any civic structure. Positioned within Marriott's Autograph Collection, it pairs historic bones with a marina-facing setting that few Gulf Coast properties can match.

St Petersburg, United States

Tampa Bay

Where to go for a drink in Tampa Bay

Selected entries from the current guide for Tampa Bay.

Cellarmasters bar in St Petersburg

St Petersburg, United States

Cellarmasters

In a cinderblock building one block north of Central Avenue, Cellarmasters operates as one of St. Petersburg's most approachable wine bars, drawing industry veterans and curious newcomers alike with a selection built around honest, well-made bottles. The format favors conversation over ceremony, and the crowd reflects that, knowledgeable without being precious. For wine drinkers who find most bar programs either too basic or too performative, this is where the balance lands.

St Petersburg, United States
Acqua Alta Ristorante bar in Safety Harbor

Safety Harbor, United States

Acqua Alta Ristorante

Acqua Alta Ristorante occupies a strip-mall suite on McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, a location that places it squarely within Safety Harbor's quietly competitive dining corridor. The name signals an Italian orientation, but the full character of the drink and food program rewards those willing to look past the address. For the Tampa Bay area, that kind of low-profile ambition tends to matter more than the square footage.

Safety Harbor, United States
Birchwood Canopy bar in St Petersburg

St Petersburg, United States

Birchwood Canopy

Birchwood Canopy sits on Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg, occupying the rooftop position above the Birchwood hotel with views across Tampa Bay. The bar has established itself as a reference point on St. Pete's growing cocktail circuit, drawing a crowd that comes as much for the drinks program as for the water views. It sits in the upper tier of the city's bar scene, where format and setting combine to justify the price point.

St Petersburg, United States
Cane and Barrel restaurant in St Petersburg

St Petersburg, United States

Cane and Barrel

Cane and Barrel occupies a spot on 2nd Street North in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, placing it within easy reach of the city's growing dining corridor. The address puts it alongside a neighbourhood that has shifted noticeably over the past decade, attracting a clientele that returns for consistency rather than novelty. For visitors and locals tracking St. Petersburg's dining evolution, it represents a useful reference point on the scene.

St Petersburg, United States
Coppertail Brewing Co. bar in Tampa

Tampa, United States

Coppertail Brewing Co.

Coppertail Brewing Co. occupies a converted industrial space at 2601 E 2nd Ave in Tampa's Ybor City-adjacent Channelside corridor, placing it among the city's larger craft production breweries. The taproom's warehouse architecture and open brewing floor set it apart from the smaller neighborhood bar format that defines much of Tampa's craft scene. It draws both locals and visitors seeking a full-scale brewery experience with production visible from the floor.

Tampa, United States

Tampa Bay

Which wineries to visit in Tampa Bay

Selected entries from the current guide for Tampa Bay.

No venues found.