Gay Tampa: The Complete LGBTQ+ Travel Guide. When it comes to gay travel destinations in the US, Tampa proudly showed itself to be a welcoming and inclusive safe haven for gay travellers wanting to visit the “Sunshine State”.
I spent 4 nights in Tampa during December experiencing as much of the destination as possible, from its culinary delights (including one of the best steaks I have had in a while), to its main attractions and of course it’s vibrant and super friendly gay nightlife.
I then returned the following year to get the full gay Tampa Bay experience by joining in Tampa Bay pride.
Something about Tampa really made me beam with happiness and contentment during my visit, so please allow me to share my gay guide to Tampa in partnership with Visit Tampa Bay to help you plan your next trip there.
Is Tampa Gay Friendly?
It would be naïve of me not to mention that Florida as a state has its challenges when it comes to LGBTQ+ people and travel, some of which may deter people from travelling to Florida at all.
However, it’s equally naïve to not appreciate that there can be destinations, cities and people within these states striving for positive change. This is why I am always looking to showcase and shout about those destinations that are doing the work to make sure LGBTQ+ travellers are welcome, despite what may be happening in the wider state – and Tampa is a very good example of that!
I’ve encountered Visit Tampa Bay (the tourism board) at many LGBTQ+ travel related conferences, events and spaces over the past two years and can see that they are doing the work to make sure LGBTQ+ travellers continue to feel welcome to enjoy Tampa Bay – and this shone through on my trip.
So, to answer the question, ‘is Tampa gay friendly’, in my experience, yes. This was a sentiment that was also shared by many of the locals I met.
Where is the Gay Area of Tampa?
The main gay area of Tampa is in Ybor City, affectionately known as GaYbor and is mainly centred around 7th avenue.
So why did this area become GaYbor? The Ybor City district has always been the most progressive and diverse neighbourhood in Tampa and perhaps as a result, naturally lent itself to be a place for people deemed to be ‘different’ and allow them to be themselves.
In fact, I learnt on my tour of the neighbourhood that the first unofficial gay bar dates back to the 1940s! Unofficial in the sense that it was locally known but never advertised and if the police were to come along the guys may grab a girl to dance with etc.
Gay Hotels and Gay-Friendly Hotels in Tampa
Whilst there are no specifically gay hotels in Tampa, like most large cities you can expect to feel welcome wherever you stay.
I have two recommendations depending on where in the city you would like to stay, both have different benefits in terms of location, however it is easy to get around the city in either case.
Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Hotel Flor is a 4* hotel found in the downtown area of Tampa giving great access to the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Riverwalk and it’s also a short walk to the free city TECO Streetcar (more on that in practical tips section).
The rooms are very spacious and include free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen cable TV and desk. Their on-site restaurant, The Dan, serves some great dishes and if you just want a quick bite, they also have a cute grab and go style café on site, the Cass Street Coffee Co.
P.s it is part of booking.coms’ Travel Proud programme meaning it has done extra work to make sure it is providing the best welcome possible to its LGBTQ+ guests.
Hotel Haya
If you are looking for something more boutique, in the heart of GaYbor and with a pool, then Hotel Haya may be for you.
Enjoy rooms with lots of character and well thought out designs throughout incorporating local artists.
In terms of on-site offerings, you will find Flor Fina serving everything from Cuban, to Italian and Spanish dishes. They also have a Cuban style café called Café Quiquiriqui serving Cuban coffee, empanadas, pastelitos, paninis or their signature “El Cubano”.
Gay Bars in Tampa
The gay bar scene in Tampa is (unsurprisingly) centred around Ybor/GaYbor and I found that it had a strong community feel to it.
Like most places I have visited in the US, the bars I went to felt friendly and more often than not, people would happily strike up conversation.
There were more gay bars in the past, however as of now, there are two key gay bars that the majority of people go to – first to Bradleys on 7th, then to Southern Nights for their drag show around midnight (and then maybe some back and forth between the two later).
Bradleys on 7th
This is where I chose to start my night and I am very happy that I made that decision.
Bradleys is quite a large gay bar in Ybor with two rooms, the first room is more for drinking and chatting, the second is where you will find the gogo boys, the main dancefloor and the drag shows with local queens!
The first room is open 7 nights a week and the second then opens for the weekends. With the bar being open 7 nights a week it has become the go to neighbourhood gay bar.
With friendly bar tenders, reasonable (and a little too generous) drinks, no cover and great entertainment it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular gay bars in Tampa.
Southern Nights
Very much akin to Bradleys, and as I mentioned above, this is one that people tend to go to a little later. Southern Nights has a great vibe, large dancefloor and a busy mixed crowd (note this is 18+, whereas Bradleys is 21+, so you may see some younger faces).
Southern Nights is open 3 days a week and typically there is no cover charge, however when I visited, they had one of the RuPauls Queens performing so there was a $10 cover charge.
The Castle
A very unique bar indeed! This is not a gay bar per se, however it felt very inclusive and inherently queer.
The Castle is hard to desribe, it has an almost gothic interior with a maze of rooms, dancefloors and alternative spaces. One that I think you will just have to experience for yourself…
Gay Events in Tampa
Tampa Pride
Getting Pride started well ahead of Pride Month in June, Tampa Pride kicks of at the end of March each year and is one of the city’s top events!
Most of the festivities are held on one day, with the Tampa Pride Festival held 11am-4pm before the Tampa Pride Diversity Parade which gets going at 4pm.
The Parade runs through Ybor and goes east from the corner of Nuccio Parkway and E 7th Avenue, down E 7th Avenue to N 20th Street where it turns north to finish.
Keep an eye out for other pride related events in the lead up to the main weekend such as the Tampa Pride 5k Rainbow Run.
For up-to-date information and dates head to the Tampa Pride website, noting that more recent events have lead to the next Tampa pride being cancelled – this tells me that going to Tampa and supporting the LGBTQ+ businesses and people there is more important than ever!
Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
If queer cinema is more your scene, then you will want to check out the Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (TIGLFF).
TIGLFF is a non-profit that runs year-round community events to showcase films and videos by, for, or about the LGBTQ+ community.
TIGLFF was originally set up in 1990 and last year celebrated its 34th film festival – take a look at their website to find out when the next film festival will be held.
Gay Bathhouses in Tampa
I had very active time in Tampa (see below), but if you want to slow down a little there is one gay bathhouse in Tampa that you can visit.
Tampa Mens Club is the one and only gay bathhouse in Tampa. This private club is equipped with numerous flat-screen TVs, state-of-the-art exercise equipment, steam rooms, sunbathing areas etc.
Things to do in Tampa for Gay Travellers
When I travel, I love to explore, spend time outdoors, be active and see as much nature as possible – so if you are anything like me, then Tampa is going to be a perfect fit for you.
The destination has some beautiful spots to explore such as the Tampa Riverwalk, unique neighbourhoods like Ybor City and incredible wildlife to experience in both ZooTampa and Busch Gardens.
In particular, try and visit/do as many of the below as possible:
Equality Florida Mural
I wanted to start of my trip by visiting the Equality Florida Mural for LGBTQ+ people. The mural is quite small but sends a strong and positive message, something that really set the tone for the rest of my trip.
The mural can be found on the corner of N Tampa Street and W Euclid Avenue.
Paddleboarding with Urban Kai
After a long journey from the UK, this was the ideal way to start my trip the following morning.
The Hillsborough River runs to the west of downtown Tampa and is the perfect spot to spend a morning paddleboarding in the sun with Urban Kai.
As you glide along the river, your guide will introduce you to Tampa and share stories about the history of the area and of course answer any questions you might have. If you are lucky you might even spot a dolphin!
A fun, easy-going and unique way to start exploring Tampa. Find out more and book at Urban Kai.
Bay Rocket
If you are looking for something exhilarating or are struggling from jetlag, then make sure to add the Bay Rocket to your Tampa itinerary.
The Bay Rocket is a high-speed jet boat that after a gentle cruise out of port, opens up into the bay, blasting off at high speed, with the music pumping, 180 degree spins and a whole load of thrills.
Book the Bay Rocket for its last sailing of the day to get some beautiful sunset moments on its return.
Ybor City Historic Walking Tour with Max Herman
I’ll be honest, I get nervous about walking tours because for me, they can either hit of miss. Trust me that this one is a hit.
Ybor City as a neighbourhood was my favourite neighbourhood in Tampa. It felt like I was in a movie set from the wild west. Its tree lined streets, cigar shops, historical buildings, restaurants and bars give it a lot of character.
So being able to learn its unique and diverse history, whilst taking in its charm, was a wholly enjoyable experience and especially so as the tour guide Max Herman, is full of personality and charisma – he did an incredible job of keeping the pace right, the group engaged and making the experience fun.
P.s look out for the rainbow pride steps.
Book your tour here.
Tampa Riverwalk
Who doesn’t like a free activity to add to their itinerary?
The Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.6 mile waterfront walk that runs along Hillsborough River down to the Garrison Channel where you can then head to Sparkman Wharf (see below).
The walk is very picturesque and one I would recommend you do early morning or late evening as the sun rises or sets.
My suggestion would be to start your morning paddleboarding with Urban Kai (where the Riverwalk starts) and then after you finish, walk south down the Riverwalk to get to Sparkman Wharf.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
I have had many incredible wildlife experiences in my time travelling and yet at ZooTampa I continued to have some wow moments, most notably getting up incredibly close to a stunning white rhino.
As well as being home to over 2000 animals, split by continent across the park, ZooTampa is the nation’s only non-profit hospital and rehabilitation centre for injured West Indian Manatees and you have the option to visit the centre and see the work they are doing during your visit.
Get your tickets for ZooTampa here.
Sparkman Wharf
Sparkman Wharf is one of Tampa Bays newest waterfront entertainment spots. With shops, restaurants, bars and even a large beer garden all in a repurposed shipyard, it’s a cute spot to spend an afternoon.
Top tip for here; save room for ice cream from Jeni’s, trust me on this one.
Explore by Bike with Tampa Riverwalk Rentals
It might seem simple, but this was my number one experience in Tampa Bay.
I hired a bike from Tampa Riverwalk Rentals and used this to head up the Riverwalk, back down and then for miles and miles along Bayshore Boulevard.
The sense of freedom to fly along the coast with the sun in my face, the Wicked soundtrack in my air pods and explore further afield was the perfect way to end one of my final evenings.
They offer kayaks, paddleboards and bikes, more information can be found here.
Busch Gardens
And finally, one for the thrill seekers. Don’t let the name fool you, my first thought was quite literally ‘gardens’, but no, this is a thrill seeker and animal lovers’ ideal day out.
Busch Gardens is home to ten rollercoasters, including some real jaw droppers, as well as the nation’s largest accredited zoo.
For me, my two biggest thrills here were the Iron Gwazi, the fastest, tallest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world and then second, seeing a gorilla up close in the zoo area. This was truly a great experience.
Visit Busch Gardens for more information.
Where to eat in Tampa
Who knew Tampa would be a foodie lovers paradise? The restaurants I ate at during my visit impressed me time and time again. Here is a run down of each place I ate, and highly recommend.
Ulele
Ulele serves a menu inspired by Tampa Bays early native and Spanish explorers and sits on the waterfront by the Hillsborough River.
I ate one of their local fish dishes, a pan-seared fresh pompano with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, crawfish tail meat, wild rice blend and crisp carrot ribbons – incredibly tasty and ideal as I had just been paddleboarding so had a big appetite (Ulele is next to Urban Kai).
The restaurant is also one that you want to explore and take in, all its décor and touches are well thought out; look out for the many storybook characters that appear in and around Ulele.
The Pearl
On the vibrant and bustling Water Street Tampa area, The Pearl is serving some particularly delectable dishes. I ordered the pineapple marinated hanger steak with kimchee fried rice and it was incredible.
The Pearl is a stylish spot and one I would recommend for a dressed-up evening or date night, a must for your visit to Tampa.
Barrio
If you read this guide and I haven’t convinced you to visit Ybor City then something has gone wrong. Make sure to explore Ybor and when you do, grab lunch at one of its many restaurants.
If you like Tacos, Barrio is a new spot for casual indoor or outdoor dining with a whole build your own style taco menu.
The Dan
Housed within Hotel Flor in downtown Tampa, The Dan was my first meal in Tampa.
The restaurant is a modern take on the twenties with a classic and contemporary menu and I enjoyed one of the best fish dishes I have had in a long time here (the Branzino).
Willas
I had high expectations for Willas given that it has been given accolades such as one of the ‘Coolest Restaurants to Dine in Right Now’ from Architectural Digest and ‘Best New Restaurant’ by Tampa Magazine.
I am happy to say that these expectations were met, the food was delicious and in particular the parmesan roasted squash with crispy pancetta, honey drizzle, brown butter and whipped mascarpone was incredible.
Oxford Exchange
If you love to go to brunch, make sure to head here at the weekend.
The Oxford Exchange is a beautiful location with a sunlit conservatory for you to enjoy your food. The baked eggs with piquillo pepper sauce, chorizo, feta, herbs, za’atar spices and sourdough was a very good choice.
Ash
And finally, one for the Italian food lovers (with a bit of a twist). Ash is a newer restaurant in the Water Street Tampa area serving up fresh handmade pasta dishes and a highly acclaimed cocktail menu.
Practical Tips for Tampa
Some practical tips for your visit to Tampa:
- TECO Historic Streetcar – this is a free transport option that takes you from downtown Tampa, down towards Sparkman Wharf and then up to Ybor City. It runs very frequently and is an experience in itself (it will show up as an option on google maps).
- Currency – USD, I was able to use card or Applepay in most places.
- Airport – the closest airport in Tampa International Airport. An Uber from here into downtown Tampa should cost around $30.
- Uber – outside of the Streetcar option, this is the most likely form of transport. Prices do fluctuate so sometimes it is worth waiting ten minutes and checking again.
- Weather – it’s called the sunshine state for a reason. I visited in December and was generally very comfortable with summer clothes and a hoody just in case.
Wrap Up
Visiting Tampa in December has given me a taste and I am definitely keen to experience more. I loved how relaxed I felt here, how friendly the vibe was and with them having one of the first prides in the calendar year (end of March), hope to return one day to experience more of what Tampa has to offer.