Make the most of a kid-free date night in and around Tampa!
You want to plan a date night for you and your partner, but with so many amazing things going on around Tampa, it can be hard to nail down the date idea that’s just right for you. That’s where we come in.
[READ MORE: “101 Cheap Date Night Ideas“]
To help you plan the perfect night out, we did some research to find out what our fellow Tampans do when they want to have a nice kid-free night out on the town. From this, we pulled together a list of the top 10 best date night spots in and around the Tampa area. So, whether you’re looking to take your partner on a new adventure or out to a nice dinner, you’re bound to find something on this list that you’ll both love. All you need to now is lock down your babysitter or nanny for the big night!
Address: 1010 N. Macinnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602
Hours:
- Performance times vary
- Ticket Office: Monday – Saturday, noon – 8 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 6 p.m.
Phone: 813-229-7827
Many people don’t even realize how lucky we are to have a top-notch performing arts center right in the heart of downtown Tampa. Not only is their largest theater, Carol Morsani Hall, a stop on the tours for all the major traveling Broadway shows, but the Straz is home to many smaller theaters that host a variety of plays and shows from the esteemed Patel Conservatory, which is based at the Straz.
With comedians, bands, orchestras, and operas also making tour stops at the Straz, you’re pretty much guaranteed to snag tickets to the perfect date night show for you both! A ton of great restaurants are within walking distance in downtown Tampa, but if you want a one-stop shop, make dinner reservations at Maestro’s Restaurant at the Straz. It’s located just outside the doors to the theater.
Topgolf
Address: 10690 Palm River Road, Tampa, FL 33619
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – midnight | Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Phone: 813-298-1811
If sitting isn’t on the menu for your ideal date night, consider spending a few hours at Topgolf. Personally, I am not a big golf person, but that’s not really a requirement for fully enjoying yourself here. I won’t get too into the details (watch this video for the gist of how it all works), but if you aren’t familiar with the concept, Topgolf is like a driving range on steroids mixed with a fun bar.
You have to purchase a membership card — $5 each — to play. From there, the price to rent a bay varies from $25 to $45 an hour, depending on time of day. Before you go, know that the wait time for a bay can get lengthy on Saturday nights, but there are lots of fun games, a restaurant, and a bar to help pass the time.
Coppertail Brewing Company
Address: 2601 E. 2nd Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
Tasting Room Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 813-247-1500
Coppertail Brewing has a lot more going for it in terms of date-night potential than you might expect. First and most important, it’s one of the best breweries in town. I know you think you can pick up Coppertail at Publix, and sure, you can do that, but their package selection is nothing compared with what you can regularly find on tap at their Ybor City facility. Next, the atmosphere is incredible. Coppertail is one of the prettiest breweries I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot. They really took time and care with the decor of the tasting room, and it’s just a pretty place to be. They have a stack of games to get into, too. Finally, when you’ve had your share of brews, you no longer have to leave to grab dinner somewhere else. As of July, a kitchen serves up delicious bites right inside the tasting room!
Fourth Friday
Address: Various locations throughout downtown Tampa
Hours: The fourth Friday of every month
Fourth Friday is a relatively new addition to the downtown Tampa landscape, but it’s an awesome way to take advantage of Tampa’s beautiful Riverwalk and all the restaurants and cultural institutions you’ll find along the way. The offerings and programs vary and can include anything from special art exhibits to discounts on dining to reduced or free admission. The organizers are great about updating their Facebook page with what is going on at this month’s Fourth Friday, but no matter what, it’s a great excuse to get out and explore our lovely city on date night!
Pro tip: Start your night at one of the cultural venues to pick up a wristband. That’s the key to all the awesome discounts and freebies. An updated list can be found on the Facebook page.
Haven
Address: 2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa, FL 33606
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 813-258-2233
If you’re a long-time local, you might remember Haven as the former SideBern’s. It was fully overhauled in 2015 and has become one of my favorite restaurants in town. The ambiance is right on the nose for a romantic night out with your SO (and it definitely isn’t the kind of place you’d want to take your kids). Haven specializes in an incredible cheese and charcuterie selection, and the wine selection benefits from its relationship with its sister restaurant, Bern’s Steakhouse — home to one of the largest private wine collections in the world. Beyond that, Haven has the largest bourbon selection I have ever seen, clocking in at more than 300 bottles.
All of this and I haven’t even gotten to the main courses — which are delightfully unique and include wild-caught fish, fresh game, and even a very impressive offering of veggie-based dishes. Word of warning: This probably would not be my first choice if my spouse were a picky eater, but even the slightly adventurous will find something up their alley on Haven’s menu. As a bonus, if you’re into an early date night, Haven offers a top-notch happy hour until 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Hyde Park Village
Address: 744 South Village Circle, Tampa, FL 33606
Hours: Varies by business
Phone: 813-251-3500
Hyde Park Village is just the cutest. By day, it’s where I buy knickknacks at West Elm or hoard stationery supplies from Paper Source, but by night it’s the perfect one-stop date night spot. Want to eat dinner in a fancy theater while enjoying a flick? CinéBistro is for you. Looking for a sweet treat to cap off your night? Then you’ll want to head over to Sprinkles. Inside, they have cupcakes, cookies, and ice cream, but don’t worry if your movie lets out after closing time. There’s a 24-hour cupcake ATM outside to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth.
If in-movie dining isn’t for you, there are plenty of date night-ready spots here, as well. My hands-down favorite is On Swann, but I would be remiss to leave out other favorites like Bartaco and Timpano. Keep your eye on Hyde Park Village’s events calendar, too. In addition to info on sales and events at the stores, you’ll find details on community block parties, farmers markets, and their big Christmas tree lighting celebration.
Lowry Parcade & Tavern
Address: 1213 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, FL 33604
Hours: Open daily, 3 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Phone: 813-915-9180
This one is for the nostalgia/game lover in all of us. Lowry Parcade is home to all your childhood favorite arcade games, like Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat, and NBA Jam, as well as a selection of pinball tables. But now that you’re an adult — on a much-deserved date night away from the kids, I might add — you can also indulge in the bar. Lowry Parcade has a pretty great craft beer selection, with nearly 30 brews on tap.
iFly Tampa
Address: 10654 Palm River Road, Tampa, FL 33619
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. | Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. | Sunday, 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 813-773-4359
Skydiving. Inside. You read that correctly. iFly is definitely not your average date night spot, but I think it’s a perfect way to step out of your comfort zone with your significant other for the night. Sure, your kids might enjoy it, too, but this is your date night!
Essentially, iFly is a big ol’ wind tunnel that simulates the sensation of skydiving, but there are no planes, no parachutes, and no hurdling thousands of feet. Skilled instructors show you the ropes before they go in the tunnel with you. iFly Tampa is right next door to Topgolf if you’re looking to make a night of it.
Columbia Restaurant Flamenco Show
Address: 2117 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone: 813-248-4961 (Call ahead for reservations)
There are a handful of Columbia restaurants sprinkled across Florida, but only Tampa can claim the original, and inarguably the best, of all the locations. The one in Ybor City has been family owned and operated there since 1905, and the building just exudes history.
While the excellent food, wine list, atmosphere, and Ybor City location already give Columbia high marks for date night, snagging a reservation to catch a Flamenco show would make Columbia the ultimate date night spot. This reservation can’t be made on OpenTable, so you’ll actually have to make a phone call. But it is fully worth it. Catch the 7:30 p.m. show, or the 9:30 p.m. show on weekends.
Escape Room for Two at Escape Countdown Tampa
Address: 4536 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609
Hours: Monday & Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Wednesday & Thursday, noon – 8 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 10 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 8 p.m.
Phone: 813-327-7898
Escape rooms are mega popular in Tampa right now. Pretty much everyone I know has done one as a team-building activity at work or with their kids, but Escape Countdown has something perfectly tailored for your date night — an escape room built for two!
The tiny room is packed with a lot of surprises and has an adorable Parisian theme. While you may not think you’re really sitting outside a cafe in France, you will have a ton of fun tracking down clues with your partner — and you’ll probably learn a thing or two about their problem-solving skills.
