Tampa Bay Certified · Food & Drink
New Restaurants & Bars in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay's newest restaurants, bars, and cafes — openings, menus, and chef moves, covered as they happen.
Updated August 14, 2026
Ybor City
Former Barcelona Wine Bar chef Victor Lopez opens D'Rose Gastrobar in Ybor
Lopez, who ran Barcelona Wine Bar's kitchen, opens a 130-seat Colombian gastrobar at 2238 E. Seventh Ave. in Ybor City.
Aug 14, 2026
Palmetto
Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John's open first co-branded location in Palmetto
Quality Foods Restaurant Group debuts the country's first shared BWW Go and Jimmy John's store at 5241 69th St. E on Aug. 18.
Aug 13, 2026
Grand Central District
Nah Dogs opens first brick-and-mortar on 22nd Street South in Grand Central
Jeff and Jenny Howe's seven-year-old vegan hot dog cart opens its first fixed room at 18 22nd St. S. in St. Pete.
Aug 12, 2026
Pinellas Park
Sushi Yama opens in the former WingHouse at 7790 U.S. 19 N in Pinellas Park
The 200-seat all-you-can-eat concept debuted July 18 after a year and a half of renovation.
Aug 11, 2026
St. Pete
Red Mesa shuts down Mercado West at 6001 Central, second closure in two months
The Cali-Mex concept closes Aug. 16, making it the third restaurant in a row to come up short at 6001 Central Ave.
Aug 9, 2026
Lutz
Smalls Sliders opens second Tampa Bay location in Lutz on Aug. 15
The Baton Rouge chain backed by Drew Brees soft-opens at 19081 Wingshooter Way on August 11, with a grand opening celebration on August 15.
Aug 7, 2026
St. Pete
Evangeline's Cafe debuts as a converted kei-truck coffee bar in St. Pete
Owner Evangeline Fox, who spent years in St. Pete's coffee scene, is launching a mobile specialty bar built inside a Japanese mini truck this summer.
Aug 5, 2026
Westshore
Byte takes its halal smash burgers from Temple Terrace to Westshore
The Mansour brothers park a Byte food truck at 301 Westshore Blvd. while a permanent nearby restaurant takes shape.
Aug 4, 2026
Westshore
Shay Ryan opens Clever Deli, a gluten-free cafe, on N. Lois Ave in Westshore
The retired ABC Action News meteorologist's celiac diagnosis led to a Westshore cafe serving all-day gluten-free fare.
Jul 31, 2026
Hyde Park
Mita's Cocina Moderna opens at 301 W Platt in Hyde Park
The modern Mexican kitchen debuted at 301 W Platt Street with a torta-led menu and Sunday brunch service.
Jul 30, 2026
Food & Drink
Wright's Gourmet House heads to Brandon and Wesley Chapel after 63 years on Dale Mabry
The South Tampa deli, acquired by Caspers Company in 2024, plans hub-style locations in Brandon and Wesley Chapel.
Jul 28, 2026
Tampa
Kim Bros. closes after 35 years on West Hillsborough as H Mart builds nearby
Jin Cha's family-run Korean market at 4021 W Hillsborough Ave closed permanently this weekend, ending a 35-year run.
Jul 27, 2026
North St. Pete
Drip Botanical Tea & Coffee opens fifth Tampa Bay café at 4901 38th Ave. N
The botanical café's fifth Tampa Bay location brings coffee, kava, kratom, and THC products to North St. Pete.
Jul 27, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Rewind St. Pete opens in the former Who's On First space on 1st Avenue North
The '90s and 2000s throwback bar opens August 1 at 119 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete.
Jul 24, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Biscuit Belly converts the Maple Street on Central Ave in downtown St. Pete
The Louisville chain acquired roughly 35 Maple Street locations from Cracker Barrel; the St. Pete switch is planned for Q1 2027.
Jul 23, 2026
Kenneth City
Lala Café opens on 66th Street North in Kenneth City with Vietnamese coffee
The playful duck-themed café at 4416 66th Street North serves Vietnamese coffee and ceremonial-grade matcha starting July 25.
Jul 22, 2026
Downtown Clearwater
Tastes Pretty Good opens Rippers in Clearwater's 1914 Telephone Building
The Tampa group behind Michelin-starred Rocca will bring NJ-style ripper hot dogs to 534 Cleveland Street.
Jul 17, 2026
Pass-a-Grille
Malio's trades steak for seafood at Moon, opening this fall on Pass-a-Grille
Derek and Jen Iavarone, the family behind Malio's Prime Steakhouse, are opening Moon, a 200-seat wild-caught seafood restaurant, at Pass-a-Grille's Berkeley Beach Club this September.
Jul 15, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Drink LX trades its mobile cart for a Downtown St. Pete storefront this fall
Natalie and Andrey Matsuk's 2024 mobile cart expands to a 21-foot bar in a shared wellness space in downtown St. Pete this fall.
Jul 15, 2026
EDGE District
Velvet Coupe opens in the EDGE District on a spirits-free, organic wine program
Dina Branham opened Velvet Coupe on June 4 in the EDGE District with an all-organic wine list and no spirits bar.
Jul 14, 2026
South St. Pete
Café Ora debuts this fall in South St. Pete's two-block redevelopment
Café Ora, a café and Thursday jazz venue, plans fall 2026 as the first tenant in a two-block South St. Pete redevelopment.
Jul 13, 2026
North Hyde Park
Rocca group opens Lumbre, a wood-fired Spanish concept, at Rome Collective
Executive Chef Nick Orr, who trained at three-Michelin-star Le Bernardin, leads the hearth-centered menu opening July 15.
Jul 13, 2026
Seminole Heights
Southern Brewing & Winemaking closes in Seminole Heights after 18 years
After 18 years as Seminole Heights' homebrew anchor, Southern Brewing & Winemaking will close in August 2026 as its owners retire.
Jul 10, 2026
Lutz
Bhimavaram Ruchulu opens its second Tampa Bay location at FL-54 in Lutz
The Temple Terrace Telugu restaurant opened at 24726 FL-54 on July 7, bringing its regional Andhra-Telangana menu north to Lutz.
Jul 8, 2026
Clearwater
Capogna's Dugout closes in Clearwater after 52 years of family ownership
The pizza-and-hoagie institution founded in March 1973 served its last customers on June 26.
Jul 7, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
The Winfield opens a 22-seat underground cocktail parlor on St. Pete's Central Avenue
The belowground bar at 551 Central Ave seats just 22 guests in a dark-wood, old-Florida-themed space.
Jul 6, 2026
Citrus Park
Shaq's Big Chicken expands to Elev8 Fun in Citrus Park
Shaquille O'Neal's chicken chain is joining Elev8 Fun in Citrus Park, adding a restaurant to the family entertainment complex.
Jul 6, 2026
South Tampa
Big Ray's Fish Camp earns its second Michelin nod on Interbay Boulevard
Chef Nick Cruz's South Tampa seafood shack has landed on Michelin's national seafood shack list for the second year running.
Jul 4, 2026
St. Pete
Zee's Barbeque soft-opens in St. Pete with Texas and Carolina wood-smoked meats
The new BBQ operation launched July 2 with a 50-percent soft-open discount and is donating all tips to Friends of Strays Animal Shelter through July 7.
Jul 2, 2026
Pinellas Park
Quaker Steak & Lube closes its Pinellas Park location July 5 after 23 years
Tampa Bay's only Quaker Steak & Lube closes July 5 as JDK Management cuts the national chain to 27 locations.
Jul 2, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Rreal Tacos acquires the former Red Mesa Cantina building in Downtown St. Pete
The Atlanta-founded, employee-owned taco brand plans a three-level, 800-seat flagship targeting an early 2027 opening.
Jul 1, 2026
Ybor City
Laurie and Teresa Rodriguez open Bookends bookstore-wine bar in Ybor City
Tampa natives Laurie and Teresa Rodriguez soft-opened Bookends: Literature and Libations at 2208 in Ybor City on June 25.
Jul 1, 2026
University Area
Slap Burger opens near USF with halal smashburgers from the Northeast
Northeast smashburger chain Slap Burger has opened near USF with a halal menu of smashed beef, hot chicken, and banana pudding.
Jun 30, 2026
Pinellas Park
Elsewhere Records opens permanent vinyl shop inside Beerbusters Movie Bar on July 10
The Pinellas Park Blockbuster-style bar is adding a permanent vinyl retail presence through a partnership with Elsewhere Records.
Jun 29, 2026
Gulfport
Mademoiselle Paris opens inside Gulfport's Peninsula Bed & Cocktails
Myriam and Jean Dandonneau's French concept runs as a morning café and full evening bistro on Beach Boulevard South.
Jun 29, 2026
Midtown Tampa
Pura Vida Miami heads to Midtown Tampa for its third Florida location
The 50-location all-day café, founded in 2012, is joining CorePower Yoga in the Midtown Tampa development.
Jun 28, 2026
Tampa
Cousin Vinny's: From a Weekend-Only Ghost Kitchen to Guy Fieri's National Stage
The Michelin-recommended West Cass Street sandwich shop airs on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on July 10, capping a rise from a 2023 ghost kitchen — and a second location lands in St. Pete in November.
Jun 27, 2026
Downtown Tampa
Bodega Mini Mart NYC Deli opens in the former Taco Bus on N Franklin
Khalil Mohammad brings a chopped cheese and late-night bodega concept to the former Taco Bus at 505 N Franklin Street in Downtown Tampa.
Jun 26, 2026
Seminole Heights
Kevin Zepf's Nebraska Roadside replaces Nebraska Mini Mart in Seminole Heights
Kevin Zepf of Orlando's Bandbox is opening a retro food park on Nebraska Avenue this fall, replacing the neighborhood's Mini Mart.
Jun 25, 2026
SoHo
Michael Disser opens Howard & Platt in the former TC Choy's at South Howard and Platt
Disser's third SoHo concept takes the 6,325-sq-ft TC Choy's corner at South Howard and Platt, slated to open this July.
Jun 25, 2026
Brandon
Two Fold opens at The Garrison House in Brandon, pairing coffee with natural wine
Jason Smith's Two Fold pairs single-origin coffee with natural wine inside Brandon's Garrison House workspace.
Jun 24, 2026
West River
Supernatural Food & Wine expands to West River, launches sourdoughnut subscription
The Tampa shop is opening a West River production facility and a sourdoughnut subscription with home delivery at $15.
Jun 23, 2026
Gulfport
O'Maddy's opens its long-delayed rooftop on Boca Ciega Bay in Gulfport
The Gulfport waterfront bar debuted its second-story deck the weekend of June 22, completing a project stalled by the 2024 hurricane season.
Jun 23, 2026
St. Pete
Naked Farmer takes over former EVOS space on 4th Street North in St. Pete
The farm-to-table chain's second St. Pete location will be its 4th Tampa Bay outpost and 8th statewide, planned for summer 2026.
Jun 23, 2026
New Tampa
Ugly Dumpling opens its Florida debut in New Tampa's former TGI Fridays
The East Coast soup dumpling chain, with 12 locations and 8 more on the way, claims the shuttered TGI Fridays in New Tampa.
Jun 22, 2026
Hyde Park
Rome + Fig Global Bistro closes on S. Hyde Park Ave. after six years
Eric and Kristine Zostant's globally-inspired bistro will end cocktail service June 28, closing out a six-year run on Hyde Park Ave.
Jun 22, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Chef Jeremy Duclut opens Marcel in the former Left Bank Bistro space in downtown St. Pete
The French-inspired Marcel takes over the former Left Bank Bistro with a roughly 25-dish menu planned for September.
Jun 19, 2026
St. Pete
Chef Andrew Duncan closes Baba, launches Kaixo and Barra Barra in St. Pete
The seven-year Mediterranean standout is being replaced by two Iberian concepts from the same ownership team under the same roof.
Jun 19, 2026
Food & Drink
Buddy Brew expands into Sprouts Farmers Market with 10 cafés across Tampa Bay
Tampa's Buddy Brew will open 10 in-store cafés inside Sprouts Farmers Markets, starting in Westchase.
Jun 18, 2026
Westshore
The Sourdoughist debuts on Westshore Blvd with a loaf-for-loaf donation model
The German-inspired small-batch bakery donates one loaf for every loaf sold from its Westshore Boulevard location.
Jun 18, 2026
Tampa Heights
Café Rialto opens inside Tampa Heights' 102-year-old Rialto Theatre
The historic movie palace's ground floor now houses a walk-in café and a reservations-only afternoon tearoom.
Jun 17, 2026
St. Petersburg
Atomic Cat Cafe opens on Gandy with retro lounge concept and Tampa-roasted coffee
The St. Pete-owned cafe serves Wuz Here coffee and cat-themed lattes across two vintage-styled rooms on Gandy Boulevard.
Jun 16, 2026
St. Pete
Mark Ferguson and John Delladonna acquire The Chattaway in St. Pete
The founders of Ferg's and Shrimpy's have purchased the 75-year-old St. Pete restaurant after an uncertain period for its future.
Jun 16, 2026
St. Pete
Good Intentions closes in St. Pete after four years as a vegan and community anchor
The plant-based restaurant and LGBTQ+ gathering space cited ongoing economic challenges in its closing announcement.
Jun 15, 2026
Downtown St. Pete
Forbici Modern Italian opens June 24 at Sundial in the former Sea Salt space
The Tampa Italian concept debuts in a 12,000-square-foot, 350-seat room with daily live music in downtown St. Pete.
Jun 15, 2026
Ybor City
Victor Lopez and Osyamil Milan debut D'Rose Gastrobar in Ybor City
The Colombian-Cuban gastrobar from chefs Victor Lopez and Osyamil Milan is planned for July in Ybor City.
Jun 15, 2026
Old Northeast
Old Northeast Tavern returns to 7th Avenue North with its first full bar
Wareham and Brindle plan to reopen the St. Pete neighborhood tavern later in 2026 with a full liquor bar and Old Northeast Pizza merged in.
Jun 13, 2026
Gulfport
Sober Bar opens in Gulfport with zero-proof cocktails and kava
The alcohol-free concept debuts June 16 with a menu of non-alcoholic cocktails, kava, coffee, and shareable bites.
Jun 11, 2026
South Tampa
Ivry. opens on Dale Mabry with pistachio lattes and a Middle Eastern café menu
Areej and Jareer debuted the South Tampa café in May with za'atar flatbreads, crème brûlée donuts, and specialty espresso drinks.
Jun 11, 2026
Pinellas Park
Oou Cha Opens in Pinellas Park, Billed as Tampa Bay's First Modern Tea Latte Café
Single-cultivar Okumidori matcha, a three-channel slow-sip straw, and a room two sisters built around their father's tea ritual.
Jun 11, 2026
Briefs
13 items
FOOD · NORTH TAMPA
HYPHEN Coffee opens inside Hyphen Tattoo Studio on Busch Boulevard
HYPHEN Coffee opened at 2166 W. Busch Blvd., housed inside Hyphen Tattoo Studio with a Colombian-leaning drink and food menu.
Aug 20, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER
Nubo Cafe & Bakery opens Ukrainian kitchen on Cleveland Street in Clearwater
Oleksandr and Oksana Kozlenko, who relocated from Ukraine in 2024, debut a scratch-kitchen Ukrainian cafe at 420 Cleveland St.
Aug 19, 2026
FOOD · TREASURE ISLAND
Kaia Bowls opens in the former Vine and Grind space on 107th Avenue in Treasure Island
The chain's seventh Tampa Bay unit takes the 1,300-square-foot spot and introduces the brand's first dedicated espresso program.
Aug 18, 2026
FOOD · YBOR CITY
Tommy's Chophouse opens at Kress Contemporary in Ybor City
Kenneth Emery's Foodi Group debuts a steakhouse at 1622 E. Seventh Ave., with an all-electric kitchen and a federal vault private dining room in progress.
Aug 17, 2026
FOOD · SEMINOLE
Buddy Brew opens first Pinellas County counter at Sprouts on Seminole Boulevard
Dave and Susan Ward's Tampa roasting brand crosses the bay into Pinellas, anchoring a ten-location Sprouts deal across the region.
Aug 17, 2026
FOOD · SOHO
Ciccio Restaurant Group revives Meeting House at 901 S. Howard, opening Aug. 20
Ciccio takes over 901 S. Howard two months after Daily Eats closed, restoring the name the address held for more than 50 years.
Aug 14, 2026
FOOD · SOHO
Meeting House returns to 901 S. Howard Ave. under Ciccio Restaurant Group
The SoHo address Daily Eats left in June reopens August 20 with the same staff and a new burger program.
Aug 14, 2026
FOOD · SARASOTA
Bissinger's opens its third Florida address at Sarasota's University Town Center
The Paris-founded chocolatier cut the ribbon on July 23, taking a first-floor space outside Saks Fifth Avenue.
Aug 7, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Dave's Hot Chicken opens third Tampa Bay location on Park Blvd in Pinellas Park
The Nashville-style chain opens its second Pinellas County location August 6, backed by investors including Samuel L. Jackson.
Aug 3, 2026
FOOD · WEST TAMPA
West Tampa's Boozy Pig Butchery & Kitchen lands on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Aug. 7
Andrew Tambuzzo's Cypress Street butchery airs on Food Network's long-running series Friday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m.
Jul 29, 2026
FOOD · KENNETH CITY
Lala Café opens in Kenneth City with Vietnamese coffee and a duck-themed interior
The café at 4416 66th St. N holds its grand opening July 25 and 26, serving Vietnamese coffee, ceremonial-grade matcha, and handcrafted lattes.
Jul 20, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
LX Coffee brings its 24-karat gold lattes to a first downtown St. Pete storefront
Natalie and Andrey Matsuk are graduating LX Coffee from a 2024 mobile cart to a black-and-gold café on Dr. MLK Jr. Street North, opening this fall.
Jul 15, 2026
FOOD · TAMPA
Chicago's Baba Saj Mediterranean brings halal shawarma to Cypress Glen Lane
The Chicago Palestinian restaurant founded in 2013 is targeting 13585 Cypress Glen Lane for its first Florida opening.
Jul 3, 2026