With temperatures hovering around the 70 mark and a beautiful seaside coastline, where better to ring in an epic New Year’s Eve than in Tampa, Florida? We’ve compiled options for everyone –whether you are looking for a chill spot for yourself, with your partner or your family, we’ve got you covered from where to eat the best meals to where you’ll spend the night post fireworks party. Happy New Year!
Where to Eat
Photo courtesy of Fly
Start your grand New Year’s Eve party on the rooftop deck at Fly overlooking Tampa’s prettiest district. The funky vibe of this urban bar-slash-restaurant has both small plates to enjoy at the bar, like Bourbon orange drumettes, or larger plates if you’re feeling extra hungry. Start with the hummus and tapenades to share with friends, but keep the Duck pot pie to yourself. What’s coffee without cake? Get your caffeine buzz going for the long night and grab a slice of the pumpkin coffee cake or homemade donuts to dip.
What to Do
Photo courtesy of the Hard Rock hotel
Join the crowds at the Hard Rock Tampa for a night with Karina Smirnoff. Book your VIP tables and bottle service early to escape the plight of the drink line. Your ticket includes four drink tickets, all the appetitzers you could ever want and champagne for your ultimate midnight champagne toast.
Photo by Alagich Katya
Throw back to the Roaring 20’s Party at Club Prana – because who doesn’t want an excuse to get glitzed, glammed and hit the floor to dance? Pick from 5 floors of music with DJs dropping everything from hip-hop, house to salsa and reggae, plus prize filled balloon drops and an incredible rooftop deck to view the fireworks.
Where to Stay
Photo courtesy of the Hard Rock Hotel Facebook
Since you’ll be partying till the wee early hours of 2015, might as well book a room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to make the walk of shame home a short one. There’s a spa onsite to make the morning after a bit easier and a beautiful outdoor pool where you can lounge away the day in the Florida sun.
Where to Eat
Photo courtesy of Edison
Using only the finest local, fresh seasonal and sustainable products whenever possible, dinner at Edison is a feat of food engineering. Product + technique + creativity2 = edison’s menu. While you can pretty much only expect the unexpected, a few of their staples include the black truffle caesar salad and the caramalized New Bedford sea scallops. Keep things exciting with a visit to this incredible Tampa restaurant for New Year’s Eve.
What to Do
Photo by PBS NewsHour
The Honey Pot is Tampa’s premier LGBT bar and dance club. Join them on New Year’s Eve no matter what your orientation. Its always a good time at the Honey Pot and you’ll have ample opportunity to shake your booty and get into the groove. Expect the time of your life dancing with the most beautiful people in Tampa.
Where to Stay
Photo by VISIT FLORIDA Editor
You’ll love your stay at the beautiful Epicurean Hotel located in Tampa’s SOHO district. This sumptuous hotel was carefully designed to both reflect and compliment Tampa’s heritage with reclaimed wood doors carved by local artisans. Not only will the decor please your eye, but their onsite restaurant, Elevage as well as onsite patisserie Chocolate Pi will have your taste buds exploding with excitement.
Where to Eat
Photo courtesy of the Refinery Facebook
Don’t forget to make your reservation for the big night! Make sure you’re not hangry by supping at the delicious Tampa Refinery. This quaint resto uses a mix of mason jars for drinks, rustic antique chipped plates, and jailhouse silverware. Their exposed kitchen will deliver on dishes delicious enough to share for two like the Peanut & Butter Glazed Pork Belly, Hyphenated Stuffed Quail and many other incredible vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Photo by Amy Pezzicara
Bern’s Steakhouse is world-renowned and has one of the best wine lists in the city with 6,800 different selections and more than half a million bottles in their cellar. Bern’s is also a great option to grab some dessert in their beautiful dessert room–leave a spot in your tummy reserved for Bern’s Baked Alaska, the Vintage Lush Chocolate Sundae or the Banana Bread Pudding.
What to Do
Photo by Les Taylor
Take the Fireworks Cruise from Yacht Starships to get the best view from the comfort of a dinning yacht. Your tickets include an open bar, gourmet finger food for when you get the midnight munchies, dancing and party favours. You’ll get a dreamy midnight kiss under the light of the fireworks. Bon voyage!
Where to Stay
Photo courtesy of Le Meridien
Slink back to your room at Le Méridien Tampa. Prepare to be blow away by this hotel, housed in a century old historic federal courthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places and renovated as a boutique hotel This mix of modern meets historic is the perfect place to cuddle up to your love with a bottle of champagne following your New Year’s Eve in Tampa adventures.
Where to Eat
Photo courtesy of BellaBrava Facebook
Sit yourself down at the bar at BellaBrava restaurant. Grab one of the house beers and let them take your order of the housemade ricotta with crostini and seasonal mostarda. When you’re done your first beer, move onto the Hot Sicilian wood-fired flatbread with molinari pepperoni, hot capicola, genoa salami, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and asiago cheeses. Be sure to sample their cannelloni too- it’s to.die.for.
What to Do
Photo by Matthew Paulson
Bring a blanket and a bottle of wine to the Channelside Bay Plaza and grab a spot (early) to view the fireworks! This area will be buzzing with people since it’s such a popular place to catch all the lights so you definitely won’t be alone.
Where to Stay
Photo courtesy of Aloft hotel Facebook
The hip Aloft Tampa Downtown is steps away from all the downtown Tampa action: museums, restaurants, nightclub and shopping all live within walking distance of the hotel. Not only that, but the hotel has a fantastic bar frequented by hotel guests and locals alike. Don’t feel like being social? Chill in your room or hangout poolside.
Where to Eat
Photo by VISIT FLORIDA Editor
Bring the babies to the Taco Bus, Tampa’s worst best kept secret. This is some of the best quality authentic Mexican food with gluten free and vegan options for staples like quesadillas, burritos and tostadas. With so many choices and options to build your own taco/burrito/anything else, this is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
What to Do
Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is fun on any given day of the year, but their New Year’s bash is a force of fun of be reckoned with. The park remains open till 1 a.m with a spectacular midnight fireworks show and live music all night long. Entry is just the price of a regular admission but come early to make sure you enjoy all the rides.
Where to Stay
Photo courtesy of the Intercontinental Facebook
When the whole family troupes back to the Intercontinental Hotel Tampa tired, get ready for the best sleep of your life in their plush and cozy beds. The next day, the kids will love the rooftop pool that will make their whole New Year’s Eve in Tampa experience feel like they’re movie stars!