Tampa’s bar scene continues to grow, and some of the best rooftop bars in Tampa now offer incredible views across the city. From terraces overlooking the Hillsborough River and Tampa Riverwalk to high-rise rooftops above downtown hotels, there are more places than ever to grab a drink with a view.
Whether you’re looking for a laid-back sunset cocktail or a lively rooftop lounge with music and DJs, there are several great rooftop spots in Tampa worth checking out. Some sit high above downtown hotels, while others offer open-air terraces above popular restaurants and nightlife areas in neighborhoods like SoHo, Midtown, and Ybor City.
In this guide, I’ve rounded up some of the best rooftop bars in Tampa where you can enjoy cocktails, small plates, and skyline or waterfront views. From the popular M.Bird at Armature Works to rooftops across downtown, Midtown, and South Tampa, these are some of the best places in the city for drinks with a view.
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Top Rooftop Bars in Tampa
M.Bird – Armature Works
SUNSET RIVERFRONT ROOFTOP
Located on top of Armature Works in Tampa Heights, M.Bird is one of the best rooftop bars in Tampa for drinks with a view. From the terrace you can look out over the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Riverwalk, and the downtown skyline, especially around sunset when the buildings begin to light up across the water.
The space is large and open-air, with several seating areas, a long bar, and plenty of room to move around. It tends to draw a mix of locals and visitors who are already exploring Armature Works, which makes it an easy stop after dinner downstairs or before a walk along the Riverwalk.
The menu leans toward cocktails and small plates rather than full meals. Expect a solid cocktail list along with wine and beer, plus shareable dishes like tacos, sliders, and other light bites that work well if you’re just looking for something to go with a drink.
Because of its setting along the river, M.Bird is usually busy, especially on weekends and around sunset. If you can grab a spot along the railing facing the water, it’s one of the best rooftop views in Tampa.
Beacon Rooftop Lounge – JW Marriott
UPSCALE ROOFTOP
Beacon Rooftop Lounge sits on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, making it the highest rooftop bar open to the public in Tampa. From the terrace you get sweeping views of downtown Tampa, the Water Street district, and Hillsborough Bay, with the skyline and waterfront stretching out below.
Check Prices at JW Marriott on Expedia
The space feels more like a lounge than a typical rooftop bar. There’s a large central bar, indoor seating with floor-to-ceiling windows, and an outdoor terrace where most guests gather for drinks around sunset. Because it’s located in the heart of the Water Street district, it’s a convenient stop before or after events at Amalie Arena or while exploring downtown Tampa.
The menu focuses primarily on cocktails and small plates rather than full meals. Expect a strong cocktail list along with lighter bar bites and seafood-forward dishes designed for sharing.
Beacon feels a little more polished than many of the other rooftops in Tampa. If you’re looking for a high-rise rooftop with wide views of the city and bay, it’s one of the best places in Tampa to catch sunset with a drink.
Sal Y Mar – Midtown Tampa
SOCIAL ROOFTOP
Sal Y Mar sits on the rooftop of the Aloft hotel in Midtown Tampa, offering an indoor-outdoor space that looks out over the Midtown district and parts of the Tampa skyline. The rooftop includes a large terrace with lounge seating, drink rails along the perimeter, and a covered bar area, making it one of the larger rooftop venues in the city.
Check prices at Aloft Tampa Midtown on Expedia
The atmosphere here feels different from many of the other rooftops in Tampa. The design leans toward a Latin-inspired coastal style, with palm trees, light colors, and an open layout that encourages guests to move around rather than stay seated at one table all evening.
The menu focuses on Latin-influenced dishes and shareable plates, paired with a cocktail list that works well for a rooftop setting. You’ll find items like tostones, ceviche, and other seafood dishes alongside cocktails, wine, and sangria, making it easy to stop in for drinks or turn it into a full dinner.
Because it’s located in Midtown Tampa, Sal Y Mar tends to draw a lively crowd, especially on weekend evenings or during brunch. It’s one of the more social rooftop spots in the area and a good option if you’re looking for a place that feels closer to a rooftop lounge than a traditional bar.
Maru
JAPANESE-PERUVIAN FUSION
Maru is a newer rooftop restaurant located on the top floor of Bayshore Gardens on West Bay to Bay Boulevard, just a short distance from Bayshore Boulevard. The rooftop sits several floors above the surrounding neighborhood and looks out toward Tampa Bay, giving it a different perspective from the downtown rooftops along the Riverwalk.
The concept centers on Nikkei cuisine, a style of cooking that blends Japanese techniques with Peruvian flavors. The menu leans toward seafood and shareable plates, with dishes like ceviche, hand rolls, and other small plates alongside cocktails, champagne, and wine.
Compared with some of the larger rooftop lounges in Tampa, Maru feels more intimate. The space includes indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio where guests can sit along the railing and look out toward the bay. It’s also 21+, which gives the rooftop more of a cocktail lounge atmosphere than a traditional restaurant.
Because it opened relatively recently, Maru is still less well known than rooftops like M.Bird, but it offers a different kind of rooftop experience in Tampa if you’re looking for drinks, small plates, and views of the bay.
EDGE Rooftop – Epicurean Hotel
RELAXED ROOFTOP
EDGE Rooftop sits atop the Epicurean Hotel on South Howard Avenue in Tampa’s SoHo area, just across the street from Bern’s Steak House. The rooftop is smaller than many of the hotel rooftops downtown, but it offers open-air seating with views over Hyde Park and parts of South Tampa.
Check prices at Epicurean Hotel on Expedia
The space combines covered seating with outdoor lounge areas, making it a comfortable spot for drinks in the evening. Most people come here for cocktails rather than a full dinner. The menu focuses on craft cocktails, along with wine, beer, and a short list of small plates designed for sharing.
Because it’s located along South Howard Avenue, EDGE works well as a stop before or after dinner nearby. While it’s just outside the busiest part of the SoHo bar corridor, the rooftop has a quieter atmosphere than many of the bars further north on South Howard.
It’s not as large or high-rise as rooftops like Beacon or M.Bird, but the setting above South Howard gives it a relaxed rooftop atmosphere that fits naturally with the surrounding neighborhood.
Azure at The EDITION
UPSCALE ROOFTOP DINING
Azure is the rooftop restaurant at The Tampa EDITION in the Water Street district, offering one of the more upscale rooftop dining experiences in Tampa. Unlike many of the other spots on this list that operate primarily as bars, Azure focuses on full-service dining with table service and a complete menu.
Check prices at Tampa EDITION on Expedia
The restaurant includes both indoor seating with large windows and an outdoor terrace that looks out toward downtown Tampa and Hillsborough Bay. Many visitors try to time their reservation around sunset, when the terrace begins to fill with guests stopping in for cocktails before dinner.
The menu leans Mediterranean, with a focus on Greek-inspired dishes, seafood, and lighter plates, along with a strong cocktail and wine list. The concept comes from chef John Fraser, who oversees several of the restaurants inside the hotel.
Because Azure is located in the Water Street district, it’s a convenient stop if you’re already exploring downtown or heading to events near Amalie Arena. While it functions more as a rooftop restaurant than a traditional rooftop bar, it’s still one of the best places in Tampa to combine dinner, drinks, and rooftop views in one setting.
Luna Lounge Rooftop
LATIN-INSPIRED TAPAS ROOFTOP
Luna Lounge is the rooftop bar at Bulla Gastrobar on South Howard Avenue in Tampa’s SoHo area. The rooftop sits on the top floor of the Morrison building and offers partial views toward the downtown Tampa skyline, giving it a different perspective from the riverfront rooftops around Armature Works and Water Street.
The space is smaller and more intimate than many of Tampa’s hotel rooftops, which gives it more of a cocktail lounge atmosphere than a full restaurant. Most people come up for drinks and tapas rather than a full meal. The menu reflects Bulla’s Spanish influence, with small plates and shareable dishes that pair well with cocktails, wine, or sangria.
Because it’s located along South Howard Avenue, Luna Lounge works well as either a starting point for the evening or a place to stop for a drink after dinner nearby. Seating is usually first-come, first-served, so arriving earlier in the evening makes it easier to grab a spot along the railing.
If you’re already exploring SoHo’s restaurants and bars, it’s one of the easiest rooftop stops to add to a night out in the area.
Santo's Drinkeria Rooftop Bar
SICILIAN-INSPIRED ROOFTOP
Santo’s Drinkeria Rooftop Bar sits on the top floor of Casa Santo Stefano in Ybor City, offering a rooftop setting that feels different from many of Tampa’s hotel rooftops. Instead of skyline views, the terrace looks out over the historic Ybor neighborhood and surrounding rooftops, giving it a more local and laid-back atmosphere.
The space is designed as a cocktail lounge with both covered and open-air seating, making it a comfortable spot for drinks in the evening. Most people come up for cocktails rather than a full meal, though the bar menu includes Italian-inspired small plates that pair well with drinks.
Because it sits above Casa Santo Stefano, the rooftop often works well as a place to grab a drink before or after dinner downstairs. The restaurant below is also featured in my guide to the best restaurants in Ybor City, where it stands out for its Sicilian-inspired menu and historic Ybor setting.
Compared with many of Tampa’s larger rooftop venues, Santo’s Drinkeria tends to feel quieter and more intimate, which fits well with the restaurant below and the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Casa Cami - Current Hotel
MEXICAN WITH SUNSET VIEWS
Casa Camà is the rooftop restaurant at The Current Hotel on Rocky Point, offering wide views over Old Tampa Bay. Because the hotel sits directly along the shoreline, the rooftop feels closer to the water than many of Tampa’s other rooftop spots, especially around sunset when the sky opens up across the bay.
Check prices at The Current Hotel on Expedia
Unlike some rooftops that function mainly as bars, Casa Camà operates more as a full rooftop restaurant, with both indoor dining and an outdoor terrace overlooking the water. The setting is quieter than many of the downtown rooftops, making it a good option if you’re looking for a more relaxed rooftop meal.
The menu focuses on Mexican-inspired cuisine and crafted cocktails, with dishes that highlight the bright flavors and colorful presentation typical of modern Mexican cooking. Many guests stop in for margaritas or cocktails while watching the sunset over the bay.
If you’re looking for a rooftop spot in Tampa that emphasizes water views rather than skyline views, Casa Camà offers one of the best sunset perspectives along Rocky Point.
While Tampa doesn’t have as many rooftop bars as larger cities like Miami or Chicago, the ones it does have offer great places to enjoy a drink with a view. From riverfront terraces overlooking the Hillsborough River to high-rise rooftops above Water Street and downtown Tampa, there are several spots where you can take in the skyline while relaxing with a cocktail.
Each rooftop has a slightly different feel. Places like M.Bird and Sal Y Mar tend to be more social and lively, while rooftops such as Beacon or EDGE offer a quieter setting that works well for date night or sunset drinks. If you’re planning a night out in Tampa, adding one of these rooftops to your itinerary is an easy way to experience the city from a different perspective.
If you’re looking for more places to eat and drink around the city, check out my guides to the best restaurants in Tampa and the best things to do in Tampa, where I’ve covered many more spots worth visiting while you’re in town.
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