The Best Downtown Bars to Unwind After Your Tampa Meeting

We know meetings can be stressful. Whether you’re meeting with clients or holding a staff meeting, there’s a lot to deal with before, during and after that can add extra stress to your day. This is especially true for traveling professionals that need to book hourly meeting rooms for out-of-town visits. It can be a real pain trying to find an hourly or daily meeting room location in an unfamiliar area that suits your needs.

At our Tampa meeting rooms, we get a lot of out-of-town clients who need convenient meeting room access in the downtown core. Many of them are visiting attorneys or legal services support working assigned to cases at the federal courthouse. After all-day depositions or particularly long meetings, we are often asked where the best place to grab a drink is..

Fortunately downtown Tampa has an active nightlife. You can find a ton of great food and drink options within steps from our Tampa meeting rooms. So forget the hotel bar, here are some of our favorite local spots to unwind after a long day.

Anise Global Gastrobar

Overlooking Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is Anise Global Gastrobar. Anise is a great place to grab a drink after a long day of meetings. The hip décor is complimented by a selection of signature, craft cocktails, fine wines and craft beer. Plus, their kitchen (open late) offers up cosmopolitan takes on international flavors.

Cool and casual with just a touch of elegance, Anise is a great spot to grab a drink and experience some of the best of Tampa’s food and drink culture.

Franklin Manor

A happening night-spot any day of the week, Franklin Manor offers a trendy, casual setting to relax and unwind. You can enjoy a great selection of hand-crafted cocktails, beers or wines, as well as a smattering of bar bites. Plus, you can find live entertainment out on the patio on most nights.

Franklin Manor’s vibrant, eclectic atmosphere makes it a great place to stop in if you’re looking to do a bit of mix’n’mingling with other professionals in the area.

The Sail Pavilion

If you’re staying down by the Convention Center, be sure to check out the Sail Pavilion. This outdoor bar sits overlooking the Hillsborough River as it empties into Old Hillsborough Bay. The area is always bustling with water and pedestrian traffic, so there’s always something to watch. It’s also the most family-friendly drink spot in downtown.

The Sail Pavilion is the perfect place to relax and catch the sunset (with drink in hand). Afterwards, you can take a stroll down the Riverwalk or catch a streetcar to either Channelside or Ybor.

The Attic on Kennedy

The Attic is unique on this list. While it does not offer late-night drink options, it is a popular spot among downtown professionals. Located in a historic building, The Attic functions as part cafe/part bar. It’s a popular lunch venue and coffee shop, but they also offer a premium selection of local, craft beers, wine and ciders.

The Attic is open until 8:00pm M-F, so you can still stop in after your meeting for a cold one. The Attic is also a strong proponent of downtown Tampa’s tech industry and an advocate for downtown’s growth. We are excited for their reopening on Sept. 5 after they complete space renovations!

The Hub

The Hub is more than just a bar, it’s also a part of Tampa history. Open since the 1940s, The Hub has long been endeared for its cheap drinks and stiff pours. While considered a dive, The Hub attracts an eclectic array of patrons, from downtown professionals to the younger crowd and remains a go-to spot for many who visit Tampa regularly.

It may be a little dingy and smoky, but you won’t find any friendlier people (or a stronger drink) than at The Hub.