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Florida, United States

Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk

Two nights by the river for classic dinners and midnight fireworks. Below: 1 sight, 4 places to eat and 1 bar or café, plus how Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk fits into a longer trip.

Plan Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk with friendsBrowse 7 places
Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk, Florida, United States
Places
7

1 See · 4 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Tampa New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
June

31°C / 87°F avg high

Coolest month
January

20°C / 68°F avg high

Wettest month
August

about 252 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk in Downtown.

  • Tampa Riverwalk in Downtown Tampa & the RiverwalkPhoto: Zeng8r · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Tampa Riverwalk

    2.6-mile path along the Hillsborough River through downtown, the free viewing area for the midnight fireworks over the water.

    Tip Claim a spot near Curtis Hixon Park by 11 p.m.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Eat

4 places to eat across Tampa Heights, SoHo and Ybor City, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Armature Works

    Food hall and event space in a restored 1910 streetcar barn on the river in Tampa Heights.

    Tip Its New Year's Eve party is ticketed; the food hall is open earlier in the day.

    • Tampa Heights
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Eat

    Bern's Steak House

    South Tampa steakhouse since 1956 with one of the world's largest wine lists and an upstairs dessert room.

    Tip Ask for the kitchen and cellar tour after dinner.

    • SoHo
    • $$$$
    • 3 hr
    • Dinner
  • Columbia Restaurant in Downtown Tampa & the RiverwalkPhoto: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0
    Eat

    Columbia Restaurant

    Florida's oldest restaurant, opened in Ybor City in 1905, with tiled dining rooms, the 1905 salad and flamenco shows.

    Tip Book a table in the courtyard room for the flamenco show.

    • Ybor City
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Ulele

    Restaurant and brewery in the 1903 water works building by Ulele Spring, cooking Florida seafood and native ingredients.

    Tip Walk the Riverwalk from Ulele back downtown after dinner.

    • Tampa Heights
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

1 bar or café in Harbour Island for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Jackson's Bistro

    Waterfront restaurant on Harbour Island with a big deck facing downtown, host of a ticketed New Year's Eve party.

    Tip Party tickets include the deck view of the river fireworks.

    • Harbour Island
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Late evening

Stay

Places to stay in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk in Water Street.

  • Stay

    The Tampa EDITION

    Design hotel in the Water Street district, a short walk from the Riverwalk and Harbour Island.

    Tip Rooms on high floors look over the bay and downtown.

    • Water Street
    • $$$$

How to fit Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk into a trip

Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk is stop 1 of 2 on our Tampa New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk month by month

Average daily highs run from 20°C / 68°F in January to 31°C / 87°F in June. August is the wettest month, with about 252 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk weather and the best time to visit →

Near Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk. On our Tampa New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk best known for?

Two nights by the river for classic dinners and midnight fireworks. Standouts on our list: Tampa Riverwalk (2.6-mile path along the Hillsborough River through downtown, the free viewing area for the midnight fireworks over the water); Jackson's Bistro (Waterfront restaurant on Harbour Island with a big deck facing downtown, host of a ticketed New Year's Eve party); Armature Works (Food hall and event space in a restored 1910 streetcar barn on the river in Tampa Heights).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk?

Our Tampa New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in June (31°C / 87°F), the coolest in January (20°C / 68°F) and the most rain in August (about 252 mm).

Where should a group eat in Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk?

Our picks: Armature Works (Tampa Heights); Bern's Steak House (SoHo); Columbia Restaurant (Ybor City); Ulele (Tampa Heights). Its New Year's Eve party is ticketed; the food hall is open earlier in the day (Armature Works).

What is near Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown St. Petersburg (about 25 km / 16 mi), Walt Disney World (about 101 km / 63 mi) and Winter Park (about 131 km / 81 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Tampa & the Riverwalk with your crew

Open the Tampa New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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