Gay beach tampa

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This private club is equipped with numerous flat-screen TVs, state-of-the-art exercise equipment, steam rooms, sunbathing areas and private spaces.

Things to do in Tampa for Gay Travellers

When I travel, I love to explore, spend time outdoors, be active and see as much nature as possible – so if you are anything like me, then Tampa is going to be a perfect fit for you.

The destination has some beautiful spots to explore such as the Tampa Riverwalk, unique neighbourhoods like Ybor City and incredible wildlife to experience in both ZooTampa and Busch Gardens.

In particular, try and visit/do as many of the below as possible:

Equality Florida Mural

I wanted to start of my trip by visiting the Equality Florida Mural for LGBTQ+ people.

Featuring a friendly, laid-back beach town with a beautiful waterfront view, St. Pete Beach is home to County Park Beach, Pass-a-Grille Beach and the popular Upham Beach.

Treasure Island Beach, known as an LGBTQ+ friendly beach, is located just west of St. Petersburg and hosts a flurry of activities from swimming and shelling to snorkeling and parasailing.

I ordered the pineapple marinated hanger steak with kimchee fried rice and it was incredible.

The Pearl is a stylish spot and one I would recommend for a dressed-up evening or date night, a must for your visit to Tampa.

Barrio

If you read this guide and I haven’t convinced you to visit Ybor City then something has gone wrong.

The park is well-maintained, with picnic areas, restroom facilities, and showers. The gorgeous stretch of sand is ideal for those looking to spend a full day at the beach.

Clearwater Beach is known as a social hub in the area. This was a sentiment that was also shared by many of the locals I met.

Where is the Gay Area of Tampa?

The main gay area of Tampa is in Ybor City, affectionately known as GaYbor and is mainly centred around 7^th avenue.

So why did this area become GaYbor?

Pete Beach was recently listed as Tripadvisor’s No. 1 Beach in the United States in 2021. Prices do fluctuate so sometimes it is worth waiting ten minutes and checking again.

Weather – it’s called the sunshine state for a reason.

This narrow beach offers a lively atmosphere, though it lacks the expansive sand and pristine conditions of other nearby beaches like Clearwater. Make sure to explore Ybor and when you do, grab lunch at one of its many restaurants.

If you like Tacos, Barrio is a new spot for casual indoor or outdoor dining with a whole build your own style taco menu.

The Dan

Housed within Hotel Flor in downtown Tampa, The Dan was my first meal in Tampa.

The restaurant is a modern take on the twenties with a classic and contemporary menu and I enjoyed one of the best fish dishes I have had in a long time here (the Branzino).

Willas

I had high expectations for Willas given that it has been given accolades such as one of the ‘Coolest Restaurants to Dine in Right Now’ from Architectural Digest and ‘Best New Restaurant’ by Tampa Magazine.

I am happy to say that these expectations were met, the food was delicious and in particular the parmesan roasted squash with crispy pancetta, honey drizzle, brown butter and whipped mascarpone was incredible.

Oxford Exchange

If you love to go to brunch, make sure to head here at the weekend.

The Oxford Exchange is a beautiful location with a sunlit conservatory for you to enjoy your food.

The beach is part of a string of barrier islands that extends along the Gulf of Mexico to the west of St. Petersburg.

Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde: While not exclusively a gay beach, Fort De Soto Park is known for its beautiful beaches and inclusive atmosphere. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, with free admission, making it accessible to everyone.
Cypress Point Park is also a great spot for photography, with its picturesque pier and sunset views over Tampa Bay being particularly popular among visitors.

The Castle

A very unique bar indeed!

It's known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant party scene.

Best of Tampa Bay: Beaches

Beaches

St. It is attractively landscaped and provides a convenient option for those staying in the Tampa area, especially due to its proximity to the Tampa International Airport and downtown Tampa.
The beach is open from sunrise to sunset and features a path along the causeway that is perfect for biking, walking, or running.

The restaurants I ate at during my visit impressed me time and time again. Find out more and book at Urban Kai.
Bay Rocket
If you are looking for something exhilarating or are struggling from jetlag, then make sure to add the Bay Rocket to your Tampa itinerary.
The Bay Rocket is a high-speed jet boat that after a gentle cruise out of port, opens up into the bay, blasting off at high speed, with the music pumping, 180 degree spins and a whole load of thrills.
Book the Bay Rocket for its last sailing of the day to get some beautiful sunset moments on its return.
Ybor City Historic Walking Tour with Max Herman
I’ll be honest, I get nervous about walking tours because for me, they can either hit of miss.

Here is a run down of each place I ate, and highly recommend.
Ulele
Ulele serves a menu inspired by Tampa Bays early native and Spanish explorers and sits on the waterfront by the Hillsborough River.
I ate one of their local fish dishes, a pan-seared fresh pompano with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, crawfish tail meat, wild rice blend and crisp carrot ribbons – incredibly tasty and ideal as I had just been paddleboarding so had a big appetite (Ulele is next to Urban Kai).
The restaurant is also one that you want to explore and take in, all its décor and touches are well thought out; look out for the many storybook characters that appear in and around Ulele.
The Pearl
On the vibrant and bustling Water Street Tampa area, The Pearl is serving some particularly delectable dishes.

This is not a gay bar per se, however it felt very inclusive and inherently queer.
The Castle is hard to desribe, it has an almost gothic interior with a maze of rooms, dancefloors and alternative spaces.