On the southern tip of St Pete Beach, this narrow island (only 1 block wide) has lots of charm. Going way back when the Lighted Tree was one of the only gay bars in the area, Pass-A-Grille has attracted Gays & Lesbians over the decades. The bar has long closed, but many still appreciate the charm of the area.
Often listed in the top ten beaches in the country, Fort Desoto is a county park, which retains its natural beauty in many areas. With a large boat ramp, campground, and biking/ hiking trails, it can be busy in season. Gorgeous Sunsets, great views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and lots of secluded areas make it a great beach destination.
Enigma is a must-stop-by place every time I’m in town. The staff is great, the drinks are strong, and the vibe is very chill. The crowd is not pretentious and just there to have fun….not look pretty. It is easy walking distance to a plethora of restaurants and coffee shops. Their happy hour is great….tokens can be used on other visits. Don’t miss out on this gem.
Sunset Beach, located on the southern tip of Treasure Island, is a beach lover’s community straight out of a Buffett song. This neighborhood welcomes guests of all lifestyles with open arms, and it is especially popular with the local LGBT community. On Sunset Beach, you will find uniquely-decorated houses, tiki huts, white sands, and beachfront bars where bohemian attitudes prevail.
Showers and a shaded pavilion (the former home of the beachfront gay bar, Bedrox) with vending machines are also available. One of the few beaches where drinking alcohol on the beach is allowed…no glass though! It is still considered by some to be the gay beach in the area, and one where you (usually) won’t get a second glance from holding your lover’s hand.
Little Known Facts: Sunset Beach was once a separate town. It was annexed into Treasure Island in 1955.
Why You Should Go: For the sunsets. of course, but also for the “Live and Let Live” attitudes, which make this the ultimate place to discover your inner parrot-head, since it is rumored to be (yet another!) beach that inspired the hit song “Margaritaville.”
“Stiff drinks,” “hard liquor,” and a whole lot of dirty puns at COCKTail, even for the drinks (which you can get two-for-one during happy hour), with cocktails like the Banana Hammock and Just the Tip, the innuendos never stop!
This relatively new hot spot is located in the popular Grand Central District.
COCKTail is a bar and nightclub with BOGO happy hour specials 7 days a week, Monday–Sunday, 12 pm–9 pm. It has plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. COCKTail is also unique for having its own pool, open daily from 11 am to 4 pm.
CitySide Lounge is an LGBTQ+ Neighborhood Bar that services the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area. They have been around for over 30+ years and want you to feel immediately welcomed the moment you step foot in the bar. They offer nightly drink specials, chill and dance music, drag shows on select nights, and much more entertainment.
Lucky Star Lounge is a small, neighborhood gay bar in St Petersburg, Florida. This local watering hole is favored for its cheap drinks and great service. Featuring colorful interiors and diner-style seating, Lucky Star Lounge has a Happy Hour all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
A rambunctious crowd enjoys cocktails, drag queens, go-go dancers, and renowned DJs. Southern Nights is the place to go to if you’re looking for a rowdy, fun, dance-and-drink-filled night. Dedicated to being a safe place and part of the community family, this is a place where everyone is welcome and encouraged to be themselves
On July 1, 2021, BULGE Apparel & Gifts opened a hidden gem in Ybor City—Tampa Bay’s best retailer for gay apparel—conveniently located in the GaYbor District. Our Event Space was voted Tampa Bay’s Favorite Hidden Gem in 2023 by Watermark Magazine, and we just celebrated our two year anniversary in our historic location, 1803 N 13th St—Cadrecha Plaza.
In May, we happily shared the news of our new St Pete location in the Grand Central District, so it’s bittersweet to announce the closure of our Ybor City location.
Ybor City is home and we will continue our search for reasonable commercial real estate for an LGBTQ boutique in the GaYborhood, and on the beaten path. We are so thankful to our Ybor City and Tampa Bay supporters, patrons, clients and community leaders for accepting our vision and launching our growth.
At the end of July we will be moving our operation to 3006 Central Avenue in Grand Central District, a thriving LGBTQ community in St Petersburg FL.
All Ybor City discount cards, coupon codes and gift cards are valid at our St Pete location and there’s a special consolidation sale at Ybor City!
For decades, the first (and only) place where many men could meet other gay people was at a bar, mostly in the shadows—a speakeasy. From the beginning, the speakeasy was relatively small, with little or no entertainment involved. Still, through gradual growth, it popularized and expanded to many different areas with new additions of entertainment and eventually made the speakeasy one of the biggest businesses during Prohibition. Johnsons, in a tucked-away location off the popular Wilton Drive, recreates the era of speakeasies.
Men enjoy conversation at the bar and choose to walk through the velvet curtains and enjoy the nightly entertainment.
Matt Colunga and his partner are expanded their famous brand to Tampa, Florida. Johnsons delivers an upscale social experience with prime performers from across the globe. The mixologists are selected for their talents at crafting drinks while ensuring each visitor is treated like family.
Unique nightly specials and guest entertainers Doors open at 5pm, and the cover is $5 after 8pm (except Fri & Sat).
Please note, all females must be accompanied by a male.
