Tampa Region Has Four Of The Best Tiki Bars In Florida

With over 1,300 miles of coastline in Florida, there certainly is no shortage of space for a good beach bar. Trips To Discover recently did a deep dive into the best tiki bars in Florida, and four of them were in the greater Tampa region.

Traditionally, an establishment needs to be decorated in a Polynesian theme to properly qualify as a tiki bar. They serve exotic cocktails and can display items like grasses, palms, and coconuts. Many drinks are mixed with rum or bitters. In addition, tropical fruits and island music also add to the vibe.

The Tampa area's best tiki bars all offer these traditional drinks and specialties of their own. Let's take a stroll down the coast.

"Inspired by the '60s era, Saigon Blonde is a popular tiki bar in St. Pete. You’ll find flickering tiki totems and colorful murals adorning its interior, while the eclectic menu features fun cocktails that reflect the flavors of the Pacific Rim," TripstoDiscover explains.

Recommended drink: whatever they are serving on "Tiki Tuesday." For $6, it's bound to taste as good as all of their drinks look.

This waterfront restaurant serves over 4o tiki-themed drinks. Whiskey Joe's menu is described as “Floribbean.” They have fire pits and a picturesque $12 pile of nachos. Furthermore, the beach tiki bar has its own dedicated menu.

Recommended drink: Hurricane Juice - standard rum mixed with passion fruit rum, citrus juice, and grenadine and topped with a dark rum.

They even have tiki in their name, so you know they take the vibe seriously. Jack Willie's is a casual establishment that allows you to roam inside or outside on the deck. They have outdoor live music three days a week and an outdoor games area for some family fun,

Recommended drink: You can't beat the standard Mai Tai at a tiki bar when it's done right.

Located at Maximo Marina in Skyway, Tiki Docks also has a Riverview, Florida, location. They are open seven days per week. The restaurant is colorfully decorated. Everything from the murals to the bars to the cups is tiki-themed. A dock and a tiki just belong together. They also have a themed happy hour, appropriately titled "Tiki Time," which certainly embraces the theme of best tiki bars in the Tampa area.

Recommended drink: Watermelon Margarita, a taste as happy as it sounds.

Travel and Leisure recently published a report that details 10 of the most stunning bodies of water in country. From sunny ocean spots, to lakes, to waterfalls these locations are simply breathtaking. Included in the list were two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America.

This is one of the most unique spots in the country. Dry Tortugas National Park lies west of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It is made up of seven small islands and that are surrounded by coral reef. The park enclosed is roughly 47,000 acres. To arrive here, you must either take a boat or a seaplane. Therefore, it is not accessible by car.

Describing its blue waters, Travel and Leisure says, "Most of it is placid, turquoise, and filled with colorful marine life, making for some of the best snorkeling in the Sunshine State."

Another destination recognized in the report was Devil's Den. This spring is situated in Willston, about 20 miles south of Gainesville. It is a natural cave that is privately owned. The water has been known to consistently register around 72 degrees regardless of season. One of its main attractions is scuba diving. In fact, it is also a scuba training center where diving is available seven days a week. However, you must have proper certification as it the water has a maximum depth of 54 feet. Their are four lodging cabins at Devil's Den. The property contains 120 feet of surface diameter.

Also mentioned on Travel and Leisure's list was Crater Lake in Oregon, Jenny Lake in Wyoming, and Tenaya Lake and Lake Tahoe in California. Havasu Falls in Arizona was the spotlighted waterfall. Finally, as for beaches with the brightest blues, Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico and Lanikai Beach in Hawaii were among the best.

These two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America were the only east coast spots to make this feature.

This home of Fort Jefferson offers swimming, fishing, and camping. Furthermore, it also has a wide array of bird life. You can bring your own boat up to the park, which offers various tours throughout the day. Or perhaps you'd prefer to hop in a kayak or on a paddleboard and simply explore the turquoise blue waters, that's an option as well.

Devil's Den has a dive platform in the middle due to its high level of Scuba and snorkel attraction. In addition, you must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult to visit. Their website explains the history by detailing, "On cold winter mornings you can see steam, like smoke, rising from the chimney opening. Thus, the early settlers gave the name Devil's Den."