SFG State Guide

Florida Dive Bar Guide

Statewide cultural & biological diversity is reflected in wildly disparate Florida dive bars

From Sea to Swamp to Sea Again

The diversity of Florida’s communities sets the stage for a wildly diverse set of dive bars, ranging from sand-covered beach-adjacent shacks to converted, neighborhood gas stations in large, urban settings (looking at you, Tiny Tap Tavern). As anyone who has been there can attest, the vibes in Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa and beyond are all over the place, creating a robust statewide mix of drinking options.

Sometimes overlooked due to Orlando’s family playground reputation and Miami’s cultural impact, Tampa-St. Pete is our pick for best dive bar city in Florida. Downtown Tampa institutions like The Hub (careful of the powerful pours there) mingle with strings of isolated dive bars along St. Pete’s archipelago-like southern tip. The blend offers something for everyone as long as everyone enjoys beer.

Special mention is warranted for Mahuffer’s, a bar so beloved by us that the review on our site starts out by proclaiming it perhaps the best dive bar in the country. Part junkyard, part music venue, Mahuffer’s is pervasively presided over by undergarments stapled to the ceiling and an absolute avalanche of unique fixtures including the bow of a boat emerging from one of the ball’s interior walls.

We’ve had the good fortune to make many a trip to Florida, resulting in a deep database across some of the state’s biggest cities. Though additional research must be done (twist our arm), our favorite spots can be found below.

Florida Dive Bar Map

Quick Links

Florida City Guides

Florida Neighborhood Guides

Florida Dive Bar Reviews

Recommended Florida Dive Bars

Florida Cities With Guides

Jacksonville

Top Rated Dives

20 Dive Bars

Miami

Top Rated Dives

19 Dive Bars

Orlando

Top Rated Dives

17 Dive Bars

Tampa

Top Rated Dives

29 Dive Bars

Florida Neighborhood Guides

Jacksonville

Jacksonville Beaches

3 Dive Bars

Tampa

Downtown Tampa

3 Dive Bars

Tampa

St. Pete Beach

5 Dive Bars

All Reviewed Florida Dive Bars

SFG Rating

10

Mahuffer’s

Indian Shores, Florida

So good it breaks the scale. It’s probably a 12, honestly.

SFG Rating

10

Downtown Tampa

Tiny Tap Tavern

Tampa, Florida

Because the linoleum could use another layer worn off.

SFG Rating

9

Downtown Tampa

The Hub

Tampa, Florida

Where 2 for 1 drinks refers to liquor content, not pricing.

SFG Rating

9

St. Pete Beach

Shadracks

St Pete Beach, Florida

If you need a sign, there is literally a red neon sign telling you to come here.

SFG Rating

8

The Shipwreck Grill

Clearwater, Florida

The right kind of nautical beach vibe.

SFG Rating

9

Jacksonville Beaches

Pete’s Bar

Neptune Beach, Florida

Three rooms of 1933 glory amid fading murals of fish.

SFG Rating

7

St. Pete Beach

Smugglers Tavern

St. Petersburg, Florida

Get a Bloody Mary and some flavored vodka to go.

SFG Rating

8

Jacksonville Beaches

Ginger’s Place

Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Because the fun kind of mermaid is a ghost mermaid.

SFG Rating

8

Hole In The Wall

Tampa, Florida

Nothing says Saturday night like a stripper pole.

SFG Rating

7

Pro Shop Pub

Clearwater, Florida

Expand those Clearwater stopover horizons.

SFG Rating

8

Shantytown Pub

Jacksonville, Florida

Be sure to duck on your way in.

SFG Rating

7

Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern

Tampa, Florida

Why go to the beach if you can get Jell-O shots inside?

SFG Rating

7

Sunset Grille

St. Petersburg, Florida

Nothing like some brick-lined back patio drinking.

SFG Rating

7

St. Pete Beach

Swigwam Beach Bar

St Pete Beach, Florida

Beach shack vibe without sand or tourists.

SFG Rating

7

St. Pete Beach

The Blue Parrot

St Pete Beach, Florida

Under an overpass, but, you know, it’s nice.

SFG Rating

7

Jacksonville Beaches

Harbor Tavern

Atlantic Beach, Florida

Where the shadow of the overpass touches the neighborhood bar.

SFG Rating

7

St. Pete Beach

The Drunken Clam

St Pete Beach, Florida

Probably the median Florida dive bar experience.

SFG Rating

7

Downtown Tampa

Anchor Bar

Tampa, Florida

Sometimes one room is enough.

SFG Rating

7

The Jug Saloon

Jacksonville, Florida

A friend's garage with less awkward silence.

SFG Rating

7

Dead Bob’s

St. Petersburg, Florida

We should be so lucky to have a bar named after us when we pass.

SFG Rating

7

World Famous Bull Tavern

Jacksonville, Florida

Because mirrored glass is the diviest kind.

SFG Rating

8

Johnathan’s Pub

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Lots of shade, domestic beer and some Florida French Dip au jus.

SFG Rating

6

Boardwalk Tavern

St. Petersburg, Florida

It doesn’t get much more neighborhood than this.

SFG Rating

5

Elmer’s Sports Cafe

Tampa, Florida

Where adding to the Jager collection is a goal, maybe a requirement.

We have not had the great pleasure of getting to every possible dive bar (life goals), so inevitably there are great bars that we simply haven't been able to get to yet. The list below includes noteworthy dive bars that by all accounts look amazing but do not have a review associated with them just yet.

Anclote River Boat Club

Tarpon Springs, Florida

1761 Beckett Way, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

(727) 938-9566

Beer Shed

Riverview, Florida

11222 Casa Loma Dr, Riverview, FL 33569

(813) 671-1188

Bigfoot on the River

Tampa, Florida

7201 N 41st St, Tampa, FL 33604

(813) 985-1107

Captain Tony's Saloon

Naval Air Station Key West, Florida

428 Greene St, Naval Air Station Key West, FL 33040

(305) 294-1838

Casey's On Central

Orlando, Florida

50 E Central Blvd Suite E, Orlando, FL 32801

(407) 648-4218

Churchill's Pub

Miami, Florida

5501 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

(305) 757-1807

Flamingos Sports Bar

St. Petersberg, Florida

1230 9th St N, St. Petersberg, FL 33705

(727) 823-3000

Flora-Bama Lounge

Pensacola, Florida

17401 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507

(251) 980-5118

Fly's Tie

Atlantic Beach, Florida

177 Sailfish Dr E, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

(904) 246-4437

Happy's Stork Lounge & Liquor Store

North Bay Village, Florida

1872 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, FL 33141

(305) 865-3621

Harry's Banana Farm

Lake Worth, Florida

1919 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth, FL 33460

(561) 588-2900

Hideaway Bar

Orlando, Florida

516 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 898-5411

Jerry's Nice & Easy

Orlando, Florida

5470 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32812

(407) 447-5222

Last Resort Bar

Port Orange, Florida

5812 S Ridgewood Ave, Port Orange, FL 32127

(386) 761-5147

Mac's Club Deuce

Miami Beach, Florida

222 14th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 531-6200

Octopus Garden

Miami, Florida

1942 Hollywood Blvd, Miami, FL 33020

(954) 925-1555

On The Rocks

Miami Beach, Florida

217 71st St, Miami Beach, FL 33141

(305) 865-1440

Seven Seas Bar

Miami, Florida

2200 SW 57th Ave, Miami, FL 33155

(305) 266-6071

Sloppy Taco Palace

Orlando, Florida

4892 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, FL 32811

(407) 574-6474

Spatz

Winter Park, Florida

1025 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

(407) 644-3323

The Copper Mug

Clearwater, Florida

1463 S Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL 33764

(727) 303-3161

Wally's Bar & Liquors

Orlando, Florida

1001 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 896-6975

Whiskey Lou's Lounge

Orlando, Florida

121 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 894-8834

Green Parrot Bar

Key West, Florida

601 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040

(305) 294-6133

No Name Pub

Big Pine Key, Florida

30813 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, FL 33043

(305) 872-9115

Alabama

Top Rated Dives

2 Dive Bars

Georgia

Top Rated Dives

10 Dive Bars

South Carolina

Top Rated Dives

7 Dive Bars

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What did we miss? Where should we go? We'd love to hear your ideas, your favorite spots, your profound disappointments and anything in between.


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