Pulling up, Shipwreck is everything a Tampa dive bar (or Clearwater dive bar in this case) should be. The visual appeal is instant, with a wood plank-heavy façade that fits the theme. Two pirate mannequins offer ample opportunity for drunken selfies. Piercing neon signs adorn every window. There’s even a fake fish above the front door. The name of the bar itself carries the theme even further, spelling out Shipwreck in faux driftwood. It’s an impressive vibe.
Inside, the nautical party continues. The bar stretches the length of the space, lit with what feels like some kind of rainbow Christmas light string, supported by what looks like half of a pergola sticking out of the wall behind the bar. The coolers behind the bar take on the look of below deck-style storage and the rear wall doubles as a mermaid-heavy painted mural.
Opposite the bar, a handful of nooks with secluded hightop seating are divided by short wooden walls, providing ample opportunity to carve out a private space. Each nook overlooks the secondary room, mostly deserted during our visit given the more impressive vibe of the main bar area. Surrounded by a handful of aquariums, that space features a pair of pool tables and a handful of bar arcade games. A nook around the corner (that’s right, a tertiary room) includes some relaxed seating and, for some reason, no lights.