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    Driftlight Lounge

    4.1 (42 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Driftlight Lounge Photos

    Business Info

    DRIFTLIGHT LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Driftlight Lounge

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    Charcuterie board and guac
    Spencer S.

    Pretty nice lounge located in the JW. Came here for evening drinks with some people. Had a very nice selection of liquors and wines. I was impressed. A lot to choose from, particularly in the tequila realm. Ordered guacamole and chips as well as a charcuterie board. The Pinot Noir they were serving was excellent. Will go back when I'm in town

    Alonzo A.

    Had a quick old fashioned before a night out. Super nice square bar with limited liquor selection. This is a hotel bar with hotel bar prices. Rum old fashioned was $19 before tip. Bartender was very nice and conversational. Probably wouldn't return but again, not a bad place for a quick drink. Food prices are nuts. $20 for wings.

    Eda X.

    Driftlight is absolutely a gem north of Harbor Island and east of Channelside. Their service is immaculate. From the palate teaser, steak, scallops, mushrooms to carrot cake, everything was exquisitely prepared and presented. I absolutely loved my dining experience and grateful to have spent my birthday with them. Would definitely revisit the next time I'm in town.

    Old fashioned
    Rich M.

    We caught them at a soft opening for dinner service. Wow. Fantastic service and food! We had bread service, which was basically an entire loaf of sweet potato bread. So good. I had a caesar salad and my wife had french onion soup. The caesar salad has duck fat croutons. What else can I say? The french onion was fantastic. We also tried the Shrimp cocktail. The cocktail sauce was very nice. We split a ribeye which was cooked perfect. Ask for extra garlic butter. I would swim in it. The mashed potatoes and heirloom carrots were excellent also. We also tried the Nutella cheesecake because why not. We will definitely be back. Oh, and the old fashioned had me on my ass. Now go drool over my photos.

    6oz Filet with reduction sauce
    Rick M.

    Outstanding dinner for Tampa Bay Restaurant Week, a great choice. Service was spot on, the three course meal of crabcakes, filet mignon and carrot cake with a great bottle of Pinot Noir was a 10. We would go back in a heartbeat.

    Dirty Vodka Martini
    Diane G.

    Had to drink here before heading to Amalie Arena for a show. When we sat down in the two open seats. at the crowded bar, we were acknowledged immediately by Eva, who made two of the best dirty martinis!.

    Beet and blood orange salad with shrimp
    Alina H.

    After a flight in from NYC, I was treated to lunch here. The top roof deck was open so we were seated outdoors on the 6th floor. This rooftop hard partial views of the bay, but ample room to socially distance. I ordered the beet and blood orange salad, while my cousin had the grouper sandwich. Both were definitely fresh. We also ordered two drinks. One mezcal based and one a gin lavender drink off their cocktail menu. Both were aesthetically prepared and had a strong enough taste without it compromising the flavor of the drink. Ultimately I would come back for a quick cocktail with a friend when the rooftop opened up, but portions are small and not worth a trip back for me. Service was however great!

    Bistro salad with grilled blackened shrimp
    Cindy C.

    Decent but over-priced bar food at the Driftlight Lounge, which is to be expected at this luxury JW Marriott. Sat at the bar for a late lunch and opted for the Bistro Salad ($14) with blackened grilled shrimp ($12 extra). Though they were large and delicious, there were only 3 shrimp added to the salad, so it felt a bit like a ripoff. The rest of the salad was yummy and decadent: mixed spring greens topped with scallions, tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese covered in a healthy amount of dressing. Avocado was not included, even though it's on the online menu. The servers were attentive and friendly, which is why I rated this place 4 stars instead of 3.

    Caroline M.

    I was really disappointed when I dined at this place with my family. We sat at one of the small tables to the side of the bar and had two servers that did not know they were serving us at the same time. Then they decided to take their frustrations out on us? (When we had nothing to do with their serving system and I'm super understanding because I was a server for 5 years prior to moving to Tampa) We ordered our food and this younger girl was a server. She would walk away right after we would say something before anyone else could order. My mom ordered a drink and my sister also was low on her wine but the server didn't ask if she wanted another one so when she returned to the table with my moms wine, my sister kindly said she would like another one too which led to the server to roll her eyes. We continued to be kind but at the end of the dinner my mom just mentioned to her that if she would have just waited 5 more seconds at the table, she wouldn't have had to make so many unnecessary trips to the bar (a tip for her in the future) The food was great tho. We ordered a ton of appetizers and did a tapa style dinner. We had the oysters, charcuterie board, burger, shrimp cocktail and tacos.

    Octavia L.

    I stopped in this bar for a drink and loved the decor of the lobby. Everything was very clean and chic. There was plenty of seating around the bar and the bartender came to take our order quickly. I ordered a drink with dragonfruit liquor. It was delicious and sweet. The ambiance of the bar was nice. I want to come back to check out the poolside bar.

    Looking towards S. Florida Ave. entrance (West).
    Shuné D.

    This lounge is located in the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Tampa. It's the first area you see when you walk in from the S. Florida Ave. entrance. It's a lobby bar with plenty of bar and couch seating throughout this portion of the hotel lobby. It also has a restaurant in the next room over. I haven't seen anyone occupying it (Restaurant) on my visits here though. I'm guessing this restaurant is more of a weekend spot, but not sure. Due to labor shortage, they did have only one guy serving that whole area. The service was as efficient as they possibly could make it. We didn't have to wait for too long. Their salsaccia pizza was delicious! Also, the architects and interior designers did a great job here. Even if you're not staying in the hotel, it's a good place for a reasonable size group of people or a date.

    $14 Rosy Retrospection
    Ginger L.

    Yay! I'm a fan. There is a lot of good at Driftlight Lounge. Lobby Bars aren't exactly known for their vibes and this is the ultimate exception. In fact I think the bar alone is 5 stars, easily. The only reason this isn't a 5 star experience is because of the hotel itself. The bar is dramatic and the couches are super comfy and intimate. I love that the menu is nice and tight. The drink names are cute too. Naming anything after the Sunshine Skyway sure is a fast way to my heart. We chose to sit in the corner, the sofas are serviced which is super convenient. There was nothing overwhelmingly remarkable about our service. In fact a little annoying that we had to ask for water. Shouldn't water just always come with a cocktail? Shouldn't that be industry standard? As this has the Marriot namesake I had high expectations. They really fell flat though. The hotel lobby restroom was really brutal. And the screaming drunk girls didn't help the energy of the space at all... And neither did the live music. Which is super ironic! The performer was wearing flip flops and was playing covers of 80's country rock? As a local, this was a fun bar to hangout in. If I was spending the $$$$ to be a guest here...I don't know how much I would have liked this. My drink was tasty and the glassware is stunning.

    Roasted Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. U10 scallops with pancetta sauce.
    Kathy H.

    One of the better meals I've had in the restaurant hotel. Delicious oysters! I also have the scallop on three when she was very flavorful and cooked perfectly.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Driftlight Lounge

    Review Highlights - Driftlight Lounge

    After visiting the Driftlight bar in the JW for dinner 4 days in a row, safe to say this spot is a winner.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.4(72 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown Tampa

    What a DOPE, PIRATE THEMED, speakeasy to go to grab some delicious drinks! Totally blown away!…read more Tucked, downtown Tampa you enter through a secret bookcase door and you enter a very low key pirate bar! Lighting is dim, which is part of the concept. (Auto flash is needed for pics) The joint, is VERY CLEAN! The staff is awesome and very attentive! They understand process. The drinks are SOOO WELL MADE! I had a Zombie as my first drink, and it is very well presented and STRONG! I prefer,my first drink at an establishment to be strong cause then I can lighten it up later. Then I had a Rum Barrel, not as strong, but well presented and delicious! Note: Prices for drinks are worth every dime! They have a small food menu, but everything on the menu looked delicious, but I did not eat there. This speakeasy is attached to a British pub which I went for food after. (Review to come) All-in-all great spot to come and have a drink you are well treated, appreciated and just a fun experience! I will DEFINITELY come back here for a delicious drink and DEFINITELY will try something off the food menu. I'll just make sure next time I won't go there after a big breakfast lol! Five stars alllllll day long!!!

    These are the coolest places in Fla. Secret cryptic entrances with a speakeasy like ambiance…read more Hidden passages and a clear throwback to the days of prohibition. With all that was going on, it's a wonder we could find the exit after all the drinks. The pirate theme was the caveat. A perfectly dimmed atmosphere and willing performers that can conjure up delicious delights. The red light and point on music only enhanced the experience. Plenty of signature drinks, a dozen different beers and even a few dishes are offered. They stir a nice whiskey sour. It's really what suits your fancy. Fear not. They have mocktails, too! 12/25

    Photos
    Morgan’s Cove - Secret entrance to the speakeasy!

    Secret entrance to the speakeasy!

    Morgan’s Cove - Rum Barrel

    Rum Barrel

    Morgan’s Cove - The bar area, tables surrounding it and another little closed off section.

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    The bar area, tables surrounding it and another little closed off section.

    Alter Ego - Bar Area

    Alter Ego

    3.8(71 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown Tampa
    $$$

    The vibes are there 100%. Cocktails were pretty okay,…read morenothing super great or crazy but still a solid drink. Fries were delicious with the herb salt on them and of course the dipping! But go for the ambiance.

    I really like this spot overall...Alter Ego has smaller, moody dark vibes that feel super cool,…read morewith good cocktails and great music. It's got that all-around fun, energetic atmosphere that makes it a solid choice for drinks. Not sure how it is during the week, but it would make for a fun date night spot to grab some cocktails. That said, I had a real hang-up the last time I went with my girlfriend around Christmas. They tried to hit us with a $10 cover just to get in, on top of $15-20 cocktails. I don't mind paying for a nice spot, but the cover felt absurd, especially since it wasn't even busy. The bouncer said we could make a reservation to avoid it, so I did...and then he made us stand outside forever before letting us in. At that point, we should've just left, but since my friend had never been, we stuck it out to try the themed Christmas cocktails. Once inside, there was a two-drink minimum per person, which is kind of crazy. It feels like they jip you either way...cover or no cover, minimum spend or not. While waiting outside (for no real reason, since it was empty), we chatted with a party of six who came straight from Ash (the sister restaurant upstairs). They'd just spent over $1,000 on their meal and were still getting charged a cover to enter Alter Ego. That's poor business, don't force extra fees to guarantee money when good music, drinks, and vibes should bring people in naturally and make them want to spend. There's plenty of places on Water Street with great (and I'd say better) cocktails where you're not forced into minimums or covers. The Christmas cocktail menu was disappointing too, poor selections and way too sugary. Love the potential here, but the strict policies really turned me off and made me want to go elsewhere next time.

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    Alter Ego - Smother fries

    Smother fries

    Alter Ego - Bramble and Rickey cocktails

    Bramble and Rickey cocktails

    Alter Ego - Lighting

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    Lighting

    Hotel Bar - Cocktails

    Hotel Bar

    4.3(229 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown Tampa
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    The bartenders really know what they're doing at Hotel Bar! I'm not usually a dirty martini person,…read morebut one of them took the time to ease me into it with just a slightly dirty version! You can tell they're skilled and actually care about your experience, not just making drinks. Oh and they have bar snacks now! It's not included with your drinks like in Europe. You have to order separately and they come in the most adorable tray for $5! The music is always on point, which honestly makes a huge difference in the overall vibe. Also, I love their hours...it's one of those places you can count on when you're not ready for the night to end.

    From the moment I walked in, I was treated like I wasn't wanted there. No greeting, no attempt to…read moretake my order, and no basic customer service whatsoever. I tried to be polite and patient, but the staff was rude from the very beginning and made it clear they didn't want to serve me. To make it worse, I was kicked out for absolutely no reason. They claimed I "argued" with them, which is completely false. I never raised my voice or caused an issue--I was simply responding to their hostility. Instead of owning their behavior, they chose to make something up and remove me. I've never experienced such unprofessional, disrespectful treatment at a bar. If you're looking for a place where you feel welcome or even acknowledged, this is definitely not it.

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    Hotel Bar - Hotel Bar

    Hotel Bar

    Hotel Bar - Old Fashioned

    Old Fashioned

    Hotel Bar - Bottle display

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    Bottle display

    Sapphire Lounge

    Sapphire Lounge

    3.8(22 reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown Tampa
    $$$

    This is the most beautiful lounge dinner ever been to experience the best food we've ever had…read moreat any restaurant or lounge

    Located inside the Floridian Palace historic hotel in downtown Tampa. This hotel bar serves food!…read moreWe started with drinks and our server seemed to be running the whole place from bar to tables and back. At first it wasn't noticeable because there were only about 2 tables when we arrived but as the night progressed and the bar got busier, we had to wait for extended amounts of time for her to return to our table. We shared the truffle tots as an appetizer and they were delicious and perfect fried. I got the chicken Cesar wrap for my meal. Overall it was good, nothing special and honestly it was pretty bizarre to have croutons in a wrap. The fries were good but nothing beat those tots. We had a credit from The hotel to dine and our waitress once she learned this got immediately defensive and basically told us in many ways that we were lying and couldn't use the credit. After much back & forth with her she finally got in touch with management and changed her tune when she returned to our table to tell us she was mistaken and it was taken care of. Definitely not appropriate customer service at all on her part. We paid the reminder of our checks, tipped on the total minus our credit and couldn't get out of there fast enough.

    Photos
    Sapphire Lounge - Enjoying my Pinot Noir at the Sapphire Room.

    Enjoying my Pinot Noir at the Sapphire Room.

    Sapphire Lounge - Steve ordered between The Sheets. Shaken not stirred.

    Steve ordered between The Sheets. Shaken not stirred.

    Sapphire Lounge - "Between the Sheets"

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    "Between the Sheets"

    Driftlight Lounge - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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