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    Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    4.3 (25 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Sports Bars
    Closed • 11:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Friendly Tarpon Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    FRIENDLY TARPON TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Live music
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hot dog and tots
    Chelsea O.

    Friendly Tarpon is a true hidden gem dive bar in Tampa. It's got everything you want in a no-frills spot--pool tables, darts, table games, and just the right amount of grit. The bartenders are always extremely friendly and keep the vibe laid-back and welcoming. As far as bar food goes, the hot dog is a top-tier glizzy--simple, classic, and surprisingly legit. Perfect place to kick back, play a few games, and enjoy a solid dog and a cold drink.

    Orlando M.

    Great Friendly Tarpon atmosphere. Definitely one of the best pizza I've had in Tampa. Nice a crunchy. Service and beers are great!

    Lori S.

    Wonderful, laid back atmosphere, nicely decorated, friendly owners and server, great chips and queso, delicious rum and juice concoction, really good music

    a can of lagunha lite
    Brad S.

    Maybe youve passed by this place on Gandy Blvd in South Tampa a million times. Next time, stop in. Its a great fun bar. Not exactly a dive, but with a similar feel. Its very clean and smoke free. The inside is warm and woody. There is a cool back patio where you can relax and watch games, if thats your thing. Not mine. The bartenders are all old school. The drinks are strong and prices are low. Restrooms are clean. Parking in front is tight. But apparently you can park next door at ABC Liquor and not get towed. There is live music on weekends to enhance the overall vibe.

    Sharing a good time watching college football with family!

    LOVE... small, local bars! This one has promise... it thankfully changed owners and now is getting a makeover. Reasonable beer and wine prices... bar bites as well! J.j. and Katie (bartenders) are super sweet and fun!!! Pool table, darts and a small stage in back for live music.. and of course T.V.'s ... inside and outside.... Go by and check it out... you may want to be one a regular... I do!!

    a can of beer and a surfboard

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    Photo of AJ S.
    91
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    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Friendly Tarpon T.

    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you for coming by!

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    Photo of Joe C.
    2818
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    10 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Helpful 2
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    2 months ago

    My favorite local bar! Everyone is so down to earth and different social events each day.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    Photo of Lori S.
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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you, Laura! We are glad you are one of our regulars :)

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    Photo of Ea T.
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    3 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you! Glad to hear you will be back. Come see us anytime!

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you so much for coming!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great place to drop in, hang out and watch football! Indoor has a fun vibe and outdoor porch with tvs and a stage for local live music.

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thanks, Laura Jane!

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    Photo of Todd C.
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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Awesome owner and staff, reasonably priced drinks, great music and sports on all TV's...my favorite!

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    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    7 years ago

    Helpful 8
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    6 years ago

    Great place to watch football. You can sit outside and watch the games. Good prices and friendly people and excellent service.

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    9 years ago

    Friendliest beer joint in the Gandy area. Rays game is always on. Cold beer and pet friendly. Cheers to that!

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    8 years ago

    Great bar, excellent staff that will take care of their patrons! A must go if you like dive bars with character.

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    Review Highlights - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    “As first time customers at Barefoot Billy's, we cannot say and thank you enough for showing our group a great time and making us feel right at home.”

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    The Hub Bar - Great pour

    The Hub Bar

    4.0(171 reviews)
    4.5 mi•Downtown Tampa
    •$$

    Stiff drinks, mediocre service and a smelly atmosphere. What more could you ask for from Downtown…read moreTampa's iconic dive bar? It's perfect. Local bands, loud mouths, random strangers leaving drawings on napkins, and oh, the best graffiti a bathroom stall in all of Tampa could ask for! Don't miss this joint like the iconic stuffed opossum for yesteryear.

    WARNING: This bar practices favoritism and targets newcomers…read more My friend and I are teetotalers, and we went there for their karaoke night a couple of days ago. Keep in mind, it was just two people: me and my friend. It was our first time there, and the bar was full of people for karaoke night. The vibe was great, but the service was rude. They only show gratitude to paying and regular guests. About an hour into the event, I went up to the bar and simply asked for a water. The bartender told me that I had to buy a bottle and that it was cash only. I said, "Okay, never mind." That wasn't the problem. I understand that they are running a bar and trying to make money. Every type of bar does that. The problem was that the bartender came over to my friend at our table after that exchange and rudely told us that we needed to buy something or leave. That completely ruined the experience for us, especially since it was our first time there. So, we left. We know when we're not welcomed, and this bar did not make us feel welcome. It wasn't the price or the drinks that were the problem. It was the fact that the bar was full of guests purchasing drinks, and many of the guests coming in were groups of five or more. Yet they chose to target two quiet guests, even before the event, and told us that if we were non-paying guests, they would "kick us out" at least an hour into the event. We didn't come there to cause any harm or start any trouble, and we're not bums off the street. We came to have some safe fun and sing a few songs--nothing more, nothing less. If everything had worked out well, we could have come back and purchased drinks next time and even spread the word about how great the bar was. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Be warned: This bar practices favoritism and looks down on non-paying guests. They completely ruined the vibe that night. If you're new to the area, I would think twice before coming here.

    Photos
    The Hub Bar - What a hefty pour, god love them.

    What a hefty pour, god love them.

    The Hub Bar - Triple for the price of one.

    Triple for the price of one.

    The Hub Bar - Always a good pour

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    Always a good pour

    Pete's Place South Tampa

    Pete's Place South Tampa

    4.0(85 reviews)
    2.6 mi•South Tampa
    •$

    I love this bar. Bury me here…read more Karaoke on the weekend is such a vibe. Gets crowded around 10pm. BOMB bar food. As you'd expect.

    Visiting Tampa for the night, my wife and I on a Saturday had started out at Pete's north at about…read more10:30 with the band packing up the bar was inaccessible with obnoxiously drunk young females. So we left for Pete's south. Upon arrival we saw a pretty good mixed crowd. There we chose the smaller bar for drinks and headed for the dart boards. A bit crowded with 4-5 E-Dart boards, but all the young players were respectful and courteous. The only annoyance being staff needed to cross every 10-20 minutes in and out of the back exit and cooler. Bathroom both male and female were pretty gross with piss on the floor and toilets with paper and napkins thrown around. Kareoke, you can barely hear your self over the roar of the bar so you better be loud and confident, having to step down off the small stage to hear yourself. The DJ said it's the system norm. Security were very pleasant and respectful at both bars, we felt a good safe environment and interaction. Food, We were not offered a menu nor was there any indication of a kitchen so it must have been closed? Not sure. The real unpleasant "surprise" comes when you get the bill $178, with titos vodka being labed "premium" pour at $10.50 per pour ×2 with a drink being served out of an 8oz cup filled to the brim with ice a splash of soda and a spit of cranberry: $21... Either our first drinks or last drinks we special because we had -$1 on those? At this point I didnt want ruin the night with hating the players, hate the game. They obviously played the "don't ask don't tell" because until the bill with no posted prices or information, I had no idea what I would be paying. THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR TRUSTING ANOPEN RUNNING TAB. A fool and his money were easily parted. I was pleasant and tipped $30 ca$h. But for a one night tampa experience 6× $21 drinks and 7x $7 beers. We will wait till we are back home in Sarasota to go out... $200 for 2+ hours out. No...

    Photos
    Pete's Place South Tampa
    Pete's Place South Tampa
    Pete's Place South Tampa

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    Friendly Tarpon Tavern - divebars - Updated October 2026

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