1. Aja

   Downtown Tampa : 290 S Meridian Ave., Tampa, 33602

   When it opened in January just before the 2009 Super Bowl, it was clear that AJA Channelside, the ultra-chic nightclub in the Towers of Channelside, was swinging for the fences. So far, it's hitting them. During the Super Bowl, guests included Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson an …

2. Barbarella

   Ybor City : 1920 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 33605

   Located on the eastern edge of Ybor near the Columbia Restaurant, Barbarella is a video dance club and is a spin-off of popular Orlando nightclub Independent Bar. The club's focus is on video dance music, so don't expect VIP service or trendy cocktails. They will served canned beer (including PB …

3. Barnacles

   Brandon : 926 Providence Road, Brandon, 33511

   With it's 450 TVs, Barnacles may look like a typical sports bar and grill, but there's a lot more going on. The waitstaff walks around singing every tune blaring from the speaker system, handing out trivia prizes.

4. Bishop Tavern

   Downtown St. Petersburg : 260 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33701

   The Bishop is a tavern with a velvet rope on weekends. An early 20th-century tin ceiling looms above the bar that has an eclectic selection of beer on draft. With great specials, such as Thursday ladies night where ladies drink free domestic draft, this is a hopping spot for college aged kids an …

5. Blur

   Dunedin : 325 Main St., Dunedin, 34697

   Blur's crew gives us style with assuredness. They know how to lay it on and how to hold back. It's spacious, clean, accommodating. Nothing is over the top. Sheer draperies and glass dividers accent the rear interior bar and DJ booth - and they set off an adorable privacy area by the parquet danc …

6. Boomerang Martini Bar

   Brandon : 2016 Town Center Blvd., Brandon, 33511

7. Bulls Club Billiards & Games

   Tampa : 1251 E Fowler Ave. Unit D, Tampa, 33612

   A wacky, pretty much unsanitary, many say incredibly fun drinking game has made The Bulls Club one of the most popular hangouts for USF Tampa students. The venue advertises "more than 10,000 square feet to accommodate pool, dance floor, full liquor bar, games, stages and more." The "more" would  …

8. Cafe Fuego

   St. Petersburg : 1154 94th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33702

   Large selection of bottled beers, wine, dance floor, coffee and wifi. Hours: 10 a.m.-3 a.m. daily.

9. Cajun Cafe On the Bayou

   Editor's pick

   Pinellas Park : 8101 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, 33781

   This Cajun/Zydeco restaurant and bar has an outdoor stage and deck overlooking Cross Bayou. Plus you'll find a 25-by-42-foot cypress dance floor, perfect for two-stepping to the live music that's often scheduled there. Dance lessons are also given at some events. And the food? Let's just say tha …

10. Chase Club

    Westchase : 12129 W Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 33626

    The Chase Club has a dimly lit atmosphere perfect for an after-work cocktail or refuge on a hot summer's day. Inside, a long bar seats about 20 people, and there are eight high-top tables. Behind the bar are six TVs and a huge big screen. In the foyer are several Internet-connected arcade games, …

11. Club Prana

    Editor's pick

    Ybor City : 1619 E Seventh Ave., Tampa, 33605

    Since adopting its current name in 2001, Prana has weathered Ybor City's ups and downs and remained one of its most popular clubs. With different music on each of its five floors - from hip-hop on the ground floor to house in the middle to reggae and live music on the roof - it offers something  …

12. Club Skye

    Editor's pick

    Ybor City : 1509 E Eighth Ave., Tampa, 33605

    Always popular, still running strong. Ybor's best-connected hip-hop club gets a lot of top-notch visitors (Ludacris, Lil Jon, Tracy Morgan, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Fat Joe) thanks to its ties to Wild 98.7 (Orlando and DJ Christion are regulars), but the omnipresent line out the door on Fridays is p …

13. Club Underground

    Downtown Tampa : 802 E Whiting St. , Tampa, 33602

    One of the area’s top hip-hop clubs is located in downtown Tampa. Young Jeezy, Plies, Tiesto, Ginuwine and Juvenile are among the artists who’ve appeared here since 2007.

14. Czar

    Editor's pick

    Ybor City : 1420 E Seventh Ave. , Tampa, 33604

    Lookit: When you talk about Czar, the word "hipster" is going to get tossed around a lot. There's just no way to avoid it. Sideways haircuts, thrift-store sundresses, skinny jeans and huge sunglasses (yes, even at midnight) — all of these are de rigueur at Czar. On the other hand …

15. Detour

    Grand Central District : 2612 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

    The night and day of gay bars. Detour is set up like a traditional neighborhood bar on one side: well lit, some cool music, a small stage, two pool tables, lots of seating. Expect mostly men, and some older ones at that. The other side is a leather bar that's dark and gothic even at high noon du …

16. Empire

    Editor's pick

    Ybor City : 1902 E Seventh Ave., Tampa, 33605

    During Super Bowl weekend in 2009, the billed headliners at a postgame party at Empire were Dennis Rodman and Lawrence Taylor. And you had any doubt that Empire was a no-nonsense joint. True, Empire has had its share of highly publicized troubles over the years, but one only need look at the lin …

17. G. Bar

    Editor's pick

    Ybor City : 1401 E Seventh Ave. , Tampa, 33605

    For the past couple of years, G. Bar has been an enormously welcome, and enormously entertaining, presence in Ybor City. The fun-loving club has been a major player in building up the GaYbor scene, which now boasts a slew of gay and gay-friendly nightclubs. Out of all of them, though, G.Bar is t …

18. Georgie's Alibi

    Editor's pick

    St. Petersburg : 3100 Third Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33713

    Relaxed and sporty (but always up for a party on weekends), it's the grand dude/dame of Pinellas gay bars, even if it's not that old (it opened in 2000, the cousin of another Alibi in Broward County). Thursday's Long Island Iced Tea party is not to be missed -- it's crowded, but $3 mason jars fi …

19. Green Iguana (Anderson Rd)

    Editor's pick

    Town 'n' Country : 9202 Anderson Road, Tampa, 33634

    The biggest of the bunch, the Veterans location on Anderson Road flaunts the "largest climate controlled Tiki Hut in Florida." We weren't able to verify that claim, but are in agreement that it's huge. The fun-plex also features ample indoor and outdoor seating, three full bars, as well as pool  …

20. Green Iguana (N West Shore)

    Editor's pick

    Tampa : 1200 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 33607

    This Green Iguana debuted in January of 2008 with a grand opening that found the place packed to capacity with fun (and booze) loving professionals. Situated on the first floor of the Westshore Hotel in Tampa, it's darker, more loungey and ritzier than the rest. There are three bars including th …

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