1. Barley Mow Brewing Company

   Largo : 518 West Bay Drive, Largo, 33770

   This bar for beer snobs is a fully functioning ''nano'' brewery (so named because it's smaller than a microbrewery) and tavern featuring American craft beers, a 1,200 square foot outdoor patio, and live music on the weekends.Hours: 3 p.m.-2 a.m. daily.

2. Blondie's

   Seminole Heights : 1735 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 33603

   Neighborhood bar that's great for low-key karaoke fun. Think of it as a Tiny Tap with people singing on a stage and not just into their beers.

3. Bobalouie's Grille and Sports Garden

   Tampa : 1913 Bearss Ave. E, Tampa, 33613

   Suburban retreat meets college hangout (it's an official USF Bulls bar), but that might be oversimplifying Bobalouie's. You'll run into all types at the friendly sports bar and restaurant. There' no beer garden like the name might have you believe, but a small screened patio with TVs allows for  …

4. Copper Top Pub

   Editor's pick

   Tampa : 5112 E Fowler Ave. , Tampa, 33617

   Keeping of-age USF students quenched for three decades, the Copper Top is a pitchers-and-plastic cups place, with pool tables, NASCAR on the tube and Cream on the jukebox. It's best known for two things: (1) an actual, shiny copper-topped bar, and (2) spicy air-smoked chicken wings, arguably the …

5. Corner Club

   Seminole Heights : 1502 E Sligh Ave., Tampa, 33610

   Don't be daunted by the exterior. The industrial gray-painted and brick building looks like something out of a post-Apocalyptic Western. Inside, it's a cozier and friendlier world, full of down-to-earth regulars who range from guys in punk bands to plumbers and real estate brokers. Get drunk on  …

6. Dublin House Pub

   Largo : 479 Seminole Blvd., Largo, 33770

   A neighborhood pub for 25 years with full liquor, 10 brews on tap.

7. Durty Nelly's Irish Pub

   Downtown St. Petersburg : 149 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 33701

   The staff is talkative and friendly as well. The gang at Durty Nelly's is young, fun and friendly. Beer, liquor and a bit of wine make up the menu at Durty Nelly's. Imports are the only beers on tap and bottles are a mix of domestic and import. The bar is fully stocked with the necessary liquor  …

8. Elmer's Sports Cafe

   MacDill Area : 5206 S MacDill Ave., Tampa, 33611

   The second of two Elmers, this is no junior. It's bigger and comfier than its Ybor brother, with a huge U-shaped bar, tall and regular-size tables accommodating around 150 people. Because it's cleaner than your average bar and there's no smoking inside, the brick walls and painted wood paneling  …

9. Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill

   Editor's pick

   St. Petersburg : 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33705

   Ferg's is one of the best sports bars in Tampa Bay. Situated just a deep fly ball from the Trop, this converted gas station has become a pre-game ritual for many fans, and not just for baseball. Bucs, USF, Lightning — Ferg's pulls them in for all of 'em with its burgers, wraps and wings ( …

10. Five Bucks Drinkery

    Downtown St. Petersburg : 247 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33701

    Hours: 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-3 a.m. Sun.

11. Fort Knox

    North Pinellas beaches : 17850 Gulf Blvd., Redington Beach, 33708

    The Vibe: a classic dive bar with all the trimmings, and a short walk from the beach. Hours: 10 a.m.-2 a.m. daily.Read more here.

12. GAME Bar

    St. Petersburg : 615 Ninth St. N, St. Petersburg, 33701

    Under new management in early 2012, GAME's "We're Game'' motto reflects it's many options: pool tables, darts, games, a jukebox and more.

13. Green Parrott Pub

    Carrollwood : 11759 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 33618

    The beauty of a dive is there is always more than meets the eye. One glance at Green Parrot might have newbies shying away - there's graffiti scrawled in old varnish on the bar, torn vinyl bar stools, billiard-chalk-dusted wood paneling and beer lamps, and the pervasive smell of fryer grease. We …

14. Haymarket Pub

    St. Petersburg : 8308 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, 33702

    If you're into show tunes and Sinatra, this dive bar's a safe place to perch a while. You just have to know that you'll likely be surrounded by older gay men and the guys who love 'em. Seriously, though, take some friends, be respectful and crank up those Ethel Merman tunes and belt 'em out at t …

15. Hideaway

    St. Petersburg : 8302 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, 33702

    It touts itself as the oldest lesbian bar in the United States, celebrating its 40th year in June 2009. The secret to its longevity? Its dive atmosphere makes it a great place for to just hang out and shoot pool. And karaoke and acoustic jam nights attract a pretty good crowd. Just one piece of  …

16. JJ's Prime Time Time Lounge

    Dunedin : 1397 Main St., Dunedin, 34698

17. L.A. Hang Out

    Lutz : 16411 N Florida Ave., Lutz, 33549

    Tons of screens with DirecTV Football Ticket on Sundays. The split-level establishment has a set of games - air-hockey, darts, pool - up a step or two from the bar area, which runs from the center of the wood-floor sprawl to the west wall. The east wall sports a stage for live tunes and karaoke  …

18. Linksters Tap Room

    Bradenton : 8201 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton, 34201

19. Mahuffer's

    Editor's pick

    North Pinellas beaches : 19201 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 33811

    Don't miss this South Pacific-styled gem of a beach bar on your way up Gulf Boulevard. Four decades old, low-ceilinged and slathered in graffiti and beachabilia — fish nets, crab trap markers, boat parts, bras, dollar bills and more photos than you can imagine — the outrageously quirky Mahuf …

20. Mastry's Bar & Grill

    Downtown St. Petersburg : 233 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33701

    They call it St. Pete's truest dive bar. It's dank, smoky and cavelike, all right, but that isn't why we love it. We love it because Babe Ruth used to drink there, and Billy Martin, and (legend has it) Jack Kerouac. We love it because Minnesota Fats played piano there years ago. True, those were …

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