Tampa’s highest rooftop bar to open next month

A new rooftop bar is opening in one of Water Street Tampa’s luxury hotels next month.

The Beacon inside the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street will be the highest public rooftop bar in Tampa once it opens next month, according to a news release. The bar will offer a panoramic view of the city skyline and the waterfront.

The hotel did not say what day the Beacon will open.

The bar will be on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott hotel, which opened in December 2020 as one of the centerpieces of the multibillion-dollar development spearheaded by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and an investment company owned by Bill Gates. Vinik left the firm behind Water Street in June.

The Beacon will feature a menu with seasonal flavors and local ingredients crafted by sous-chef Roy Bryant, the release said. One drink called the Rising Sun will have notes of sesame and yuzu, a citrus fruit from Asia, mixed with roku Japanese gin and pineapple.

The food menu will include charcuterie options and tartines with crème fraiche, caviar and smoked salmon.

The bar, designed by New York-based AvroKO, will have four spaces, including a shaded terrace. Once it debuts, it’ll open at 5 p.m. daily.

“Beacon represents the culmination of our commitment to providing extraordinary experiences for locals and visitors alike,” general manager Ron McAnaugh said in a statement. “We are excited to unveil this captivating rooftop lounge, where visitors will be able to soak in the energy of Tampa’s buzzing Water Street neighborhood from above.”