The Ultimate Tampa Bay Foodie Scavenger Hunt

Tampa Bay isn’t just palm trees and high-priced Water Street tourist traps (there are some but not on any of our lists). It’s also bursting with some of the most mouth-watering, mind-blowing, bite-it-and-swoon kind of food and beverages. And you know Jules and I do NOT gatekeep, so we’re handing over our personal Google map to eat and drink your way through Tampa like a local with very, very good taste. Let’s go… Let the hunt begin.

Stop 1: The Latte That Hugs Your Soul

📍 Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters in Ybor City | 1823 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Start your journey with a latte crafted by edgy, artist-baristas in the heart of Ybor City at Blind Tiger. After that first sip, you will make plans the next day to swing by! And if you’re really doing it right, grab one of their macarons from Kim at Chocolate Pi. We loved them so much we used them instead of cake at our wedding, because obviously.

Stop 2: Lunch That Makes You Feel Like a Health Goddess

📍 Fresh Kitchen | 4616 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609

We get it. Sometimes you want to be virtuous, but deliciously virtuous. Fresh Kitchen’s gluten-free bowls are the real deal. Perfectly roasted veggies, yummy sweet potato noodles, deliciously grilled steak (our fav for sure), and the craveable herb balsamic vinaigrette sauce. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together… even if you're eating it in sweatpants, in your car, while cyberstalking your ex to see if his new GF is prettier (SPOILER ALERT: she's not).

Stop 3: The Chicken Burger That Slaps

📍 Oxford Exchange | 420 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606

Classy brunch? Midday date? Solo lunch with your laptop and main character energy? Oxford Exchange delivers. Their chicken burger is juicy, crispy-edged perfection topped with just the right amount of flair. Eat it in their sun-soaked atrium and pretend you’re writing a novel while eavesdropping on first dates. We do.

Stop 4: The Closest Damn Thing to New York Pizza in Florida

📍 Eddie & Sam’s NY Pizza | 203 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602

Listen. We’re not saying New Yorkers have a pizza superiority complex. We’re saying they might be right, and Eddie & Sam’s understands the assignment. Foldable slices. Grease that glistens just so. That chewy, crackly crust. It’s the closest you’ll get to a late-night Manhattan slice without hopping a JetBlue flight.

Stop 5: What Dreams Are Made Of

📍 Rooster & the Till | 6500 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

One word: GNOCCHI. Short rib-loaded, pillowy clouds of pasta magic. Rich, savory, and sexy. Yes, sexy gnocchi is a thing. Rooster & the Till is a culinary love letter and this dish is the juicy kiss at the end.

Stop 6: The Espresso Martini That’ll Ruin All Others

📍 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | 4342 W Boy Scout Blvd Tampa, FL 33607

Say hello to Don’t Be Salty, a salted caramel espresso martini at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar that walks into the room and demands attention. Velvety, boozy, caramel-kissed magic that makes your soul tingle. It’s dessert. It’s drama. It’s the moment. You’ll be ordering two and regretting nothing.

Stop 7: Bao Down to the Bun Gods

📍 Sunda New Asian in Midtown | 3648 Midtown Dr, Tampa, FL 33607

Soft, steamy, totally addictive. These bao buns at Sunda aren’t just food… they’re a damn experience. We are obsessed with juicy adobo pork belly and the crispy Korean fried chicken thighs piled high with crunchy Asian slaw. Either way, they’re little handheld bombs of flavor wrapped in fluffy perfection. Bring a friend so you can split both and pretend you're being reasonable. Or go full savage and keep them all to yourself. No judgment. Only applause.

Stop 8: The Can't-Have-Just-One 'Rita

📍 Streetlight Taco | 4004 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

Enter: The Coco Rita. A coconut-lime masterpiece with a tajín rim that hits you with a spicy little slap before the tequila even kicks in. This isn’t your basic beachside marg. It’s creamy, citrusy, a little wild, and dangerously smooth. Like vacation in a glass. Pair it with their authentic Mexican street tacos and a side of chorizo queso and suddenly you’re flirting with the bartender that has the pokémon character tatted on his ass (lol). We’re not here to judge. We’re here to toast with the Chef Michael at Streetlight Taco.

Final Stop: Your Nonna’s Dream Pantry

📍 Mazzaro’s Italian Market | 2909 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

You made it to the end! Your reward? An Italian wonderland. Wander past the imported cheeses, handmade pastas, stacked wine racks, and pastries so pretty you’ll need a minute. Grab fresh mozzarella. A cannoli with your coffee. A crusty loaf of bread. Honestly, just grab a cart and surrender to it. Mazzaro’s is the treasure chest at the end of your quest.

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BONUS POINTS IF YOU:

• Take selfies at each stop and tag us @yfy_podcast

• Tell us your favorite food/beverages that should make the list! If we agree, we will add :)

• Make it a date, a friend adventure, or a solo “YES” day (or invite us!)

We’ll say it once (and probably a million more times): Life is too short to eat boring food. So grab your map, put on stretchy pants, and start checking off the list.

Say "Yes. F*ck Yes." to the best bites in the Bay!

The Ultimate Tampa Bay Foodie Scavenger Hunt by April & Jules Ott