Super cool spot for an intimate evening. There's a mid century, speak easy feel to the place and the music is chill, some 90s hip hop with electronic beats. Photos tell the story better. read more

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This place is a vibe! It's dark and has great music. We didn't have a reservation but were able to sit at the bar. Every bartender was attentive and sweet gave us great drink recommendations. If you want an intimate setting this is the place. It did start to get crowded later in the evening around 11pm so we left but 9-11pm was more couples enjoying a date night. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Vibes are cool. Place is much smaller than anticipated and I wish the DJ was more elevated and centralized. He's tucked beside the bar and not really visible. Cocktails were good and priced at the expected price point for water street. It was a cool spot for a pre-dinner drink. We stayed for about an hour and then went to dinner. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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What a fun and funky concept for a cocktail lounge. My friend and I made an early reservation on a Saturday evening since we heard it books rather quickly. To our surprise there was a Happy Hour menu, which offered a variety of cocktails and snacks. The 19th Century was very nice, along with the classic Cosmo and Adonis. The space is dark, mysterious, sexy and the music selection brings it all together. This is the perfect place to grab pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap. read more

Alter Ego - Love the space! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Cool vibes, but small menu (although based on their website it looks like they've added quite a few more options since visiting) and not a ton of seating if you don't have a reservation. They allow for standing room and I did come in without a reservation on a Saturday evening on a whim so that didn't bother me too much. Overall, it's a cool spot to stop by for a drink or a date, but each drink is on the pricier side if you're cool with that. Although I will say it was a very good drink and nice atmosphere so I was happy. Keep in mind it is hidden through a basically unmarked doorway if you do plan on visiting read more

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Alter Ego is a newer cocktail bar to the Downtown Tampa area. I had the chance of giving them a try before a concert the other night. It's a great prime location because it's literally a few minutes walk away from the Amalie Arena incase you want to do a bit of pregaming before attending a sports event or a concert. If you're walking too quick you'll almost miss it being that the sign is almost hidden and it doesn't directly say Alter Ego on it. Upon entering you're greeted by a host who will ask if you have reservations or just walking in. We happened to just be walking in on a Sunday at around 6:30 PM. It's got a low light with neon signs lit up throughout in a red hue. Very much a cool intimate hipster vibe which is right up my alley. There's limited bar seats with also some actual seats and couches available with tables. The aesthetic is very nice and low key while having an upbeat feel due to the music playing. It's reminiscent of a speakeasy in New York or a vinyl listening bar in Tokyo. Great environment for date night or drinks with some friends. Next to the bar they have a DJ booth, they've got rotating DJ's throughout the week so if you keep in tuned to their instagram you can see the different types of music they'll be playing throughout the week. As for the actual drinks, I can't give too detailed of an opinion on that as I got some traditional shots. I will say their menu did have some semi unique options on there that seemed worth exploring. Our bartender was really present and helpful and did a great job at pointing out some drinks to us and making something specific based on the preference of my party. Bottom line, a cool chill intimate spot with low lights, good music and cocktails that can be a tad bit overpriced but there is a tax for the area for sure. I'd come back here for sure read more

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I came to this new spot while visiting friends in Tampa this weekend. It's a NY-esque cocktail lounge with a high-class / exclusive vibe. The building is unmarked and easy to miss, but there was quickly a long line outside. We waited about 45 minutes to get in despite being on a guest list. Once we were let in, the manager was very apologetic and friendly. The inside is VERY small - definitely recommend making a reservation va standing in the line. The vibe inside was pretty cool - I loved the lightning and decor. Drinks were expensive, but honestly pretty good. I thought the cinnamon on the bees knees was a nice touch. However, the standout to me was the music - I recommend that they keep bringing dj's in that play fresh mixes, the crowd was dancing and vibing all night! read more

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The aesthetic is absolutely stunning in Alter Ego, and parking wasn't too difficult to find on the street despite the garage being $50 for some reason last night. Our server was very kind and attentive, however the drinks were extremely overpriced and underwhelming. The bartenders are not true mixologists who care to cater cocktails to the customer or even make simple modifications. I asked for a bees knees with tequila instead of gin and was told they couldn't do that. Then my friend asked for one of their mocktails and a side shot of alcohol or for it to be mixed in, that was also something they said we couldn't do. They place wet drinks on the table with no napkin or coasters. They don't provide straws. It's just overall very restrictive for it to be as expensive as it was. The opening dj was solid, however the main dj was all over the place with the music and it didn't fit the vibe of the evening. Overall, wouldn't go back here unless there are changes to cocktails + policies associated with such and better music. read more

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Great music vibes and amazing drinks. Their new food menu is also very complementing!!

the ambiance is such a vibe, and the drinks are amazing! they always have things going on too, such a hit read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

As you wrap around the corner of Wagamama off Old Water street and walk through Ellamae Ct. towards S Nebraska Ave, you'll notice a small circular sign hanging from the ceiling with the letters 'a' & 'e' on it. This low key signage marks the entrance of Alterego and you will also notice a bouncer/doorman hanging out front. There will most likely be a cover charge and that cover charge amount may vary on the night of the week and what DJ's are spinning that night. Once I walked in, I felt reminded of basement clubs in New York City and also of club Floyd in Miami. This is a very good thing if you're into the nightlife. I find that for the ambiance and setting, the price of the drinks were fair and delivered in quality. I was immediately drawn to their take on a pisco sour which uses Lapostolle pisco from Chile. Lapostolle pisco is an unaged style of pisco that allows the characteristics of the distilled grape juice to shine through. It's said to have floral and fruity aromas with a smooth, crisp palate. The aerated texture of the cocktail with the interesting melange of melon, lavender, lemon and honey was a stand out. Their Carajillo cold brew coffee (with a touch of pineapple) cocktail did not disappoint either. I tend to find coffee forward drinks to sometimes be too sweet but this one had everything in balance. Ron Zacapa, the base spirit for this drink, is known to convey notes of caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate and dried fruit. These qualities in combination with the complexity of Licor 43, which consists of a blend of 43 ingredients, including herbs, spices, and citrus, showcase the thoughtful, curated approach that Jon Howard, beverage director within Proper House hospitality group gave Alter Ego's cocktail menu. I feel that Alter Ego won't be everyone's cup of tea but it will suit the taste of many regardless. I'd definitely return and try more cocktails. The food portion on the menu looked good but I lean more towards vegetarian and vegan options. read more

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Here's my take on this spot--a solid 3-star experience based on quality, price, and overall vibe. Let me explain: First off, charging a cover for a bar on water st. especially a high-end one, feels a bit off. After 9 PM, they tack on a $10 entry fee, which isn't outrageous, but it immediately cheapens the brand and sets a disappointing tone from the start. To make matters worse, we were told the cover didn't apply if you had a reservation--only to find out that wasn't true. We had a reservation and still got charged. For a second, I felt like I'd stepped into Ybor. Once seated, we were given only about an hour and a half before they flipped the table for the next group, between the wait time for drink to get delivered and waitress to come take the order this wasn't a lot of time. I understand when guests linger without ordering, but we barely had time to settle in, much less order more than two drinks each. Speaking of drinks, while they were delicious (I've reviewed them below), our total came out to around $90-$100 for four drinks, including tax and tip - so that you can expect cost estimate if/when you go. Now, I know some of you might disagree with me here, but I did enjoy the overall aesthetic of the place--except for the plastic curtains. Those were a huge miss. I get what they were going for, but it gave off raw-meat processing plant vibes, which is not the mood. The DJ, on the other hand, was excellent. Unfortunately, once we were hurried out of our table, we decided to leave, so we didn't get to fully experience the music or the atmosphere. In short, the drinks are good, and while the prices aren't outrageous for what they are, I wouldn't pay a cover charge for a bar where the drinks are already on the pricier side. Overall, a decent experience, but with some noticeable flaws. Carajillo (18.00) *** Old Fashioned (15.00) *** Bees Knees (18.00) **** Cucumber Gimlet (18.00) **** +$10.00 cover fee read more

Two words- SO LOUD. Lol, we made a res for Friday night, the DJ was playing so loud that we were shouting to each other, impossible to hold a regular conversation. I would want to consider this as an intimate bar not a loud club, but that was the vibe. The place is cute and with reservation the wait isn't bad. The place isn't really filled but people without reservation has to line up for a while out there. Drinks weren't bad but not amazing either, price is between $15-20 so I'd say it's reasonable except that there's a $25min per person so with the price you are almost needing to get 2 drinks within the 1.5 hours of reservation time. Service wasn't bad as other reviews had mentioned, we constantly get water and get checked in and the wait for drinks aren't too long. But remember you also need to pay $20 for parking and if you don't have reservation, $10 per person cover Thur- Sat. read more

this place was cute.. very different.. but also why are the drinks so pricy .. i mean i get it but are we in NY? overall it was a okay experience. it's felt rushed because of the table times i get it.. but again where are we lol read more

I've been to Alter Ego twice now, and after my most recent experience, I will never go back. First off, they charge a ridiculous $10 cover for everyone, including my girlfriend, just to get in. Once inside, you're greeted with overpriced, mediocre drinks starting at $21+, which aren't even worth the price. If you want to sit down, be prepared for a $40 per person minimum. We told the server we had already spent enough at the bar, but we were fine ordering one more drink each. Her response? Rude and dismissive, and we were kicked out for not getting up--despite the fact that my friend already had a table for dinner and had hit his minimum tab. On top of all that, the service is painfully slow. During their opening night, we were rushed out after 90 minutes, even though I had just gotten my second drink. The manager was rude and unapologetic. I will never come back to this overpriced, pretentious bar and sincerely hope they fail. I'll be telling everyone I know to stay far away from this place. read more

This is definitely the best bar in Water Street. The mixology is next level. The service is great. Drinks are not more expensive than some other places in the area and are around the same prices as Beacon rooftop bar at JW. The drinks are made with a nice balance and there is definitely a punch to some of them as well. They recently started happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and have live music on weekends. The space is comfortable and dark, which is great when its hot outside in the summer. I fully recommend! read more

I really wanted to like this place, but I couldn't. The aesthetic was pretty nice with the black and red, but I definitely think it's one of those places that is trying to be a vibe and can't quite get there. Me and my friend (we're both black) sat at an empty table and we did not know that we had to make a reservation. The server asked us to get up to make room for the upcoming reservations - which was completely fine since we were not aware of how it operated. However, when we tried to ask her a question afterwards (to get info on any of the other empty tables), she completely ignored us - even when she looked right at us and saw our hand raised. We tried 2 other times to get her attention and she continued to just walk past us. Then, we went to the bar and ordered some VERY expensive drinks. We were standing since all of the other chairs were taken. Two ladies saw us and said they are about to leave and we can take their seats. As soon as our fabric hit the seats, another server said that they have to take away our seats to make it less crowded. There were about 8 other seats in the bar area (and way more crowded on the other side) and they only took ours! That was the last straw for us and we decided to leave and explore other parts ofWater Street. The experience was definitely not worth it and it is not as cool as they are making it out to be. read more

It's trendy that is for sure. There is no where in tampa with this vibe. I just am not overly impressed with the drink menu and spirit selection for this cocktail bar and the caliber of clientele that it is catering to being located where it is. I have been back a few times because I love the vibe but the drinks are priced very high for not a lot of ingenuity and creative cocktails in my opinion. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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It was just okay. First the address is wrong online and on Yelp. It is in S. Nebraska not 1050 waters. 1050 waters is the apartment building. So you get in and then they make you wait standing by the bar, but you also can't block the bar areas. I know it's new but seems odd. It's as if they want you to order from the bar too. The decor is cool but for a music lounge I expected bigger. Also if it's music focused then why aren't the drinks named after music artist or genres. The drinks were just okay, nothing to write home about. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Very cool vibe. Service was great! However, drinks were underwhelming. We tried 4 and they were all just ok. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Super cool little place!!! Drinks are really good, get the Pimm's cup or Bee's Knees! You'll feel like you're in a modern sci-fi yet 80's speakeasy. They had a DJ setting up but I left before he started playing. Bartender was nice and there aren't many people so it feels very easy to ask questions! read more

pleaseee make a reservation. they get busy quickly so you want to make sure you get a spot. they never get packed as they cap out the number of people inside before it gets crowded. the inside is so cute and trendy but they charge a cover sometimes? which to me is trashy because this is not a college town who charges a cover?? again when i made a reservation no cover had to be paid but maybe we got lucky. drinks are overpriced of course and they have a $25 minimum per tab (unless that's changed) so it pretty much forces you to buy 2 drinks. again if you make a reservation and want the vibes for sure go! but if you're looking to save money this is not the place for that. read more

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The DJ and vibes are good. The drinks suck no alcohol in my drink but they price high. Taste like well drinks when it's supposed to be high brand alcohol. Smh I'm not buying anymore drink one is enough. read more

The ambiance of this place is sexy. The service was good, the drinks were delicious. I would definitely recommend it.

Beautiful interior and excellent ambiance! Servers are knowledgeable and current! Interesting, convenient location.

Drinks were great, and love the vibe of the place as well. The mood lighting made it feel intimate. A little small of a space but will definitely be returning! read more

"Meh" is unfortunately the overwhelming feeling upon leaving this place. I can't help but hope that it's an identity crisis rooted in being a new, hip venue. It boasts a nondescript entrance with an overly formal process (think Miami club) and staff who felt a bit cold, bordering on pretentious. The interior is cool, but we were initially seated in what felt like an "exclusive" booth surrounded by Costco veggie-room plastic, which ironically felt isolating given the "music-focused" environment they advertise. The service was great; however, the cocktails fell a bit flat, especially considering the $18+ price point. The Old Fashioned (not the non-alcoholic version) was stirred far too much, resulting in a watery drink despite a really nice ice cube. They're new, so I'll probably come back, but I won't be sprinting. read more

This swanky hidden little gem is a great spot to chill, grab a drink, and listen to some good music. The vibes nostalgia and vibes pumped in are top notch cool. Will be back. read more

My wife and I went to Alter Ego on a Sunday night while visiting Tampa. We found this place on TikTok when looking for some place to get drinks. We chose to go on a Sunday night because we felt it would be less crowded and that definitely ended up being a great decision. We also reserved a table online due to the suggestions we saw on TikTok. There was also not a cover charge like I have seen some other people comment about but that may be due to us going on a Sunday. The ambience and the atmosphere is definitely a great vibe. The dj was excellent and I loved how he was only using vinyls which added to the type of vibe the lounge was already giving. I will say the drinks were a bit overpriced, $18 is a lot for a drink. The $12 shots were not strong and was more juice than anything else. Jade was excellent! She gave us great suggestions, was very attentive, and had great energy. This definitely was a really nice lowkey lounge. Now granted we did go on a Sunday so we didn't have to deal with a lot of people and the lounge was anything but crowded. Based on other people's reviews, it sounds like we had an overall better experience because we went on a Sunday instead of a Friday or Saturday. read more

Don't let this place fool you if you think that it is a high-end bar. We had a reservation, showed up and we're the only people not in jeans and a snapback. On top of it, drinks are awful. Nearly all taste the same. We were pretty excited about this place and HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. read more

This place is abysmal. Waited 2 hours to get in not knowing what I was getting myself into. There is only 1 bar in there and you have to wait 30 minutes to get a shitty cocktail that has all ice in it. My friend pulled up a chair from an empty table and the manager got pissed and kicked all 10 of us out after being in there for 5 minutes. Absolute joke read more

Waited for 20 minutes outside to speak to doorman. Wanted to purchase a table with a party of 7. All well dressed and ready to enjoy, but the doorman never acknowledged us and when we opened the door. Was then told to close it with no communication on when we can enter. My party of 7 left after the unprofessional front door staff shows no interest in helping. Not only did I leave, but a party of 8 behind us left as well. I've worked in upscale hospitality in NYC and Miami. Unacceptable. read more

Staff is so disrespectful and inconsiderate. Hostess literally put her hands on my shoulders and pushed me assuming I did not pay cover after I paid for me and five of my friends, Extremely poor representation of a tampa institution. read more

Cover charge for expensive drinks that aren't even that great. They aren't bad by any means but not mind blowing either. They love the big ice - so much so that it sticks out of the drink making it hard to actually drink. Super dark in there which is fine but why make your menus have a black background so you can't even read them? Cover charge for standing room only even tho there were seats. Sat down anyways and are told you can sit but there is a minimum charge - so not standing room only. Not sure why we weren't told that at the door. Seems people only go here for their photos and then leave. Small place and always a line. read more

Austin is my favorite bar tender. Makes the best cosmos and espresso martinis. 10/10 recommend this bar and Austin to make your drinks!

Great bar with really great vibes. Austin made the best espresso martini I've had to date. 10/10 recommend this bar, but especially Austins bartending. read more

What an awesome place. We had a birthday celebration and were taken care of so well. Everyone is so friendly and accommodating. Definitely check this place out. read more

We had planned on visiting for a while, but when the time had come I came across some not- so- great reviews. I am pleased to report that I don't agree with any of them. Parking was easy to find and wildly cheap- especially for the area AND on a holiday weekend. Keep in mind that we visited earlier in the evening with a 730 reservation. A little bit of a shuffle at the hostess stand and the "waiting area", but once seated was smooth sailing. Our server was Zach and he was phenomenal. Not only did he have great recommendations, but his knowledge of everything- from ingredients and processes to the food and kitchen, was wildly impressive. I didn't think the drinks were overpriced at all. We started with mixed drinks and they were both good. A pour of La grande dame for $60 is more than fair. You're not going to get the wild showcase drinks with dry ice and sparklers and that totally works for me. The unassuming and mellow vibe shows throughout all areas. We actually didn't plan on staying for a second drink but were pleasantly surprised so we stayed. They also just added snacks so DO NOT SLEEP on them. The foie toast is INSANE. Matt, the manager was also great. He stopped to chat after we thanked him for helping with our previous reservation. read more

Alter Ego - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida