Celebrate the hubs' birthday, and the restaurant is beautiful. We were greeted by the most friendliest person and seated promptly. We started with drinks and selected appetizers. The crab cakes are delicious! I could have had 2 plates of them and been satisfied. The oysters were also good. I would have liked a half dozen option, but there are only 4. Everything else we ordered was good. I'd recommend the bread service for $9. The butter is fantastic. All in all, we enjoyed the evening, and staff made sure our experience was exceptional. read more

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The Black Truffle Waygu Carpaccio is beyond delicious! Great atmosphere, good drinks, and amazing small bites! read more

Driftlight Lounge - Carpaccio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This bar is located in the JW Marriott. We went a few times for drinks at the end of the day. The bar seemed to be perpetually busy. The bartenders work really hard but I was served in a reasonable amount of time. I give it three stars because of inconsistency in pricing. The first time I paid $15 for a margarita on the rocks and $20 for a glass of red wine (not good quality) with no tax; the second time I was charged $8.50 for a bottle of beer and $20 for the same margarita and there was tax. The third time I was charged $10 for that same brand beer with no tax. So go figure. There is seating at the bar or in the lounge. One night there was live acoustic music, which was nice. read more

Driftlight Lounge - The bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Pretty nice lounge located in the JW. Came here for evening drinks with some people. Had a very nice selection of liquors and wines. I was impressed. A lot to choose from, particularly in the tequila realm. Ordered guacamole and chips as well as a charcuterie board. The Pinot Noir they were serving was excellent. Will go back when I'm in town read more

Driftlight Lounge - Charcuterie board and guac - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Had a quick old fashioned before a night out. Super nice square bar with limited liquor selection. This is a hotel bar with hotel bar prices. Rum old fashioned was $19 before tip. Bartender was very nice and conversational. Probably wouldn't return but again, not a bad place for a quick drink. Food prices are nuts. $20 for wings. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Great spot to grab a bite to eat and people watch. We love going around sunset to watch the beautiful views. It's self service normally, but every now and then will have servers. Haven't tried food so can't comment on that yet. read more

We caught them at a soft opening for dinner service. Wow. Fantastic service and food! We had bread service, which was basically an entire loaf of sweet potato bread. So good. I had a caesar salad and my wife had french onion soup. The caesar salad has duck fat croutons. What else can I say? The french onion was fantastic. We also tried the Shrimp cocktail. The cocktail sauce was very nice. We split a ribeye which was cooked perfect. Ask for extra garlic butter. I would swim in it. The mashed potatoes and heirloom carrots were excellent also. We also tried the Nutella cheesecake because why not. We will definitely be back. Oh, and the old fashioned had me on my ass. Now go drool over my photos. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Driftlight is absolutely a gem north of Harbor Island and east of Channelside. Their service is immaculate. From the palate teaser, steak, scallops, mushrooms to carrot cake, everything was exquisitely prepared and presented. I absolutely loved my dining experience and grateful to have spent my birthday with them. Would definitely revisit the next time I'm in town. read more

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I visited Driftwood Lounge for a Birthday brunch for a friend that was staying at the hotel. They moved her to this restaurant from SIX upstairs which she originally planned the brunch at. Driftwood has an extremely limited menu and there were 10 of us. So limited that there were 8 burger orders. One chicken sandwich and one Caesar salad, that was doused in dressing. Sad... and the gross burgers are $20 bucks. We were seated at 12:00 and did not get our food until 2:15. I could see all of the burgers sitting under heat lamps for about an hour. My water was barely ever refilled, had to beg and when I ordered a coffee she placed a cup of coffee in front of me but never asked if I wanted cream or sugar. Cold coffee by the time I got cream and sugar. My medium rare burger was well done but I'm pretty sure it was someone else's burger as there were 8 burger orders and who cares how you want your burger cooked when they have been sitting under a heat lamp. Finally left this please three hours later down $30 bucks for a gross burger and a cold black coffee and mandatory tip. Horrible. read more

Outstanding dinner for Tampa Bay Restaurant Week, a great choice. Service was spot on, the three course meal of crabcakes, filet mignon and carrot cake with a great bottle of Pinot Noir was a 10. We would go back in a heartbeat. read more

Driftlight Lounge - 6oz Filet with reduction sauce - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

After a flight in from NYC, I was treated to lunch here. The top roof deck was open so we were seated outdoors on the 6th floor. This rooftop hard partial views of the bay, but ample room to socially distance. I ordered the beet and blood orange salad, while my cousin had the grouper sandwich. Both were definitely fresh. We also ordered two drinks. One mezcal based and one a gin lavender drink off their cocktail menu. Both were aesthetically prepared and had a strong enough taste without it compromising the flavor of the drink. Ultimately I would come back for a quick cocktail with a friend when the rooftop opened up, but portions are small and not worth a trip back for me. Service was however great! read more

Driftlight Lounge - Beet and blood orange salad with shrimp - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Had to drink here before heading to Amalie Arena for a show. When we sat down in the two open seats. at the crowded bar, we were acknowledged immediately by Eva, who made two of the best dirty martinis!. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Dirty Vodka Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Decent but over-priced bar food at the Driftlight Lounge, which is to be expected at this luxury JW Marriott. Sat at the bar for a late lunch and opted for the Bistro Salad ($14) with blackened grilled shrimp ($12 extra). Though they were large and delicious, there were only 3 shrimp added to the salad, so it felt a bit like a ripoff. The rest of the salad was yummy and decadent: mixed spring greens topped with scallions, tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese covered in a healthy amount of dressing. Avocado was not included, even though it's on the online menu. The servers were attentive and friendly, which is why I rated this place 4 stars instead of 3. read more

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I was really disappointed when I dined at this place with my family. We sat at one of the small tables to the side of the bar and had two servers that did not know they were serving us at the same time. Then they decided to take their frustrations out on us? (When we had nothing to do with their serving system and I'm super understanding because I was a server for 5 years prior to moving to Tampa) We ordered our food and this younger girl was a server. She would walk away right after we would say something before anyone else could order. My mom ordered a drink and my sister also was low on her wine but the server didn't ask if she wanted another one so when she returned to the table with my moms wine, my sister kindly said she would like another one too which led to the server to roll her eyes. We continued to be kind but at the end of the dinner my mom just mentioned to her that if she would have just waited 5 more seconds at the table, she wouldn't have had to make so many unnecessary trips to the bar (a tip for her in the future) The food was great tho. We ordered a ton of appetizers and did a tapa style dinner. We had the oysters, charcuterie board, burger, shrimp cocktail and tacos. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This lounge is located in the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Tampa. It's the first area you see when you walk in from the S. Florida Ave. entrance. It's a lobby bar with plenty of bar and couch seating throughout this portion of the hotel lobby. It also has a restaurant in the next room over. I haven't seen anyone occupying it (Restaurant) on my visits here though. I'm guessing this restaurant is more of a weekend spot, but not sure. Due to labor shortage, they did have only one guy serving that whole area. The service was as efficient as they possibly could make it. We didn't have to wait for too long. Their salsaccia pizza was delicious! Also, the architects and interior designers did a great job here. Even if you're not staying in the hotel, it's a good place for a reasonable size group of people or a date. read more

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Yay! I'm a fan. There is a lot of good at Driftlight Lounge. Lobby Bars aren't exactly known for their vibes and this is the ultimate exception. In fact I think the bar alone is 5 stars, easily. The only reason this isn't a 5 star experience is because of the hotel itself. The bar is dramatic and the couches are super comfy and intimate. I love that the menu is nice and tight. The drink names are cute too. Naming anything after the Sunshine Skyway sure is a fast way to my heart. We chose to sit in the corner, the sofas are serviced which is super convenient. There was nothing overwhelmingly remarkable about our service. In fact a little annoying that we had to ask for water. Shouldn't water just always come with a cocktail? Shouldn't that be industry standard? As this has the Marriot namesake I had high expectations. They really fell flat though. The hotel lobby restroom was really brutal. And the screaming drunk girls didn't help the energy of the space at all... And neither did the live music. Which is super ironic! The performer was wearing flip flops and was playing covers of 80's country rock? As a local, this was a fun bar to hangout in. If I was spending the $$$$ to be a guest here...I don't know how much I would have liked this. My drink was tasty and the glassware is stunning. read more

Driftlight Lounge - $14 Rosy Retrospection - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I stopped in this bar for a drink and loved the decor of the lobby. Everything was very clean and chic. There was plenty of seating around the bar and the bartender came to take our order quickly. I ordered a drink with dragonfruit liquor. It was delicious and sweet. The ambiance of the bar was nice. I want to come back to check out the poolside bar. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

One of the better meals I've had in the restaurant hotel. Delicious oysters! I also have the scallop on three when she was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Roasted Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. U10 scallops with pancetta sauce. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The newly opened Driftlight Lounge Bar & Restaurant is on the 1st floor of the JW Marriott Water Street Resort in Downtown Tampa. The Driftlight Lounge Bar is in the lobby of the JW while the Driftlight Restaurant is in an adjacent large room. Currently, the Driftlight Restaurant is only open for breakfast or brunch from 5am to 11am and remains closed for the rest of the day. Both Driftlight venues offer upscale elegant decor with modern lighting and high ceilings. Both Driftlight venues have large glass floor to ceiling windows which offer a nice view of the sunset, the park, the convention center, the Marriot Water Street, the Sail Pavilion, and tons of tropical palm trees. Driftlight serves food and drinks on the 1st floor outdoor patio as well to guests seeking fresh air. The Driftlight Lounge Bar serves small plates of bar bites for lunch and dinner and a full array of cocktails in the lobby area of the JW Marriott. For a greater variety, staff recommends visiting The Six Bistro & Rooftop Bar on the 6th floor of the JW Marriott Resort. The Driftlight Lounge Bar serves jumbo shrimp cocktail, house chips & dip, deviled eggs, ham gruyere hush puppies, rosemary sea salt fries, Joyce Farms Organic chicken wings, Grouper tacos, 4 types of salad with 3 types of protein, salsaccia pizza, fig & goat pizza, margarita pizza, pastrami sandwiches, blackened Grouper sandwiches, and burgers. The Not Ya Colada Cocktail came with Bacardi Cuatro, brown butter washed Maison, Rouge vsop, pineapple, lime, & coconut milk. 10/10 The Seis Cocktail came with Corazon Reposado, Vida Mezcal, Champagne vinegar, prickly pear, Habanero foam. 9/10 The Winter Spiced Old Fashion cocktail came with High West double rye, spiced brown sugar, simple syrup, angostura, trinity bitters. 8/10 The Irish Goodbye cocktail came with cold brew coffee, Jameson Cold Brew, Montenegro Amaro, Oat milk, & coconut cream. 9/10 Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable in helping explain items on the menu. It only took a minute to get a hello after sitting at the bar and we got our drinks in less than 5 minutes. The bar had only about 6 patrons at the time and there were 2 bartenders. I look forward to coming back again soon to try more off the menu! read more

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Solid solid solid drinks. One of the best Paloma's I've ever had. Terrific live music toBut the prices are pretty steep in my opinion. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Every aspect of our experience at Driftlight Steakhouse went above and beyond what we had hoped for. We were impressed by the expertly made martinis and the mouthwatering Sweet Kiss oysters that simply melted in our mouths. The delightful wedge salad and the sweet potato bread were.. read more

A very good hotel bar inside the JW Marriott. Good selection of drinks on tap and quite a few specialty mixed drinks, but I only had a beer. The food is excellent. I had the driftlight burger and it was mouth-watering good. The beef had a perfect mouthfeel. The toppings blended well, and there was a hint of truffle, which makes burgers immediately amazing. I came to Tampa to watch the Stanley Cup Finals and stayed at the Marriott across the street. I got lunch here and it was pretty quiet, but got packed before and especially after the game, since Tampa won the cup. I assume it gets pretty busy in general during hockey games. read more

Driftlight Lounge - Driftlight Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

First off, we love the JW! Driftlight lounge is their lobby bar...it's open and located near the street so you can sit it side if you like. The drink menu is unique and there are some interesting appetizers on the food menu. The prices are a little high...even for a JW. Our charcuterie board was on the smaller side and $24. The portions could be a bit larger. The service was great and we had a blast on a Saturday night without leaving the hotel! read more

The lounge can be found in the lobby level of the recently opened JW Marriott on the west side. This is now my favorite hotel bar in the area. Service was top notch as was the decor and ambiance of this bar. Seating is first come first serve and there are some comfortable areas to sit and enjoy some drinks and light bites. People watching is also at a prime on busy weekends. On my visit I had the Dragon Bolt (Bacardi rum, aperol, dragon fruit, and some other mixers) and the Salsaccia pizza (sausage, pepperoni, bacon, pomodoro sauce, and mozzerella). Both items were on point and priced reasonably for a high end hotel bar. The food and cocktail menus have a good variety that will allow anyone to find something. read more

After visiting the Driftlight bar in the JW for dinner 4 days in a row, safe to say this spot is a winner. The drinks are creative & delicious (personal fav is the Farmer's Margarita), the food, top tier especially for a hotel lobby (loved the salads, grouper tacos, ahi, & key lime pie) & the service is fantastic. Super impressed and excited I found this spot for my 5 day stay, stuck in Tampa. Thank you Brooke, Tony, & Brandi. You made my time in Tampa much more enjoyable! read more

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Beautiful atmosphere. Very creative architecture and the food thus far has been delicious. read more

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The food was very good but quite expensive. The staff was really friendly and helpful. Very nice atmosphere and clean. Felt so fancy eating here lol I would come here again. read more

We were just helped by Courtney B. this evening. It's a relatively rare event in today's world where we get excited about our service level. Tonight was the night! Courtney brought knowledge (immense), kindness, fun, advice, and just lovely conversation. She's a special employee, and if I owned a bar, I'd recruit her away tonight! Thank you so much for making the Driftlight Lounge shine...and for a 10-15 minute memorable experience. All we did was order a drink?! First time ever to Tampa. Impressive. read more

great ambiance! they were out of ingredients for pretty much every cocktail we wanted, unfortunately. the information on their website can be confusing on whether or not they will validate parking & can confirm they did not when we visited. the pizza sauce is really oddly yummy service can be quite slow, but moves quickly once the orders are placed read more

Loved the food but the bartender was terrible. Not friendly at all. I asked for a cocktail which I wasn't fond of when I asked to see how the other cocktails were she said " you won't like them because our cocktails are for a FANCY palette " I couldn't believe she said that. I left upset, will not come back. Disappointed and upset! read more

Tasty cocktails. But way over priced!! We only ordered appetizers. And some were amazing!! And one was just ok. But again, over priced. You can tell that they are able to get away with over pricing because they are in a hotel. I feel like there are other places in Tampa that are way more reasonable!! read more

Love this bar...but so much more than a bar... light and heavy appetizers, etc. Kanpaka was an amazing server... she was so friendly and attentive. The drinks were on point and the food was delicious. The only reason to stay to eat and drink at the JW. Don't even bother with Six. read more

Experience was absolutely the best! Food and Service was immaculate! Definitely recommend this place! read more

Driftlight Lounge - Rib Eye steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Driftlight Lounge's breakfast buffet to friends and family. The breakfast buffet is delicious. There is a variety of breakfast foods to choose from along with a made-to-order omelette and/or eggs bar. I definitely would recommend read more

Food was decent, the bistro salad is quite tasty and very fresh. Oyster app was average at best (certainly doesn't live up to JW standards). Service great as always. The menu is extremely limited and if in the hotel you may want to go to the main restaurant for a true meal. read more

My wife and I were staying on site and decided to come by for a drink and some apps. The drinks were amazing and apps were sent out promptly which I appreciated. The only concern was not enough staff for the amount of folks waiting. Our waitress was very pleasant and I'll certainly be back! read more

Driftlight Lounge - One of the best Tequila drinks I've had in a while. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I took a trip down from NY for the Super Bowl and I stayed at the JW Marriot. Bartenders Sean and Brooke were outstanding. Highly recommend! It's tough to find bartenders that know how to make a good drink. read more

Worst experience! The hostess told us that they could not put us on the list because it was a 45 min wait and they close in 45 mins. We are staying at the hotel so we got coffee in the lobby. While we are waiting we notice multiple parties over 5 get seated. 45 minutes later we still haven't eaten and the restaurant is still open and seating parties. We have a party of 5 and offered to split our group to be seated more easily and they said they still couldn't seat us even though there were multiple tables open throughout the restaurant. read more

Lobby lounge in the JW Marriott. All 3 bartenders were friendly and helpful with eating suggestions. Decent drink and beer menu. Decor is modern with a large bar in the middle. Tables and couches around the outside of the bar. Some outside seating as well. Biggest drawback with this place is it gets packed. Between the hockey game and convention crowds it was full all 4 nights we were here. It can get loud, very busy, and very crowded. So the drinks as usual at a Marriott property are always on the weaker side. Only hotel chain I can think of that still makes bartenders use jiggers and not free pour. Nice place, good service if you can put up with the crowds and weak drinks. read more

I want to love this place. I have come here for cocktails a nice handful of times with my husband on our weekly date night. It started out amazing! Usually the service is quick and the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable. We really enjoy feeling like we are somewhere other than Tampa when we come to have drinks here. Lately however, a newer bartender named Brooke (I want to say I have seen her here serving/cocktailing in the past but not certain) has waited on us at the bar and as sweet of a lady as she is, the service is just not up to par and the cocktails do not taste the same as when the other bartenders make them. I am not sure if she just hasn't learned the recipes yet or if she doesn't have much experience as a bartender but either way, it cheapens our experience. It has come to the point that sadly, the next time we plan on coming in for drinks, we will call ahead to make sure Brooke isn't working behind the bar and if she is, we will go elsewhere. I am giving this two stars because I have had a few excellent experiences here in the past, however lately it has been extremely lackluster. read more