We found Bouzy while walking around looking for a brunch spot on a rare trip to Hyde Park and came…read moreaway very pleased with the experience overall, though there were a few minor hiccups with our visit. I'll start with the good stuff. The space inside Bouzy's front dining area and bar is gorgeous. It's not large, but it has very high ceilings, which add to the sense of space, and the modern decor, especially the bubble-inspired lighting, all add up to a bright and vibrant atmosphere. I can easily imagine it looks even more polished and stylish at night. Also, our food was excellent. We got the Florentine Benedict and the Shrimp & Grits -- both were beautifully plated and delicious. Also, if you're feeling snacky before brunch, try the Marinated Olives. It's easily a snack for two -- we even ended up taking some home! I did mention a few minor hiccups at the start. The bottle of Cava Reserva we ordered was not kept chilled, so we had to wait a little for it to come out and we did worry for a moment that we wouldn't get it before our entrees arrived. Also, our server, while very friendly and sweet, was a little uneven in terms of how often she came over to check on us. At the start, she seemed a little scattered, but later on she found her groove and came over to us more often to see what we needed. As I said, minor hiccups, and certainly nothing that would discourage us from another visit the next time we cross the bay and visit Hyde Park. Definitely curious about what it might be like at night!

What an absolute disappointment. First off, nothing to do with service. All the ladies we met were…read morephenomenal. Let's start with.. we made reservations way in advance for brunch for 6 people. We asked to sit in the lounge for the dj. We were told no, too many people in our party. We asked again day before... told no We get there, today... we asked again and are told oh sure you can sit back there. Barely anyone back there. Wtf?! We sit, we order lots of drinks. Then we order appetizers: chips and caviar dip, charcuterie stand & bacon. Bacon and charcuterie were lovely. The chips were cheap lays potato chips broken from the bag. Have some hand cut chips to go with caviar... Then for brunch we had quiche, carpaccio, 2 surf and turf Benedict's, steak sandwich, lobster roll, and some mushroom toast. My quiche was sour. I don't know how else to describe it. Spinach and feta which I love normally but every bite was OFF. Table tried it, they all agreed. Lobster... in the sandwich and Benedict's were so fishy and so overcooked they were like rubber bands. Sad. The food wasn't eaten sadly. I heard the steak sandwich was decent from my friend but the rest was so subpar. We drank more and got the heck out. Doubt we will return. Was not worth the price for his hungry we left after bad food. Again, service was stellar.

One of the many perks of the Epicurean Hotel is its swanky rooftop bar that is excellent for night…read moretime hangouts, especially if you stay at the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed my extra dirty gin martinis that were made for me as my lady enjoyed the gin and tonics. They have grassy backdrops, perfect for selfie taking. Lovely night time views leading to the Bay. Plenty of table, bar, and patio lounge seating both covered and outdoor. It's a terrific stop, especially if you have had dinner at Elevage.

A lively rooftop bar in SoHo! This was a fun spot to grab a drink at with nice views and a breezy…read morerooftop environment. The drink prices are steep and the music is loud. It was very busy, and quite a bit of a wait for drinks because they were handcrafted. The soho sipper was AMAZING, highly recommend. Overall, this was a fun spot I'd come back to for a drink prior to dinner close by - such as Bern's or Haven.

The service was efficient and nice! The vibes were great and the croissant was really good! I…read morestudied here for a bit and it was very comfy and cozy! would recommend!

I would imagine most people in Hyde Park don't even know that this little upstairs hideaway is…read morethere. It's cool and beautiful inside with lots of wood and lamps that look like classy pineapples. After an Easter service at St Johns, we came here for some snacks and drinks. My cosmo was refreshing and beautifully served and I got some gin-soaked olives with it. My husband enjoyed a margarita and my child a full breakfast: bacon, eggs, hash brown, and toast with honey sticks. And you certainly feel out of the scrum of Hyde Park village.

Super cool speak easy in Hyde park! You can enter through Sesame cafe and speak with the hostess…read more Reservations are recommended but we were able to sit at the bar without them! Inside you'll find dark and chill lounge vibes. Nice lit back bar with tons of bottles and a fun cocktail menu! All of the drinks are hand crafted with unique ingredients. They are on the pricier side but they comes along with the ambiance and ingredients used. We got the white rabbit which had an orange blossom foam, and also the memories of capri. That was a more savory cocktail which was super good! They do also offer small bites and the full food menu since they are attached to RO. Overall a great experience and cocktails at Jekyll!

So disappointed!! My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at On Swann and made reservations for…read moreJekyll for dessert. We absolutely loved going to Ciro's when they were still opened and enjoying their fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies amongst many other things. We saw that Jekyll offered "Ciro's Chocolate Chip Cookies" and we were so excited to one, try Jekyll, and two, gobble up some made to order cookies. So, we arrived a few minutes before our 7pm reservation, but were left standing at the entrance as other parties were shuttled right in. In fact, 10 minutes later, we were still standing there. After almost 15 minutes, we were finally escorted into the speakeasy. This was the first sign of how the evening was going to go and, honestly, we should've left after five minutes of waiting. Once seated, we were warmly greeted by Otis, who took our order for the cookies and spiked milk. When the runner brought the cookies they were neither fresh from the oven, nor warm (or gooey) like real Ciro's cookies were. Instead, they were cold, hard and broke like peanut brittle. I spoke to Otis, who immediately addressed the matter and put in another order of cookies. The second order was delivered by the manager, who claimed that he stood and watched the entire process. This was difficult for us to believe because the second batch cookies were even worse than the first batch. So, we called Otis back over, told him we were leaving and thanked him for his superior service. At this same time, a bar tender, who overheard all of this, stopped by with two complementary beverages. The drinks were the highlight of the visit along with the severs graciousness and professionalism. Jekyll appears to be a very nice place. Unfortunately, they don't make, nor serve authentic Ciro's chocolate chip cookies. Two stars for Otis and bar tender. Do better Jekyll!!

Poorly managed, could care less if you return, absolute pass for many better places to grab a beer…read moreand a bite. Two stars as the young male waiter was very nice and tried hard. 20%+ tip to him, kudos. Rezy system BS on St.Paddy's Day led to being peppered with confirmation texts for two days and then being told there were no reservations upon arrival. Funny thing, saw this 'reserved' sign at a table as we left.

Went to Strandhill Publix by Armature Works for a cocktail before dinner when it had turned into…read morethe Christmas bar pop-up, I believe called Miracle. It seems to feature the same drinks as Bar Mezzo in St. Pete, so I'm guessing it's part of a seasonal pop-up they do. The vibes at Bar Mezzo felt better for Christmas. This spot felt kind of divey, but the prices were definitely not. The service was slow and our server forgot about us for a while, even though the place was pretty packed. I believe it's an Irish bar, and I would give it another try if friends wanted to go, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.

Loved my experience here! I went with a friend recently to celebrate our birthday, and we had…read moreexcellent service. It was a Tuesday night, so the place was pretty slow - which is probably part of why we had our every need met. The wine selection is diverse, and the server kindly helped us choose the best one for our tastes. It was a great choice, and we enjoyed it so much. He pointed out all of their different specials (SO many), and we both agreed that we'd definitely be back soon!

I can't tell you guys how much I love Wine Society Wednesdays at Society Wine Bar, my new favorite…read moreday of the week. Each Wednesday at 7 they have a different theme for the educational wine tastings. Last nights theme was comparing same grapes but the differences in wine based on region their grown in. We tried side by side comparisons of 6 different wines, learned about the history of them, and how to identify the notes. And the tasting includes charcuterie and some other little snacks, as well as cookies this time. Sommelier, Denise "Bubbles", is fantastic, the environment is welcoming and fun and a great way to meet some new folks and try some lovely wines. Will absolutely be back again soon, thanks Bubbles!!

I was in Tampa for a conference this week and stayed at the Marriott across the street from the…read moreconvention center. My colleague and I decided to walk next door to the JW to enjoy a little happy hour at their rooftop bar. Beacon is a stunning experience and everything you want out of a rooftop lounge. Glorious views of the city, comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, a beautifully designed bar, and delicious food + drinks. We just wanted to grab a few light bites and cocktails before dinner. I got a crisp Bombay Sapphire dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives which was perfection. We also got the deviled eggs and the raw oysters to share. We were both pleasantly surprised by the unique flavor profile of the oysters. They were topped with a basil slushie ice and limoncello pearls (like mini boba). It was unlike anything I've ever had, but they were amazing and refreshing. The perfect summer oyster. I only wish there were more of them! The deviled eggs were topped with pickled veggies and were also very tasty. Portions are small and prices are high (as with most luxury experiences these days), but we went mostly for the ambiance and views which exceeded my expectations. Looking forward to going back the next time I'm in Tampa!

This was our first time at The Beacon, and we were seriously impressed. The space is absolutely…read morebeautiful, and the views are stunning. One of my favorite things was that the price included unlimited tea and food selections. We could order as many of the fare as we wanted and try every tea that caught our eye without feeling rushed or limited. Our waitress, Ellie, was phenomenal. She was engaging, knowledgeable, fun, and genuinely elevated the entire experience. It was a gorgeous summer day in Florida, and while we skipped the outdoor seating (because any true Tampanian knows better than to sit outside in the middle of July ), our table inside still had incredible views. Everything was beautifully presented, the tea was delicious, and the atmosphere was just as impressive as the food. I highly recommend The Beacon and can't wait to go back.

Looking for a place to impress out of town friends-or soak up the sunset by the water (both pool…read moreand river)? This! Is! It! My good friends were visiting on business-staying downtown-and wanted to meet up late on a Friday afternoon for drinks. I looked for something walkable from their hotel and this popped up. I drive right by the Aloft every day, on my way to work. Finally... I was going to get inside-but just for a minute. We walked right to the back-to the patio bar by the pool, overlooking the Hillsborough River, with a view of the gorgeous University of Tampa campus and the sunset. It was the perfect place for convo and cocktails. We got there right when it opened at 4pm and could pick our spot. I can't tell you anything about what was available to eat or drink, since my friend sent us to sit and grabbed 2 rounds of beer and wine for us. Likewise, I can't comment on the service. Forgive me-I'll return-do some research-and report back later on those. But I can tell you that's it's a delicious spot to bask in the warm glow of both sun and good company. I was so focused on my friends, I didn't think to check on whether there were stairs down to the Riverwalk, below the bar-but I'll find out on my next visit. And I can tell you it's an easy walk from the Fort Brooke parking garage. (You take your ticket with you and pay at a machine on the first floor when you return) It was clean-not too loud-not too crowded-nobody bothered us. I can't wait to go back and do some more reconnaissance and take photos.! Cheers to good times, good venues and great friends!

My colleague and I were staying at aloft for a conference and every evening as we came back to…read moredecompress that Gabby was working (wishing it had been every night, honestly 'cause the guy we had one night was sour) she cracked us up. Hilarious, and in retrospect she was likely taking the piss - teased us with her sarcasm and wit. She was awesome!