City Side
Dancing · Video Bar · Tampa, FL
About
City Side has been named Tampa's number one gay bar by Best Businesses of Tampa Bay, and it's easy to see why locals keep coming back. The lounge features three bars, a large back patio, a game room with pool and darts, and video screens playing music and sports. The crowd tends toward approachable, middle-aged regulars, and the vibe is casual and welcoming.
The bar hosts karaoke on Wednesdays and Saturdays, trivia and video bowling tournaments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and daily drink specials. Smoking is allowed inside, so plan accordingly. It sits a bit apart from other gay venues in Tampa, making it more of a destination stop than part of a crawl. If you want a cozy, unpretentious spot with strong drinks and friendly staff, this is your place.
City Side is located in South Tampa, a bit isolated from other gay-focused venues, so it feels like a standalone destination rather than part of a bar crawl.
Features
- ✓Named #1 gay bar in Tampa Bay area
- ✓Large outdoor patio with separate bar
- ✓Game room with pool table and darts
- ✓Daily events including karaoke and trivia
- ✓Friendly bartenders and strong drinks
Good for
Practical
Best nights: Fri, Sat
What people say
Rated from 58 reviews. 95 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Tampa’s gay Cheers”
Bartenders are friendly and the drinks are strong. Karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays are good. There are darts and video bowling tournaments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as trivia on Thursdays. Several televisions show videos and sports.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Smokey”
Smoking is still permitted inside the venue.
A guest · Over a year ago
“not very friendly”
It's quite cliquey.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Very nice bar with outdoor patio”
The bar is well-maintained with an upscale look, though the inside is somewhat boxy. It has a large, nice patio with another bar. People seemed friendly, and the crowd was middle-aged but not trashy. The negatives are that smoking is allowed inside and the bar is a bit far from other gay-oriented places. There isn't much else nearby that would be a destination. As a conservative, preppy 44-year-old gay traveler, I felt very comfortable.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“Memories of the Jungle still live on :)”
I remember when City Side took over the spot that was formerly called The Jungle, which was the first bar I went to when I moved to Tampa in 1998. It's still as chic and metro as it was 15 years ago. There's a nice little game room in the back bar area and a back patio good for cookouts and events. It's still a fun place to stop by.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there outdoor seating? +
Yes, City Side has a large patio with its own bar, popular for cookouts and events.
What are the best nights to go? +
Friday and Saturday are the most popular nights per Yelp. Wednesday and Saturday have karaoke, and Tuesday and Thursday have video bowling tournaments.
Is smoking allowed? +
Yes, smoking is permitted inside the bar and on the patio.
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