Orlando vs Tampa Nightlife (Miami, St. Petersburg: living in, restaurants, club)

[Swan Dive]

In General I read allot of the Tampa vs Orlando threads and the consensus seems that Orlando has the better nightlife and music scene?

is this true ? does anyone feel the opposite?

[rezfreak]

I would agree (music scene wise). I dont do club life, but I do enjoy my music, most of the stuff I like goes to Orlando, not Tampa.

[craigm1841]

Orlando and Tampa both have horrible music scenes. Living in tampa I have discovered a few great musicians/bands that I will go out of my way to see, but 98% of the music in Tampa and orlando is garbage, as it is in most cities. This isnt LA, NY, CHI, DET, AUSTIN, or SEATTLE. You really have to dig to find the good music in either place, but Orlando seems to have more gimmicky music, like 80s cover bands that dress up like its the 80s, etc. I have seen more genuine musicians in Tampa, but again- few and far between.

The nightlife, in my opinion, is better in tampa. It offers a little bit of everything and there are a ton of singles, and a lot of great places to hang out- mostly in south tampa. I have only been to orlando a few times, and it wasnt bad at all, I just prefer tampa. I think it offers more.

i will say this about the nightlife comparison. SUMMERTIME nightlife is better in Orlando, because a lot of Tampa people spend their Saturdays at the beaches, essentially wiping them out and keeping them in on saturday night. It doesnt kill nightlife, but it is more laid back than it is in the winter.

[Swan Dive]

good advice thanks guys

[MarcBetrus]

I'm gonna revive this old thread now that decade has gone by, and I'll say that Tampa Bay is better than Orlando. First of all -- Downtown St. Petersburg -- the best downtown of any large Florida city. -- Tons of bars, lounges, clubs, breweries..etc.. The crowd is less rowdy and more classy than Orlando. Next reason: last call is 3am in Tampa Bay vs 2am in Orlando. I realize that's only an hour, but it makes a difference. Next: There are several downtowns with great nightlife, not only St. Petersburg. There's also Ybor City, which although a little rowdy, is a blast. Downtown Tampa (although still a big sleepy) has made big strides and there is a bit of nightlife there. Then you have all the beach communities, from Pass-a-Grille to Clearwater, roughly 30 miles...and that's something that Orlando has no answer for. Each of these beach communities has great bars, clubs, lounges and restaurants; from Madeira Beach to St. Pete, Treasure Island and Clearwater, and everything in between. There's also little outlying areas that have good nightlife, notably Dunedin, which is a great little coastal community a little north of Clearwater.
I realize that Orlando has great outlying communities as well... but overall I'd say Tampa Bay edges out Orlando in the nightlife department.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by MarcBetrus

I'm gonna revive this old thread now that decade has gone by, and I'll say that Tampa Bay is better than Orlando. First of all -- Downtown St. Petersburg -- the best downtown of any large Florida city. -- Tons of bars, lounges, clubs, breweries..etc.. The crowd is less rowdy and more classy than Orlando. Next reason: last call is 3am in Tampa Bay vs 2am in Orlando. I realize that's only an hour, but it makes a difference. Next: There are several downtowns with great nightlife, not only St. Petersburg. There's also Ybor City, which although a little rowdy, is a blast. Downtown Tampa (although still a big sleepy) has made big strides and there is a bit of nightlife there. Then you have all the beach communities, from Pass-a-Grille to Clearwater, roughly 30 miles...and that's something that Orlando has no answer for. Each of these beach communities has great bars, clubs, lounges and restaurants; from Madeira Beach to St. Pete, Treasure Island and Clearwater, and everything in between. There's also little outlying areas that have good nightlife, notably Dunedin, which is a great little coastal community a little north of Clearwater.
I realize that Orlando has great outlying communities as well... but overall I'd say Tampa Bay edges out Orlando in the nightlife department.

Good post - and if you throw in Bradenton/Sarasota it increases even more. It boggles my mind actually how many tiki bars, beach bars, grills etc. all over these towns have live music. I have hundreds of musician friends and they are always performing.

[MarcBetrus]

Hey, you're the nut-job that was crying about Tampa on the other thread...

I see you're stroking out again over here...LOOL
.
I also see that reading comprehension is an issue, as this thread was comparing Tampa Bay to Orlando, not Miami.

And then you only singled out Pass-a-Grille and DT Tampa, when I mentioned so much more...

Tampa Bay is really up in your emotions; what happened to you there sweetheart? -- Where you cheated on by your wife? Lose your job? Betrayed by a friend?

Whatever happened it really messed you up; any mention of Tampa and your crying all over the place........LOOOL

[MarcBetrus]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Good post - and if you throw in Bradenton/Sarasota it increases even more. It boggles my mind actually how many tiki bars, beach bars, grills etc. all over these towns have live music. I have hundreds of musician friends and they are always performing.

Absolutely!

[InterestingArm3750]

I’ll take Orlando. It has something for everyone. Even matched up against 3 major cities (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater), Orlando on its own has better nightlife. Sure it doesn’t have anything like St. Pete, but Tampa/St. Pete have nothing that comes close to CityWalk or Disney Springs.

If you want rowdy, fun and boisterous, Orange Ave in downtown.

If you want classy but casual, Thornton Park in downtown.

If you want dressy and Latin, International Drive.

If you want upscale and dressy, Park Ave.

If you want destination nightlife, CityWalk and Disney Springs.

[StopThe Steel2024]

Originally Posted by InterestingArm3750

I’ll take Orlando. It has something for everyone. Even matched up against 3 major cities (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater), Orlando on its own has better nightlife. Sure it doesn’t have anything like St. Pete, but Tampa/St. Pete have nothing that comes close to CityWalk or Disney Springs.

If you want rowdy, fun and boisterous, Orange Ave in downtown.

If you want classy but casual, Thornton Park in downtown.

If you want dressy and Latin, International Drive.

If you want upscale and dressy, Park Ave.

If you want destination nightlife, CityWalk and Disney Springs.

but some people want to party in Pass a Grille lololol!!!!!!!!