Over the last ten years, Tampa has fast become a hot spot in Florida.
- We have so many venues in the city that people from neighboring towns drive over to spend the weekend here.
While some areas are packed with a lot of these visitors and tourists, there are certain places that don’t see those crowds. And as a local in Tampa, I prefer to avoid the touristy areas as much as I can. They are usually too crowded and at times, they can get a bit rowdy. Two of my favorite places to go to avoid the tourist crowd are Mandarin Heights and M.Bird. Mandarin Heights is a fantastic speakeasy-style bar that serves the best drinks. And M. Bird is an upscale rooftop bar that overlooks the river and the gorgeous skyline. The best part about these bars is that they are great throughout the year. Although M.Bird is a rooftop bar, there are portable patio heaters available when the weather is chilly outside. These portable heaters can be moved around so that the guests can be as comfortable as possible. I have been to this bar during the Summer as well as during the Winter months and I have always been comfortable while sitting outside. I was there a couple weeks ago and there were lots of portable heaters available. I requested to be seated next to one of the heaters and although the night was chilly, the portable heater kept me warm and toasty. I love spending time at different venues in Tampa, especially the ones that have less tourists and frequented more by the locals.