<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival showcases five days celebrating some of Tampa's leading restaurants. This 3rd annual event is taking place April 8-12, 2025 and will feature a variety of experiences that will highlight the culinary world in Tampa and the surrounding areas, featuring dishes by celebrity chefs, MICHELIN Star-rated chefs, and more.
The event is also going toward a good cause and will support and benefit local charitable initiatives in Tampa Bay with Community Initiatives Foundation's EAT SMART campaign, whose mission is to support the health and wellness of our youth. Keep reading to find out how you can experience this event and what to know before you go.
“We’re thrilled to bring the festival back for another year, offering an even more elevated and dynamic culinary experience. Tampa Bay’s thriving food and beverage scene continues to flourish, and this year’s expanded festival reflects that with the addition of more restaurants and incredible chef talent. We’re excited to welcome both locals and visitors to savor the very best this region has to offer, and we look forward to delivering an extraordinary festival experience this year.”
Valerie Roy, Director of Marketing and Client Strategy at CI Management, the orchestrators of the Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival
Events at Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival
Please note – April 8th's event, An Evening at The Tampa Club, and April 11th‘s Breaking Bread with Heroes are invite-only events.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8: AN EVENING AT THE TAMPA CLUB
Where: 42nd Floor of The Tampa Club
Tickets: Invite Only
The festival kicks off with this exclusive, invite-only cocktail gathering, presented by Breakthru Beverage and partners to include Milagro Tequila and Irvine Spirits, where guests enjoy a preview of the festival’s culinary highlights while taking in the incredible views of downtown Tampa from the 42nd floor of The Tampa Club – a premiere private business and social club in the heart of the city.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9: EXPERIENCE ST. PETE
Where: To Be Announced Soon
Tickets: Tickets to go on sale in January 2025.
Several premier area restaurants will bring their distinctive culinary flair to this exciting event celebrating St. Pete’s stunning coastal dining scene. Experience unforgettable dinners from the area’s visionary chefs and indulge in the craft cocktails and exceptional wines thoughtfully chosen to complement each dish. These four-course dining experiences invite food lovers to explore the remarkable chef talents and unique culinary gems from neighborhoods across St. Pete and its surrounding communities.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10: EXPERIENCE TAMPA
Where: To Be Announced Soon
Tickets: Tickets to go on sale in January 2025
Discover several of Tampa’s top culinary destinations – including Epicurean Theatre at Epicurean, the acclaimed Meat Market and others soon to be revealed – as they host exclusive pairing dinners presented by Breakthru Beverage and partners. Each dinner is a four- to five-course masterpiece crafted by talented chefs, visiting celebrity guest chefs, and more featuring expertly paired curated dinners with premium wines and handcrafted cocktails. Join in the celebration of Tampa’s dynamic and ever-evolving culinary landscape, where exceptional food, wine, and ambiance come together to create an unforgettable experience.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11: BREAKING BREAD WITH HEROES
Where: To Be Announced Soon
Tickets: Invite Only
Chef Robert Irvine along with sponsor Publix, will host an invite-only breakfast honoring 250 first responders, active military, and veterans. In partnership with The Robert Irvine Foundation, this meaningful event is a moment to gather, honor, and celebrate our nation’s heroes. Veterans will enjoy a delicious breakfast while sharing stories, connecting with fellow vets, and being celebrated for their extraordinary service and sacrifice.
“I’m proud to have another opportunity to host the week’s celebratory events at the Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival and take on an even larger role in the Friday night Chef Showdown. It’s incredibly gratifying to witness fellow locals and visitors discover and embrace the depth of talent and delicious food that Tampa Bay has to offer. I'm looking forward to connecting with festival guests, celebrating our shared passion for good food, and shining a spotlight on the chefs and flavors that help make this region so exceptional. You never know who will be joining in the celebrations.”
Chef Robert Irvine
IRVINE’S SPIRITS CHEF SHOWDOWN
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL
Tickets: $160. Tickets on sale now!
Brought to you by Irvine’s Spirits and presented by GOYA Foods and Milagro Tequila, this year’s Chef Showdown is set to be more thrilling than ever. Following back-to-back years of sold-out success, the competition heats up once again with eight battles and 16 chefs, one additional battle to last year, including all reigning champions, hosting their own “battle pavilions” where showdown attendees will sample and vote on their favorite dish in eight epic showdowns. Throughout the evening, chefs from each battle will take the Publix Culinary Showdown stage for live demos of their dishes, where Chef Ref, Robert Irvine will give them 15 minutes to make the full showcase of their dish, as final judges determine the winner of each battle. The complete chef lineup will be revealed in March.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12: GRAND TASTING
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL
Tickets: $150 pre-event, $175 day of event. Tickets on sale now!
The final day of the festival brings one of the most anticipated food events of the year: the day-long Grand Tasting, brought to you by Breakthru Beverage Florida, presented by GOYA Foods, and hosted by Publix. At this unforgettable celebration of food, wine, cocktails, and live local music at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, guests gather to savor mouthwatering bites from more than 40 of Tampa Bay’s top restaurants. To add to the fun, this year introduces the event’s Official Bank Partner and the newest host of the Best of the Fest Contest—First Horizon. Guests will cast their vote at the Grand Tasting for the Best Bite of the Day, crowning one restaurant as the ultimate champion of the festival. Get ready to explore endless cocktail and wine pavilions, visit sponsor lounges and shaded experiences, and enjoy live demos at the Publix Culinary Showcase Kitchen Stage. With hundreds of flavors to sample in a vibrant, riverfront setting, the Grand Tasting is the ultimate showcase of Tampa’s thriving culinary scene and a perfect way to close out the festival.
Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival Details:
Dates: Thursday, April 8 (private event) – Saturday, April 12, 2025
Where: Water Street, Hyde Park Village, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Tickets: Tickets vary per event and can be purchased here.
They must be purchased in advance for all events except the Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 13. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the gate throughout the day or until sold out.
Visit tampabaywff.com for more details.
All images courtesy of Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival.
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