The Best Birthday Ideas for Adults in Tampa

Tampa has plenty of great birthday party-worthy venues and activities for adults to have a blast and celebrate another year of life. We’ve put together a collection of adult birthday party ideas for you to make the planning a little easier, so you can focus on having fun together.

From gorgeous outdoor venues to unique spots with fun themes and cool atmospheres, we've curated this list using our local intel and love for Tampa Bay.

Birthday Ideas for Adults in Tampa Bay

Outdoor Activities to Celebrate a Birthday

If you’re looking for some ways to enjoy the Florida sun, here are some outdoor ideas for celebrating!

• Local Tampa Bay pools with cabanas and day passes
• Gulf Coast beaches
• Active spots like ziplining or PopStroke

Pools, Beaches, and Cabanas

Let's kick things off with one of our favorite birthday ideas – a private cabana! Look into renting a cabana at a local resort. ResortPass features a huge variety from cabanas for 2 to a full-on party cabana experience for you and your friends.

There's also The Cabana Club which provides elevated cabana set ups among most Gulf Coast beaches near Tampa Bay. Raise a cup to life in Tampa Bay at one of the local beaches that allow drinking.

If you’re looking for something more high-energy, spend the day at WTR Pool. One of Tampa’s hottest dayclub and pool party destinations, WTR allows guests the ultimate experience of poolside luxury and fun with the biggest DJs in the world playing almost every weekend.

Tables and cabanas can be reserved in advance and the daily cover will depend on the programming for that date. We loved the atmosphere and found ourselves spending most of the time hopping between the pool and the dance floor by the DJ station. 

For a more budget-friendly pool option, consider a Sunday Funday at the Hollander Hotel in downtown St. Pete. Sunday afternoons you can hang out by their pool, listen to a DJ, and access their full outdoor bar. These community events are free of charge and we had the best time celebrating and mingling with everyone in the pool!

Sports and Activities

A more active outdoor option is to get your adrenaline pumping by going zip lining or taking on a ropes course. Tackling challenges like a ropes course or ziplining becomes a thrill when you've got a group cheering you on!

Or, you can show off your putt-putt skills at PopStroke in Wesley Chapel. At PopStroke you will pay a daily fee to putt on one of their two courses as many times as you and your party want! There’s a front bar, midway bar, restaurant, and ice cream to take breaks along the way, but if you would rather play straight through, you can use their app to order drinks right to you on the course! 

Looking for a birthday idea that's a hole-in-one? Head to Mr. Putters in Town ‘n' Country, with fun challenges and unique courses, it's the perfect spot for laughs and love.

Finally, if you're willing to make it a day trip, head to Crump's Landing for awesome waterfront dining, and book a private cabana there. Just be sure to book your cabana 10 days in advance, or before.

Keep reading for lots more birthday ideas including bars and restaurants that are perfect for a birthday party. 

The Best Indoor Places to Celebrate a Birthday

• Adult friendly arcades
• Indoor golf bays and axe throwing
• Candle making
• Cooking classes

If you’re looking for ways to avoid the Florida heat or prepare for a potentially rainy birthday, here are some indoor ideas for celebrating!

Feel like a kid again by going to an indoor adventure park like Elev8 Tampa. The perfect spot for fun-seekers of all ages, Elev8 features go-karts, an arcade, bowling, laser tag, glo mini golf, and more.

A similar concept, 1UP has bowling, a VR arena, an arcade, axe throwing and a sports simulator. 

If you’re looking for a great place to grab food and drinks, watch sports, and explore over 100 interactive games, visit Game Time in Ybor. We enjoyed the food and drinks and had so much fun playing some of our favorite games from when we were young. The best part was no one had to miss their playoff games with all the sports TVs throughout the venue. 

Practice your swing at TopGolf Tampa, a perfect party venue, before trying out skydiving without the whole terrifying bit about jumping out of a plane at iFly next door.

Laugh and celebrate at a comedy show at The Gimmick in Ybor for a BYOB experience before going out in Ybor for the evening. 

A couple of other simple ideas for indoor fun are axe throwing (try Highland Axe Throwing) and throwing it back with roller skating (try United Skates of America). 

For a craftier celebration, visit the Candle Pour in Hyde Park. My favorite part about our birthday celebration here was going around and smelling all of the scents my friends came up with for their candles! 

If you’re a foodie who enjoys learning how to cook up your own creations, book a cooking class at Sur La Table. If you’re a foodie who does not enjoy cooking, we have an amazing array of dining and drink options coming up next!

The Best Restaurants and Drink Spots in Tampa for a Birthday

Dinner, drinks, dancing, relaxing- it’s your day! Whatever sounds good to you, there’s planty of great places to celebrate the way you want to!

Book a private dining room or an intimate group dinner with friends. We love this idea for quality time and great food and drinks. 

Other Dinner Venue Ideas:

• Columbia Restaurant in Ybor- try the Original “1905” Salad, Pollo Manchego, or Palomilla- for an enhanced experience book the Flamenco Dinner Show
• On Swann in Hyde Park- try the Hot Chicken starters and Short Rib entree
• Olivia – try the Arancini and Agnolotti
• Ulele– try the Filet Mignon 8 oz. (Also, if you tell them you’re celebrating a birthday they will give you a mini box of chocolates that are AMAZING!)
• Luv Child in SOHO– try the Cubano X-press-O Martini and the Burrito Suave
• Bar Taco in Hyde Park– try the Bartaco Margarita, literally any of the tacos, and the churros

Personally, I’m more of a brunch person! Here are some of my favorite birthday brunch spots.

• Timpano in Hyde Park – try the Espresso Martini and the Baked Lemon Ricotta Cakes
• Rome & Fig -yummy Asian Wings and Two Egg Breakfast, there's even an Espresso Martini Tree(!)
• Steelbach at Armature Works- try the Flight of the Mimosa, the Brulee Nutella French Toast, and the Steak and Eggs
• Oxford Exchange – try the Magnolia, the Whipped Feta, and the Buttermilk Pancakes 

Bars and Lounges for a Birthday Celebration

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street has a gorgeous rooftop lounge! Beacon is Tampa’s highest (and second highest in Florida) public rooftop cocktail and dining destination, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline and Tampa’s waterfront. This midcentury meets-modern bar serves up signature drinks and delectable tastes. We felt luxurious and the service was great!

I love a good rooftop bar experience with good food and drinks, we have some great rooftop bars in Tampa Bay. Some of my favorites are Sal Y Mar, M.Bird, and Casa Santa Stefano. They make for some of the best photos!

Party is up at Showbar in Ybor City. This dueling piano bar in Tampa Bay is the perfect place to throw a party, they even have birthday party packages. Another dueling piano bar and restaurant option is Treble Makers in Wesley Chapel. 

Find out who can sing with a night of entertainment at a karaoke bar. Tampa Bay has quite a few options, so you can choose if you want to belt it out in front of the entire bar or rent a private room for your crew. 

For a night of getting dressed to the nines and taking lots of aesthetic pictures, try these options:

• CW’s Gin Joint in downtown Tampa – a sophisticated venue with a large marble bar, chandeliers, and sofas
• Alter Ego on Water Street – a music-forward cocktail lounge with an energetic vibe and proper, soulful hospitality
• Mandarin Heights in Seminole Heights – a cutesy venue featuring costumed flamingos and the Instagram-famous bathtub photo op
• Grab your most regal attire and check out 22 Moons Tea Room in Brandon
• History Tour and High Tea at the Vinoy to make Brigerton dreams come true.

Visit a local brewery to try different beers and ciders from the area. For birthdays or other celebrations, we like the chill atmosphere of playing board games, listening to music, and enjoying the local brews! 

• Wulfaven Brewing Co. – check the calendar for events and food truck options 
• Thirsty Buffalo – features live music, weekly trivia and other events
• Florida Avenue Brewing Company – the outdoor area is super cute!
• Cigar City Cider & Mead– try the flight to enjoy the wide variety of options (my favorite is the Homemade Apple Pie)

Instead of a birthday cake, try out one of Tampa’s fun dessert spots. Celebrate with a delicious milkshake from The Yard or create your own custom chocolate bar at The Cake Drip in Hyde Park.

On The Water

Since we’re surrounded by water in Tampa Bay, a great way to impress your guests and guest of honor is a voyage on Tampa’s fine dining river cruise CRAFT.

One of my favorite birthday celebrations is brunch on Yacht Starship. The ticket includes a 2-hour cruise, brunch buffet, live music and the best views of downtown Tampa. For $15 extra, enjoy bottomless mimosas! Both cruises depart from Sparkman Wharf. 

If you want to spend your birthday at sea, check out our favorite sunset cruises around Tampa Bay. Enjoy a drink from the deck, pedal your way down the river, or sail away on a floating tiki hut to ring in the next year of your life.

Or set sail aboard Pirate Water Taxi’s new Dolphin Cruise for a 90-minute adventure that offers guests the chance to witness the magical world of dolphins living in Tampa Bay! 

Plan a House Party

There are plenty of great local businesses to help bring your grown-up party dreams to life. 

• Host a mobile cocktail bar for delicious drinks for you and your guests. Services like The Nightcap Social Experience, The Cabooze, and Tipsy Trotter all come to you and handle the bar so you don’t have to.
• Bring a restaurant to your backyard with Hibachi Omakase. You provide the seating arrangements, they put on a show, and cook up a delicious dinner for you and your friends. 
• Book a food truck full of flavor just for you and your guests. The Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally to narrow down your options. 

Need More Birthday Ideas? 

• Tampa Bay Spas That Are Perfect For Couples
• Tampa Bay’s Best Brunch Spots
• Best Boutique Hotels Across Tampa Bay for a Romantic Getaway
• Hyde Park Village Date Night

Know someone in Orlando? The Best Birthday Ideas for Adults in Orlando