The Undertow Beach Bar
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Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Cover: None
What to wear: The key phrase here is, ""No shoes, no shirt, no problem.'' This is the quintessential beach bar, where bikinis and board shorts are standard. Anything more and you're overdressed.
Signature drink: Like all great beach bars, frozen beverages are the libation of choice among sun-drenched beachgoers. The rum runner is a favorite, but you'll also find plenty of chilled beer.
The scene: Close your eyes and think island paradise. The Undertow is pure Florida, where palms sway in the breeze, volleyball is played a mere 10 feet from the bar and locals put their feet up and watch the sunset under thatched umbrellas every evening.
The crowd: During the week you'll find a nice mix of locals and ivory-skinned snowbirds. Crowds pick up on Saturday and Sunday, when tanned hard-bodies and volleyball players enjoy the beach while weekend warriors blow off steam after a hard week on the job.
The specials: Wednesday features $1 longnecks from 9 p.m. until close. Thursday is ""promo night,'' with free shots and T-shirt giveaways. Live reggae rules on Sunday, when you can rock steady all day long.
The scoop: The Undertow is a tropical oasis 30 minutes from downtown Tampa. It's a place to sip daiquiris under the sun, relax with sand between your toes and feel Gulf breezes on your face.
What started as a small grass hut in 1990 has expanded to include two full-service bars and a game room. There's also a full-service kitchen with fantastic wings and grouper and tuna sandwiches.
The environment is clean,friendly and laid-back, but not too laid-back … attentive bikini-clad bartenders always have a cool drink waiting. With its grand Gulf vistas, The Undertow is a reminder of why we all call Florida home.
By Doug Van Sant
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