Florida is one of the nation’s favorite party destinations, with a thriving $1.9 billion bar and nightclub scene growing even faster than the accommodation sector.
If you live in St John’s Pass Village or planning a trip to this beautiful seaside destination soon, you’ll find dozens of ways to let your hair down when night falls.
Keep reading to discover the best places to enjoy the Florida nightlife in Madeira Beach and St John’s Pass.
Caddy’s Waterfront
Caddy’s collection of seaside restaurants is the place to be for breakfast and bottomless mimosas through sunset cocktails and casual meals to dancing the night away.
You’ll find a waterfront Caddy’s at both St. John’s Pass and Madeira Beach. They’re open from 11 am until 10 pm every day, and close at 11 pm on weekend nights. Sunday times are from 8 am to 10 pm.
You can start your night out with live music and cocktails as the sun sets, linger a little longer for the vibe, and then see where the evening takes you from there.
Daiquiri Shak
You can spend many happy hours from Monday to Friday at this Gulf Boulevard restaurant and bar in Madeira Beach, with daily drinks specials from 11 am until 7 pm.
Then pick up the pace, with live music and revelry until 3 am on the weekend. You can look forward to tunes from Big Brother, Kevin Toon, Crownz, and many more local favorites.
Daiquiri Shak offers fifteen different flavors of daiquiris for beating the summer heat or turning it up when the dance floor beckons. If you’re seriously thirsty or in the mood to go all out, you can upgrade your drink to a 32oz bone or a 48oz fishbowl and keep the glass as a memento.
The restaurant also offers a raw bar for culinary adventurers in search of the freshest mussels, oysters, clams, and shrimp.
Mad Pub at Madeira Beach
The Mad Pub is the place to go for an insane variety of drinks and late-night fun. The pub boasts a full liquor bar, signature cocktails, 63 different types of beer on tap, and over 100 craft beers.
You’ll find plenty of specials on the go every day at the Mad Pub, as well as regular televised sports fixtures.
You’ll find the Mad Pub along Village Boulevard, and it’s open from 10 am until midnight Monday to Thursday and until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The pub is pet friendly, and you can even enjoy a cigar on the patio overlooking the beach.
Bamboo Beach Bar
Fondly known as the ”Boo”, this restaurant is a re-invention of the beloved Bamboo Beer Garden, built in 1947. Nowadays, it boasts larger premises, a more extensive menu, and one of the best patios in the country for sipping sundowners at the end of the day.
It’s still a favorite haunt for diners from around the world, locals, and snowbirds in search of good cheer.
Live music and a laid-back vibe are the order of the day at the Boo, which welcomes customers from 11 am to 12 am daily and until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mangos Restaurant and Tiki Bar
Mangos Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants near St. John’s Pass, perfectly capturing a blend of elegance and casual dining. It holds pride of place along Gulf Boulevard, overlooking sublime ocean views.
The Tiki Hut is the perfect place to unwind at sunset before your big night out, with a selection of tropical frozen drinks like Margaritas, Pina Coladas, or Rum Runners.
The restaurant serves up a great selection of seafood and steaks, as well as gluten-free eats, including nachos.
The Friday Night Cookout is a treat, offering tiki torches, hula dancers, a barbecue buffet, and frozen margaritas against a backdrop of white sand beaches and azure waters.
Mad Beach Brewing
At this seaside restaurant, the chef and brew masters work hand-in-hand to craft precisely matched beers and meals, where every bite and sip complements the other.
You’ll find this brewing company come restaurant along the John’s Pass Village Boardwalk, close to Beach Place Condos.
Menu items include classic pub far like mac and cheese, jerk chicken, nachos, and buffalo wings.
Each one has an artisan ale to perfectly complement its flavor and texture. You can take your pick from the beer menu, or go with the recommendation of your well-informed server.
You know your beer and food matching education is in good hands when you visit here. The Mad Beach Brewing Company snapped up awards for several of its creations at the 2020 Best Florida Beer Awards.
The fun starts at 11 am daily, and the restaurant closes at 9 pm on weeknights and 10 or 11 pm on weekends.
The Hut Bar and Grill
This 70-foot waterfront bar is a big hit with sports fans looking for a good night out. The venue features 12 TVs for catching live games or re-runs and also offers live music most nights.
You can tap your feet to the beats, enjoy a meal, sip on cocktails, and cheer on your favorite team every day from 11 am until midnight at this jovial pub.
The Hut features an inside and outside bar, and you can reach it via boat, car, or on foot from accommodation nearby. A large Tiki hut is the major feature of this bar, complete with a Hawaiian theme throughout.
Menus items include burgers, sandwiches, tacos, chicken fingers, and Philly cheese steak, and you can look forward to sampling some unique artisan beers while you’re there, too.
The Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar
This acclaimed Madeira Beach dive bar features live music every day and an excellent menu to get your evening underway.
The food comes from the excellent restaurant next door, Frabotta’s Beach Kitchen, and the main offerings include the classic seaside fare, like handhelds, fries, and build-your-own pizzas. Those who want something a little fancier will love the selection of salads and antipasto eats.
Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar opens at 11 am daily and closes at 3 am, so it’s a good choice if you’re planning to go all out.
The bar attracts a more mature crowd and is usually jam-packed, so if you want to enjoy the best it has to offer, arrive early. The outdoor area features a stage beneath the palm trees, for true immersion in the relaxed beach vibe.
Bula on the Beach
Teetotalers love Bula on the Beach for its peaceful vibe and delicious drinks. Instead of alcohol, Bula serves Kava, which has a similar relaxing effect, without the hangover.
Despite this, the bar still rocks from 7:30 am to 2 am daily and until 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fans flock to enjoy the oasis-like courtyard and bar with its umbrellas, sofas, and lounge chairs. At night, the back patio comes alive with the glow of twinkling lights, creating a fairy tale ambiance.
By day, you can enjoy beach games, pool, and ping-pong or simply relax in the sands with your Kava drink in hand. If you’re craving a night out with a difference, Bula on the Beach is a fantastic choice for you.
The Calypso Breeze
If you’d like to try something a little different, book a dinner cruise on board the Calypso Breeze. This dinner/party boat departs from Madeira Beach’s Boardwalk Plaza.
From there, it whisks you off for two and a half hours of fun and frolicking on the ocean waves.
You’ll enjoy breathtaking views, a tropical-themed buffet, complimentary drinks, and music courtesy of a local DJ while you’re out on the water.
The Calypso Breeze is a 68-foot triple-decked cruiser designed especially for Florida’s intercostal waterways, boasting two enclosed dining levels, with air conditioning and restrooms.
The open-air deck offers the best possible views of the Florida coastline at night.
Searching Further Afield for Florida Nightlife
If you ever tire of the relaxed vibe on offer at St. John’s Pass beach bars, you can head to St Petersburg in search of the bright lights. This metropolis is just under ten miles away and offers many highly-acclaimed nightclubs for die-hard revelers.
These include:
- The Estate
- 260 First
- Club Plush
- Blur
These establishments feature top DJs, the latest beats, and the full range of drinks to keep you going all night long.
Most nightclubs in St. Petersburg open at 10 pm and close at 3 am, so they’re the perfect way to maximize your evening after sundowners and a meal in St. John’s Pass.
For safety’s sake, it’s best to hire an Uber for these excursions into the city.
Plan Your Vacation in St John’s Pass Village
St. John’s Pass is your gateway to all the best Florida nightlife near St. Petersburg, Tampa. It’s also ideal for enjoying plenty of daytime attractions and activities.
What’s more, the wonderfully mild Florida weather makes this the perfect place to escape the winter chill.
Don’t miss out on your chance to enjoy the sunshine this season. Browse our blog for inspiration to help you plan your vacation and book your place at the heart of the action now.
