Treasure Island Florida Bars Guide | 12+ Best Spots
Treasure Island should be on your list if you’re a lover of the beach, laid-back beach bars and live music I am! This paradise on the gulf has a few of the area’s best bars, conveniently right on the sand where you can watch the sunset over the ocean. Treasure Island Florida bars are all within easy reach from St. Pete Beach, which is home to two of the state’s best live music bars, as well as downtown St. Petersburg – so you’ll have no shortage of beach bars and nightlife options here. 🍹
- Parking & Ride Shares
- Top 5 Treasure Island Florida Bars
- 6 Other Treasure Island Florida Bars
- More Live Music & Beach Bars In the Area
Quick Advice on Treasure Island Parking & Ride Shares
Before we dive into all of the great Treasure Island Florida bars, let’s talk about parking and how to get there first. There is public parking available on the island, both in public lots or worst case in excess parking spots that aren’t being used at hotels in the area. This can fill up, and be extra careful on holiday weekends.
Instead of driving, I recommend using the FREE ride share options in Treasure Island which are Freebee or Free Beach Ride. When I was told there was a free ride system in St Pete Beach and the surrounding areas I thought I was misunderstanding. This is such a great service and perfect for bar hopping in the area! Lyft and Uber also work very well on Treasure Island.
Top 5 Treasure Island Florida Bars
It’s really hard to choose the best bars in Treasure Island but if I had to, the top five in my opinion are Caddy’s, KaTiki, Sloppy Joe’s, Ricky T’s and Ikki Woo Woo’s.
Caddy’s Treasure Island
The best bar on the island for getting some food & drinks on the sand under the sun is Caddy’s Treasure Island. Sort of like a European beach club, meaning not a dance club but just somewhere you can hangout on the beach with music and food/drink service, I was so excited to find this place during our month-long trip to St Pete Beach!
Located on the southern side of the island, Caddy’s is one of the Treasure Island Florida bars which throws fun events for most holidays and has live music often, plus panoramic views of the ocean from the covered top deck bar. But the best part is the many beach loungers and picnic tables with beachfront views, all with umbrellas, where you can hangout and be served by the Caddy’s team. A beachfront spot on the sand on the gulf coast means a beautiful sunset right over the ocean, so not only is Caddy’s great for a beach day but also a beach sunset. ☀️
If you like a fun and relaxed atmosphere during your vacations, don’t miss this place on a sunny beach day!
KaTiki Bar Sunset Beach Florida
KaTiki Bar on Sunset Beach is the most well-known place to go for live music on Treasure Island, and better yet it’s right behind Caddy’s on the street side!
Mainly a rock bar, you’ll find mostly lowkey bands playing during the afternoon and evening, with more fast-paced music at night – and maybe some dancing! The bar is indoor/outdoor underneath a giant thatched roof and palapa for tiki vibes. Don’t miss the pool tables in the back if that’s your thing.
Sloppy Joe’s On The Beach
Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach is the lively bar right on the beachfront next to the Bilmar Beach Resort. This bar has lots of history, starting as an infamous Key West Saloon, and is a local gem. Sloppy Joe’s is also a great place for big groups because of how many seating areas there are, both indoors and outdoors. Come here for great food, beachfront views of the ocean and sunset, a relaxing but fun atmosphere and nightly live music.
Ricky T’s Bar & Grille
Ricky T’s Bar & Grille is not only a local favorite bar on the island, but also one of the best restaurants in Treasure Island Florida. Ricky T’s features live bands every night, an excellent food menu, beach drinks and an inviting atmosphere, where you can sit either at the tiki bar indoors or the covered outdoor patio.
Ikki Woo Woo’s Tiki Hut
The Thunderbird Resort is home to Ikki Woo Woo’s Tiki Bar, which has a very regular and impressive live music schedule making it one of the best Treasure Island Florida bars! Opening up to the beach and beachside path in the middle off the island, the central location is great for gathering a little crowd of people dancing or singing along which I love.
5 Other Treasure Island Florida Bars
Some of the other best Treasure Island Florida bars are Sea Dog Brewing company, VIP Mexican (Yum!), R Bar, Lana’s Place and more.
Sea Dog Brewing Company
Attention all beer enthusiasts! Treasure Island’s brewery is Sea Dog Brewing, conveniently located near Caddy’s and right across the bridge from St Pete Beach. They offer a roomy indoor taproom, extensive selection of beers, tasty food options, and a variety of merchandise featuring their adorable Sea Dog logo. Try a flight to see which beer you like best!
VIP Mexican
VIP Mexican is one of the best restaurants in Treasure Island Florida, where you’ll find the best Mexican in the area. I included it in this list because margaritas go great with Mexican food and you shouldn’t leave Treasure Island before trying this place! Watch out and plan ahead because VIP Mexican can get very busy.
R Bar
R Bar is a longstanding Treasure Island bar and hidden gem, offering a great mix of delicious food, occasional live music and a friendly atmosphere. You can think of R Bar as the perfect mix of a bar and restaurant, for those nights you need both.
Lana’s Place
Lana’s Place is a dive bar off the beach in the middle of the island that is popular with locals. This is the place to play pool in Treasure Island, as they have one pool table along with TVs and a really casual vibe.
BRGR Kitchen & Bar
BRGR Kitchen & Bar is the main bar at the Treasure Island Beach Resort. Inside you’ll find a more formal dining space, which isn’t too formal by any means, and just outdoors is a large covered patio where you can sip on cocktails next to the palm trees. BRGR is on my list of the best restaurants in Treasure Island Florida, and you have to try a burger!
Crabby’s On The Pass
Crabby’s On The Pass is “World’s Longest Waterfront Bar”, meaning it’s massive, serving drinks and food on the water toward John’s Pass on Treasure Island, with nightly live music and occasionally music acts during the day as well. Come here for a beachy vibe on the water with amazing views and a casual atmosphere.
Treasure Island Drum Circle: The Best Alternative to Treasure Island Florida Bars
Since most people who like beach bars like live music, I had to include the Treasure Island Drum Circle in as the best place for live music on the island outside of the beach bar scene. This is an unofficial meet up which has been going on for years, and is growing and growing. Treasure Island Drum Circle Facebook Group
St Pete Beach Bars
If you’re on Treasure Island, you probably know that St Pete Beach is your next door neighbor to the South – with a big nightlife scene that goes late into the night and a bunch of bars scattered along the island. Head to my St Pete Beach Bars guide to read all about them.
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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