My Top Three of Local Bars: Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida

I enjoy finding a bar to relax and have a cocktail in and there are a few I've found that fit the bill for several moods. To me that's what a bar is. The question is what kind of atmosphere do you want to unwind, celebrate, romance or wallow in for awhile.

For me, the unwind locale would be someplace with a nice atmosphere, preferably outdoors. A place that works for day or night. I guess i would have to say that this kind of place exists at Caddy's. Check out Caddysotb.com and no, that is not for "off track betting." Caddy's On the Beach offers a different kind of atmosphere. the seriously outdoor kind. Location at 9000 W Gulf Blvd, Sunset Beach, FL 33706, Phone: 727-360-4993 and open seven days a week, this is always a great place to unwind. The food is delicious and the clientele, in a word, is eclectic. With a full bar you can just imagine the array of people that stroll through here. A great place to people watch on the weekends. Trust me, you won't be disappointed whether male or female. It doesn't matter what time of day you visit, there will always be something to keep your interest. Located right on the beach, you can enjoy a view of the sunrise, sunset or no set. The food is simple, yet delicious and the drinks are bountiful. You can sit on the deck, sit under an umbrella or sit on the beach. Is there anything more perfect?

Next up is will fall under unwind, celebrate or wallow. A great bar for the person seeking to relish any of those emotions would be The Rack in Hyde Park, Tampa. Where else are you going to get good food, decent dining and service, sushi and pool tables. They offer a very decent selection of sushi. The Rack is located in Tampa at 1809 W Platt St. This makes it a little out of the hustle and bustle of downtown Tampa. Here you can tuck yourself at the end of a bar and try to wallow, or you can celebrate with a group of friends around a couple games of pool or unwind with your favorite guy or gal.

Finally, we need something for a little romance. This should be the kind of place you and your special someone would be able to go and have a romantic moment. This would be a place simple and quiet. My choice would have to be Jackson's on Harbor Island off downtown Tampa. With plenty of seating outdoors overlooking the water and downtown, or belly up to the bar and enjoy an evening with your guy or gal for the night. They offer a multitude of ambiances throughout the day so I'm sure you can find that right time to visit. Just ask for an out-of-the-way table and enjoy the sights and sounds, especially on the weekends, at this fabulous hangout. The parking is easy and underground. You can take one flight of stairs or an elevator up the restaurant.