# 9 Best Restaurants in Tampa Bay (2026) Michelin-recognized counters, a farm-set kitchen, and the grouper sandwich that put Interbay on the map. Tampa Bay's dining scene has been collecting national attention, including multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. This guide starts with the places the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Florida and local critics keep pointing to, from Tampa Heights omakase to a St. Pete fine-dining room at The Vinoy. Menus and details change, so confirm with each restaurant before you go. Spots are numbered for easy browsing, not as a strict ranking. Updated: October 2026. Source: Real Tampa Bay Media, https://realtampabay.com/guides/best-restaurants-in-tampa-bay ## Spots ### 1. Kōsen Japanese omakase at a chef's counter. - Neighborhood: Tampa Heights - Address: 307 W Palm Ave, Tampa, FL Kōsen serves a Japanese omakase of more than 20 courses at a chef's counter, led by Chef Thomas Deli. It held a Michelin star in the 2024 and 2025 guides and was named among Tampa Bay's one-star restaurants in 2026 coverage. Highlights: 20+ course omakase; Michelin one star; Chef's counter ### 2. Koya Omakase built on Toyosu Market seafood. - Neighborhood: Hyde Park - Address: W Platt St, Tampa, FL - Website: hyde-park Koya is an omakase restaurant that sources seafood from Tokyo's Toyosu Market and pairs it with an extensive wine and sake list. It is one of the Tampa Bay restaurants that kept a Michelin star in 2026. Highlights: Michelin one star; Toyosu Market seafood; Wine and sake list ### 3. Rocca Handmade pasta and tableside mozzarella. - Neighborhood: Tampa Heights - Address: 323 W Palm Ave, Tampa, FL Rocca is known for house-made pasta and fresh mozzarella that is hand-pulled tableside. Some of its herbs, edible flowers and vegetables come from the chef's mother's garden, and it kept its Michelin star in 2026. Highlights: Michelin one star; Tableside mozzarella; Handmade pasta ### 4. Ebbe Scandinavian-leaning tasting menu. - Neighborhood: North Franklin Street - Address: 1202 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL Ebbe offers a contemporary tasting menu with Scandinavian influences and Florida ingredients, served at a U-shaped marble counter under Chef Donovan Cooke. It is one of Tampa Bay's four one-star restaurants in the 2026 guide. Highlights: Michelin one star; U-shaped marble counter; Chef Donovan Cooke ### 5. Bern's Steak House Legendary steakhouse and wine cellar. - Neighborhood: SoHo (South Howard) - Address: 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL - Website: https://www.bernssteakhouse.com Bern's has been a Tampa institution since 1956, with a wine collection of more than half a million bottles and in-house dry-aged steaks. The Michelin Guide lists it among its Recommended Tampa Bay restaurants. Highlights: Since 1956; Huge wine cellar; Michelin Recommended ### 6. Big Ray's Fish Camp The grouper sandwich the Michelin Guide noticed. - Neighborhood: Interbay - Address: 6116 Interbay Blvd, Tampa, FL Chef Raymond "Nick" Cruz, a fifth-generation Tampa native, opened Big Ray's with the goal of serving one of the best grouper sandwiches around, and the Michelin Guide recognized it. The menu also runs to shrimp po'boys, grouper Reubens and a lobster corndog. Highlights: Michelin recognized; Grouper sandwiches; Lobster corndog ### 7. Elliott Aster Fine dining at The Vinoy. - Neighborhood: Downtown St. Petersburg - Address: 501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL Elliott Aster is a fine-dining restaurant at The Vinoy Resort that opened in summer 2025 and was added to the MICHELIN Guide Florida as Recommended. It also serves brunch. Highlights: Inside The Vinoy; Michelin Recommended; Opened 2025 ### 8. Bar Terroir A French-style wine bistro. - Neighborhood: South Tampa - Address: 3636 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL Bar Terroir is a French-style wine bistro serving French cooking, craft cocktails and wine, and its burger has earned local acclaim. It opened in summer 2025 and was added to the 2026 MICHELIN Guide as Recommended. Highlights: French wine bistro; Michelin Recommended; Opened 2025 ### 9. Fat Beet Farm Kitchen and Bakery Breakfast and lunch on a working farm. - Neighborhood: Northwest Hillsborough - Address: 13830 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL Fat Beet Farm Kitchen and Bakery is a breakfast and lunch spot on an actual working farm near the Pinellas County line. It earned a Michelin Green Star for sustainable gastronomy in 2026. Highlights: Michelin Green Star; On a working farm; Bakery ## About this guide Picks are compiled from local publications and public sources and are not a paid ranking. Spots are numbered for browsing, not as a strict ranking. Hours and prices are intentionally omitted because they change; confirm details with each venue. All guides: https://realtampabay.com/guides Header photo: Wikitan2012, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Restaurant_Tangaro.JPG).