The Chili’s cookie skillet comes with two spoons, making it easy to share with someone special. Photo Courtesy of Gloria Falach.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, some University of Tampa (UTampa) students may struggle to decide what to do. Whether you don’t have a car or are on a budget, Tampa has plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with friends or with someone special.
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By Gloria Falach
TAMPA, Fla. — Whether you’re planning a Galentine’s Day or going on a first date with someone you finally brought up enough courage to ask out, Tampa Bay makes it easy to pick a spot to go to this Valentine’s Day.
For those students who live on campus without a car, Downtown, Armature Works, and Hyde Park are walkable from the UTampa campus and filled with restaurants, coffee shops, and more.
Downtown is filled with small restaurants and coffee shops to bring someone special to. Visit Eddie and Sam’s N.Y. Pizza, Urban Cantina, First Watch, Tampa Burgers and Pirates, The Bagel Nook, and Buddy Brew for a quick bite to eat or coffee.
Students can walk to Armature Works on the Riverwalk. Armature Works can be described as a food court with lots of options. These include: Butcher n’ Barbeque, Dalmoros for your pasta needs, Empamamas for Mexican food, Graze for a brunch spot, Han for sushi, The Fold for pizza, Juicys Famous Fair Food, Lings Dumplings, and many more.
Armature Works is also popular for a sweet treat date by getting ice cream at Chill Bros.
Oxford Exchange, Jump Cup, and Edison are also located right on Kennedy Blvd, making it a short walk to and from campus.
For those of you who are missing home, Tampa also has the classic nostalgic chain restaurants that you and your date can connect over. Take your date over to the International Mall and visit California Pizza Kitchen or The Cheesecake Factory.
Or visit Chili’s on N. Dale Mabry Hwy for affordable food that has been viral on TikTok for over a year. Share a Triple Dippler with that someone special. Or for a sweet treat, the cookie skillet is a great addition to any Valentine’s Day meal.
Exploring Hyde Park and walking on Bayshore is a simple activity for a group of Galentine’s or something to do on a first date to get to know each other. Some popular spots in Hyde Park for a bite to eat that are budget-friendly include Forbeci and Bar Taco.
Some other activities downtown and in Hyde Park are going to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, visiting the Tampa Museum of Art, where all students get in free, seeing a film at the Tampa Theatre, and painting pottery at Color Me Mine in Hyde Park.
Interested in comedy and want to make your date laugh? Stand-up comedian Kortney Shane will be hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed comedy show at the Commodore in Ybor City. Use promo code “Student” for $8 tickets. For students without a car, take a trip on the trolley from Downtown to Ybor for free.
For students who have a car, take a day trip to Busch Gardens or take a trip to the beach and Downtown St. Pete.
St. Pete is also hosting the 13th annual Localtopia on Valentine’s Day this year. Localtopia is St. Pete’s largest “community celebration of all things local.” This year, the festival plans on having over 300 small businesses and organizations there.
Whether you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with the girls or going on a first date, check out these restaurants for something new or something old and nostalgic. Or consider taking that special someone to try something new on Feb. 14th, for a date that will stand out from the rest.