Awesome bar and eatery in the Seminole Heights area. Great place to grab breakfast/brunch, lunch, or dinner. The food is just as good as their selection behind the bar. Whether you decide to eat/drink inside or in the outdoor area, it's very pleasant and you can meet some interesting people. The menu has a pretty decent selection of tasty entrees, as well as choices for vegans/vegetarians, which is pretty awesome, especially when you have a mix of friends/family with different dietary habits/needs. Besides, if you live in the area, this place makes it easy and fast to hit up. The staff here are really cool and very accommodating, so tip your server well. The parking can get a bit sparse, but finding a spot shouldn't be that bad. - Update: been there a few times now. We've taken friends and family there and everyone there has been super friendly. The menu is limited, but everything is so good. So whether you go for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner, you can't go wrong. Definitely a nice spot in the neighborhood for food and drinks. Btw, dog friendly should you decide to bring your four-legged friends.

The Independent always looked inviting when we've gone to some of the other dining experiences in Seminole Heights, and i'm so glad we finally stopped by. First of all...it's dog-friendly with an outdoor patio, so it's a no-brainer...and come to find out the staff is as wonderful and inviting as the as the setting. But let's talk food and beer. Great Beer on Tap selections! I like a stout....I like their Oatmeal Stout, but their Oktoberfest Dunkel Bier ist fantastisch! Kathy generally has a white wine. Their food selections are just as impressive...as an appetizer, we love the Pierogis with sour cream and apple sauce on the side. For the meal, I like the Indie Grilled Cheese sandwich with gouda cheese and sautéed pears with honey. Kathy has had the Pork Banh Mi as well as the Tempeh Reuben. All have been fantastic and there's still more to explore...which is why The Independent has become a regular stop on our list in Seminole Heights.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30

I stumbled upon Independent Bar and Cafe while searching for a spot to enjoy a relaxing lunch while reading my book. This local gem did not disappoint! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making you feel right at home. There were several beer options available, and the food menu had good options, making it challenging to decide what to order. Thankfully, the bartender was incredibly helpful and made a recommendation that left me thoroughly satisfied. I opted to sit at the bar, which provided the perfect setting for me to read my book without any distractions. The restaurant has an open setup, with both indoor and outdoor seating available in what looks like a refurbished garage. For lunch, I had Pork Banh Mi with a side salad, which was fresh, flavorful, and filling. Overall, I highly recommend Independent Bar and Cafe for anyone looking for a relaxed dining experience with delicious food and drink options.

All the stars. Literally perfect experience. Walked in around 9pm on a Sunday night (side note: we’re not from around here), and was kindly greeted at the bar and tipped that we had a few minutes if we still wanted to order food. Beertender was super friendly. We ordered the Cuban with a side salad and pierogies, all of which were cooked TO ABSOLUTE PERFECTION; piping hot, delicious flavors all around - also, the chutney that the pierogies come with is superb. Beers were great (we had the milk stout and the plum sour; *chef’s kiss*). Great ambiance inside and outside. All staff we interacted with was down to earth and kind. I’m sure there’s something I haven’t covered, but just know it’s all impeccable af.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

How do I even begin to describe how much Independent is a part of me and my family’s life?! We have been coming to Independent since the day they opened and the amazing staff and owner have watched our little family grow from 2 to 3 to 4 and have always, always welcomed us with warmth and top notch hospitality. It is truly impressive to see a restaurant/bar consistently provide this level of excellent service. Honestly, I have probably been to Independent about 1500 times. Seriously. And never once have I felt disappointed. We have been greeted with the same level of service from the seemingly never changing staff (amazing in hospitality) and have always enjoyed every trip to independent. This place is truly a gem and if you have never been then check it out now. Like, right now.

Very friendly and helpful! This place has a great vibe! Parking spots are off of Wilder. The food is house made and not just ordered from a food service group.Happy Birthday to Michael and thanks for the recommended Dunedin! We went back and once again had a TERRIFIC experience. The staff is super welcoming and friendly, they make you feel at home! Brooke helped us out and was awesome! We met the owner who gave us a little history of the place. I appreciate the time she took to stop and speak with us. The Randy sandwich was very yummy, although I will ask for more horseradish next time. The side salad was fresh and included grapes and blue cheese. It was a delightful addition to the sandwich. Can’t wait to go back and try some more delicious food!

We went on a sunny cool Sunday afternoon and sat outside which was wonderful. They provided shade to cover all of us. The menu looked amazing too and we were celebrating a birthday. Started with pretzels, they were small and the beer cheese was below average. Total disappoint. We all ordered bratwurst which didn't appeared to be grilled. One was cold and the replacement was split open. It was gross. We stopped ordering food. The staff was attentive and checked on us frequently. Although the birthday girl didn't get to eat, she drank beer which was good and had a great day.

Food here is always fantastic! (Plenty of veggie options too). Great beer rotation with a euro-style focus. Good mix of local and import selections. Can get a little crowded on busy nights but always able to find a spot and a seat. Probably my favorite place to regularly go. Great food, great beer, great atmosphere!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Vegetarian options
Lots of options with protein subs or cheese

Great neighborhood bar on Florida avenue in historic Seminole heights, Tampa. This is a trendy cool place to grab a brew and chill. Plenty of patio seating to bring a friend or mans best friend. The building seems to be a an old gas station, very trendy. The beer selection (draft and bottle) offers a good variety of many styles so it will be easy to find a palate friendly selection. They offer table service which is a nice touch and bites to eat. The bar seating is minimal, only six BUT plenty of seating inside.

Always a good time. Music was great, vibe was chill, and the Cuban was delicious. Awesome to see the great local bar still thriving after all these years.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pretzel with Beer Cheese, Cuban Sandwich
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking
Kid-friendliness
There were a bunch of well-behaved kids of all ages enjoying the patio. Everyone seemed to be having a lovely time.

Love, love, love the Independent!! We like the flexibility of dining in or out and the pet and people friendliness. The wide variety of beers offered makes it nearly impossible not to find one you'll enjoy, and it's highly likely you'll aquire a new favorite. Have a favorite brew? Just tell the staff what it is and they'll give you a sample or two to make sure you know what your taste buds want you to order.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20

Ordered a nuttella coffee and received it with zero nutella or sugar. Also we ordered three iced coffees and one came hot. I received glass with a broken rim that could have killed me. We contacted them via email and the owner was incredible dismissive. I am going out of my way to submit this one-star review because this kind of ethic is unacceptable in the restraunt industry. I encourage you to read other one-star reviews... you will see the same issues with the current owner there

Independent has a curated beer selection (read small but everything is incredible) that includes many local brews in addition to many established German beers. Their food is almost completely vegan/vegetarian friendly. The vibes are incredible. And the space feels incredibly well done
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$10–20
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

One of, if not the best, neighborhood bar where you can meet friends, the friendly staff is always ready to help you select a beer to your liking, and suggest a tasty bite to eat while hanging out. Dog friendly and it's already fun to meet all of the happy neighborhood pups too!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Not sure
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

Love the indie. They have really nice vegan and veg options. I really like the egg and cheese croissant—be sure to ask for the hot sauce if they don’t plate it with some! Good coffee, too, in addition to the great beer selection.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Vegetarian options
Lots of great veg options. I like the tacos. The menu is designed with vegetarians in mind; it’s not just an afterthought!

I’ve been here a few times for beers and now also twice for food. It’s a nice spot to eat and drink, casual but good. I like the outdoor seating and the Reuben. They always have a good beer selection too. I’ve been back and will go back again
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
The Rob
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot, Free street parking

One of my favorite spots in Seminole Heights. I love the variety of food (reasonable portions that I’m actually able to FINISH) and the huge selection of beers. Atmosphere is good, whether you have a lively crew at a table or want to be tucked in the corner for quality conversation.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Vegetarian options
Several vegetarian options including a tempeh banh mi

Jess the head chef makes The best Cuban sandwich I've ever tasted! And the perogies are great too. Excellent service from the bar staff, Great selection of imports to drink. Cool vibes & real vintage Tampa history & stories in the building. Featuring Cool local artist work on the wall that changes about every 6 weeks. Well done Independent!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Perogies, Cuban Sandwich

Located in a neighborhood with other wonderful small businesses, Independent has a great atmosphere with a wide selection of delicious craft beers to complement a menu with plenty of vegan-friendly options. I love the Bavarian brat platter with vegan sausage! *be sure to clarify you are vegan or they will put butter on the pretzel!* The staff is always friendly and attentive. Always an awesome lunch spot after record shopping at Microgroove!

Great place to meet friends and hang out! They have a great indoor space for when it’s hot outside, but they also have an amazing shaded outdoor space for when the weather is beautiful! The beer is always good especially their Hefeweizen! We had the pretzels with the mustard sauce (pretty good) and the beer cheese sauce (delicious!). Definitely a great place to hang out with friends, grab a drink/snack, and enjoy relaxing!

We got hungry while we were waiting to get our car fixed so we decided to walk up the street to see what restaurants we could find. Ran into this place and it didn't look like much at first, but when you walk in you can automatically feel the vibe and atmosphere. The staff were friendly and the food was excellent! I really liked their draft beer too! They had so many beers to choose from! We will definitely be coming back!

This place has a great, casual vibe. Knowledgeable, friendly employees. They keep up with new popular styles of beer and have a great selection. The attached restaurant has delicious food and coffee. A great place for lunch because you can get your food with coffee or beer. I saw a lot of people working on laptops. Also, the bar portion is open late, which is always nice.

Friendly staff, nice atmosphere & seating, the food, I could tell was fresh. I ordered the Pork Banh Mi, which was recommended. It did taste good. My only critique would be the "bun to slaw to pork" ratio...I would assume 85/85/30. They were all good, but I seemed to be digging for more pork. Plus, it needed some sauce; it was pretty dry. Flavors were on point though.

Stopped by on a Thursday night for drinks and food. The staff was friendly and the outdoors seating area was cozy. It's odd/interesting how the bar and sandwich shop are divided into two. I had a a couple draughts and a banh mi sandwich on the staff's recommendation. The sandwich was excellent, the beers were good. All in all an excellent experience.

Went to the Independent for the first time today and was blown away by the food. Tried the pretzels which were soft and so tasty, followed by the indie grilled cheese and OMG that blew me away. It was absolutely delicious. There are TONS of drink options and each was delicious. Can't wait to go back sometime soon to try more of the ciders.

We have the Pub Pass and decided to try a bar we hadn't been to yet. We were not at all disappointed. The beer selection was great and their food menu options vast. Both were delish! The staff were accommodating and very nice to chat with. We will definitely visit again and recommend this bar to others. Thank you for a great experience!

Nice place! Got the sausage, with a side salad. Sausage hit the spot. Side salad was fabulous. Wish the beer prices were just a little lower. Nice indoor outdoor seating areas. When temps are reasonable outdoor seems well done away from the main street.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Great little indoor outdoor bar we found in the neighborhood! The beer selection was great and the appetizers were plentiful! Definitely plan to bring some friends to this spot for an after work happier hour
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Perogies

The Independent is the perfect neighborhood bar and cafe. The food here is great, with a fairly robust vegetarian selection all the way to traditional German food. The beer selection always seems to skew more to European beers, but they usually also have something local on draft. Great place to chill out on the patio.

This place is a hidden gem. The staff is friendly and fun to banter with. The craft beers are on point and the Cuban sandwich is delicious.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Cuban Sandwich

I love this place but man is it LOUD between the road noise on Florida avenue a few feet away, the overhead fans and the music, you can barely carry on a conversation . Nice beer selection, good food and good table service.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 2

I just want to say that Independent's service and offerings are awesome. Cozy, comfortable, considerate, and quick. The value is excellent. Also, I'll be leaving another review to help counteract the person who unfairly gave at least two 1-star reviews in reference to one experience. Stay tuned! …

The Indie Grilled Cheese and Indie Salad are a lunch you crave for days!
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Indie Grilled Cheese
Wheelchair accessibility
On one floor. Outside patio seating is nice.The staff is incredible!

This is my wife and I’s go-to spot on any night of the week. Tons of beer options, live music on sundays, and ample parking (although we walk). Also, this place has, with zero exaggeration, the absolutely best BLT I have ever had in my life. It’s incredible. Oh, and always get the salad over the chips.

Modest atmosphere. My grilled cheese sandwich had some kind of apple jam in it and was very tasty. Ginger ale was strong on the ginger, which turned out good though took some getting use to. I enjoyed the overall flavor of the place. Would be helpful if available parking was clearer.

A reliably easygoing place in Tampa with friendly, competent staff and always good beer choices on tap as well as a generous list of bottles and cans. They making sitting outside (if you choose - there’s plenty inside as well) pleasant even in hot weather with fans and covered patio.

I've been there for beers before, but never breakfast. Overall it was good. I had a veal patty and egg sandwich and clam chowder soup, both very flavorful. My only concern ward that the Strawberry Lemonade cake was very very old and you could taste it. I'd go back though, 100%.

Always a favorite for good taps and unique options. Great food, the pretzel and Reuben are delicious, wife loves the turkey Brie and apple croissant.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Pretzel with Beer Cheese

Tasty plates and beers. Dog friendly and super staff. The pretzels with beer cheese and mustard are yum yum. I've had the house salad, chicken salad croissant, cheese board, lieberkassen and the brats. All are good. I might try breakfast next time we go which I hope is soon!

Super adorable spot with great beer and vegan options! The beer we had was amazing and the atmosphere is incredibly cozy and laid back. To eat we had the pretzel, which was great and I also the beyond burger. Would definitely recommend giving this cute little place a try!

A torrential downpour led us to this little gem! The drink selection and variety of drool worthy sandwiches makes this a place that suits any palate. Veronica and the bartender were very helpful and accommodating. I will be dreaming about the caraway seed buns for awhile!

Tried this cool bar and cafe, it’s a great menu with lots of vegan & vegetarian options. FYI, it’s awesome! Both sandwiches are Amazing: we got their grilled cheese and their beyond mi- they have an excellent salad, and a fabulous amber beer on tap. cheers

our favorite place for the last 10+ years....what's more to say?
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pulled Pork Tacos, Indie Grilled Cheese, Pork Banh MI, Mojo Pork Tacos

The atmosphere is awesome here, bartenders were super cool, attentive and helpful. The food was reaaalllyy good and I loved the vegan options, good on them for using the beyond burger in a form other than a burger! Tempeh Reuben was great as well

Great beer and casual food menu with Gwrnan influence. We visited twice on our October trip and we will be back in Tampa next week and are planning a return visit. Pork tacos were great. There was a musician on one night too. Highly recommend.

While I was staying in the Heights I came here both nights for a nightcap after dinner. Very good and unique selection of beer and wine. The staff was very knowledgeable. It wasn't too packed but I was there on a Monday and Tuesday night.

Lovely little place tucked! Came here while my car was being serviced. Great place for lunch and dinner. Probably even better when they have live music!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great food, the best beers, and awesome staff
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Pulled Pork Tacos, The Rob, Pretzel with Beer Cheese, Cuban Sandwich

I tried their caprese sandwich which was delicious. I also had an apple cider.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Indie Grilled Cheese, Cheese Plate

I used to come here when I lived in Tampa, and was very pleased to find that they now have a vegan Reuben on the menu, which was pretty darn good!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30

The vegetarian TLT sandwich was awesome! Definitely recommend.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Vegetarian options
Yummy tempeh but I avoid the Beyond Meat products in their other selections.

Went for an early lunch. Service was friendly and fast. Food was great. Chill music playing.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Cuban Sandwich

Perfect place to have a beer and relax with live concerts. They have a really big variety of beers. Important for Spanish people: they have Estrella Galicia! The food is good and also the price. Go and enjoy!

Lovely place, nice vibe and great selection of crafted beers. Food was good too!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes

The Mojo Pork Tacos were soooo good. Live music is always a great time for me.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Mojo Pork Tacos

Great vibe, good beer selection, all the hipness you'd ever want from a local joint, without the attitude. Cool chill people who love what they do. Cubano Sammy was perfect! Can't wait to come back here.

Excellent and very large beer selection. The live music was great. Many bay area performers here on Sundays. Heard Jenu Six and the Old Souls. Couples had their kids and dogs outside. Service was great.

Other than the pretentious and rude cashier dude with the mustache, it’s one of our favorite places to go. We try and go whenever he’s not there.
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 4

The power went out but the staff was lovely. They brought little candles and glasses to our table and we finished our cheese plate under candlelight. It was really so sweet. Can't wait to come back!

Jarad was a most accommodating host,,, the Ruebin was exceptional and the beer selection almost overwhelming… definitely returning soon
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I love the independent. They have a large variety of food and beverage options that never seem to disappoint. Great sandwiches and small bites and their breakfast options are delicious.

Best Ruben, ever! Get the side salad with poppy dressing! Mom had The Rob, Dad had The Cuban, and all were happy. We will be back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great sandwiches, turkey Reuben and grilled cheese are my go to. Rotating beer menu
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Indie Grilled Cheese

Delicious beers and food, and as always, friendly service! We always enjoy the Independent. Great for a chill afternoon hang out.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

So disappointed! For being a hipster place, didn’t expect to hear racist comments coming from staff. Bartender making jokes about POC in front of a Black employee. Do not recommend.

This place is the coolest ever and I really like the food - yay vegetarian and vegan options!!!
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

I had a meeting here right after a lunch meeting so i didnt get to try their food. It was nice ambiance and chill atmosphere. I will return and give another review of the food.

Independent has a very solid craft beer and wine selection (neipas next to hard to find vinho verdes), all in a chill setting. I wish more places could do the same. Awesome!

Friendly service, yummy food that feels healthy and obviously great beer. The patio is so enjoyable on nice days and they host fun events that bring the community together.

I love stouts and sours this place always has a great selection...not to mention their menus is really good...great sandwiches and beers ...what more can you ask for!

They have Mast Landing Gunners Daughter milk stout nitro, which is by far the best milk stout I've ever had.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor seating. Super dog-friendly. Food is exceptional and authentic. Presentation and flavors top-shelf. Highly recommended.

We flew into Tampa for a short visit when we stumbled upon this work-friendly space. The craft beer and perogies were EXCELLENT. Awesome service too!

Beer drinkers MUST!!! Don’t let the idea of sandwich deter you!!! These are ELEVATED….. and if you don’t get the perogies you don’t love yourself…

Excellent late night spot for good food/snacks/drinks and music!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great beer selection and small but solid menu make this a neighborhood stalwart. Service always crisp and attentive.

Stopped in while visiting from Orlando. Service was fast and great. The beer cheese and pretzels were delicious!

Great food, friendly staff. They have good wine options for non-beer drinkers

A friendly place for good beer, eats and music. Pet friendly outdoor venue.

Cool spot, but maybe a little too cool. Very cool vibe. Nice beers.