The funky fishing community of John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk, 12945 Village Blvd., on Gulf Boulevard at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, has plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops to keep you occupied after the sun sets. Elsewhere, the nightlife scene at the beach revolves around rocking bars that pump out music until midnight or later. All of the places listed in this section are bars that feature live music.

Pass-a-Grille has the always-lively lounge at Hurricane, on Gulf Way at Ninth Avenue, opposite the public beach. Over on Sunset Beach in nearby Treasure Island, Ka’Tiki, 8803 West Gulf Blvd. (tel]727/360-2272),  has live music seven days a week—rock, blues, reggae, R&B, you name it—and is open daily from 9am to 2am. It’s also known for its $3 cheeseburger!

In Clearwater Beach, the Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, on the beach has live music Tuesday through Sunday nights in winter and on weekends in the off season. Nearby, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is another popular hangout. Always booming—literally if the DJs are spinning heavy bass—is Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar & Grill and its sister night club WAVES, 619 S. Gulfview (tel. 727/441-6875), where the party hearty set channels their best Spring Break from  early morning until the wee hours. For more of a nautical themed dive bar, The Shipwreck, 647 Mandalay Ave. (tel. 727/446-3581), is the place to get, uh, wrecked until 3am.

For a more highbrow evening, go to the Clearwater mainland and the 2,200-seat Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd. (tel. 727/791-7400), which hosts a varied program of Broadway shows, ballet, drama, symphonic works, popular music, jazz, and country music.

Also on the mainland, the Cleveland Street District has landscaped sidewalks with boutiques, bars and restaurants, and plenty of public art. Among the hot spots here: Clear Sky on Cleveland at 418 Cleveland St. (tel. 727/754-7244), a global bistro with excellent craft cocktail-tinged bar scene; LGBTQ+ landmark Pro Shop Pub, 840 Cleveland St., (tel. 727/447-4259); and the always fun and lively, if sometimes intentionally off key, dueling piano bar, The Nash Keys, 520 Cleveland St. (tel. 727/881-6274). The district begins at Clearwater Bay where Drew Street turns back toward the city center, and runs east to west, all the way to North Blecher Road. The first half mile is the most rewarding/popular.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.