Chris’s guidebook
IRB Favorites and a few to avoid
A short list of some of our favorites places, to eat, shop, and play in IRB (and a few places we don't like).
Great milkshakes, and all the normal ice cream stuff. The real treat here is all of the typically hard to find candies from the 70's and 80's.
6 locals recommend
Pinky's Ice Cream & Candy Shop
Great milkshakes, and all the normal ice cream stuff. The real treat here is all of the typically hard to find candies from the 70's and 80's.
More than just a hardware store (with lots of hard-to-find items you can't get at big-box stores; and lots of friendly customer service), this hardware store also has a very nice boutique with unique gifts, decorative items, clothing, housewares, and even children's toys.
Hammerhead's Ace Hardware
1015 W Bay DrMore than just a hardware store (with lots of hard-to-find items you can't get at big-box stores; and lots of friendly customer service), this hardware store also has a very nice boutique with unique gifts, decorative items, clothing, housewares, and even children's toys.
This restaurant used to be located right across the street from Driftwood Sands. It is now about 25 minutes away in Seminole. If you like quality Italian food, it is worth the drive.
Stefano's
13023 Park Blvd NThis restaurant used to be located right across the street from Driftwood Sands. It is now about 25 minutes away in Seminole. If you like quality Italian food, it is worth the drive.
A Florida staple, this Publix is large, has an on-site pharmacy, and free-standing liquor store. They also sell a large variety of beach items.
84 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Indian Rocks Shopping Center
9520 Indian Rocks RdA Florida staple, this Publix is large, has an on-site pharmacy, and free-standing liquor store. They also sell a large variety of beach items.
This is our favorite place for casual dining. The grouper cheeks sandwich is one of our favorites, or for a little kick, the buffalo grouper sandwich. We prefer this restaurant for lunch as the crowds are not as bad and we prefer the lunch menu items. They have a kids menu and they are served on a frisbee the kids can take home with them.
80 locals recommend
Keegan's Seafood Grille
1519 Gulf BlvdThis is our favorite place for casual dining. The grouper cheeks sandwich is one of our favorites, or for a little kick, the buffalo grouper sandwich. We prefer this restaurant for lunch as the crowds are not as bad and we prefer the lunch menu items. They have a kids menu and they are served on a frisbee the kids can take home with them.
Avoid this restaurant. The service is terrible, the employees are rude, the food is mediocre at best, and it is expensive for what you get.
33 locals recommend
Sandy's Restaurant
2300 Gulf BlvdAvoid this restaurant. The service is terrible, the employees are rude, the food is mediocre at best, and it is expensive for what you get.
This is a fine place for a drink, but the food here is terrible. Everything is overly fried and pretty much tastes the same. The Sunday brunch is not good.
224 locals recommend
The Original Crabby Bills
401 Gulf BlvdThis is a fine place for a drink, but the food here is terrible. Everything is overly fried and pretty much tastes the same. The Sunday brunch is not good.
This is the best pizza joint in all of Tampa Bay area. The deep dish Chicago style is excellent as is the NY Style our kids love. They deliver.
117 locals recommend
Slyce Indian Rocks Beach
311 Gulf BlvdThis is the best pizza joint in all of Tampa Bay area. The deep dish Chicago style is excellent as is the NY Style our kids love. They deliver.
For a little more formal (for the beach) Guppy's is a nice upper-range restaurant. Food is above average but nothing to write home about. Good service. Parking is a pain (like everywhere in IRB). Reservations through Open Table are highly recommended on weekends and most nights during the high-season.
190 locals recommend
Guppy's On the Beach
1701 Gulf BlvdFor a little more formal (for the beach) Guppy's is a nice upper-range restaurant. Food is above average but nothing to write home about. Good service. Parking is a pain (like everywhere in IRB). Reservations through Open Table are highly recommended on weekends and most nights during the high-season.
Tasty treats and breads can be found at this classic French bakery, just around the corner from Driftwood Sands.
94 locals recommend
Cafe de Paris Bakery
2300 Gulf BlvdTasty treats and breads can be found at this classic French bakery, just around the corner from Driftwood Sands.
The food is better than Crabby Bills (good but, not fantastic), but you can't beat the Intracoastal waterfront view. Indoor and outdoor seating. Watch the boats go by as you enjoy a drink with friends. They serve breakfast on the weekends.
319 locals recommend
Salt Rock Grill
19325 Gulf BlvdThe food is better than Crabby Bills (good but, not fantastic), but you can't beat the Intracoastal waterfront view. Indoor and outdoor seating. Watch the boats go by as you enjoy a drink with friends. They serve breakfast on the weekends.
Located just a block away from Driftwood Sands, this Thai restaurant is better for take-out than dining in, as it is very small. The food is good, but not great.
8 locals recommend
Thai-Pan Alley
2300 Gulf BlvdLocated just a block away from Driftwood Sands, this Thai restaurant is better for take-out than dining in, as it is very small. The food is good, but not great.
Slightly better than Crabby Bills. They serve all sorts of seafood, most of which are fried and tastes the same. The atmosphere is fun if you like tacky touristy. The service is generally poor.
22 locals recommend
Lulu's Oyster Bar & Tap House
500 1st StSlightly better than Crabby Bills. They serve all sorts of seafood, most of which are fried and tastes the same. The atmosphere is fun if you like tacky touristy. The service is generally poor.
Capt. Dave Mistretta is the best charter fishing boat captain I have ever used. He and his crew are super professional, clean cut, polite, and great fishermen! The boat is located at the marina at the Holiday Inn. Full and half-day inshoor or offshore charters are available. http://www.jawstoo.com
24 locals recommend
Indian Rocks Beach Boat rentals
401 2nd StCapt. Dave Mistretta is the best charter fishing boat captain I have ever used. He and his crew are super professional, clean cut, polite, and great fishermen! The boat is located at the marina at the Holiday Inn. Full and half-day inshoor or offshore charters are available. http://www.jawstoo.com
An IRB favorite. Lots of good donuts and coffee. They only accept cash!
9 locals recommend
The Lighthouse Donuts
215 Gulf BlvdAn IRB favorite. Lots of good donuts and coffee. They only accept cash!
Fun for the kids. This small water park located on the Holiday Inn property at 2nd and Gulf, has two big slides, several pools, a small "lazy river," and a toddler pool and splash area. Also has a bar out by the pool and Jimmy Guanas restaurant in the hotel. Inside the hotel, you will also find a game room and indoor mini-golf (for a fee).
127 locals recommend
Splash Harbour Water Park
399 2nd StFun for the kids. This small water park located on the Holiday Inn property at 2nd and Gulf, has two big slides, several pools, a small "lazy river," and a toddler pool and splash area. Also has a bar out by the pool and Jimmy Guanas restaurant in the hotel. Inside the hotel, you will also find a game room and indoor mini-golf (for a fee).