Tampa does a lot of its eating outside, and steak is no exception once the evenings cool off. These are the outdoor steakhouses in Tampa where the patio is a real part of the night, not a sad pair of chairs by the valet stand. A couple sit right on the Hillsborough River, one looks over the Riverwalk, and the rest run covered terraces built to shrug off a Florida shower. Below are five picks across downtown, Tampa Heights, Westshore, and Water Street, each with a verified patio, current hours, the neighborhood, and what to order once you’re seated.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | The patio | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malio’s Prime Steakhouse | Downtown | Riverfront tables on the Hillsborough River | $$$ | Lunch + dinner Mon-Sat, closed Sun |
| Steelbach | Tampa Heights | Shaded Riverwalk patio, skyline views | $$$ | Daily 11am-late, weekend brunch |
| Ocean Prime | Westshore | Covered, partly enclosed terrace | $$$$ | Mon-Fri 12-10pm, Sat 3-10, Sun 5-9 |
| Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse | Westshore | Front patio plus the open-air Oasis | $$$$ | Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun to 9pm |
| Driftlight Steakhouse | Water Street | Seasonal terrace and adjoining patio | $$$$ | Dinner Mon-Sat from 5pm |
Outdoor Steakhouses in Tampa
Malio's Prime Steakhouse
Malio’s has been a downtown name for more than fifty years, and the patio is the reason to book it from fall through spring. Tables line the Hillsborough River with the University of Tampa’s silver minarets across the water, and the sunset from out there is hard to top. Inside it’s a classic prime room, big cuts and a long bar, but the river seat is the move. Order a bone-in filet and ask for outside when you reserve, because those tables go first.
Steelbach
Steelbach is the Southern chophouse tucked into Armature Works, and its patio spills right onto the Riverwalk with the downtown skyline across the water. The kitchen ages its beef four to seven weeks and finishes it over a 1,000-degree oak-fired grill, so the ribeye comes with real char and smoke. The patio is shaded and runs heaters on cool nights, which makes it one of the few river tables you can actually use most of the year. Weekend brunch out there stays a quiet local favorite.
Ocean Prime
Ocean Prime sits at the corner of Westshore and Boy Scout, right at the mouth of International Plaza, and its terrace is the smart call when the weather turns. The space is partly enclosed with cover overhead, so a breeze or a passing shower won’t end the night early. The menu runs steak and seafood, and the filet with truffle mac and cheese is the plate people come back for. It’s a polished, slightly clubby room, good for a date or a dinner that needs to close a deal.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse
Fleming’s flagship sits across from International Plaza, a bigger, brighter take on the brand with a real patio out front. There’s an open-air space they call the Oasis that can stretch the Floridian Room outside, handy for a group that wants air and elbow room. The draw is what it’s always been, a prime bone-in ribeye and a wine list that runs deep by the glass. Lunch starts at eleven, which is rare for a steakhouse this size, so the patio works for a midday meeting too.
Driftlight Steakhouse
Driftlight is the newcomer, the steakhouse inside the JW Marriott on Water Street, a short walk from Amalie Arena. The outdoor terrace comes out in the cooler months, with an adjoining patio that lets the room flow outside, and the whole place borrows its lighting from Tampa’s lit bridges. The kitchen runs a 30-day dry-aged ribeye over a hardwood grill, plus a few good swings like dry-aged bison with smoked tallow butter. Come before a game and grab an outside table while the season allows.
Best for…
Best for a river table
Malio’s and Steelbach are the two right on the water. Malio’s puts you downtown along the Hillsborough River with the university lit up across the way, the long-running special-occasion pick. Steelbach’s Riverwalk patio at Armature Works trades the skyline view and a younger, looser crowd, plus a weekend brunch you can eat outside. Either one is best from fall through spring, when a river table is a genuine pleasure rather than a sweat.
Best for a dressed-up night out
Ocean Prime and Fleming’s are the Westshore splurges, both polished rooms with covered patios that hold up for an anniversary or a closing dinner. Ocean Prime leans a touch more clubby and adds serious seafood; Fleming’s brings the deeper wine list and that open-air Oasis for a group. Book ahead at either, note that you want the terrace, and the host can usually set it before the rush hits.
Best before a game or a show
Driftlight wins on location, steps from Amalie Arena and the Water Street action. The terrace is seasonal, so it shines on a cool evening before puck drop or a concert, and the dry-aged program means the steak holds its own against the splashier names. It’s the easy call when dinner has to land within walking distance of the arena.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tampa steakhouses have outdoor seating on the water?
Malio’s downtown and Steelbach at Armature Works are the two right on the Hillsborough River. Malio’s lines its tables along the water with the University of Tampa across the way, and Steelbach’s shaded Riverwalk patio looks back at the downtown skyline. Both are best from fall through spring, and both fill those outdoor tables first, so reserve and ask for the patio.
When is patio season for a steak dinner in Tampa?
Roughly October through April is prime time, when the humidity drops and an outside table actually feels good. Summer still works at the covered, fan-cooled spots like Ocean Prime’s terrace, or for a late dinner once the sun is down. Driftlight runs its terrace mainly in the cooler months, so check before you count on it in July.
Which outdoor steakhouse is best for a special occasion?
Ocean Prime and Fleming’s are the dress-up picks, both polished Westshore rooms with covered patios that suit an anniversary or a milestone dinner. Driftlight on Water Street is the newer splurge, with a dry-aged program and a terrace when the weather cooperates. All three take reservations and all three reward booking the outdoor seating ahead, since those tables go first.
Do I need a reservation to sit on the patio?
For all five, yes. Book ahead and ask for an outdoor table when you do. These are sit-down steakhouses, not walk-up counters, and the patios are smaller than the dining rooms, so they fill fastest on weekends. A quick line in the reservation that you want the terrace or the river side gives the host a chance to set it up.
How pricey are these outdoor steakhouses in Tampa?
Plan to spend. These are prime steakhouses, so two people with drinks and sides land well over a hundred dollars at Ocean Prime, Fleming’s, and Driftlight. Malio’s and Steelbach sit a notch friendlier, especially at lunch or weekend brunch, where you can get the patio and the view without the full dinner tab.
More outdoor dining in Tampa
- Where to find outdoor Asian restaurants in Tampa
- Tampa outdoor Italian guide
- Best outdoor Mexican in Tampa
- Tampa outdoor seafood guide
Want the steak closer to the water? See our guide to waterfront steakhouses in Tampa, or for a group dinner behind a closed door, our guide to private dining steakhouses in Tampa. For more al-fresco tables around town, browse dog-friendly restaurants in Tampa and waterfront restaurants in Tampa, or start from the Restaurants1 home page.
See where steak fits among the best outdoor restaurants in Tampa, sorted by cuisine.
Last updated: May 2026