Tampa has plenty of great steakhouses, but most of the famous ones (Bern’s, Council Oak, the chains out at International Plaza) sit inland with no view to speak of. This guide is for the other craving: a serious cut with the water right there. Below are four waterfront steakhouses in Tampa, Florida that put a proper steak in front of you and a working waterfront behind it, from a riverside prime room downtown to surf-and-turf spots out on the bay. Hours, addresses, and what to order at each are below.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | On the water | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malio’s Prime Steakhouse | Downtown (Riverwalk) | Over the Hillsborough River | $$$ | Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat to 10:30pm, Sun closed |
| Steelbach | Tampa Heights (Armature Works) | River patio over the Hillsborough | $$$ | Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat to midnight |
| BLUFIN Waterfront Grill | Rocky Point | Bay views from nearly every seat | $$$ | Mon-Thu 6:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat to 1am |
| Rusty Pelican | Rocky Point | Right on Tampa Bay | $$$ | Mon-Thu 11am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat to midnight |
Waterfront Steakhouses in Tampa
Malio's Prime Steakhouse
Malio’s is the old-school Tampa power steakhouse, set inside the cylindrical Rivergate Tower downtown with windows and a patio over the Hillsborough River. This is where deals get done over dry-aged prime and martinis. Ask for a table on the river side, order the bone-in ribeye, and let the University of Tampa minarets glow across the water while you eat. Closed Sundays.
Steelbach
Steelbach sits inside Armature Works in Tampa Heights, with a patio that looks out over the Hillsborough River and the downtown skyline. It is a Southern chophouse at heart: wood-fired steaks, a deep whiskey list, and a weekend brunch if you want steak and eggs by the water. Grab a patio seat at golden hour and start with the wood-grilled cuts.
BLUFIN Waterfront Grill
BLUFIN is the surf-and-turf pick out on Rocky Point, with bay views from nearly every seat and a kitchen that treats steak and seafood with equal care. Order a filet and a half-dozen oysters and you cover both. The hours run long here, so it is also one of the few waterfront spots in Tampa where you can still get a real steak late at night.
Rusty Pelican
Rusty Pelican has anchored Rocky Point for decades, sitting right on Tampa Bay with floor-to-ceiling views. It is a seafood house first, but the menu keeps a serious lineup of prime cuts, which makes it the easy call when half your table wants fish and the other half wants a steak. Book a window table near sunset and let the bay do the rest.
Best for…
Best for a classic steakhouse night
For the full white-tablecloth treatment, Malio’s Prime and Steelbach are the two real steakhouses here. Malio’s is the downtown power room over the river; Steelbach is the wood-fired Southern chophouse at Armature Works. Both have private dining rooms and a deep whiskey and wine list, so they handle a celebration or a business dinner without missing a beat.
Best for surf and turf
Out on Rocky Point, BLUFIN and Rusty Pelican let you split the difference. Both sit on Old Tampa Bay and run a full raw bar alongside the steaks, so one person can get a filet while another works through oysters and Gulf fish. They are also the better bet for a big group that cannot agree on land or sea.
Frequently asked questions
Are there steakhouses on the water in Tampa?
Yes, a handful. Malio’s Prime overlooks the Hillsborough River downtown, Steelbach has a river patio at Armature Works, and BLUFIN and Rusty Pelican sit out on Tampa Bay at Rocky Point. Most of the city’s other big-name steakhouses, like Bern’s and Council Oak, are inland with no water view.
Which Tampa waterfront steakhouse is best for a special occasion?
Malio’s Prime is the classic choice, a white-tablecloth prime room in the Rivergate Tower with private dining rooms and river views. Rusty Pelican on the bay is the other go-to for celebrations, especially if you book a window table near sunset. Both take reservations and both expect you to dress up a little.
Where can I get surf and turf on the water in Tampa?
BLUFIN Waterfront Grill and Rusty Pelican, both at Rocky Point on Old Tampa Bay, run steak and seafood side by side. Order a filet with oysters or a chilled seafood starter and you cover both ends of the menu without leaving the water.
Do these waterfront steakhouses take reservations?
All four take reservations, and they are worth booking for weekend dinners and sunset tables. Malio’s is closed on Sundays, so plan around that, and BLUFIN runs the latest hours if you are after a late steak.
More waterfront dining in Tampa
- See our full guide to waterfront seafood restaurants in Tampa
- Our full Tampa waterfront restaurants guide
Planning a private event? See our guide to private dining steakhouses in Tampa.
Hungry for more? Browse the rest of our restaurant guides on the Restaurants1 home page.
Last updated: May 2026