This crowd knows how to Amp it up
The Amphitheater
1609 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; (813) 248-2331
Formerly co-owned by Joe Redner, now the dominion of Club Hedo owner John Santoro, Amphitheater is one of the clubbiest clubs in club-heavy Ybor City. Bikini contests? Block-rockin’ beats? Saturday night sets by DJs from 93.3-FLZ? It is all (as the kids like to say) in the hizzy, yo.
From the outside, the Amp doesn’t instantly impress, like Code or Prana. Something about the lower level screams ’70s — but not Boogie Nights ’70s; Anchorman ’70s. Mirrored walls. Ruffled curtains. A giant chandelier. Not that it matters, really, because the main attraction is the dance floor, a 30-foot rotating plate surrounded by speakers, lasers and fog, and a massive DJ stage. The lighting on the dance floor synchs up with the music.
The Vegasy atmosphere for which the Amphitheater strives works much better on the second floor, which is full of comfy couches and nooks and lit in cool blues and purples. It doesn’t open until late in the evening but it’s worth the wait for a cozier place to sit and chat. The adjoining Tocca Lounge is even swankier.
The Amphitheater supposedly has a dress code, but we counted dozens of partiers in jeans, Ts and tanks, plenty of flipped-up polo collars and mock-designer shades, a trucker cap and at least two fauxhawks.
Loads of drink specials, from $3 drinks and bottle beers on Wednesdays to free champagne for the ladies until midnight on Friday. Six beers on tap at the main bar include Guinness, Stella Artois and Kirin. And of course shooters — lots and lots of shooters. The bartenders were about what you’d expect a 12,000-square-foot nightclub — easy on the eyes and quick with the pour.
On some nights, the DJs are, no joke, world-class. Paul Oakenfold, Sasha and even Tommy Lee have spun at the Amp. The Crystal Method is slated for July 28.
- Jay Cridlin cridlin@tampabay.com
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Club Underground
802 E Whiting St., Tampa; (813) 221-2582, clubundergroundtampa.com
DJs spin dirty South, hip-hop and reggae in two rooms on Saturdays. The club also hosts live rap performances. In the heart of downtown Tampa, Club Underground isn’t hard to get to and there’s plenty parking either on the streets or in nearby lots. You’ll have to go through metal detectors to get in, so leave your heat at home. Inside, the dance floor is wide and open, dark and decorated with a half dozen different-size disco balls hanging from the ceiling. Bass-thumping, eardrum-rattling crunk rocks the room and women take care of the multiple bar stations. The upstairs room spins different hip-hop, and the dance floor is much smaller — but not in a bad way; it makes for a more intimate setting. A long bar set deep into the floor is no higher than mid-thigh to a standing person. Kind of cool. There are dozen or more comfy black leather couches, too. If you like late-night BET music videos, you’ll be in heaven. Or put another way: Expect some raunchiness.
Bahasa Lounge
2408 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa; (813) 251-3329, bahasalounge.com
Bahasa is an exotic South Tampa hangout where East meets West. Sheets of silk sarongs blanket the ceilings of VIP areas while elaborate lamps hang over intimate lounges. The comfortably low lighting and warm colors blend with natural wood walls, creating the feeling of being at a nightclub in Bali. From the bench carved out of an old boat in the patio area to the statues throughout the club, each room has its own mood and personality. The crowd gets bigger and better as the evening progresses. From 20- to 40-somethings, everyone comes out to vibe off the beats of house, trance and dance.
Prana
1619 E Seventh Ave., Tampa; (813) 241-4139, www.clubprana.com.
The 18-plus club has dubbed itself Ybor City’s Crown Jewel of Nightlife and attracts a multiethnic, multi-age crowd ranging from barely dressed college freshmen to young professionals to your 40-year-old uncle who just can’t seem to accept that he’s not 22 anymore. Bouncers are decked out in suits and ties, and a red rope and rug guide the line toward sharp fixtures, plush seating and exposed brick walls. Grandiose chandeliers grace ceilings while modern paintings decorate walls in the strives-to-be-upscale, five-level club. Strobe lights and thumping bass aplenty in this dance-til-you-drop ambiance. Don’t expect to be able to carry on a conversation anywhere but the rooftop bar. Ladies, beware of the glass portion of the floor on one of the dance floors where the VIP lounge guests can get a pretty decent look up your skirt.
Floyd’s @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
5223 N Orient Road, Tampa; (813) 627-7628
Essentially, this is Tampa trying to be South Beach. While in many ways it’s miles from Ocean Drive, it’s still a good time. After walking through countless rows of slot machines, you’ll find a velvet rope that you need a $20 paper wristband to cross. Inside, you go down a few stairs and it’s like an urban cave with a few scantily clad dancers on stage and music pulsing just loud enough that you can still talk over it. The club is open, with a modern feel to it. There’s a good amount of people, but the dance floor and bar area are both large enough that you’re not pressed up against your fellow clubbers. The crowd’s a little bit of everyone, but mostly 20- and 30-somethings who have money, pretend to have money or are looking to hook up with someone with money. The real draw is that its Seminole-owned status allows the club to serve drinks ’til 6 a.m. The other Hard Rock bars are cheaper and don’t have the dance club atmosphere that Floyd’s provides. You can go in and out as you please. Just don’t take off that wristband. Bouncers do check the date, so don’t plan on using the same wristband two nights in a row.
Club Fuel
1920 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City
Club Fuel is a freaky but lively night club to get your groove on if you’re into hip-hop, dance R&B and reggaeton. Frequented by a multiethnic, early-20-something crowd — guys in dreads and long white T-shirts, women in trendy-glam attire — it’s got top-notch DJs, a state-of-the-art sound system and a light show. Booming bass vibrates with rhythmically attuned bodies as neon green spokes beam across the dance floor. The outdoor patios, balcony and second floor are open only on busy nights such as Thursdays (Ladies’ Night) and Reggaeton Saturdays. Best night to go is Saturday, for reggaeton night.
