What to do, eat and drink in Dade City
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I visited Dade City one recent afternoon as part of our occasional series on Tampa Bay's lesser-known communities.
The big picture: There is a lot to appreciate in this town of about 8,000, with tons of craft breweries, a drive-in theater and no shortage of eateries that serve authentic Southern cuisine.
Zoom in: I hadn't eaten much before I made the drive, so I decided to stop at Kafe Kokopelli first. It's a 30-year-old restaurant housed in a building that's over a century old. Welcome to Dade City.
- The spot is part bar, part restaurant, with stuffed deers and boars mounted on its brick and wood walls. I managed to grab a booth with almost no wait or reservation.
- I have the stomach of a five-year-old and ordered a large (and delicious) plate of spaghetti and meatballs. I topped it off with a sliver of Kafe Kokopelli's peanut butter bread pudding. 10/10.
Next, I grabbed a seat at the low-lit Wine Library, which features some leather-bound classics, gorgeous art and cocktails.
- Everything from the drapes on the storefront windows to the antique decor makes it an influencer's dream.
Then, as if I hadn't found enough places that serve books and booze, I visited the Athenaeum Brew Lounge.
- I sat at a table with an unsolved case file game and sampled a few of the lounge's literary drinks, one of which is brewed with kumquats sourced from Dade City.
Here's a roundup of some more fun spots in Dade City:
What to do
🕰 Sift through antiques at Two Krazy Chicks.
🍿 Pull into Joy-Lan for a drive-in movie.
🏌️ Make a hole-in-one at 7th Street Mini Golf & Game Parlour
What to eat and drink
🍽️ Scarf down "Florida Soul Food" at Lunch on Limoges.
🥩 Bite into buffalo ribeye at The Citrus Room.
🍺 Sip "How Do You Pronounce That?" at the Dade City Brew House.