Entry No. 17 — the Tampa file — filed under: speakeasy
Bar Chica
Hidden down a back hallway behind an unmarked door inside Bodega, this tiny 18-seat cocktail lounge features dark blue walls, gold tables, and a rum-focused menu.
The story
Most of the crowd huddled on Central Avenue is just waiting for a pressed Cuban sandwich from Bodega's counter. You walk right past them. Skip the food line, cut down the back hallway behind the counter, and find the unmarked sliding barn door. Slide it open, and you leave Central Ave behind for Bar Chica, a Havana-style pocket lounge tucked into the rear of the building since late 2020.
The room caps out at just 18 seats, so you didn't hear about it from us if you end up waiting on a stool to free up. Dark blue paint coats the walls, gold tables catch the dim light, and vintage cartoons project silently overhead while the bar leans into a rum-focused menu featuring drinks like rye Florida Sours alongside small bar bites.
What it's like
Walk straight to the back of Bodega and push through the unmarked wooden door without acting like you're lost. Because there are fewer than twenty seats, weekend nights fill instantly—if you arrive late, expect to hover or wait. The interior stays dim and compact, with low lighting, gold accents, and occasional late-night DJ sets building a space that feels far tucked away from the sidewalk outside.
The move: Grab a pressed Cuban sandwich at Bodega's front window, then slip through the back barn door into Bar Chica for a rye Florida Sour while vintage cartoons project on the wall.
- 📍 EDGE District, St. Petersburg
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1180 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dirty Laundry — Continue the hidden-door crawl four blocks west by walking through a laundromat facade into another secret cocktail space.
- Culture Shock Oddities & Tattoo Studio — Trade Havana-style rum drinks for taxidermy and funeral photos at this dark curiosity gallery just down Central Avenue.
- FloridaRAMA — Contrast an intimate 18-seat hideaway with 15,000 square feet of surreal, Florida-centric immersive art installations.
Good to know
Where is the entrance to Bar Chica?
It is hidden inside Bodega at 1180 Central Ave. Head down the back hallway behind the main food counter to find the unmarked sliding barn door.
Do I need a password or a reservation?
No secret password or reservation is required, but seating is strictly limited to 18 spots on a first-come, first-served basis.
What kind of drinks and food do they serve?
The bar serves a craft cocktail menu with a heavy rum focus, including drinks like rye Florida Sours, alongside a light menu of bar bites.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: eatatbodega.com · guidedbydestiny.com · stpetersburgfoodies.com · cltampa.com · ilovetheburg.com
last checked: 2026-07-21