Tampa Long Weekend – Day One: Tampa Bay Brewing Company & Mema’s Alaskan Tacos
Kick off your Tampa long weekend with a brewery flight at Tampa Bay Brewing Company in Ybor City and unforgettable tacos at Mema’s Alaskan Tacos. A mix of craft beer, comfort food, and crunchy shells you won’t forget.
Starting the Tampa Weekend Right
Every good long weekend has a first chapter. For me, arriving in Tampa meant shaking off the road, dropping my bag, and diving straight into what the city does best: food, drinks, and a little bit of surprise along the way.
Tampa’s always been one of those places where history, nightlife, and casual eats all blur together, so it only made sense to start the trip with a mix of both planned stops and unplanned gems.
Day One brought me to Tampa Bay Brewing Company in Ybor City, followed by a chance encounter with Mema’s Alaskan Tacos—two very different vibes that made the perfect start to the weekend.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company – Ybor City
Beer Flight, French Onion Soup, and Ceviche @ TBBC
You can’t really talk about Ybor without mentioning the breweries. Tampa Bay Brewing Company sits right in the heart of it all, surrounded by cigar shops, neon signs, and the old-world architecture that makes the neighborhood famous. Step inside and it feels like the pulse of Ybor—craft beer in hand, conversations buzzing, and plates big enough to fuel the night ahead.
I ordered a flight to get the full picture: Red Eye, True Blonde, Reef Donkey, and Old Elephant. Each beer had its own personality—Red Eye was bold, True Blonde crisp, Reef Donkey refreshingly balanced, and Old Elephant rounded things out with depth.
To pair it up, I went with the French onion soup and ceviche. The soup was rich, cheesy, and exactly the kind of comfort food you want to slow down with. The ceviche had potential but fell short—the chips carried a heavy, tired oil flavor that distracted from the fish. Not a deal breaker, but something worth noting.
Would I call it a must-visit? If you’re in Ybor already, absolutely. Between the people-watching and the variety of beer, it’s a solid stop. But if you’re crossing town just for the food, I’d keep expectations in check.
Mema’s Alaskan Tacos – An Unplanned Gem
Good vibes and great Tacos @ Mema’s
After leaving the brewery, I wandered a bit and stumbled onto Mema’s Alaskan Tacos. This is where the beauty of not overplanning comes in—because sometimes the spot you didn’t know existed ends up becoming the highlight of the day.
I ordered three tacos—chicken, beef, and grouper. Each protein brought its own flavor, but the shell was the star. Perfectly crisp, sturdy enough to hold everything without falling apart, and light enough to keep you wanting another bite. That crunch is what sets Mema’s apart, and it’s the kind of detail you’ll still be thinking about hours later.
The atmosphere was the opposite of the brewery. No buzz, no frills—just easygoing, no-nonsense tacos. And that’s exactly what made it memorable.
Wrapping Up Day One
That’s the way to kick off a long weekend: start with something familiar and end with something unexpected. Tampa Bay Brewing Company delivered the local craft beer scene and the buzz of Ybor, while Mema’s Alaskan Tacos reminded me why you always keep an open mind when exploring a new city.
Day One set the tone—planned meets unplanned, structured meets spontaneous. And that balance is what makes a Tampa weekend worth taking.
Stay tuned for Day Two, where the adventure shifts to new flavors and fresh corners of the city.
