11 Incredible Desserts in Tampa You Can’t Miss
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If you’re on the hunt for the best desserts in Tampa, you’re in luck. Whether you’re craving an over-the-top milkshake, a warm cookie fresh from the oven, handcrafted ice cream, or a decadent slice of cake, Tampa has no shortage of incredible desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth.
As someone who’s always saying yes to dessert, I’ve spent years exploring Tampa’s food scene, and I’ve discovered some truly unforgettable treats along the way. Some of these places are well-known local favorites, while others are hidden gems that deserve a lot more attention.
In this guide, I’m sharing my favorite desserts in Tampa, from bakeries and ice cream shops to restaurants serving desserts that are worth ordering even if you’re already full. So whether you’re planning the ultimate dessert crawl or just looking for your next sweet fix, these are the spots you won’t want to miss!
Best Desserts in Tampa
1. Harry Waugh Dessert Room at Bern’s Steakhouse
If you only have time to try one dessert experience in Tampa, make it the Harry Waugh Dessert Room at Bern’s Steakhouse. Tucked away upstairs from the restaurant, this iconic dessert room feels like stepping into a cozy, hidden speakeasy dedicated entirely to sweets.
Instead of ordering dessert at your table, you’ll head upstairs after dinner to enjoy your treats in one of the private dessert rooms. The menu is extensive, featuring everything from decadent cakes and soufflés to house-made ice cream, specialty coffees, and dessert cocktails. They even do a tableside Bananas Foster and baked Alaska!
Whichever dessert I get, I am always sure to pair it with their cappuccino Bern’s Steakhouse; it’s so good.
Reservations can be tough to snag, but trust me, it’s absolutely worth planning ahead for. It’s easily one of the most unique dessert experiences in Tampa and perfect for a date night, birthday, or other special occasion.
2. Butter Cake at Charley’s Steak House
I don’t say this lightly, but the Butter Cake at Charley’s Steak House might just be my favorite dessert in Tampa.
It’s served warm with a perfectly crisp exterior and a soft, buttery center, and topped with a caramel sauce! It’s definitely a little rich, but it really is just so divine. Definitely add the scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Remi and I come here every year to celebrate our anniversary, and they always surprise us with an extra scoop of ice cream, which I love.
Even if you’re completely stuffed after dinner, do yourself a favor and order the butter cake anyway. You can always share it or take it to go, but whatever you do, don’t skip it.
3. Chill Bros Ice Cream
When I’m craving ice cream, Chill Bros is always one of my go-to spots. This local Tampa favorite makes small-batch ice cream with creative seasonal flavors alongside classic staples, so there’s always something new to try.
One of the things I love most about Chill Bros is that the flavors actually taste homemade. They’re rich, creamy, and made with quality ingredients, and you can tell a lot of care goes into every batch.
Whether you grab a cone, a cup, or one of their rotating seasonal flavors (fluffer pumpkin in the fall is my fave!), it’s the perfect way to cool off after exploring Tampa!
They have locations in Ybor, South Tampa, Water Street, and SoHo.
4. Bake’n Babes
If you’re looking for over-the-top desserts in Tampa, Bake’n Babes needs to be on your list. It’s best known for its freshly baked cookies, Sleazy Brownies, outrageous ice cream sandwiches, and loaded milkshakes that are just as fun to look at as they are to eat.
Their cookies are baked fresh throughout the day, making them perfectly soft and gooey. Pair two cookies with a scoop (or two!) of ice cream to create your own custom ice cream sandwich, or keep it simple with one of their classic cookies. Either way, you really can’t go wrong.
5. Hampton Chocolate Factory
Hampton Chocolate Factory serves up some of the most indulgent desserts in Tampa, with everything from handcrafted chocolates and cookies to brownies, ice cream, and decadent dessert creations.
No matter what you order, you can expect a beautiful (and often over-the-top) presentation. It’s the perfect stop when you’re craving something sweet after dinner or simply want to treat yourself. If you have a hard time choosing just one dessert, you’re definitely not alone.
They are always doing fun monthly specials, and you may have seen my viral video of their strawberry shortcake ice cream, which is my go-to flavor! This is definitely a must-visit spot in Channelside.
6. Toffee to Go
Toffee to Go is one of those places that’s impossible to leave empty-handed. What started as a family toffee recipe eventually grew into one of Tampa’s most beloved dessert shops after friends and family couldn’t get enough of it.
Today, you’ll still find their famous handcrafted toffee, but the menu has expanded to include an incredible selection of scratch-made dessert bars, cookies, brownies, cakes, and other sweet treats.
No matter what you order, you can tell everything is made with the same attention to detail that helped put Toffee to Go on the map. I personally loved their toffee cheesecake topped with their gooey and delicious toffee sauce!
One of the coolest parts of their story is that they were even featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, introducing their desserts to people across the country while continuing to stay true to their Tampa roots.
7. Carrot Cake at Driftlight Steakhouse
Driftlight Steakhouse is already one of my favorite restaurants in Tampa because everything they do, they do exceptionally well, and dessert is no exception.
Their carrot cake is absolutely incredible. Dare I say it might be one of the best carrot cakes I’ve ever had? It’s unbelievably moist, perfectly spiced, and layered with the dreamiest cream cheese frosting.
Even if carrot cake isn’t usually your first choice, I’d encourage you to give this one a chance. It just might change your mind.
8. Tres Leches at Lona
Maybe one of the more underrated desserts in Tampa is the Tres Leches at Lona. This Mexican-inspired restaurant serves a version that’s light, incredibly moist, and perfectly sweet without being overwhelming.
Pair it with the El Jefe Mexican Espresso Martini, a bold blend of tequila, espresso, and cinnamon that’s warm, smooth, and totally game-changing. Even if you’re not a tequila fan, this drink will win you over. It’s now one of my absolute favorite espresso martinis in Tampa Bay!
9. Cannoli at Bavaros
I’ll be honest, I’m not usually a cannoli person, but the cannolis at Bavaro’s completely changed my mind. They fill each one fresh to order, so the shell stays perfectly crisp while the sweet ricotta filling is smooth and creamy. The difference is immediately noticeable.
You can order your cannoli plain, with chocolate chips, or coated in pistachios. My personal favorite is the pistachio, but honestly, why choose just one when you can order the cannoli flight?
Remi is a huge cannoli fan, and he says this is probably the best cannoli he’s ever had, which is saying a lot!
10. Cobbler at The Peach Cobbler Factory
As the name suggests, The Peach Cobbler Factory specializes in one thing, and they do it incredibly well. Their warm, homemade cobblers come in a variety of flavors and are served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream that melts into every bite.
Whether you’re a classic peach cobbler fan or want to branch out and try one of their other seasonal flavors, this is the ultimate comfort dessert. They also have cookies, brownies, banana pudding, churro sticks, and oversized cinnamon rolls if you’re feeling extra hungry, but the cobbler is definitely the star of the show.
We went with the strawberry and peach cobbler and, just WOW. All I could think with each bite was how glad I am I don’t live too close to this Tampa dessert spot, because I would be here way too often if I did!
11. Dubai Chocolate from Taybat Roastery
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen Dubai chocolate everywhere, and Taybat Roastery is one of the best places in Tampa to try it for yourself.
Their version features rich milk chocolate filled with a decadent mixture of crispy kataifi pastry and creamy pistachio filling, creating the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, sweet, and nutty in every bite.
However good you think that sounds, times it by 10. And if that wasn’t enough, they also have a Biscoff white chocolate bar. I actually can’t decide which I like the most!
They even have the viral peach and mango ice cream! We love stocking up on these for the house.
BONUS: Limoncello Cake at Gratzzi
Gratzzi is actually in downtown St. Pete, but I couldn’t leave this dessert out. This classic Italian dessert can be found at one of the best restaurants in downtown St. Pete, Gratzzi Italian Grille.
Their delicious limoncello cake is made up of layers of moist, lemony sponge cake and is filled with tart limoncello cream. The cake is then frosted with more Limoncello cream and topped off with a delicate layer of white chocolate.
I have tried plenty of other limoncello cakes in the area, and none compare to how light and moist Gratzzi’s is!
Which of these desserts in Tampa are you trying first?!
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself after dinner, there’s no shortage of amazing desserts in Tampa to satisfy your sweet tooth. One of my favorite things about this list is how different each dessert is.
I hope this guide helps you discover your next favorite sweet treat! And if you have a favorite dessert in Tampa that deserves a spot on this list, let me know. I’m always looking for an excuse to plan my next dessert crawl around the city.
Before you go, be sure to follow me on Insta @guidedbydestiny and check out some of my other Tampa blog posts:
Best Weekend Getaways from Tampa
