The Orpheum — Attraction in Lutz

My family and I had an unforgettable time catching The Kiffness at The Orpheum in Tampa. His blend of humor, music, and audience interaction made the night incredibly entertaining — one of those shows where everyone around you is smiling and vibing.

The venue itself is on the smaller side and felt a bit cramped indoors, but to our pleasant surprise, the event was moved to their outdoor stage. That change alone completely transformed the experience — more space, better air flow, and honestly, a much more enjoyable atmosphere for a performance like this.

Now, let’s talk logistics. Parking around The Orpheum is not ideal. We ended up on a nearby residential street where spots were available, but I was glad I brought a less expensive car. This part of Ybor City has that gritty, unpredictable edge — it’s not exactly the kind of place you’d want to leave a luxury vehicle unattended. I’d recommend checking the area on Google Maps beforehand and planning accordingly.

Entry was handled by staff who, frankly, didn’t seem too excited to be there. Think: biker-bar bouncer vibes with minimal customer service energy. That said, once you’re past the gate and into the venue, the atmosphere shifts — the crowd is lively, the music’s front and center, and you can really settle in and enjoy the night.

Drinks were reasonably priced ($6 for a beer), but there’s a catch — cash only unless you're spending $20 or more. So, if you’re not planning to go all-in on drinks, bring cash to avoid the card minimum headache.

Final Thoughts: Would I return? Absolutely — with the right expectations. If you're easygoing, love live music, and can handle a bit of urban charm, you'll have a great time. Just come prepared:

Bring cash

Wear comfortable shoes

Use your "B" vehicle

And don’t forget bug spray if it’s an outdoor show

This isn’t the Ritz, and that’s kind of the point. The Orpheum has its quirks, but for the right artist and the right vibe, it's a damn good time. If you're chill like we are, you’ll feel right at home. If you're more high-brow and expect valet parking, white-glove service, and craft cocktails, this probably isn’t your scene — and honestly, they’re not...

This was my first time visiting this venue, and while it is nice and I have no complaints about it, my main issue lies with the parking. There is NOT enough space.

The Orpheum, which was previously in Ybor City and has multiple parking garages, now sits in an industrial part of Tampa, surrounded by businesses that have clear Tow-Away Zone signs in their lots that are hard to miss. And I heard rumors of Orpheum attendees' cars getting towed if they were found parked where they shouldn't be.

Tonight, I saw that immediate parking near the venue was all full, but I thought I found one available spot in the lot, as there was no signage stating I couldn't park there otherwise. I was leaving, someone left me an adorably passive-aggressive note on the windshield of my car stating I was "selfish" because that spot was allegedly for emergency vehicles.

The logic is a bit confusing to me, because if the spot is used for emergency purposes, then 1.) It's a pretty tiny area to park a whole ambulance there, which is typically twice the size of my tiny Nissan and 2.) There was no signage stating the spot was reserved for emergency vehicles only, which typically, businesses would have posted at the spot, just like the surrounding businesses in the area that clearly specified the details regarding their lots.

So, to the mysterious person that decided to scold me: you might want to look within the issues on the property of your establishment first before wasting paper and ink on someone's car in the future. Since I'm not a mind-reader, consider looking around at the other properties and take notes (no pun intended) about having the correct signage on your property before another poor visitor makes the same mistake as I did. Or, consider finding additional areas where attendees can park safely without risking their cars getting towed away. Just something to think about! ♡ Aside from that, I had a great time seeing the bands perform! Because of this entire situation, I'm not sure if I'll come back to this place for future concerts...

This venue was great when it was in Ybor. Been to dozens of shows at the old locations over the years. The new location leaves a lot to be desired. Seedy and dive-bar vibes now. Certain locations at the outside bar literally smell like sewage.

The biggest problem though, is the parking situation. They sell vastly more tickets, even on a weeknight, than they can accomodate in their small parking area. The worst part is, when you drive up the parking lot is barricaded off and there is no one to direct you to alternate parking. There isn't even a sign. There are houses nearby that will try to charge you $20 to park in their lot. This might not have been a problem when they were in Ybor and there were plenty of city lots or private lots around at reasonable prices.

There is some fine print on your event brite ticket saying that parking is limited, and you should carpool or take an uber. But if you carpool, you still have to park somewhere, and unless you live nearby in Tampa, an uber could be very expensive coming from out of town.

There is nothing about the parking situation, or overflow parking sites on their website. The doorman told me I could park at the pressure wash next door, but when I went there they told me that I couldn't park there after all. I wound up parking at Skipper's. Hope the folks at the Orpheum are on good terms with the folks at Skipper's, because that's where everyone else seemed to park too.

You have a small lot - fine. At least direct people, have some info on your website, or put a sign up. Otherwise, it's a pretty rude shock when you show up with an advance ticket and you're greeted with rows of orange cones and have no...