Easy Tiger, a hi-fi listening lounge and cocktail bar at 915 1st Ave. N in St. Petersburg's EDGE District, is built around vinyl DJ sets played through Klipsch Heritage speakers and McIntosh amplifiers. It opened in April 2026 and is open Thursday through Sunday, the St. Pete Catalyst reported.
The owners are Matt and Victoria Kaye with partners Chris Stone and Craig Dragoonis. According to St. Pete Rising, the Kayes also run The Bends, a few doors down on the same block since 2013, plus Wild Child and Slim Charmer in the Grand Central District.
A listening room, not a club
The room is about 1,600 square feet. St. Pete Rising reports the sound system was set up so the music fills the space while people can still hold a conversation at the bar. "Music is such a part of the ambience of the night and the feel of the space," Kaye told the Catalyst.
That is the idea behind listening bars, a format that grew out of Japan's jazz kissas: a great system, records chosen with care, and a crowd that comes to hear the music rather than dance to it.
Who picks the records
The music director is DJ Casper, Tampa DJ Justin Layman. He books a rotating roster of local and touring DJs who play vinyl, often long sets that move across genres. Tampa Bay nightlife regulars may know him from Dirty 'Ol Sundays, the Ybor City night of funk, hip-hop, soul, disco and reggae he ran until 2024.
The cocktails
Beverage director Chris Trull, who also runs the drinks at Wild Child, built a list of roughly 15 to 18 cocktails plus zero-proof options, according to St. Pete Rising. Several names nod to songs and record formats. The house martini, El Tigre, uses Spanish gin, sherry, vermouth and pepper brine.
Before you go
- Easy Tiger is open Thursday to Sunday. Published coverage does not list exact hours, so check the bar's social pages for the night's DJ and times.
- Expect a seated, conversational room. It is a better fit for a drink and a long set than a big group night out.
- The Bends, from the same owners, is a few doors down for a second stop.
Planning a night out or a party? See upcoming dates or book a DJ.
Sources
St. Pete Rising: Team behind The Bends and Wild Child opening hi-fi lounge Easy Tiger in the EDGE District
St. Pete Catalyst: Hi-fi listening lounge and bar opens in the EDGE District
Tampa Bay Times: Easy Tiger, St. Petersburg
Photo: Glowing vacuum tubes of tube audio amplifier Mcintosh MC275 (cropped) by Sebastian Nizan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
