The Tampa Bay area is alive with innovative restaurants, historic architecture, and beautiful waterways. Downtown Tampa’s culture is infused with Cuban and Spanish flavors and urban parks. The impressive Riverwalk connects amazing cafes and bistros like pearls on a strand along the dazzling Hillsborough River. A great city for all ages, the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast has been named one of the top ten best places to live in the U.S.
The Small List
Best Place to Stay
Epicurean Hotel – An ideal retreat where you can have your steak and eat it too! Epicurean is a foodie’s dream escape in collaboration with the famed Bern’s Steak House. Indulge in the one-of-a-kind dining destination. In addition, the food-focused Epicurean Hotel features a state-of-the-art culinary classroom known as the Epicurean Theatre.
Best Restaurants
Bern’s Steakhouse – Bern and Gert Laxer created a one-of-a-kind dining destination and cultivated the world’s largest privately owned restaurant wine collection containing over half a million bottles and 6500 labels from all over the world. The internationally famous dessert room upstairs is not to be missed. Bern’s is not just a meal but an experience.
Rooster and the Till – Enjoying a Bib Gourmand award from Michelin, the Rooster and the Till is lively and buzzing with excitement. The decor is simple and the kitchen is open with the bar wrapping around it. The food is soulful with elements from South East Asia and Latin America. The fried cobia collar has a cult like following.
Columbia Restaurant – Originating from Spanish-Cuban immigrants, this family owned and operated restaurant is Florida’s oldest with more than 117 years of history. Located in Ybor City, it encompasses an entire city block and is the largest Spanish restaurant in the world.
Ocean Prime – An elevated dining experience with exceptional service and ambience. From coast to coast the dynamic seafood and steak house prides themselves on creating a vibrant energy and memorable experiences.
Opus Restaurant and Lounge – The approach at Opus in Sarasota is simple. To celebrate food by respecting the ingredients and highlighting each individual flavor. The upscale western Mediterranean restaurant is the best new local restaurant of 2022.
Things to Do
Oxford Exchange – Cultivating community and conversation, the Oxford Exchange is a gathering place, a restaurant, a boutique and a bookstore all under one charming roof. Afternoon tea is served as well as champagne and cocktails before a meal or while browsing the shop. Simply brilliant!
Ybor City – Founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor, 7th Avenue is recognized as one of the “10 Great Streets in America”. The historic district is ideal for history buffs, cigar aficionados, and coffee connoisseurs. Ybor City is a cultural melting pot rich in history with strong community involvement and a tremendous amount of character.
Armature Works – The Armature is a 73,000 square foot mixed-use commercial space consisting of the Heights Public Market, multiple event spaces, a co-shared workspace as well as innovative restaurants and bars. The waterfront project attracts visitors from near and far.
Salvador Dalí Museum – The Dalí Museum is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and celebrates the life and art of the influential and innovative artist.
The Ringling Museum – The Ringling is a historic mansion, art museum, circus museum, historic theater, conservation center, arboretum, and reference library, situated on 66 acres of spectacular bay front property in Sarasota. The museum serves as the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. The Ringling is a place of art, architecture, and circus in an environment that inspires, educates, and entertains.