Tampa

Food Scene

Tampa Bay’s cuisine is just as unique and rich as its culture. Sip on lavish libations at waterfront bistros and bars. Take a bite into culinary diversity. Discover Tampa Bay’s fine dining or farm-to-table restaurants and enjoy fresh seafood and authentic Spanish dishes. Enjoy the cocktail culture while sipping your drink with sweeping views of downtown at Azure, a rooftop dining experience located at the five-star Tampa EDITION, or  SIX, an airy elevated rooftop bistro located on the sixth floor of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street.

Michelin Guide In Tampa Bay

In 2022, the destination earned inclusion in the first-ever MICHELIN Guide to Florida, becoming only the fifth U.S. destination to welcome the world’s oldest and most recognized restaurant rating system. In 2023, three Tampa Bay restaurants received a coveted MICHELIN Star – Koya, Rocca, and Lilac – bringing the total number of restaurants included in the guide to 24. Other notable restaurants to be recognized in the guide include Bib Gourmand recipients like Psomi, a daytime Greek eatery and bakery, and Rooster & The Till, with an ever-changing menu located in the foodie-friendly Seminole Heights neighborhood.

Hotels

With over 2,500 new rooms added in the last three years, Tampa Bay has been experiencing an incredible boom. The Tampa EDITION, the destination’s first five-star hotel, opened in October 2022 with luxury amenities and seven unique dining concepts under the guidance of MICHELIN-Starred chef, John Fraser. Also in the neighborhood is ROOST Tampa, downtown’s first full-service, fully furnished lifestyle apartment hotel with 97 units and a massive 7th-floor amenity deck. Opened in 1926, the historic Floridan Palace Hotel will transform into Hotel Flor in 2023 as it joins the Tapestry Collection Hotels by Hilton following a major $30 million renovation. On the ground floor, The Dan is a modern take on old-school speakeasies with an atmosphere influenced by the Roaring Twenties and a menu inspired by Gulf Coast cuisine. Just outside of downtown in historic Hyde Park, the iconic foodie-focused Epicurean Hotel is undergoing an expansion that will add eight suites and a 4th-floor terrace space to the boutique South Tampa property.

Arts & Culture

In Tampa Bay, arts and culture run deep. Along the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk, and throughout the downtown and Channel districts, a trove of rich culture and history awaits for you to uncover. From Broadway shows to classical opera, whatever the performance, the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is the center of it all. At the Tampa Theatre, step into the past and sit beneath the stars to see both classic and contemporary films along with concerts. Uncover historical roots that shaped the Tampa Bay community at the Tampa Bay History Center. Travel back in time and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the 1920scigar boom that forever turned Ybor City into Cigar City. See a vast collection of modern and contemporary art at the Tampa Museum of Art. The heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast is full of authentic history and rich cultural experiences for you to discover. Treasure Awaits.

CityPass

Tampa is one of only 12 cities in the nation to offer CityPass. Discover the Tampa Bay area’s best attractions with a deeply discounted pass that saves up to 53 percent off regular combined admission prices. Each Tampa Bay CityPASS booklet includes tickets to Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, the bay area’s ultimate family adventure, offering thrill rides and animal encounters; two aquariums; a zoo; and more. Cost: $139 for adults (value $294.03); $124 for kids ages 3-9.

According to Parents Magazine, families or groups of friends will love The Florida Aquarium or Lowry Park Zoo, the USA’s number one zoo for children. Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic places worldwide. A unique blend of thrilling rides, up close animal encounters, live shows, restaurants, and shops provide unrivaled excitement for all guests. The world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, Serengeti Flyer, features twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher reaching speeds of 68 mph and reaching up to 135 feet at the ride’s peak.

Ybor City

Step into the past and see how Ybor City put Tampa Bay on the map by becoming the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Visit the renovated J.C. Newman Cigar Factory and Museum, America’s oldest family-owned cigar factory, and learn the art of cigar rolling with its hand-rolling classes. Along 7^th Avenue – locally known as La Sétima – enjoy live music while sipping a café con leche or indulge in one of the district’s signature eateries. At Florida’s oldest restaurant, the Columbia, share a pitcher of Spanish sangria and watch Flamenco dancers practice a tradition from the 15^th century. Visit Cuba without a passport by stepping through the gates of José Marti Park, where the park’s soil has been owned by the Cuban people since the 1950s in honor of the famed Cuban revolutionary fighter. Be sure to keep an eye – and an ear – out for Ybor City’s oldest residents, the wild chickens that strut through the streets.