Guidebook for Tampa

Kathleen
Guidebook for Tampa

Food Scene

Fabulous oysters, light plates, scrumptios cocktails, and great wine list, all within walking distance. Chef Ferrell Alvarez created this James Beard nominee hot spot, continually revamping the menu with outstanding details.
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Rooster & the Till
6500 N Florida Ave
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Fabulous oysters, light plates, scrumptios cocktails, and great wine list, all within walking distance. Chef Ferrell Alvarez created this James Beard nominee hot spot, continually revamping the menu with outstanding details.
A great selection of Mexican fare, Mekenita offers signature sangrias, a full bar, and everything from chips and salsa or guacamole, to full platos and yummy desserts. Again, just a four block walk to burrito heaven.
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Mekenita Cantina
6707 N Florida Ave
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A great selection of Mexican fare, Mekenita offers signature sangrias, a full bar, and everything from chips and salsa or guacamole, to full platos and yummy desserts. Again, just a four block walk to burrito heaven.
I hesitate to call this just a restaurant, but hey, chef Greg Baker got the nom from James Beard early on here for his creative southern cuisine. Great food, but the Refinery also has a well-equipped bar and brilliant tenders. Another walkable spot 8 blocks from the apartment.
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The Refinery
5910 N Florida Ave
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I hesitate to call this just a restaurant, but hey, chef Greg Baker got the nom from James Beard early on here for his creative southern cuisine. Great food, but the Refinery also has a well-equipped bar and brilliant tenders. Another walkable spot 8 blocks from the apartment.
Head to the Bodega for some delish Latin street food and something superb to wash it down with.
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Bodega Seminole Heights
1180 Central Avenue
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Head to the Bodega for some delish Latin street food and something superb to wash it down with.
Soulful bowls of wow-factor ramen are what made this place, but the steam pork buns are fabulous, too. Great cocktails as well, this small, busy, delightful eatery deserves at least one visit while you're in town!
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Ichicoro Ramen
5229 N Florida Ave
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Soulful bowls of wow-factor ramen are what made this place, but the steam pork buns are fabulous, too. Great cocktails as well, this small, busy, delightful eatery deserves at least one visit while you're in town!
Indoors or out, live music or just conversation, great sandwiches and salads or just drinks, the Independent has been a Seminole Heights institution since it opened in 2005. To quote their mantra, "Founded on a vision to suppport non-commercial craft products, independent music, and to encourage & inspire a sense of community among our patrons, the Independent, Tampa's biergarden & indoor handmade cedarwood bar are open to all."
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Independent Bar and Cafe
5016 N Florida Ave
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Indoors or out, live music or just conversation, great sandwiches and salads or just drinks, the Independent has been a Seminole Heights institution since it opened in 2005. To quote their mantra, "Founded on a vision to suppport non-commercial craft products, independent music, and to encourage & inspire a sense of community among our patrons, the Independent, Tampa's biergarden & indoor handmade cedarwood bar are open to all."
Food, shops, outdoor activities, and lots of people get together here at the north end of downtown Tampa's Riverwalk. Special events like Saturday morning markets, live music on the lawn, or spectacular sunsets over the Hillsborough River, this place is a winner.
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Armature Works
1910 N Ola Ave
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Food, shops, outdoor activities, and lots of people get together here at the north end of downtown Tampa's Riverwalk. Special events like Saturday morning markets, live music on the lawn, or spectacular sunsets over the Hillsborough River, this place is a winner.
Choose from a fistful of great restaurants with varying menus. Everyone can order from a different counter, yet eat at the same table in the spacious dining court. Clean, modern, spacious design opens up to the sidewalk on pretty days.
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The Hall on Franklin
1701 N Franklin St
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Choose from a fistful of great restaurants with varying menus. Everyone can order from a different counter, yet eat at the same table in the spacious dining court. Clean, modern, spacious design opens up to the sidewalk on pretty days.
Great eclectic fare with outdoor seating along the waterfront and great energy, Sparkman Wharf is a busy, happy place for unique casual dining. Plus, you can go bowling afterward. Or sometimes cheer on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Or just catch a great sunset.
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Sparkman Wharf
615 Channelside Dr
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Great eclectic fare with outdoor seating along the waterfront and great energy, Sparkman Wharf is a busy, happy place for unique casual dining. Plus, you can go bowling afterward. Or sometimes cheer on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Or just catch a great sunset.
In a stunning location along the Hillsborough River adjacent to the Riverwalk, Ulele offers fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails with fine presentation and expert preparation. Dive into some charcoal fired oysters, gorgeous salads, and Valrhona chocolate ice cream. There are some hefty steaks on the menu as well. Reservations are a MUST!
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Ulele
1810 N Highland Ave
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In a stunning location along the Hillsborough River adjacent to the Riverwalk, Ulele offers fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails with fine presentation and expert preparation. Dive into some charcoal fired oysters, gorgeous salads, and Valrhona chocolate ice cream. There are some hefty steaks on the menu as well. Reservations are a MUST!

Drinks & Nightlife

Often features live music on weekends, this iconic neighborhood rock bar is low key and great fun.
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Red Star Rock Bar
5210 N Florida Ave
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Often features live music on weekends, this iconic neighborhood rock bar is low key and great fun.
New releases from this Tampa favorite find lines wrapping around the block, but normal days are fun and easy, with a dozen or so options on the board.
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Angry Chair Brewing
4101 N Florida Ave
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New releases from this Tampa favorite find lines wrapping around the block, but normal days are fun and easy, with a dozen or so options on the board.
The Seminole Heights City Wine Bar is stocked to the ceiling with a wide selection of great wines and VERY knowledgeable waitstaff, ready to suggest something to please your palate. Just let them know what you like, and like magic, they pull the perfect bottle from an obscure shelf. Plus, yummy noshes from small plates to delicious desserts.
Society Wine Bar Franchise
6703 N Florida Ave
The Seminole Heights City Wine Bar is stocked to the ceiling with a wide selection of great wines and VERY knowledgeable waitstaff, ready to suggest something to please your palate. Just let them know what you like, and like magic, they pull the perfect bottle from an obscure shelf. Plus, yummy noshes from small plates to delicious desserts.
Great drinks spot tucked in behind Bodega on Florida Ave.
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Mandarin Heights
5901 N Florida Ave
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Great drinks spot tucked in behind Bodega on Florida Ave.

Shopping

A divine bottleshop featuring craft brews and local delicacies to take home and enjoy, this clever little store is just a few walkable blocks away.
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Jug & Bottle Dept.
6203 N Florida Ave
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A divine bottleshop featuring craft brews and local delicacies to take home and enjoy, this clever little store is just a few walkable blocks away.
Again, this place ticks a number of boxes, from a lovely dining menu to a tea bar, coffee bar, pastry bar, bookstore, Oliver Peeples eyeglass boutique, and short term rental office space. Plus, it is one of Tampa's most impressive renovations, right across the street from the University of Tampa.
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Health Mutt
5023 N Central Ave
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Again, this place ticks a number of boxes, from a lovely dining menu to a tea bar, coffee bar, pastry bar, bookstore, Oliver Peeples eyeglass boutique, and short term rental office space. Plus, it is one of Tampa's most impressive renovations, right across the street from the University of Tampa.
Tampa's biggest mall, with all the right stores, including Nordstrom, Dillard's, Apple, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Tommy Bahama, Armani Exchange, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Lilly Pulitzer, Gucci, Coach, Johnny Was, and many more: https://www.shopinternationalplaza.com/?utm_source=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=GMB
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International Plaza and Bay Street
2223 N Westshore Blvd
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Tampa's biggest mall, with all the right stores, including Nordstrom, Dillard's, Apple, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Tommy Bahama, Armani Exchange, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Lilly Pulitzer, Gucci, Coach, Johnny Was, and many more: https://www.shopinternationalplaza.com/?utm_source=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=GMB

Essentials

I. Love. This. Store. It has just about everything I have ever needed in a hurry: soap for the guest room, a thermos to use as a coffee decanter, funky housewares, and quirky cards. They also serve up a life-saving brew at the coffee bar, complete with glossy pastries and muffins. Walkable, and in the same building as Rooster & the Till restaurant and Cleanse Apothecary.
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Urban Bungalow / Bungalow Coffee
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I. Love. This. Store. It has just about everything I have ever needed in a hurry: soap for the guest room, a thermos to use as a coffee decanter, funky housewares, and quirky cards. They also serve up a life-saving brew at the coffee bar, complete with glossy pastries and muffins. Walkable, and in the same building as Rooster & the Till restaurant and Cleanse Apothecary.
Need some shampoo? A handmade French-milled bar of soap? A silk bathrobe? An extraordinary fragrance? Shaving stuff? Cleanse is a walkable, friendly, extraordinarily well-stocked shop featuring Fekkai, Art of Shaving, Korres, Malin + Goetz, Philosophy, Lipstick Queen, Jack Black , Thymes, Beekman 1802 with Niche Clean beauty brands - Ursa Major, Ren Skin Care, Indie Lee, Antonym Cosmetics and more.
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Cleanse Apothecary
6500 N Florida Ave
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Need some shampoo? A handmade French-milled bar of soap? A silk bathrobe? An extraordinary fragrance? Shaving stuff? Cleanse is a walkable, friendly, extraordinarily well-stocked shop featuring Fekkai, Art of Shaving, Korres, Malin + Goetz, Philosophy, Lipstick Queen, Jack Black , Thymes, Beekman 1802 with Niche Clean beauty brands - Ursa Major, Ren Skin Care, Indie Lee, Antonym Cosmetics and more.

Arts & Culture

Broadway shows, classic concerts, modern and classical dance, and special touring exhibits, the Straz has a schedule that is varied and affordable. Right along the downtown Riverwalk, it is a pleasant stroll from some dynamite dining, like Ulele, Fly Bar, Anise Global Gastrobar, and dozens more places to round out the evening.
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I-Center for the Performing Arts yeDavid A. Straz, Jr.
1010 N Macinnes Pl
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Broadway shows, classic concerts, modern and classical dance, and special touring exhibits, the Straz has a schedule that is varied and affordable. Right along the downtown Riverwalk, it is a pleasant stroll from some dynamite dining, like Ulele, Fly Bar, Anise Global Gastrobar, and dozens more places to round out the evening.
A private university, the UT campus is anchored by the main building, Plant Hall, adorned with 13 minarets. Originally built in the Moorish style in the early 20th century, the building poses artfully amid the Tampa skyline. A trip through the museum is pretty cool as well, with some history and culture thrown in.
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University Of Tampa
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A private university, the UT campus is anchored by the main building, Plant Hall, adorned with 13 minarets. Originally built in the Moorish style in the early 20th century, the building poses artfully amid the Tampa skyline. A trip through the museum is pretty cool as well, with some history and culture thrown in.
Great option for a rainy day, this is one amazing collection of Dali's work, usually with additional exhibits: https://thedali.org/
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The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum)
1 Dali Blvd
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Great option for a rainy day, this is one amazing collection of Dali's work, usually with additional exhibits: https://thedali.org/

Entertainment & Activities

Rent a paddleboard, kayak, two-seat motorboat, electric riverboat, or just sit a while with a nice little cocktail and watch the waterfront at the Sail Pavilion. Other options include American Social and Jackson's Bistro, across the bridge on Harbour Island.
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The Sail Pavilion on the Riverwalk
141 S Franklin St
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Rent a paddleboard, kayak, two-seat motorboat, electric riverboat, or just sit a while with a nice little cocktail and watch the waterfront at the Sail Pavilion. Other options include American Social and Jackson's Bistro, across the bridge on Harbour Island.
Home to the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL team, Amalie Arena also features concerts, performances like Cirque du Soliel, and lots of great food from some of Tampa's most respected chefs.
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Amalie Arena
401 Channelside Dr
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Home to the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL team, Amalie Arena also features concerts, performances like Cirque du Soliel, and lots of great food from some of Tampa's most respected chefs.
Not sure whether to call this a restaurant or a movie theater, but it does both of those things well, with big, cushy chairs and clean, high tech movie screens. They bring meals to you at your seats if you arrive 1/2 hour before show time, and serve some very nice drinks as well.
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CinéBistro
1609 W Swann Ave
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Not sure whether to call this a restaurant or a movie theater, but it does both of those things well, with big, cushy chairs and clean, high tech movie screens. They bring meals to you at your seats if you arrive 1/2 hour before show time, and serve some very nice drinks as well.
Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RayJay is a pretty easy drive from the apartment. Superbowl 2020 is coming right up. Get your tickets and plan your weekend!
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IStadium yaseRaymond James
4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy
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Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RayJay is a pretty easy drive from the apartment. Superbowl 2020 is coming right up. Get your tickets and plan your weekend!

Getting Around

Take the water taxi for a cruise along the Hillsborough River to see the sights from a great perspective. You can also use it to get from one spot to another without getting behind the wheel.
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I-Pirate Water Taxi
333 S Franklin St
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Take the water taxi for a cruise along the Hillsborough River to see the sights from a great perspective. You can also use it to get from one spot to another without getting behind the wheel.
With 236 departures a day via 20 carriers, TPA is the 29th largest airport in the US. Biggest carriers are Southwest, Delta, American, and United. What are you waiting for ... book a flight already!
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Tampa International Airport
4100 George J Bean Pkwy
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With 236 departures a day via 20 carriers, TPA is the 29th largest airport in the US. Biggest carriers are Southwest, Delta, American, and United. What are you waiting for ... book a flight already!