Ybor City

Ybor City, pronounced 'e bore,' is a historic neighborhood located northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, in the United States. Once known as the 'Cigar Capital of the World,' it holds the distinction of being a designated National Historic Landmark District. This vibrant area is renowned for its historic architecture, lively nightlife, and diverse range of restaurants.

During our stay in Tampa, we stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown, conveniently situated at the west end of the Ybor City historic district on E 7th Avenue. This prime location provided us with ample opportunities and excuses to explore the charm of Ybor City. Upon our arrival on an early Saturday evening, we ventured out to the historic district after a brief rainfall.

The street

As we strolled along E 7th Avenue, the main street of Ybor City, we were captivated by the sight of brick buildings adorned with wrought-iron balconies. The street exuded an unmistakable atmosphere with its bustling cigar stores on the south side, where patrons leisurely sat in chairs outside, indulging in cigars. As we walked by, we were enveloped in the aroma of cigars, occasionally mixed with the scent of marijuana.

Palm trees along E 7th Avenue

Cigar stores with smokers siting in the front

Window shopping at a Cigar Store

Food and restaurants

Ybor City boasts a diverse culinary scene, with numerous bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to choose from. Our initial choice for dinner, Bernini of Ybor, unfortunately had a long wait, with eager diners spilling onto the sidewalk. Our second option, La Terrazza, also had a substantial wait time. Eventually, we settled on Carmine's, another delightful Italian restaurant.

For lunch on Monday, before attending our conference registration, we treated ourselves to a Spanish culinary experience at the esteemed Columbia Restaurant. This historic, high-end establishment featured two stories of elegantly set dining tables adorned with white tablecloths. Our table was attended to by an elderly gentleman who provided formal, courteous, and professional service. We indulged in a shared appetizer of Ybor Devil Crab, followed by two delectable entrees: Paella and Champions Rellenos. The fresh and flavorful paella, although taking 30 minutes to prepare, proved to be well worth the wait.

The dinning hall at Columnia

Paella

Given the limited dining options in downtown Tampa, we returned to Ybor City for dinner on both Thursday and Friday. On Thursday evening, Bernini had plenty of available tables, and we enjoyed a satisfying meal featuring crispy duck and shrimp Florentine. On Friday evening, prior to departing for the airport, we ventured back to Ybor City from Tampa to dine at Rasoi Indian Cuisine on 8th Avenue, just north of 7th Avenue. Once again, we shared delightful dishes, including Lamb Rogan Josh, Vegetable Biryani, and Lacha Paratha.

Miscellaneous 

In addition to the vibrant culinary scene, I also had some unique observations. Notably, on Saturday night, I noticed many individuals, particularly African Americans, elegantly dressed for their visits to bars, nightclubs, or dinners. Men donned shirts, while women wore stylish dresses, enhancing the vibrant atmosphere of the area.

Adjacent to our hotel, there was a pride club that appeared relatively quiet on Saturday night when we passed by around 9:30 PM. However, on Friday evening, the night of our departure, we observed a line of patrons outside the night club, predominantly consisting of females.

While Ybor City is approximately one mile north of downtown, it is not the most convenient walking distance. Fortunately, a trolley service, known as the streetcar, regularly connects downtown Tampa to Ybor City, operating from early morning until late at night, every day, and free of charge.

In fact, we made excellent use of this service on our final day in Tampa. After checking out of our hotel at noon and leaving our rental car in the hotel parking garage, we hopped on the streetcar to downtown. Our destination was the aquarium and a delightful dolphin cruise along the waterfront. The streetcar provided a convenient and hassle-free mode of transportation.

As the day came to a close, we returned to Ybor City in the evening and decided to indulge in a delicious dinner at Rasoi before heading to the airport. This plan worked out seamlessly, allowing us to savor one last memorable meal before concluding our trip. The streetcar service was a convenient and efficient way to explore different parts of Tampa, and it greatly enhanced our experience of the city.

The streetcar station at convention center is well decorated

Streetcar station at 13th street/7th street is primitive

A old man was playing instrument and joking with passengers on our Friday ride to downtown