Tampa Bay
Discover Tampa Bay!
Tampa Bay is home to our family. Tampa Bay consists mainly of the following three counties: Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, and Pasco County, and is the second most populated metro area in Florida. Other counties that make up this area are Hernando County, Polk County, Citrus County, Manatee County, and Sarasota County. This article will grow over time and cover our favorite places in different parts of Tampa Bay.
Favorite Places to Stay in Tampa
We live in Sarasota so when we go to Tampa, it tends to be for a quick getaway. Here is a list of the places we have stayed and what we thought of them.
Epicurean Hotel - located in the SoHo area of Tampa, this hotel has a great location for walking on Bayshore, walking to bars and places to eat and it is across the street from the famous Berns Steakhouse. They also have cooking classes that you can take downstairs but make sure to book them ahead of time.
Marriott Waterstreet - We have stayed here several times due to its fantastic location and luxury feel. It is on Tampa's Riverwalk and within walking distance to so many great places to eat and things to do. The one caveat here is that the valet parking can get backed up and it can be frustrating to wait for your car.
Hotel Haya is also a favorite. It's in the heart of Ybor City and it's a boutique hotel with brick exposed walls, herringbone wood floors in some ballrooms and it is tastefully decorated. The picture to the left is from the balcony of a suite at the Hotel Haya.
Our Top Places to Eat in Tampa
- Bern's Steakhouse
My favorite place to eat in Tampa Bay is Bern's Steakhouse. Bern's bar area recently went through a renovation and it was made more modern and accommodates more casual dining. The reason Bern's is my top place to eat is because of its consistent food quality and excellent service. Bern's has one of the largest privately owned wine collections in the world.
My husband and I will typically order a steak. It is dry-aged and you can have it a little less cooked than usual and not get a bloody steak. They cook their steak perfectly. Another bonus of Bern's is that it includes a salad, bread, French onion soup, baked potatoes, and fried onion straws. This is all included in the price of a steak. I also absolutely love the tableside Caesar Salad at Bern's.
When you eat at Bern's you automatically have a reservation in the dessert room. The dessert room is a neat place in that you eat in these private rooms where they will make some desserts tableside like my favorite dessert: The Bananas Foster.
Tips: Bern's allows you to make reservations 90 days in advance. We have reserved tables at midnight (90 days prior) in order to ensure we had a 7 p.m. reservation. If you did not make a reservation and want to go to Berns, you can get into the bar area. I suggest being there by 4 pm and waiting for a table by the bar. We have done this a few times and it has worked in our favor.
Armature Works
Armature Works is an upscale food court with a great river view. You can access it from the Tampa's Riverwalk. Some of my favorite places to eat are:
Bake'n Babes™ - great for desserts
Empamamas - they make everything into an empanada
Oak & Ola - great food and atmosphere
Steelbach - Southern Inspired
Ulele
Ulele is one of my favorites in Tampa Bay. We celebrated my husband's birthday there and went there when we were moving away from Tampa Bay. Their drinks are unique and their food selection is always changing. Make a reservation or you may be waiting. Going here is always a treat for me.
Tampa Bay Things to do!
There are so many things to do in Tampa that is tough to narrow down the list to just a few places. Here is my list of family-friendly things to do.
Florida Aquarium - This is a fun place to stay out of the sun and enjoy the marine animals. They have some hands-on exhibits too.
Lowry Park Zoo - Do your kids watch Zoo Tampa? This is the zoo where they filmed the show. I love that you can book behind-the-scenes experiences here and get up close with some of the animals.
Tampa River Walk - I love that Tampa has a place to walk and bike alongside the river. There are things to do and places to eat right alongside it.
Busch Gardens attracts visitors from around the globe. It has some of Florida's best rollercoasters and rides. You can also enjoy animal experiences and great food.
Ybor City has a rich history which contains several structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are many great restaurants, monuments, and you can still find cigar makers. If you are looking for places to eat try the Columbia Restaurant or Carmines although there are dozens of other places to try.
