Things to do in Tampa, splurging
Tampa Theatre and Bayshore Boulevard, Japanese at ro and Kōsen, gin at CW's.
This is a Tampa trip built around the table: long lunches at acclaimed spots, destination dinners, and cocktail bars worth staying up for. The days move through downtown, Hyde Park, and Westshore with enough breathing room between meals to actually enjoy where you are. It suits someone who eats and drinks well at home and expects the same when they travel.
Day 1: Downtown and the waterfront
A day that earns its dinner: the Tampa Theatre sets the tone, Boulon handles lunch, the aquarium fills the afternoon, and Predalina and CW's Gin Joint close things out properly.
- 11:00 AM
Tampa Theatre
1926 movie palace with a starry ceiling; book a tour on the days they run, or catch an evening film.
Map - 12:30 PM
Boulon Brasserie and Bakery
French brasserie and bakery on Water Street; a brasserie lunch, then a pastry from the counter.
Map - 2:30 PM
The Florida Aquarium
250,000 sq ft journey from Florida wetlands to a 500,000-gallon coral reef, the swear-by rainy-or-shine cultural fixture downtown.
Map - 7:30 PM
Predalina
Mediterranean dining room in the Channelside district; order a spread of mezze and plates to share.
Map - 9:30 PM
CW's Gin Joint
Handsome, dimly lit gin bar on Franklin Street; ask for a classic or the house martini.
Map
Day 2: Hyde Park and South Tampa
Bayshore in the morning, a gastropub lunch, and a Hyde Park evening that ends with ro's bold Asian plates and a nightcap at Ulele.
- 10:30 AM
Bayshore Boulevard
Walk a stretch of the world's longest continuous sidewalk, downtown skyline on one side, South Tampa mansions on the other.
Map - 12:30 PM
Mad Dogs & Englishmen
British pub on MacDill Avenue; fish and chips, a proper pint and a shady patio.
Map - 2:30 PM
Hyde Park Village
Open-air village of boutiques and cafés under the oaks, a short walk from dinner at ro.
Map - 4:30 PM
Anderson Park
Small Hyde Park green just west of Hyde Park Village, with shade trees and a splash fountain.
Map - 7:30 PM
ro
Tableside Asian in Hyde Park Village: A5 wagyu on a hot stone, fish from Toyosu, smoked duck to pre-order.
Map - 9:30 PM
Ulele
Riverfront bar in the restored 1903 Water Works building, pouring beer from its own brewery.
Map
Day 3: Westshore and a big dinner
Bay views at Cypress Point, a shareable Asian lunch at Sunda, an easy afternoon in MacFarlane Park, then the trip's big dinner at Kōsen and cocktails at Late Start to close.
- 10:30 AM
Cypress Point Park
Small bayfront park with a sandy beach and views across Old Tampa Bay; quiet in the morning.
Map - 12:30 PM
Sunda Tampa
Big, buzzy pan-Asian dining room in Midtown Tampa; order a spread of sushi and shared plates.
Map - 2:30 PM
- 7:30 PM
Kōsen
Small Japanese omakase counter in Tampa Heights; book ahead and let the chef run the night.
Map - 9:30 PM
Late Start
Downtown brewery in an old Cass Street convenience store; try the hazy IPAs or the Serious Moonlight porter.
Map
Where to stay
The Tampa EDITION
The EDITION is the best-addressed hotel in Tampa right now, close to Boulon, CW's, and the waterfront with zero trade-offs on finish or service.
Epicurean Hotel
The Epicurean sits right in Hyde Park, walking distance to Mad Dogs and ro, and its food-and-drink DNA matches this itinerary exactly.
Make Tampa your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: a few days ahead
- The Florida Aquarium: a few days ahead
- Tampa Theatre: a few days ahead
- Benchmark International Arena: weeks ahead
- ZooTampa at Lowry Park: a few days ahead
- Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort: weeks ahead
Skip these
- Hotels implying a walk to the beach. Tampa is a bay city, and the Gulf beaches are 30 to 60 minutes away across the bay.
- Packaged Ybor bar crawls, Busch Gardens motel deals, and eating at food halls on peak Saturday night without a plan.
The full Tampa travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around