Welcome to Ybor City
Historic Latin quarter with a vibrant personality present day and night
For history, culture, and diversity, there’s no more well-suited Tampa Bay neighborhood to live in than Ybor City. It’s delightful by day, when outdoor cafes overflow with those enjoying lunch in the sun, and exciting at sundown, when locals and visitors alike flock to this buzzing area for dancing and nightlife. Offering both residential appeal and an urban vibe, Ybor City really is the best of both worlds, particularly for the young professionals who tend to make their homes here.
Living in Ybor City is a bit like taking a vacation to Cuba — sans the passport. This historic Latin Quarter is home to a slice of genuine Cuban territory, Jose Marti Park, which was the only piece of Cuban-owned land in the United States for six decades. The area’s cigar rollers and Spanish factory owners of yesteryear, including neighborhood namesake Vincente Martinez Ybor, financially backed Marti’s cause, as he rallied for his homeland’s freedom from Spanish rule. You’ll see evidence of the rich Cuban heritage through the neighborhood’s converted cigar factories, centuries-old casitas, and international eateries.
The walkable, high-energy neighborhood offers a plethora of independently owned restaurants and shops, cafes, museums, galleries, wine bars, and nightclubs interspersed with historic and newly constructed lofts, apartments, townhouses, and condos. Most of the residential buildings are just off the main thoroughfare, 7th Avenue, making them far enough away from the bustle of the neighborhood for a peaceful oasis, yet close enough for accessibility and convenience. Residents feel a strong sense of community, with a blend of doctors, professionals, students, business owners, and entertainers as their neighbors in this area. Downtown Tampa Bay is just a short streetcar ride away.
What to Love
- A strong sense of cultural history and community
- Easy access to downtown Tampa Bay
- Lively nightlife
- International dining options
Local Lifestyle
The residents of Ybor City are worldly folks who crave a small-town feel with all the conveniences of urban living. This culturally driven, historic neighborhood thrives on and celebrates its diversity. When not at home, Ybor City residents can be seen enjoying life along famous 7th Avenue, voted one of the “Great Streets in America” by the American Planning Association.
The area offers a variety of residences to reflect an array of tastes, from century-old housing to cutting-edge single-family and multi-unit apartments. Casitas that were originally built for cigar barons have been lovingly refurbished, including their trademark front porches. Cigar factories have been repurposed as hip, multi-level lofts. Chic apartments above restaurants and shops in live-work-play buildings appeal to the young professionals of the neighborhood.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Eclectic Ybor City has no shortage of dining, entertainment, and shopping options. Top restaurants include Colombia, the oldest restaurant in Florida, which is owned by the same family that opened it in 1905. Come here for a special night out or celebration, and indulge in exceptional Cuban-Spanish cuisine. At Flora Fina at the Hotel Haya, diners sidle up to the swanky bar or lounge under a golden-hued ceiling during long dinners of live-fire grilled items and fresh ceviches washed down by specialty cocktails.
The colorful Casa Santo Stefano delivers a boisterous, Sicilian setting for a hearty meal of maccheroni (pasta), steaks, seafood, scacciata, salads, soups, desserts, and countless Sicilian wines. Those in the know head to Copper Shaker for cocktail hour or apres-dinner drinks. This locally owned and operated craft cocktail bar and kitchen is a beloved gathering spot with shareable plates and creative mixology in a relaxed and fun environment.
After dinner, the 7th Avenue nightclubs open their doors and reveal energetic dance clubs like Prana, the hottest five-story club in Tampa Bay (with different music styles on each floor) and Amphitheatre. If the lively club scene isn’t your style, head instead to Centro Ybor for the AMC Classic 10 Cinemas, The Tampa Improv, and the GameTime Entertainment Center. There are a number of great restaurants here, ranging from fine dining to a brewpub.
Things to Do
There’s no shortage of activities when work is done and it’s time to play. When the weekend comes, skip over to the Ybor City Saturday Market in the Historic District, the largest continually operating outdoor market in the Tampa Bay Area. Meet the artists, see unique pieces being created in artists’ booths, and stock up on locally produced gourmet foods, regionally grown produce, and ornamental plants. Celebrate the neighborhood’s iconic sandwich at the Cuban Sandwich Festival, with live music, dancing, and entertainment and more than 20 different Cuban sandwich vendors from all over the world.
Every May, the entire Ybor City area comes to life on the nights of the Gasparilla Parade, or Sant’ Yago Knight Parade. This civic pride nighttime parade attracts young and old for its illuminated floats, costumed participants, music, dancing, and lots of beads. Whether you’re a new resident or entertaining out-of-town guests, Ybor City ghost tours are as insightful as they are eerie. These highly rated visits to the scarier side of Tampa’s history take guests into the Cuban Club in search of spirits from throughout the decades. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it in Ybor City.Schools
Ybor City is home to several excellent schools. Top educational opportunities include:
-
Shore Elementary Magnet School, K-5, well-rated public elementary school
-
Plant High School, 9-12, well-rated public high school
-
Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, 9-12, well-rated public charter high school
