Ybor City Reviews

Blue Samuari is the Best Sushi resturant in Ybor and it is located Right acress from the Movie Theature. Also the Asian Bistro on the 1st floor serves delicious Food and soups. They got some unique Coffee and Nitro Ice cream places and plenty of parking in garages and its cheap.

A district to discover to know the historical bases of Tampa.
Very beautiful buildings, a strong history.
Lots of free range chickens
Shops for cigar lovers
A party place for party people
free access via the Tampa streetcar

Could see how this area used to be very cool, but now it’s been taken over by clubs and liquor stores. The Jose Martí Park was the most authentic part of our visit.

This is a great little city especially if you like cigars! It’s a lovely place to walk around, top up with hand rolled cigars and enjoy a little history in what’s really a 4 block fun little town

I have had meals delivered for meetings at work and done take out and their meals and desserts are delicious and prices reasonable for such great food.

Be sure to take in the city museum and tour. Much to see and learn about how it came to be and it’s main industry, Cigar Making! Nice shops and restaurants along with a farmers market. Be sure to watch out for the Heritage Roosters, as they are protected from harm by law.

We took the trolley and went to Ybor City in search of hand rolled cigars and Cuban coffee. We were not disappointed and had a wonder time hanging out, drinking espresso martinis , Cuban coffee and eating the Best Cuban sandwiches. I was hoping to find more shops for my retail crazy granddaughter. Did not see too many. There’s lots of clubs and bars, cigar stores and restaurants. We had a wonderful time! Go to the Ybor City museum and watch the film about the history of the town.

In ybor you will find an amazing amount of cigar shops myself I enjoy the atmosphere of nicahabana it's family owned and operated. They are very friendly and helpful to all of their customers needs

Used trip advisor map and it brought us to the middle of a highway stating “you arrived.” Very disappointed!

We did not feel totally safe here. Very loud, lots of sketchy people. Basically cigar shops, restaurants, and tattoo parlors. If you are older or looking to shop, then this is not the place.

This is historical Ybor City and part of the rich history of Tampa. Whether a night out or eating, this place packs it in for any level of excitement. Took friends there and then they went back without me the following day. Love it here.

Love this architecture and the history in Ybor City. Was visiting for a food expo with my husband. Seeing the trolley car down the street, the chickens walking everywhere and the historical buildings along with updated buildings was very pleasant to the eye! Many bars/restaurants within walking distance from our hotel and if they aren't, hop on the free trolley :)

Decided to take the free trolley to Ybor City to see what it was about. If you like cigars, tattoos and day drinking, it works. If not, skip this and stay in the downtown Tampa Bay area, where there are plenty of restaurants and bars down the river walk. I am still trying to figure out where the cool shops and awesome people (from other reviews) were.

We started our evening at Carmine’s Restaurant and had a wonderful meal. After that we visited many bars and dance clubs and had a blast! There are bars of all kinds here. Beautiful.

Great place to party, eat, or enjoy the perfect cigar. Don't miss dinner and the show at theoriginal Columbia. Plenty of hotel rooms, parking, and fun places

We went on a Monday night before New Year’s Eve. It was dead. There wasn’t anyone out, and if they were, the average age was 22. Several places literally had 5 people in it. Nothing special about it. Unlike Nashville, where every night is a party so you know you’ll find something fun going on constantly.

A city in a city. Old time experience. Had awesome time with good food and beers at the Columbia restaurant (old times). A walk across the street. Tattoo shops and coffee. Has a team which connects downtown. Stay at Hilton honours. Comfy budget hotel

After reading the most recently posted reviews I was a bit hesitant to go. We went to the Sat "market" a bit small but nice offerings. Some really cute shops..especially LA France.

Great first time to see the history and the restaurants. Very interesting area. Seems to have an exciting night life that has something for partying types. Food choices for all. WIll Return

In the past this place was a quaint little city with lots of people frequenting all of the bars and restaurants. You could hear the music from all of the establishments in the street. It was a fun place and also not too far from the cruise port. It is now a sad ghost town with no people and closed up
Shops and restaurants. This town is hurting not sure if it’s the cruise industry that drives people to come here but there was no one around. So sad. I’m hoping that once things get back to some sense or normalcy and/or cruises start up that these businesses will be able to survive.

Mostly bars and restaurant/pubs. Not much for teenagers to do. Some shops with T-shirts 60's hippie stuff. Does have good examples of what old Tampa looked like.

When I think of Tampa, I will always think of Ybor City. Where else in the world do you get to hang out with city-protected chickens that roam free? Or that is known for its cigars? (We don't smoke, but found that really quirky and interesting). This place is absolutely full of history, little boutiques/bars/restaurants, vintage shops, and even an oddities collection. We had a blast.

We went 2 days early for our cruise to check out Ybor City. So glad we did. Very interesting place with something for everyone. The locals were very friendly and informative. The restaurants and bars all had their own flair and if you are a "people watcher", this is the place for you. Pretty much everything is within a 6 block stretch of 7th Avenue. Great and interesting place.

Have been to Ybor City a number of times to either have lunch dinner or just buy a freshly rolled cigar. Lots of history dating back 100 years when this was the cigar capital of the US

Perfect spot to enjoy a drink, food, maybe a show your pick. Good for couples, family, friends, or why not solo?.

Visit the original cigar capital of the world. Explore the many cool cigar bars and lounges while watching individuals hand roll cigars. You can take a trolley to the area. If you love cigars, you must visit!!

Full of restaurants, shops and brew pubs intermixed with some interesting history. Take the free trolley to this section of Tampa for a rewarding experience.

This city has it all. Stay in Ybor. Great food. Great night life. Cigar bars. Tons a fun. A huge recommend. What I love best is the diversity. Straight, Gay, Young, Old. There is something for everyone. Not to be missed. I look forward to going back for the Gasparilla Night parade. We came in and stayed in Ybor for the Gasparilla day parade. So much fun!!! We look forward to coming back.

We went on a Tuesday afternoon in October. Parked, and found a very nice Greek restaurant for lunch. After too a stroll along 7th Ave. Almost all places were closed or out of business/empty. J C Newman Cigars were open and that was great. Maybe this place has changed and not to tourist haven it used to be, but on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon it was dead!! So beware!!

Love Ybor City, the coffee shop is over 100 years old! and they still use the same method to roast the beans! Very good coffee!! Many obscure shops, friendly people, great bars and of course the Columbia Restaurant! Great food, fair price and wonderful people! May Ybor always retain its magic!

Half the store fronts are occupied. Looks more like a nightlife area. Beware of “public” parking lots! Pulled into one where they wanted $10 for the day. There is not much to see that you will spend all day there. Street parking is available and much cheaper! The architecture is beautiful and definitely what you expect a Cuban area to look like! There are quite a few cigar shops. Some are beautifully hand rolled! A few have demonstrators in the windows. Definitely an art! If you’re not clubbing or smoking, get your pics and go elsewhere unless the cigar factory tours are open again. They were still closed for me thanks to COVID, plus it is January.

We had a great time visiting the restaurants, bars etc at Ybor City. It’s obviously in the middle of a renaissance and I hope it continues. From great Cuban food to a fantastic Irish pub, Ybor has pretty much everything for entertainment. If you love cigars this would be a great place to visit.

Ybor City is a cool part of town. Is a fun drive and has a lot of shops and places to stop and eat. Great architecture and you can see the area is rich in history.

Very cool place will definitely be returning when I have more time to explore. Love the history and the chickens which are EVERYWHERE!! Parking was a little bit challenging, but we were not really prepared and had not done enough pre-investigations. We just wanted to take a quick look around and grab a bite to eat before going to a concert at the Amalie Arena Friday night so we were pressed for time. Will definitely return when we have more time to explore.

Lots of interesting places to visit. Some good restaurants, but it's not exactly 100% safe once the sun goes down.

My wife was told that this was a great place for shopping. Hardly. The area that we checked out was terrible. We walked up and down the Main Street. It was filled with people aggressively begging for money. We saw lots of people who were clearly hard core drug addicts. Tons of people with mental illness. There were lots of homeless people laying in the streets. Why doesn’t the city help put in a homeless shelter or provide service to these people in need? It was sad to see. More so it clearly wasn’t a place that I felt safe taking my wife to. We will not be returning in the future.

My husband and I went with my in-laws for a fun little day trip. We were looking forward to eating Cuban food and walking around a historic city as well as seeing the chickens and roosters that they talk about because why wouldn’t that be fun. There are a lot of fabulous cigar shops if that’s your thing. I expected more Cuban restaurants and more Cuban food, but we mainly found Italian eateries. The one that we chose, which was Bernini was amazing and the service there was fantastic so highly recommend. I was very disappointed by the lack of Cuban food, though considering that’s what I had my heart set on. There’s also an oddity type shop there while interesting had a very dark field to me and made me uncomfortable. They sell human teeth, some human bones and all sorts of other little oddities like that that just personally creeped me out. I would definitely go back for the Italian restaurant, but other than that, it was a one and done for me.

Homosexual businesses and bums on the streets begging. Definitely not a place for families.Went for the first and last time. We ate at the Columbia Restaurant which gave us very little food and charges an arm and a leg. A total rip-off

So much to see and do. Great historical strip. We loved all the options of restaurants and bars. The brick roads were so neat. Lots of history!

This place is like a bit of Cuba and New Orleans. I heard it was a bit rough before but we went in the late afternoon and everything was fine. Great places to get some fresh rolled cigars.

Nice area plenty of restaurant and bars with industrial construction.
Here you can have fun at night, there’s a lot of night bars and places to hang out with friends.

great shops.....great bars and venues. The area is safe and there is a plenty of parking all over so you really have no reason not to visit.

Did you know that Cuba owns a small plot of land in Ybor City. It is not American Cuba. You can set foot in Cuba without a VISA or flying to Cuba by entering this memorial that is legally Cuban owned. The walking tour has a lot of interesting facts in history. Fascinating. The heart of Cuban cigar making and true American dream. Parking is challenging so take UBER or so public transportation. ther eare some parking lots but they are expensive so taking a car into this area is not encouraged. Try a real Cuban sandwich but you will be paying US prices not Latin America prices but it is worth it. Lots of good italian restaurants and cigar smoking bars. Truly a relaxing and day is not hard to attain. I love it and will return again without my car rental, Due to the sacred chickens in the park do not bring your dog. Chickens are protected and guarded more important than your children so do not harass the chickens Let them be as the Beatles say

Ybor City reminds you of New Orleans, with its balconied buildings and bars/cafes. Very interesting visit, only very unsafe, as I heard from the locals. Lots of hobos and suspicious-looking people who size you up...

Newest Night club.. 3 floors. Top floor is the rooftop level... excellent atmosphere, nicely decorated, staff was very friendly and wanted to make sure we were taken care of and was having a good time.. we are definitely going back...

Very charming town with interesting buildings and a tropical vibe to it. We enjoyed a tea along our walk and spent some time with the chickens.

Do be warned though, this town is rough around the edges and many won’t feel safe. It also could be hard to maneuver around if you have mobility issues just based on what we saw. I wouldn’t say it’s kid friendly either.

But, it’s cute and interesting if you can look past all of that. The aroma of freshly rolled cigars is something to enjoy too!

We booked a tour with Max Herman of Ybor City walking tours. It was a great tour! We visited historic sites and learned of Ybor's role in shaping our country's role in the Spanish American War. We learned of the economic genius of Vincente Martinez-Ybor and how after being exiled from Cuba he founded a city that would become the cigar capital of the world. He literally built the city from the swamp up providing casitas for the workers, ethnic social clubs, and a sandwich that would satisfy all the tastes of his workers.
We visited another night and ate the most authentic paella this side of the Atlantic at the Columbia restaurant. On Max's recommendation we rode the charming and free trolley that took us downtown to the Tampa river walk.
I highly recommend a visit to Ybor and Max's tour.

We loved exploring Ybor. Ensure to catch the streetcar from Downtown Tampa for a authentic experience. There is an AMAZING vintage clothing store called La France Boutique that I could have spent all day in.

We had dinner at Columbia's and walked 7th Ave pretty late on a Sunday night. Lots of activity and some of it a little uncomfortable. Loud bikes, loud people. While I did not mind and thought some was interesting to see, my wife was uncomfortable the entire walk. The cigar culture was great, lot of storefronts and people sitting there enjoying nice smelling cigars. Probably visit in the early evening. Not so much Havana any more, felt more like New Orleans.

Ybor City is a place to see and be seen where there are many cafes and bars, go for a stroll or enjoy a hand-rolled cigar from a merchant. This area is quite lively at night.

Ashley provided a fun and delicious overview of Ybor City history, culture and food! Who knew Spaniards, Cubans, Germans and Italians come together to meld a beautiful city with a rich blended culture. We have taken many food tours in multiple cities, and this is one of the best! Take this tour! You won’t regret it!

Like Bourbon St. with worse food and service.
If you like tourist traps with the stench of cheap cigars and weed while watching street people and spoiled college kids practicing their craft, this is the place for you.

Historic neighborhood of Tampa, where the traditional TECO Street Car runs.
It is worth walking through the streets and also pick up the car for a little bit, there are several stops. It's free.

This place is amazing! So many preserved historic properties with stunning architecture, many still occupied by shops, restaurants and bars. This is the beating historic Cuban center of Tampa and you’ll still find a buzzing cigar and coffee trade.

We were initially toying with the idea of staying in downtown Tampa but decided to stay in Ybor City instead and we were totally glad that we did.

A block in every direction from our lodgings met with dozens of dining options! We had the most amazing sushi and fruit lollies in Ybor City!

Visit on a Saturday morning to check out their local market, scour the shops, pick up a souvenir in the fantastic Visitor Center, stroll through Ybor Centro plaza and stop for a cold locally made brew at Tampa Bay Brewing Company! There is so much to do and see here, you’ll need at least 3 days to enjoy it to the max!

Horrible place. People are disgusting. You can smell drugs, prostitution, poverty, crime. Stay away! We could not find one si glue restaurant or bar that was worth going in.

Dirty, no class, witchcraftery heavily present. Do not go to this place. It is not for families or children or anyone who wants to expose themselves to witchcraft or evil things. This place of bounds with shops that are geared towards witches and evil practices. Do not go here unless you want to have that attached to you.

We had some time to kill in the are so drove to the Garret Parking lot. Rode the free trolly and got off in Ybor city. There was a cupcake festivals which kept us occupied but the place is loaded with quaint shops and eateries.

Wish we had more time. Nice way to spend an afternoon. Easy access from cruise port for those on back to back cruises and time to spend on shore.

As much as people say about history of this place and hand made cigars, it is not a place for families nearly everything is adult related activities as well as anti-Christ
We couldn’t spend more than 15 mins walking around and it was 2 pm so literally before this place goes live!
Not recommended for families!

Great place for an afternoon or evening stroll - great people watching, interesting shops and good restaurants

We enjoyed walking in the area and so glad Columbia restaurant was recommended to us. It's sad to see many of the building empty or in disrepair. Let's hope it can be revitalized.

Pretty much what I expected except the chickens roaming around. We took the streetcar from downtown and walked the area to check it out, lots to see! Kind of a 'well worn' area with many restaurants, bars, tattoo parlors, cigar joints and so much more. You need to come for the day (or night) to take it all in.

Due to my short vacation I wasn’t able to fit a night out in at Ybor but was able to drive through and visit a few parks. I loved the architecture of the buildings. From the looks of the Main Street with all the bars, it looks like a fun destination for night life. Already have it on my agenda for my next Tampa area visit.

I don’t know why, but I was completely entertained with the chickens running around the city. I had to google why they were there. They are descendants of the chickens brought over by immigrants. I was entertained with these feathered friends. Yes, I had to laugh about the chicken crossing the road.

This was a terrible disappointment. We visited on a Monday, everything closed. Visotor center had some interesting information, but museum closed. No unique shops, only bars and restaurants. Not the Ybor City I remembered. I would not recommend a visit unless you want to drink and eat after 3 pm.

This wonderful place takes you back to an earlier time, a hip place for young people but a must see for cigar lovers.
The Cuban and Greek style is a must to see with a New Orleans feel to the streets.

Fun town with a lot to see and do. Walking through is nice, we loved the cigar shops, the coffee, the beer and the food. The music was fun too, we spent the day there, I can tell the night would be even more fun.

If you are visiting Tampa then a stop off for the morning or a full day is well worth it. Driving down the main street takes you back into bygone days, gentrification has created a historical environment which does not let itself down. It feel authentic and has been upgraded to a high standard but not loosing the spirit. Lots to see and do, It’s comfortably set in its old fashioned way which l liked. l suggest you visit during the week as my first visit to the area and Caspers Grotto last year was especially busy on a Sunday Brunchtime..

Great place to visit. Plant of food options. Lots of breweries. Nice little cigar shops. Would definitely recommend if looking for a new adventure.

Part of the fun of visiting is taking the historic HART trolley from Tampa to this historic part of town. Visited during the Fiesta celebration, great fun with lots of music, vendors etc. There are still cigar shops that hand roll cigars for those that are fans. Good restaurants and nice little shops along the main street.
Worth a visit if you're in the city of Tampa.

I’ve eaten out, and been out in Ybor City a few times now and there is pretty much something for everyone!

Have a wonder up and down the strip and take your pick!

Ybor the coolest neighbourhood
I’ve been to in a long time. The architecture is varied and interesting, lots of great bars and restaurants, unique shops, Cuban coffee, live music and access to the free tram going into central Tampa in 20 minutes. Oh, and a rooster or two wandering around. Definitely worth a visit!

Walked to Ybor City from the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa which was only a mile away and about a 20 minute walk. I wanted to get some food and a drink before heading home and had heard that Ybor was a fun, eclectic place to walk around. Since I was pressed for time I didn't get to see as much as I wanted but from what I saw there was a pretty good vibe in this historic area with a collection of hip bars and restaurants in a few city blocks. Will definitely come back to spend more time and explore when I return.

Ybor has come a long way. It has developed into one of the best areas in Tampa for foodies, coffee lovers, bar hoppers and pizza places. The trolley is now free, and makes it easy to get to a number of really fun places. My suggestions are James Joyce, Ybor Chophouse, Bernini's, Zydeco, Samurai Blue, and New York Pizza. You'll only be scratching the surface.

Not a family friendly area of town, especially with young children. Strung out, druggies strolling all over town. Nearly a fight in front of my family on one afternoon. Not enough police presence. This area could be super cool and trendy, as there are wonderful businesses there, but they definitely need to clean it up.

You will not appreciate this city without a walking tour, trust me. We arrived early and had breakfast. Then the city began to wake up. Our tour explained the history, its characters and boy oh boy, I get this place now.

What an amazing city, and history!

Travel guides recommend this part of Tampa as being “similar to historic Cuba”, but we don’t get it – Parking costs are insane (starting at 15$ in November ’22, the pay machines wouldn’t accept our rental car, only Mobile apps worked), just a few streets, most of the stores closed and the remaining open ones mainly for food and drinks. The only resemblance to Cuba were some cigar ships and the roosters in between. Some houses looked interesting, yet the view was obstructed by construction, poverty, and dirt. If you’re passing by, take a look, but in our opinion not worth planning this as a holiday destination.

Me and my husband rode down for the day to site see,very disappointed with how the homeless were sleeping right on the side walk, there grocery baskets everywhere,and the smell of urine,we were very sad to see this the police were giving out tickets for parking in stead of trying to clean up the homeless problem, and the church was going on,what has our world come to......

This little hideaway was relaxing and calm,a nice break from the hustle of Tampa. We had a nice lunch on the patio at one of a few restaurants. I would think this place would be quite different on a Friday or Saturday night. I mean it would be more lively. None the less we had a great day there. The shopping was also nice and not crowded. If you have a chance,take the Trolley there.

It was really nice the area, it was beautiful and being historical it is very well kept. The tram takes you around and its nice too. Unfortunately it’s great when you are with a group of friends but not with small children, there is nothing for them that much and at night there are a lot of homeless people around the streets which is sad to see.

Visited historic Ybor City during semi-lockdown timeframe and there were a lot of vagrants around the area. Limited number of venues open. I did enjoy that they blocked off the streets so some restaurants could have outdoor seating extended into the street. I’m certain it’s livelier when full capacity is available and more shops are open.

By the way, you might pass a few roosters/hens on the sidewalk as they get full run of the area, but not too many to be a bother.

Also, there’s some interesting architecture in a few buildings in the area.

Ybor City is a cool little nook in the city of Tampa where you can find a diverse culture along with a traditional Cuban influence. If you like modern brew pubs meeting the tradition of hand rolled cigars of the past, Ybor is for you. It is a great place for couples, families or friends looking for something different.

Quaint city offering restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and history Ideal location to stay for pre/post cruise stay Free trolley ride to downtown Tampa from Ybor and to Florida Aquarium

We were introduced to Ybor City as part of a food tour and we are very happy we were. The history and the architecture are a treasure and I'm glad to see they are being retained. Having the trolley service available was an extra benefit. We enjoyed a few of the restaurants while we were there, and the Saturday Market was a fun visit as well. It is a shame that they look to have lost a number of businesses (likely due to COVID) but hopefully it will bounce back. There were still plenty of restaurants available.

Visited on a late Sunday am. Vomit all over streets, against walls, even on entrance Floor to an open bar, step over to get in..seriously. But the thing that really bothers me is lack on any security except one small area had a guard. Totally harassed by pitiful
Panhandlers, beggars. One woman asked me 3x for money. The sit in front of the businesses, gather in public park areas and bother you as you try to pass. One guy was napping the length of sidewalk causing us to hurdle him, or step into the street.
Last..do NOT waste your money eating at 1948's Carmine. Tourist trap with yuk food , high prices and crappy service. Go to Gaspers grotto

The feel is old world, with a touch of the new, The food the cigar smoke the brick buildings, that have stood for over a hundred years, tack a tour , you will smile.

We like the history of the area and enjoy the revitalization they've been doing, BUT at night, the amount of smoke (pot, cigar, & cigarette) you have to walk through is insane. If you have any kind of respiratory issues, avoid at night.

What’s there to say!? Ybor City is full of history, roosters, cigars shops, bars, and restaurants.

It is a definite must place to visit when one is in or near Tampa. We will definitely come back.

Not much to it. If you like to drink, smoke and get tattoos then this in the place for you. Lots of empty buildings. The whole place feels dirty and forgotten. The chickens were cool. There was one neat clothing resell store. It reminds me of New Orleans. There was nothing for us to really see or do. We don't party, smoke or drink.

There was a neat Coffee shop that looked cool. Some locals recommend this as family friendly place to see. Definitely not for children.

I’m from Nashville TN and Ybor City definitely gave off a little bit of those vibes. I rented a studio space for a few hours on a business trip and it was a super cool and chill area not busy at all during the morning!
Also, apparently there are chickens that run around?? So that’s cool! Lol

This was unexpected.

Despite having visited Tampa countless times I never bothered with Ybor City. I won't make the mistake again. In a busy metropolitan area with tourist-friendly beaches and expensive resorts, I couldn't have imagined a full-fledged historic district. There are dozens of quirky shops, brew pubs, and restaurants- particularly of the Latin variety (although there's something for almost everyone).

There are some problems- the area has more homeless people than Hollywood and Times Square, although I visited early in the day when they surely appeared more prominent. The parking garage is a bit of a walk from the center of the "city". And I imagine in the evening the place is an inebriated frenzy like Key West (that's an assumption but it has the same vibe). Still there is lots to like here, especially if you have an appreciation for history- definitely worth a few hours away from the beach.

What a neat city within a city. I loved everything about this place, the cute chickens who knew they ruled. The restaurants like James Joyce Pub and Columbia. The great ghost tour. Especially the easy parking free for two hours. And the TEDCO Trolley also free to take you int the busy parts of Tampa downtown. There is a decided resemblance to New Orleans French Quarter.

Excellent place to visit. Historic city center of Tampa, with lots of activity in nightlife. Highly recommended

Hotel Haya was amazing. Valet Alex and Braden were a pleasure to speak with while getting my car. They were attentive and remembered me each time making it feel personal.

Ybor city is rich with history and at one time was kind of the under belly of Tampa. You can get good New Yoork style pizze by the pie or by the slice. Very economical. There are many shops and things to see and do and you can even go bowling. Bewarem however at night Ybor city become a differnet place with some strange individuals and later it gets the less safe it becomes. The safety concern is for theft and from drunken and disorderly people. If you like a little danger and weird night life it is the place for you. If you want to bring the family and hvae some good and economical food and pizza go in the day.

I had been to Ybor a number of years ago and remembered it being a beautiful vibrant place. We visited on 10/15 and were quite disappointed. Ybor is now run down, closed buildings, graffiti, not so nice. If you are a guy looking for Cigars or a place to drink, or a tattoo, it’s fine. But for the 4 ladies in our group, they could not leave quickly enough. So, if you are a group of guys or college kids looking to watch the game, this would suffice. I do not recommend it for a family visit.

A little disappointed that it is basically bars and restaurants—with an emphasis on bars. But lunch at the Columbia is not to be missed!

We visited historic Ybor City in Tampa on two separate evenings to dine at one of the many great restaurants that can be found there. We enjoyed walking the streets that were lively and fun with music in bars, neon lights, cool cars, great old buildings and great people to watch. There are cigar shops a plenty where you can sit out front and enjoy cigars in the area that is historically the cigar capital of Florida. Definitely the place to go if you want some fun and action.

I wanted to bring my wife to the The Columbia, a restaurant I visited about 7 years ago on business travel. I don't think I recall it being this way but maybe always has.

99% of the establishments are Cigar shops, tattoo parlors and grungy looking bars. The panhandlers are a bit of nuisance and it's definitely not the Vibe I expected ( back from Bourbon St a month or so ago so we're not just some rural people who were shell shocked ).

We immediately changed our plans and I just popped in to pick up some Cigars to take home and then we headed over to the Tampa waterfront for drinks/dinner. My wife didn't even feel safe sitting the car so I had to run her back to the hotel before coming back to 7th St to pick up the cigars.

We expected to see bars and cigars but thought there would also be some decent shopping opportunities. I saw nothing. This might be an awesome destination for you but wasn't for us.

You can't visit Tampa and not spend a day or two in Ybor, the Saturday market is great! Tons of food options and cool stores. great for adults of all ages.

Yes the afternoon stroll down the strip in Ybor city. Wooo wee the begin the celebration early for Happy hour. Loved it!

A very nice neighbourhood, with a very friendly and chilled atmosphere. There are many shops, cafes and restaurants around the central street area. You can see in the buildings and shops why it’s known as the cigar capital. Use the free streetcar to get around, getting on and off as required. Well worth a visit.

Ybor isn’t always “family friendly” so beware when you go. The bars can get rowdy and have an alt lifestyle clientele. Columbia Restaurant is always good but it is on a different end from the bars and such. Can get a little rough in places as well. It has always been like this but the advertising doesn’t really reveal the reality.

We stopped in Ybor City to look around, have lunch and a Cuban coffee. Columbia restaurant was great! If you like cigars then you’ll want to stop here.
We decided to come back that evening for the Reliaquest Bowl kick off parade. We had a great time. Good spot for a parade and celebration. Parking was easy in the parking garage and cost about $10

The roaming chickens at a bit of flair to this charming area of shops and restaurants. Lots of Cuban and Italian options here.

I walked around Ybor City after having lunch at Columbia. It's a cool-looking neighborhood, but it was pretty dead during the day. Parking was cheap and easy in the Centro Ybor garage on 5th Ave.

We were staying elsewhere in Florida and friends suggested a day trip to Ybor City. We did so and were impressed.. a nice historic area, mostly restored. Lots of restaurants and stores. The Museum ($4) was well worth the visit.

The streetcar ride to downtown and back (stops at the Aquarium too) was free and well worth the time. Plan to take a walk along the Riverfront (Stop #9.. ask the driver to let you know when you reach it.)

Walked from our hotel down to colombia restaurant ( dont go there! ) with our young daughters, at dinner time, was super sketchy, saw Many police, saw two fights on the street and felt unsafe. I will skip all together or drive anywhere only if in this area again.

My husband and I took the streetcar trolley to Ybor City. Nice concept, but a pretty quiet city during the week days. Great restaurants in the city to walk right in to get served. Nice to walk to window shop and watch cigars being rolled. Ybor Centro is a nice Center too, but too quiet. Ybor City is a quaint, old-fashioned town.

Interesting history in a small town. Cigar capital of the world. Plenty of restaurants to chose from. Quite of few homeless people asking for money. If you are into cigars, this is the place for you.

Visited Ybor on a recommendation from a colleague. The Christmas lights provided a great first impression, however there is a seediness that needs to be cleaned up here. There were people openly doing drugs on a park bench in the main road, and also a lady lying on the pavement, clearly under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. This place needs a good clean up.

We enjoyed the historic buildings and interesting shops, but the area definitely has a seedy vibe. Worth a stop if you find yourself in the area with some time to kill, and definitely do eat at the fabulous Columbia Restaurant.

Ybor (ee-bor) City has history, cigars, clubs to dance the night away or sit and people watch as you sip a drink and smoke a cigar (or not). You have many restaurants to choose from, lots of bars offering a variety of music from Latin to rock. There are galleries to peruse, and a great vintage clothes store to bring back memories. Their parades are legendary as is their pub crawls. Come take a look if you're pre or post cruising for a walk through history and enjoy all it offers.

I highly recommend visiting the Ybor City museum. It was small, but our guide was quite knowledgeable and we also found the video and the visit to the casita to be very informatives. On the way back to the trolley, we saw a number of the roosters who roam in the streets and parks of Ybor City, and we also got to see cigars being rolled by hand. Very special afternoon.

Ybor city in the day is very family friendly lot of quaint shops an the famous Columbia Restaurant (oldest cont run Spanish rest in the world) but night is definitely for older crowd, bars and clubs street food and tattoo parlors pizza very lively. The most is theatre recently closed an in the main plaza lots of empty space. But Ybor chops shop great for dinner and they have outside seating for people watchers hippo gourmet popsicles are a must! It would be nice is you could walk with your drink but not allowed😭 worth a visit

A fun way to go back into time - read about the cigar factories and see the brick architecture and the iron-wrought balconies. Your have plenty of choices for a variety of foods! See the iconic roosters that roam around. It's a unique place to visit!

It's authentic Mexican old street shows us how this community built and full of culture plus fun. If you're in Tampa you shouldn't skip this place.

I always love this cute little city. It is old and dirty, but it's cute. Lots of cute shops and restaurants. It also has a night life.

I've always found that area Charming there's an awful lot of restaurants and entertainment locations I've been to the night parade there 6 * always wonderful great walking they run ghost tours they are and all kinds of things I think it's very popular for younger people after 9 at night if you wanted more subdued visit I would go there before the night Crowder eyes also if you go there during the day go up and take a tour of the Ybor Museum it's well worth it have a good time

We took the trolley from Downtown to stop #1. From there we visited the Saturday market which was a wonderment of music, colors and chickens! We then walked to the Columbia restaurant for a an awesome lunch.

Then we walked west on 7th avenue...enjoying the sights and sounds, and stopping at a shop to see them rolling cigars.

We really enjoyed our short visit and plan to come back!

We love visiting this little town! My partner and I were staying downtown and we walked there. There was a parade in town that we got to enjoy and we loved the History tour as well as the Ghost Tour that goes in the Cuban Club. We will be back again.

Nasty, smelly, disagreeable: both the place, and the people who work there. It has changed a lot since the year 2,000.

Historically this section of Tampa is associated with the Cuban community.
Some areas of Ybor city have been restored,new buildings have been constructed in a pastiche of the historic style plus some construction and reconstruction continues.
Some fine old buildings but overall currently lacks a feeling of authenticity.

Initially it looks rather downtrodden but it grew on us. There is a lot of recent history here. It seems things started evolving here around 1880s. Nice buildings and some great bars and restaurants.

Some really nice architecture and we found a nice open market but a pretty small historic section and while known for their nightlife there was not a lot to do during the day. We did try Columbia Restaurant.. look for that review and that made the trip !

An interesting town that seemed to bring visitors back in history, with shops and streets that dated back in the 40s/50s. One can even walk into shops which make cigars on the spot.

This area reminded me a lot of Bourbon Street. I spent a few nights there with coworkers walking around and eating.

Worth the trip to see fine cigars rolled by masters. Even if you don't smoke the shopping and the food [ did I mention food ] are outstanding, good for teenagers too.

I expected more of a charming historical district with shops. There are quite a few restaurants, but also lots of bars, night clubs and adult entertainment venues. It reminded me of the French quarter of New Orleans. Not many shops at all. Be sure to take the Teco trolley for free!

An interesting area. Some historical buildings in the area. Several restaurants to eat at. Ride the trolley.

Don't let the small town fool you! Ybor is the friendliness small town I've visited so far. A must see! BEAUTIFUL!!! And the food...exquisite! A must visit....the TAP House!!!

Neat Part of town with a lot of places to eat and drink. You have to pay for parking or park somewhere on the TECO line and take the Streetcar, when we were there the line going into Ybor City was free. Overall, just a nice place to walk and look at the sights.

Giving a review on Ybor City confounds me a little bit. On one hand, I am of Cuban heritage, so going to Ybor was right up my alley. A lot of Spanish/Cuban cuisine offered, and I LOVED Tabeneros cigars (fantastic stogies, and AMAZING Cuban espresso).

On the other hand, this area is run down! Very old buildings, a little bit of a homeless issue, and it was right in the aftermath of a large night of protests/riots, so I was uneasy to begin with heading in there.

I would say this:

It's worth a look, but...

1. Go during the day-do not go during night
2. Wait until a bit of the active unrest in the nation dies down a little bit.

I’ve been visiting Ybor City for since my parents took me when I was a child and I recommend this neighborhood to anyone that visits the area. This is the first place I ever tried Cuban sandwiches (back in the day from a food truck) as well as black beans and rice from the Columbia and those tastes set the high standard to which I hold all others.

Here you will find good food, coffee, music, fun shops and engaging history. While people often compare the main drag to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, I beg to differ. There is quite a different and unique vibe going on here and if you enjoy cigar culture or Cuban culture or history, I’d say it’s important not to miss this area. Yes, there are quite a few nightclubs and bars on 7th and it can get somewhat rowdy and loud at night but no more so than any other main street featuring such an array and variety of entertainment in the evening.

Enjoyed walking around the area, lots of cigar bars, coffee shops and clubs. Reminded me a bit of the French Quarter in New Orleans, but not as polished.

Historical district in the USA is not like in Europe. Nice neighborhood but redone lately. Paradise for those who love cigars. Anyway the best thing seen in Tampa. Nice atmosphere but don't go before noon which is a desolation.Take the free historic sunset to go

Nice during the day for the shops and restaurants. Bar scene at night lively, but we never stay late. Parades and events, as well as Saturday markets are nice. Cute local chickens. Nice architecture.

This a very cool little neighborhood, with chickens running wild. It's right experience only for the right crowd. If you are into the restaurant, night club, bar, tatto crowd, this is the spot for you. I've never seen such lines at 5:00 p.m. in tattoo parlors. Quite the experience for a couple of 60-somethings from the Midwest.

Visit YBOR City and saw jazz festival in the park, walked the river trail, had great food truck food, and visit local breweries.

We stopped by the area mid week to see the murals and historic district.

We weren't at lunch or dinner time so we didn't visit any of the eateries, though there were a few. Mostly we cruised the main streets looking for the murals.

If you're not going to walk the main street I'd plan on a 45-60 minute visit. We had to drive around looking for the murals

Went during the day, not impressed. Like a ghost to. Could not get in Columbia with a 30 minute waits d this was 1pm.

We spent a Saturday morning browsing the market. A nice variety of vendors. We loved seeing the chickens wondering around. Every downtown should adopt some! Walked one of the main streets and stopped for lunch at Stone Soup. It was amazing!! Ybor is already on my list to visit again on my next trip to Tampa!

Fascinating watching the cigar rolling and learning about it. Several restaurants to chose from. We ate at Carmine’s which was good. Many vacant storefronts and homeless residents. We were there during the day. Night time and ghost history might be interesting.

I wish this area was better kept up, very run down with a lot of closed shops/eateries. Nothing spectacular to see here. Worth a drive through to say you saw it.

Well worth a visit, take the historic tram to get there, and spend 2-4 hours there easily. Museums are not opened ever day, so check when you will go first. And eat at the Columbia restaurant!

The picture of this place don't tell you what it really looks like. We thought it would be a historic district with shops and restaurants as described but it was not. It was seedy, old, vacant and not somewhere you feel safe.

I dined at Columbia restaurant on the night of January 7th and parked in their parking lot. We left the restaurant near midnight and walked around the city. We returned to find my car had been towed. I was later told there are signs stating cars will be towed after 1:00. Neither I nor the officer in the area saw any such restrictions. A very disappointing end to what should have been an enjoyable evening. Ironically, I thought this was the safest spot for my car as this had not happened on previous visits to this establishment.

I absolutely love the strip that Ybor City has . I will be visiting every summer. It gets rough sometimes but just be ready , The food is amazing and affordable.You HAVE TO TRY THE PIZZA ! you really don’t need that much money to enjoy yourself . Don’t go alone . Go with people you trust . Pay attention to your surrounds . Keep your phone charged so you have get your ride fast in case anything happens, and they have parking available. Not to many places to use the restroom , but you’ll have so much fun !!!! Try to blend in instead try to stick out if you’re not from the area . Police are posted . Yu can smoke on the strip , be respectful . I can’t wait to go back !!! The clubs COOL , some you’ll have to pay . The train station close to Ybor City as well , so no excuse go visit and have fun :)

Ybor City is a historic sole center of Tampa. It was developed mainly with Cubans immigrating to the US and establishing their businesses here. Therefore you can find cigar factories and stores, coffee houses etc...and a bunch of cafes, clubs, bars and restaurants. The central part is around 6 and 7th Ave and around the Jose Marti park. Architecturaly the area reminds on New Orleans on a smaller scale.
However, we couldn't be relaxed here and enjoy it full at night. After dinner we walked the streets which were full of homeless, beggars, drunkards and drugs addicts, reminding on Haight-Ashbury in SF.
Not liking such atmosphere and seeing no police presence we drove back to our hotel.

Worth a quick visit if only to visit the Columbia Restaurant but on a Saturday night 7th street is full of drunks and it’s loud really loud😳

We had a great day there and plan for an evening to enjoy the night life.
Totally a trendy area to visit when in Tampa.

Very unhappy with food quality .went there for the first time and I ordered sea food dish pasta with blue crab .20$ dish as main course ,the crab was tiny bit ,I say may be 2 onces crab which is so poor left unhappy for the for the quality and the quantity

Ybor city os a Cuban district in Tampa, with very nice places to visit and good restaurants and bars to stop by and have a good beer and a nice food. A good suggestion is the Ybor City Tap House, where there are around 80 different draft beers, plenty of IPAs, Ales, Pilsens, and many others. In addition, they serve a very honest and good food. Amazing place to go!!

Awesome fun place. Nice New Orleans of Tampa Bay. Lots of cool restaurants, shops, awesome people watching, and the freaks come out at nice...

Ybor City has some charms but it lacks in so many ways. It’s good when it should be great. Step one get rid of most of the parking lots. You have a cool street car only to get off and you’re facing parking lots instead of shops and restaurants. It makes not sense. This place should be the tropical version of Ann Arbor but it lacks in so many ways because it’s only walk able once you arrive not when you need to get there. More and better transit would make Tampa even better and bring more traffic here. It’s worth a few hours of your time.

Husband’s family played an integral part in the cigar industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s as Italian immigrants. Although the house where they lived at the time (12 children) is no longer standing, many of the buildings on 7th ave hold memories of their past.

One of the most famous buildings is the Columbia Restaurant, established in 1905. It is still as elegant as it was more than 100 years ago. We stopped in to just look around and also browsed the gift shop.

It was raining as we strolled the covered sidewalks but the aroma of fresh breads and cooking meat drove up into Carmines for a Cuban sandwich with black beans and rice.

A great way to spend the afternoon.

Enjoyed our walk through Ybor city. Feels a bit like Cuba! If you go while the market is on, the parking is free so we parked and hopped on the streetcar. Ended up back in Ybor city for a delicious lunch as well

Great for strolling and ducking into interesting shops. Check the internet first for the historic checkpoints. Lots of information plaques in front of old buildings. Live chickens everywhere are a hoot (lots of cockadoodle doo)! And I stumbled on a huge Scientology compound. Who knew!? At least 10-20 tobacco shops, and a few where they are hand rolling the cigars in the front window for you to watch. Interesting couple of hours.

We went during the day. Had some good food from a restaurant there. The whole atmosphere, decor, etc. definitely indicated to me that this us more of a night/bar scene.

The streets and buildings look great. I am sure the night life on the weekend has to be lots of fun. But, we went on a Thursday evening. Did the whole walk and ran into more bums than tourist. We stayed very alert on our walking tour. We won't be back.

This is an historic area in Ybor City. The Columbia has been in the same location for over 50 years. I have attended many functions here. It has beautiful hand-made tiles on the floors and walls as well as beautiful fountain. The food is amazing and the black beans and rice as plantains are surperb!!

Lots to do, lots to see, very quaint (love the roosters roaming around). Maybe a little sketchy outside the historic area. We walked/took Uber, this was very convenient. We enjoyed several breweries and eateries. Our hotel was right in the middle of the historic district. All in all an enjoyable time, we'll return!

The server had no idea of the dishes they had in the menu. We ordered Palomilla steak, it was really bad, tough. Other dishes were not what expected.
I had been there few year ago but the quality and services had gone down the drain. Sorry because this restaurant is a landmark of Ybor City in Tampa, Florida.

If you want loud bars, tatoo parlors and a few remaining cigar shops, this is for you! Otherwsie there is nothing of value left to see at what may well have once been an interesting area to visit. Totally run down and an absolute dissapoment.

Somewhat trashy snd with people roaming the streets begging for money. A lot of closed shops. Has an unsafe vibe to it. Go in a group.

I had already been there in 2015 and it left me with a feeling of greater authenticity. Now the whole area is dominated by rowdy clubs and some cigar shops that certainly did not enchant me. It is a neighborhood that leaves room for those who want to spend a pleasant evening with a drink based on music. I don't think I would come back specifically.

We had a good time strolling around this area before dinner. It has some great stores and I would go again.

A few blocks full of bars/restaurants and some shops... nice historic feeling and... that's it. Not easy access from the hotels nearby (not very safe to go walking from hotels to there)

Fun! We visited the cigar shops and purchased cigars etc. to bring home as gifts. The cigar staff were friendly and helpful.
We visited restaurant’s and dined on Spanish cuisine.
We very much enjoyed the free Trolly that we could hop on and off of. The staff were friendly. We rode the trolley to the Riverwalk and enjoyed looking at the beautiful river on a sunny day. We had fun in YBOR City during the early day hours till the afternoon.

Didn’t see any evidence of this being the Cuban quarter, was a ghetto area, felt very nervous walking about here, wouldn’t go anywhere near it.

Disappointed by the grime and not much more. Saw a couple of cigar stores that were closed. Just grimy. Is Ybor just a figment of Tampa imagination? Lost me as a potential return visitor.

We thoroughly enjoyed the culture and Ambience of Ybor. Make sure to dine at the Columbia restaurant. The nightlife is amazing.

The mecca for cigar aficionados. Plenty of cigar stores featuring local hand-rolled cigars. And places to smoke them. Good restaurants with reasonable prices and don't miss world famous Columbia restaurant with Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Everything is in walking distance.

It was our tenth anniversary & MHSW (my hot sexy wife) planned it, for my birthday. Good times, including dinner, Expresso Martinis, at The Bricks, & 7th street parade, can’t find the car afterwards!

This area is an older section of the city complete with the "oldest" restaurant and streetcars. Older structures are intermixed throughout the area. Some buildings have unique tiles and other markings. Definitely worth a visit. Close to downtown Tampa so use a map app as it can be confusing to navigate in or out of the area.

Love this neighborhood. Hand rolled Cigars, Cuban food and good drinks. Reminds me of bourbon street as far as atmosphere but with a cigar twist. Worth the visit.

Look like old city well kept clean
Nice place to hangout with friends,place for dinning, parking close by

We enjoyed walking through historical Ybor City. Lots of cigar shops, restaurants, and chickens. The park is a great place to sit and enjoy.

Needs more work. There was a fiesta going on in the one area, but everything else was pretty deserted. We took the trolley from the History Center where we had parked. The prices were high. We didn't stay long as it was pretty seedy.

Had a great time visiting Ybor City via the streetcar. I have never been to Cuba but I assume this is the closest to the real thing. I love the cigar shops, the Cuban food, music, tattoo shops and lots of food options. Definitely a half day visit when visiting Tampa.

Ybor is a super nice neighborhood to visit. The atmosphere is very friendly and the central street has many nice shops and restaurants. Ybor is known as the capital of the cigar. And it shows in the shops. Further eaten at Columbia restaurant (said to be the oldest Spanish restaurant in the US).

You can take the free trolley that will take you from downtown to Ybor

We took a street car, which was a nice experience, to Ybor City from the cruise port stop. We got there about 10am and found absolutely nothing to see or do as a tourist attraction. Very few shops were open. We walked around for a while and went back on the streetcar. Fellow travellers who went later in the day had the same experience. Definitely not a must do experience

We really like Ybor City and walking around during the day. Lots of restaurants and some cool shops. Great for the family ~ Highly recommend spending some time there. Stayed at Haya before, beautiful hotel. Love the Grotto for lunch ~ !!! Need to dine at the The Colombian, so looks like we have to go back!

If you have ever experienced New Orleans Bourbon Street then you would would LOVE Ybor City!! I sampled food (Asiatic, Columbia Restaurant) and caught a great drag show (Southern Nights). It was very lively and diverse just a little something for everyone #YOLO

Visited after a day at Busch Gardens - interesting street scene and great architecture with lots of food and drink options!

Can't imagine a visit to Tampa without touring this well preserved authentic historic district. Something for everyone including many Covid safe outdoor eating options and turn of the century architecture. Plenty of free parking.

Ybor City has a lot to experience with its rich history, architecture, and culture. Lots of bars and restaurants. We enjoyed experiencing the cigar stores. Our favorite was the Tabanero Cigar where you can watch cigar making, the sales person was very friendly and informative of the cigars, and they have excellent Cuban espresso coffee with a sweet aroma and espresso taste.

Been living in Tampa area for 2 years and recently made our first visit to Ybor City and throughly enjoyed our visit! So much to see and do. Attended a photo exhibit, watched cigar rolling and ate a Cuban Sandwich. Wonderful!!

Great place to walk around. Many fun bars and restaurants. Eclectic shops. Plenty of parking. Historically interesting district. Even a Scientology building, go figure. College campus and a couple of hotels as well. Great way to spend an afternoon of rocking evening.

Our Ybor City guide was just fantastic. Joe provide insights, history, local facts and information in a fun and friendly manner, with a speaking style that reflected the times and the people who came to build and invest in Ybor city from mid 1885 through 1935. Reference to the current influx of people and investment and the popularity of Ybor City.
Learnt a lot about the history of cigar making to how Ybor became the largest producer of cigars in the world.

Once again , highly recommend this tour with Joe.

worse than key west and New Orleans combined. New Orleans and Key West, both have better food / restaurants and bars. unless you want cigars (this is the place to go for those), that's about it.

Ybor has really come into its own. Lots going on, bars, music, restaurants. We enjoyed walking around and stopped for lunch and a cocktail. It’s been years and I’m disappointed I haven’t been coming more often.

We've spent several new years in ybor and it continues to decline. We had a great time early on but after midnight it was dirty. The cars cruising the strip were playing vulgar loud music. Music can't be enjoyed if it is deafening.

There was a good presence of police. They were great! Polite and made you feel safe.

Jane M wrote below: "The picture of this place don't tell you what it really looks like. We thought it would be a historic district with shops and restaurants as described but it was not. It was seedy, old, vacant and not somewhere you feel safe"

I wish I had read that before we drove to this "city" - it was terrible! mostly vacant shops and those that are occupied are cigar shops and bars. Not what this old lady was looking for. I thought it was a historical district with boutiques and restaurants - I really wanted a good Cuban Sandwich. But after a quick drive down the main drag - we went back to Tampa. I would not park and walk around with the high homeless population and seedy characters around. UGH!

The pics online are a lie.

Took the free street car from downtown stop 11 on a Saturday and got off at the last stop 1 in Ybor City. The streetcar is fun for adults and kids though the windows are shaded and not the greatest to see out of. Never been to Ybor City so got off and enjoyed the Market for awhile with DJ playing great tunes. Also good for kids. Then made our way down to the next street with all the shops and cigar shops. Found a lively bar/cigar lounge King Corona which was fun and sat outside with cigars and drinks to people watch. NOT for kids. But very fun for us adults! Found some Scooters and tried them out for awhile. Then back on the streetcar downtown for the hockey game at Amelie arena after dinner at the Yeoman’s pub. All in all a great day! Yes there are some homeless but we never felt unsafe.

Like a small Mardi Gras for numerous blocks. Lots of Bars and restaurants. Lots of Live music. And Cigars,Cigars and more Cigars. Have to check it out for your self.

Had a great time in YBOR CITY touring around. Went there especially to eat at The STONE SOUP COMPANY ! absolutely the BEST PLACE TO EAT IN TOWN ! The service was great. Our server Sarah was totally AWESOME ! Being from New Orleans, The OWNER AND CHEF both came out to meet my entire family. They are truly great people. The restaurant could very easily adopt to a New Orleans French Quarter Restaurant. Meaning, the atmosphere made me feel right at home within the walls of this restaurant. Very nicely decorated and a very clean place to dine I must say. Could not decide which options to choose from as I have heard all their selections were great. Tried a little bit of almost everything on the menu ! Way too much food, and ended up taking it back to the Hyatt with us. Their soup is TRULY the BEST ! The Cuban sandwich is Awesome ! one of the best I have ever had. The soft pretzels with their dipping sauce was wonderful... Nothing negative about this place, ALL POSITIVE with great People, Great Food and a Great atmosphere !!!! We will definitely return upon our next visit to the Tampa Bay area. Thanks again guys for your wonderful welcome and great food and service offered !!!!

Any visit to Tampa should include Ybor City. Historically, it is an area of old cigar factories, where Teddy Roosevelt launched the Rough Riders, and has many commemorative plaques. In the daytime is replete with restaurants (the Historic Columbia from 1905), shops, counterculture storefronts, and of course, hand-rolled cigars. The millenials prevail at night, where they are numerous clubs/bars. As Arthur Frommer would advise: stay on 7th Avenue at night, as side-streets can be considered dangerous. A Tampa must-see!

Very interesting part of Tampa and Florida history Hidden gem on the cement jungle of the city that is very walkable and accessible.

Ybor (pronounced e bore) is an area that was the center of Tampa with Cuban immigrants making hand rolled Cigars. Now the area is a hub of night life for young people after 10pm but is experiencing a shift into a residential area teeming with nice restaurants to attract all ages. Hotel Haya is a fantastic new hotel on the North end of 7th ave ( the main street in ybor). Great restaurant named Flor Fina and a nice bar with live music and a Cuban vibe. Barter house is a very good restaurant across street from Hotel Haya. Santo Stefano is a great new restaurant on the South end of 7th that is a 100% authentic Sicilian restaurant . Great rooftop bar, valet and self parking available. Reservations needed. There is the old guard restaurants The Columbia (since 1905), Carmines, Gaspars Grotto ( good bar, outside patio , live music and dogs welcome) and many other coffee shops, greek restaurants, bars, tattoo parlors something for most everyone. 15-20 minutes from airport. 5 minutes from cruise terminal, 5 minutes to Sparkmans wharf, Amalie arena, Marriott waterside.

Quaint by day lit by night. So much to take in. Definitely a must do after 7pm. There is every kind of restaurant, formal table service, grab-and-go, outdoor seating, bars, hookah lounge, cigar joints, live music, DJ's and more. Plenty of parking but I recommend using the free trolley system.

We visited Ybor City early yesterday just for a few hours. We walked around Centennial Park, took plenty of pics of the free-roaming roosters, walked up and down 7th Avenue, found an attractive bar, stopped in for a drink. The architecture is beautiful. There is a faint aroma of cigar smoke in the area. This is truly a unique area. We did not see any homeless/vagrant people or smell urine as other reviewers have stated. Lucky us! I want to visit Ybor City again on a Saturday and stay over so we can take more time exploring.

Our visit was top-notch from start to finish. Wesley was a great waiter who shared many details about a variety of dishes. We totally enjoyed the red sangria prepared table side. The tapas were delightful: scallops, shrimp, empanadas. 1905 salad prepared table side, too…so many tasty ingredients. Our entrees pleased everyone: salmon, pompano, steak. Of course, key lime pie & white chocolate bread pudding were a perfect finale to the meal. A huge highlight was a “tour” of the restaurant….even the kitchen. Highly recommend a visit!!

Ybor city in Tampa, Florida is always a great time. it is a great location only 20 miles from the beaches in Clearwater, FL. Ybor has dozens of cigars shops, if you like cigars. Ybor is a great place to people watch. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn two blocks off 7th street where also everything is located. I great place to eat is Bernini's from 4 to 7 is happy hour with half price meals and $3 martinis every day. The stone soup company has very good food. Coppertail Brewing Co. is another good place to eat and drink.
There are two bars I like Bad Monkey and James Joyces Irish bar.

Historic Ybor City is an interesting place. During the day when we were there, it was almost a ghost town. Great place to purchase a cigar and sit in front of the establishment to enjoy. People watching was entertaining during the afternoon, though it was not heavily traveled. Easy walk from the final stop on the TECO line. We were warned against going to this area after dark.

Don't really know what to say, typical tourist trap area. Expect the restaurants to all have long waits and high prices. Area tries to capture the look of days gone by, but fails and has become just another tourist trap.

Very reminiscent of downtown Havana architecture, colour very cool. Restaurants for every taste ,cigar history all over.

This was my first visit to Ybor and I was very disappointed. Ybor's architecture is beautiful no doubt, and I'm sure some of the restaurants are great. But I felt very nervous walking around. There were homeless people all over the streets, enough to shame NYC (I would know I am in NYC a lot). They're barely any stores worth going into, mostly bars, tattoo parlors, and cigar shops. There were also numerous people smoking weed on the sidewalks. Some of the woman were wearing what could barely be considered clothes. Then there were the militant BHIs screaming on the streets. Needless to say this is not a place to bring a family.

We ate at a good sized Mexican Cantina which had EXCELLENT food and service. Was interesting walking around in Ybor City - lots of redevelopment going on. For Adults more so than children and the Trolley takes you right there on Stop 11 I believe.

Ybor City is like a city with in the city. (Tampa, Florida) Had a nice day here exploring different aspects, saw lots of live chickens, roaming one area, (protected by city oridanance). The free trolley is very convenient, stopping at a variety of points of interest.

Amazing food options, and yours.

Ybor City is a very friendly place with many stores, restaurants and bars. Many Cuban type restaurants. Plenty of parking areas for you along with public transportation.

Probably a beauty in it's hey day worn down and used appearing now hurt by Covid according to shop owners. Beautiful old buildins

When we arrived we visited the visitor center. Hoping to get some insight into the top things to see. Instead when we walked in we were told to sign in and grab a map. I guess I was expected more from Ybor City. I think this place is probably a fun spot to visit at night to bar hop, and meet young singles. However visiting during the day as a family. We found that a lot of buildings were empty. Lots of vagrancy. We did wander into a game center with a restaurant. We spent a couple of hours there playing games. Then caught the trolley downtown which was really neat There really is a lot of potential. However I am not sure that I would return as a family.

Came here with friends just to have a day out and enjoy browsing cute shops, cigar shops, and have lunch at Carmine’s. Lots of clubs in the evening.

I enjoyed the weekend there. Lots of restaurants and things to do. They have the Tamp Improv and so many beautiful historical buildings.

We stopped at the hotel haya prior to a cruise the area is full of historic buildings and sites of interest easily walkable and the streetcar which is free to use operates from 3 stations to downtown Tampa

We visited Tampa the last weekend in January for Gasparilla Festival and then left on a cruise that Sunday. When doing all of my research, everyone kept bringing it back to restaurants, bars, and shops…in Ybor City. Tampa who?

We will come back and plan a trip around YC. Two of the most memorable meals of my life were from here; Columbia Restaurants and Acropolis Greek Taverna. Chef’s Kiss.

You’re in for a treat, there is something for everyone, and just think ‘Bourbon Street’ but cleaner, and way tastier. Yep, I said it.

Great spot for tasty cigars. Unfortunately, covid has taken its toll. Love Ybor and will be back, but it’s changed a good bit. We arrived late Sunday and it was surprisingly busy, but in kind of a seedy way. Returned during the day and departed prior to dusk without issue.

Take advantage of the trolley service, it’s free and a fun ride. We had a blast. Always call ahead if you have any specific activities you want to do, as it seemed like we were either too early or too late for a number of things here. But we prefer flying by the seat of our pants while on vacations.

Will be back.

The food was just amazing so as the service. It was phenomenal experience! We’re seated in the bar room area near the piano. The musicians were just amazing playing piano and guitar.

Very live vibe on Saturday night!! Lots of food, music, nice people in the Pizza Parlor (sorry, don't remember the name).

Cute neighboor funded by Cubans, but not something you can not miss. We walked around, was quier and enjoy the neighborhood stores.

Many street level building space were vacant and in need of repairs. However, the restaurant scene was great, from famous Columba to the Heights Public Market all worth a visit.

Ybor City is a historic neighborhood known for its hand-rolled cigars and tattoos. Motorcycles and dirt bikes with riders doing wheelies routinely race down the streets at very loud volumes. I don't smoke cigars, would never get a tattoo or buy a motorcycle and should hate a place like this. But, in fact, I loved the authenticity. It's a neighborhood that knows what it is, and knows and cherishes its identity and history. From its 19th century French colonial style to the colorful wild chickens that roam the streets, it's a place where you feel the history rather than one where they are just trying to create it.

Beautiful history and free Trolley ride between thr downtown Riverwalk area
, FL Aquarium. Art, Museums and so much more. The Ybor area does need thr city to step in and clean it up. Seems a bit run down and I would hate to see this beautiful historic district fall apart.

A bit like French Quarter, but smaller and shadier. You can park your car there cheaper than downtown Tampa and take a free tram to get there.

All of the Reviews are SPOT ON! We booked this tour as a way to get to know the city and the rich heritage and Cindy (our tour guide) was Fabulous! Her knowledge and lessons on the buildings, food, culture, and people (past/present) was invaluable! If you want to know more about the city from a Native... Cindy is your Person!

Ybor City is a vile filthy place, Drunks, Drug Addicts, Homeless and Hustlers.

One literally trips over homeless people as they are everywhere. This is a urine/vomit drenched hell on earth

My favorite time visiting Tampa. This historic area is a great place to visit. Learn about Tampa's history while you walk around an area full of restaurants, bars, cafe's and shops. This area is very modern while it developed to restore its history.
History - At the turn of the 20th century, Tampa’s Ybor City was known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Political trouble in Cuba compelled Cuban cigar manufacturers to build factories in the US. One of the first manufacturers was Vicente Martinez-Ybor. Martínez-Ybor and Ignacio Haya, formed a partnership to develop a cigar-manufacturing town near Tampa. The cooler weather was ideal for cigar making. In the 1890s the area was rolling out tens of millions of cigars and after the turn of the century it was rolling out hundreds of milions of cigars. Since 2000, the city of Tampa has invested a lot of money in developing Ybor for tourists. The old brick buildings left from the factories were renovated as retail shops, restaurants, and bars. From vacant lots, new condominiums, apartments, hotels, and corporate headquarter buildings have risen. Highly recommend this area to everyone. NO where in Florida like it!

We went on a Sunday. Got there about 1030 am. Deserted except for some vagrants. Sidewalks were dirty. We were ready to leave but stopped in Longash Cigars. Cool little cigar shop and bar. Cigars rolled right in front of you. The bar tender was friendly and good. After a cigar and a few drinks we wandered out about 1pm and the town was electric. People all over and very busy. We ate in Carmines. Excellent Cuban sandwiches. I would go there in day light but not so sure after dark.

Definitely for the younger crowd, it gets kind of crazy the later the time! Good restaurants in the area.

When I booked a local hotel at Ybor City I had expected more of a Cuban/Latino vibe then what I got. Yes, there were cigar shops galore, just about on every corner in fact. There was the Columbia Restaurant which was simply amazing. I would recommend the paella or stuffed grouper. But lacking was real Latino vibe which was promised in the articles I had read prior to my trip. Instead, it seemed more urban. More canned, less authentic. In fact my wife and I ran into very few Spanish speaking people in the neighborhood. Maybe my expectations were to high. What was cool however were the free roaming (and protected) chickens. Their Gene pool dated back to the 1800’s when Cubans were in fact the majority in Ybor city. When you come, stay at the Haya, eat at the Columbia, and, if your into hand rolled cigars, have one of those. But don’t expect an enclave of Cuban or Latino people, music, shops or clubs.

Stayed in Ybor City during a trip to Tampa. Place is cool and crazy, good for people watching and late nite activities. Lots of bars and cigars. Some good food here and there.Best to walk as much as possible, parking can be limited on weekends. Not great for kids really.

The entire area felt iconic. There were roosters in the trees in the lot where we parked. Some fancy cars strolling through, simply to be seen. Several restaurant options, from fancy to pubs.

Chickens freely roam around this historical district. Perhaps some might call this area “trendy” while others might observe a distinct “edginess” to it.

Ybor City is a great trip back to Tampa's history as cigar city. There are a lot of fun bars and restaurants. The original Columbia restaurant is a required stop, and they have a fun gift shop, as well. The chickens roaming the streets add the perfect touch.

We stopped here after an enjoyable visit to the Plant museum which is a hotel from the 1800s. We walked around Ybor and had dinner at a pizza place. Parking is reasonably priced at about $1 per hour. Most of the action seemed to be on one street. We visited on a week night and there were not a lot of people.

Day or night, this is a great place to visit! Tons of bars and restaurant, some shopping....cigar stores....cool atmospeher!

This city is a tourist must stop in order to enjoy the area history. Lots of really great restaurants and stores.

You can stroll the strip or drop in for a beverage and food. It is a neat little feeling of New Orleans. Supposedly with an Italian flair and a Pacific touch, though it seems more French Creole' to me.

not a lot to do here at night unless you are heavy into college drinking parties. if youre grown up, skip it.

You must visit Ybor. It is filled with restaurants, bars, music and quaint shops. Even the original Columbia Restaurant is here. Take a walk, stop to eat and enjoy the sun and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy!!

There are some hints of Key West and New Orleans but the place has a very long way to go. The main drag does have some potential and I did see a lot of development. Check back in 5 years. I would not recommend the place for families.

We visited on a Friday night and were saddened by the lack of people visiting.Many places were closed and the few bars and restaurants we stopped at were empty.Hopefully things will pick up as the Covid gets better.

I loved the shops and the eclectic groups of people make this a fun, vibrant area of Florida. It has everything a big city has with the warmth and friendliness of a small town.

Ybor used to be a favorite place to hang out for LGBTQ+ folks, after Mayor Pam Iorio deemed it a community. Lots of bars to pub crawl, Hamburger Mary’s where your greeted by drag queens, or the French Can-Can show. Businesses displayed stickers in their window to let the LGBTQ+ community know it was a “safe place” in the event of fights CBor discrimination. But then it started going downhill, and we stopped going for the nightlife. Too many fights breaking out by drunks, and women going into male only bars (The Eagle) to see what was happening and trying to get a peep show. Now we only go there in the day for the food.

Very run down area. I did not feel safe walking alone. I had 3 people trying to get food and money on my 15 minute walk. Just not an area I feel safe walking. It is very loud at night

Visiting from Pennsylvania, our family signed up for this Ybor City Walking Tour online and Max Herman was our tour guide. Wear good walking shoes please! It was great!. It was a 2 hour walking tour, full of historic facts & information, & trivia. Great Architecture in this area for history buffs! Lots of Chickens & Roosters! Max has some paranormal info at the Cuban Social Hall as well! Ask as many questions as you like! Max is a native Floridan, and native to Tampa, so he was an expert on information and guidance. The Park at the end of the tour that is owned by Cuba is a Must See! So many things we learned by this tour, instead of walking around on our own and not getting all the details first hand. I highly recommend it! It was a hot day, but Max does everything to keep you in the shade. Final stop was at visitor center with brief video & museum & gift shop! Also, please ride the Street Car to downtown Tampa & Back to YBor City, cause it only takes about 20 minutes round trip!

Its was a cold Tuesday. Wanted to do the museum. It was CLOSED! Lady at the visitors center was very nice. Suggested we take the free streetcar ride. After waiting 20 minutes we went one block and operator announced they were having trouble and to get off and ride the city bus. Not what we came for. Came to see what the area cigar business was. Basically it is just bars. Came for history not drinking disappointed.

Rather disappointing. I would not recommend it unless you have nothing else to do. There was a 20 minute plus gap between the passing of the Color Guard and Major Jane Castor. It is a shame that the Mayor used it as a political outing walking, talking and shaking hands.

This is a cool and historic place to visit.
Lots of good restaurants and some interesting shops to see.
Great night vibe , if your a night owl.
They have a free trolley car that will take you to downtown tampa, the riverfront
and even to the florida aquarium. Its a lot of fun just to ride.

Ybor City is full of charm and history. From great restaurants and cigar bars to ghosts and mobsters. This is a true gem of Tampa. Spend the day walking around looking at all the great architectural buildings, enjoy lunch or dinner and finish the day with a great local cigar and a cup of coffee.

Enjoyed the old word vibe and all of the culture. MOST enjoyed the top notch comedy club @ night. Great line up of talented comedians.

We were hoping to stop somewhere here in Ybor City because we heard so many good things about it. However, when we drove through it was a bit boring, and nothing caught our eye to say hey let's check this place out. Maybe we should have walked instead, but driving through isn't that impressive.

We didn't expect to find a beautiful and well-kept historic neighborhood just minutes from downtown. The architecture of the buildings recalls that of New Orleans.
Walking along the street is very pleasant and takes you back to the years, there are many places where you can drink or eat something and there are also many shops that sell cigars, some even make them live.
It is pleasing to discover that among the various founders of the neighborhood, then a real town, there were Italians and Spaniards.
I highly recommend spending an hour walking through history or better yet spending an evening in one of the many clubs present.

Place needs more TLC but FOOD OPTIONS ARE INCREDIBLE. Good center area lots of bars and tattoo places.

Had a great time.. there were vendors on the street for enjoyment. We ate at the carmines restaurant and visited the gasparilla rum disterlly. Also stopped at the tequila bar..

Visited Ybor City .....Ate at Carmines Italian restaurant....I give the food really a 3-1/2 -4 stars.It was good ,it could have stood a little more spice.

We went for an afternoon to see what was around and happening. Many of the businesses were closed. A good many homeless were laying around. Police were hanging around keeping an eye on them. We were disappointed but hope the best for the area. Maybe when the COVID stuff is over...

This area is reachable by streetcar and contains a lot of history. I happened to visit during the cigar festival, which made it extra special.

Get the trolley from Tampa and ride for free back in time to Ybor.
Seemed very quite when we got there but became busier around lunchtime.
Lots of places to choice from. Had to have a Cuban which was wonderful

Went to Ybor City today and here are my comments:

Pros: Architecture, cigar stores, restaurants.

Cons: No cuban music, most cigar places will not let you bring in a cigar from another establishment even if you are ordering a drink or meal from them, most bars and restaurants only open after 7 pm. I think they are missing out on a lot of business.

I find it does not have the vibe as when you go to Havana or even Varadero.

I would go back to purchase cigars but not to spend the day.

I didn’t get to explore much or try restaurants, but it’s a promising area. Needs more retail other than food and cigars, but those look interesting. I did stop at La France vintage goods and loved it! Bought a unique mid century modern pin that I love and would spend more if I could. Terrific service (they polished the silver on the pin) and a variety of clothes, jewelry and fun things. Campy and cheerful. Also there a yummy ice cream shop near the streetcar stop. So spend an hour or so walking. It’s industrial but that’s the charm. It’s also growing, so give it a chance.

Ybor city is a great game la e if you love cigars but if you don’t then don’t come here there is no good shopping at all don’t come here if you don’t want a cigar.

we visited ybor city on Saturday in the morning and for some time in the evening too.
Friendly place with small restaurants. Streetcar to the city from downtown is free.

Ybor city is a nice area to go for a walk or stroll. Reminder of olden style town streets.
They have a saturday morning market which is a good place to find nice gifts/souvenirs and spend a relaxed afternoon

Great place to visit when visiting Tampa. In Ybor City you will Find great bars, lounges, and restaurants. This is definitely the street you would want to experience when visiting Tampa.

What an awful place. Derelict, broken, stinking of decay and stale cigarette smoke. We had read so much about this historic district that we intended to spend the whole day exploring, sadly we had to leave after just two hours. We tried to find somewhere pleasant but failed! Most of the stores were either permanently closed or not open for business during the day. The parking lot cost $12 and may very well be the best thing Ybor has to offer. Give this one a wide berth!

Lots to see in this little burg. It’s historic district has many unique shops, restaurants and cigar bars, that have coffee shops inside too.

Didn’t have much time to spend touring before Des Rocs show but hit up three stores and one historic restaurant. Great merchants all.

We probably came at a bad time... no atmosphere, the street was almost deserted. We were disappointed; the neighborhood is probably much busier in the evening... a nice meeting anyway, with a sheriff agreeing to take a photo break. Very nice.

Every flavor of humanity,
Goth, satanic, S&M, pagan, total diversity of color and preference.
A great place for food, entertainment, live music, shopping, tattoos, piercings etc.

Built on a swamp, with bricks and granite, this part of Tampa was the first to become industrialized, as cigars became the chief import, in the 1800’s.

Now few cigars are hand-rolled anymore, but many of the buildings have been beautifully restored, and updated.

Popular at night for dancing, drinking and pizza, daytime invites people to explore.
I recommend a walking tour by Ybor Walking Tours to get the lay of the land and a history lesson.

Unless you are into smoking, tattoos, rockabilly and beer your options are extremely limited here.
The cigar smoke is inescapable. Everything looks run down like an old western movie.
I would not recommend for anyone traveling with families or teens

Simply a great slice of history as you walk these streets. You can see the gentrification coming ... visit soon. Great microbrewries, cafes within the cigar shops and ice cream parlors. Walk a little off the main streets to experience the architecture of the residential areas, too.

What makes Ybor special is the variety of places to experience unique cuisines. They have a great Irish Pub, a classic Cuban restaurant in the Columbia, A great Italian restaurant in Berninis, A great place for Fajitas in Tequilas, A full service Indian spot called Rasoi's and oneof the best Pizza places you will ever visit in Duo Amici's. This is all within a three block area, and doesn't even begin to cover to the great options there.

Cuban cigar district with plenty of authentic and handmade cigar shops, bars and cigar-friendly restaurants. Loved exploring this cultural gem with my husband even though I am not a cigar smoker!

Ybor could be so great, but try finding an art gallery there. If you want to drink or watch cigars being made, it's great. There are also a lot of good restaurants and history.

Nothing impressive here. There’s a difference between historic and run down and this place is rundown. Too many empty store fronts,homeless lurking on the side streets and not much Cuban flare , only rap music.

Great experience when we visited. We took the free trolley ride from downtown Tampa. We arrived around 1030 am. It was Saturday, the outdoor market was interesting. We watched a lady roll cigars through the window from the sidewalk. Tons of places to eat and get amazing coffee. I had coffee from 2 different shops and they were both outstanding. Cigar shops were great. Also, don’t feed the chickens that are walking around everywhere. I wish we could have went back for dinner and to experience the night life, there just wasn’t enough time.

It's like the Vegas strip only on a smaller scale. You might see anything. We say a man with a grocery cart full of snakes, a man with a pet monkey on his shoulder and a young lady get arrested all within 10 minutes. Definitely something to experience at least once.

We came here on a rainy afternoon in July. Ybor City was pretty dead at that time, I suppose things really only pick up in the evenings and on weekends. Still, we enjoyed a fun walk around the block, taking in the historic buildings, the cigar shops and all the eccentric and hip people and stores. The free-roaming and protected chickens that walk the sidewalks are a nice extra.

Walked along 7th street for few blocks. Lot of restaurants and bars and various shops. Some of the crowd can be a little rough, but nice enough for the most part.

Plenty of good and bad reviews on the area, we enjoyed walking around. Lots or history, combined with interesting people plus chickens everywhere.
We were here for a few hours early evening with no problems. Glad we stopped, felt very safe and everyone was friendly

Lots of fun hopping from one brewery to another tasting what Tampa has to offer in local beer. Play the giant Jenga...some of the various squares have fun instructions. It's a fun way to spend an evening with friends. Plenty of Uber and Lyft drivers available for safe transportation to and from in case you drink a little too much.

The museum in Ybor and the visitors info were great! We had great food and service at Carmines. The roosters were a unexpected laugh. Great free Trolley ride too.

The neighborhood is small, so nice for a short 2-hour stroll if you don't stay there to eat
Ybor vaguely reminiscent of New Orleans
Very quiet in the morning, the neighborhood comes alive from midday
Choose your ideal time and honestly go there out of curiosity, it's part of the charm of Tampa

I was amazed at the number of negative reviews mostly regarding what Ybor businesses consist of. A little research goes a LONG way! Yes it is an adult destination with bars. cigar and tattoo shops. Are there homeless people? Yes but EVERY city has that problem and I didnt find it as bad as in other places.

Ybor is home to many special events such as the Tampa International Fringe Festival, Gasparilla Knight Parade and Pride. There are many great places to eat while there. If you are looking for a GREAT BBQ restaurant DONT miss Als BBQ! Yes its in and old house and chickens are running around however the staff assured me they arent the catch of the day! Looking for an AMAZING Sunday Brunch. Dont miss Gaspars Grotto. Want a dive sports bar? Elmers Sports Cafe.

Im sure there are other amazing places but those mentioned were ones I have visited and reviewed on here. If you are into theater art, The Tampa Fringe is in its infancy but they have an amazing selection of shows from artists throughout the US and the world!

Ybor is what it is! Know before you go!

What an interesting area. It was interesting to stroll though the town and their chicken filled parks. Gazing at buetiful murals on the side of buidings was also interesting. It is also renowned for their wonderful cigar craft. We did not go into those shops however. The famous Columbia restaurant is here. We enjoyed our dining and Flemenco dancing adventure there. It also has quite a few interesting eateries/bars to visit. When we were there for the Outback bowl in 2000 it was pretty run down, but it seems to be revitalizing. We enjoyed our weekend here. There are some places here worthy of a repeat visit. Definitely check it out.

We spent 2 nights in this area of Tampa. This area has a rich history for immigrants, specifically Cubans, and has been kept in great shape by preservation efforts. There are boundless restaurants, shops, and bars. After the first night, we had to go back to experience more.

We had heard of Ybor city and it was mentioned in a book I had recently read so we decided to go and spend the night and check it out. We enjoyed our visit to Ybor City and learned a lot about the area and history. We stayed at the Hampton right in the historic district. A little pricey but convenient. We walked down 7th and had lunch at Acropolis Greek Taverna. This was the highlight of our visit. Jose, our waiter was so friendly and accommodating. We had dinner at The Columbia and enjoyed our evening meal. The next day, we went to the Ybor State Park Museum and were treated to a very detailed history of Ybor by James he Park Ranger. Overall, we enjoy our visit to Ybor City.

Great restaurants and atmosphere. public transportation and music. Fun place to visit, verity of food

We recently visited this amazing little town and it was like visiting Spain. Nice walkable streets with many nice restaurants and a nice park. Very nice and worth seeing again.

We have been visiting Ybor City since the 1980’s when we lived in Tampa, so we have seen its ups and downs. This was our first visit in ten years, and we were very happy with the current vibe. The streets were clean, there is more informative signage including historical markers, Street Art, the buildings are being restored, the Saturday Market was well attended, and there are more restaurants and clubs than ever.

We really enjoyed our three night stay.

Ybor City was very interesting and has lots of History. We waited for about an hour to have lunch at the Columbia Restaurant. That's another Review. You can take the free trolley to Ybor City during the day and look around. there are mainly drinking establishments which fill up with college and university students at night. During the day it wasn't as busy and you could see some great historical buildings. Chickens run freely.

Wonderful small area of Tampa focussing on cigars and their history. Could use a few more non pubs Really disappointed with CUBAN SANDWICHES. the sandwiches are tasty but nothing unusual. Try Katz Deli in New York and then adapt the Cuban accordingly.

Took a food tour based in Ybor and fell in love...the food, the culture, the interesting historical figures and architecture. This is a place with visiting either with a guided tour or on your own.

Ybor City offers a variety of experiences from local food, other food, baseball history, photography museum, bars, vintage clothing, blockbuster movies. I think of Ybor as a family place by day, date and friends place by evening, and wild night life after hours. The Colombia restaurant offers a historical venue with great traditional recipes including signature 1904® salad. Carmines is the best for deviled cab. La Terrazza restaurant on Seventh Ae (La Séptima) has the world's best pasta pouches.
The Ybor City museum provides a capsule of the origin of Ybor City with the cigar industry. You can see cigar rollers today in action using the same traditional techniques. LA France is a great vintage clothing store--stop by and hear the owner's story! You can even get a tattoo---if you can decide between the amazing tattoo artists' work.
Check out the small galleries, small eateries, museums, and prepared to be surprised.

Great places to have a drink, eat have a cigar. A must to visit when in Tampa. Filled with the old tradition of Tampa. Tampa is one of those old cities in Florida that have a lot of culture and history to share. One of those townships in a large city is Ybor city. The rich Cuban culture with its run and cigars not to mention the food. Oh the food.

Delicious food and cocktails in a wonderful setting. Loved it. The cigar rollers in the neighboring stores were fascinating to watch. Such a great selection of cigars to choose from.

We visited this rehabilitated industrial district. Here we made cigars. Besides, there are stores that sell them. Here it has the charm of old Europe because in addition it was the first Spanish, Italians and Portuguese who lived here.
Very nice and a change of scenery facing the skyscrapers not far away.

We got to Ybor city main street by accident looking for a place to have ice cream at and then we walked along this lively street, decorated for the holidays, and full with places to eat, drink, dance, and some fun shops. Recommended, probably with older kids or no kids at all would have been better but our kids also enjoyed the atmosphere and the yummy icecream.

What’s there to say!? Ybor City is full of history, roosters, cigars shops, bars, and restaurants.

It is a definite must place to visit when one is in or near Tampa. We will definitely come back.

Ybor City is worth the visit. If you happen to like cigars, it’s definitely worth your time. But cigars aside, it is an interesting neighborhood.