Ybor City is a historic neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy.
In its heyday Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world where thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Latin workers produced cigars in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The area still retains its Latin legacy with it Spanish-style architecture, wrought iron balconies and cobblestone streets. Today, the area is a shopping and entertainment district with many shops, restaurants, bars and clubs.
From Tampa Today:
"The historic Latin quarter and former center of cigar manufacturing wears two hats today: a creamy Panama for daytime lunching, shopping, cigar smoking and coffee sipping, and a black fedora for the high-spirited playground it becomes at night."
- - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - -
Ybor city is definitely a 'must see' location in the Tampa Bay area. We have enjoyed photographing and touring the city many times. Our plan, most often is to arrive in Ybor city just before sunset, grab a parking spot (public fee-based) and then walk to main street to capture street activity, people walking, shopping for cigars, and enjoying real Cuban dining on street tables. We particularly enjoy sharing a pitcher of Moheetos with friends at the Columbia restaurant - on bar stools. For dining, our favorite restaurant is Bernini's Italian restaurant. (Tip) ... the best time to go to that Bernini's lunch time, where you can enjoy excellent dining for half the price of a dinner meal.
To Do: Street walks (7th Ave); Cigar-making; Shopping; Sip Mojito's at the Columbia Restaurant at the bar; Dining; Tampa Bay Brewing Company; note: Off-street public parking available
About: To learn more about Ybor City - its history, geography, culture and more ... click here.
Photo Recommendations:
Other: Dining: Bernini Italian Restaurant - lunch; The Columbia for Mojito's (by the pitcher at the bar)
Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor_City
Visit Tampa Bay - Ybor ... https://www.visittampabay.com/districts/ybor-city/
In its heyday Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world where thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Latin workers produced cigars in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The area still retains its Latin legacy with it Spanish-style architecture, wrought iron balconies and cobblestone streets. Today, the area is a shopping and entertainment district with many shops, restaurants, bars and clubs.
From Tampa Today:
"The historic Latin quarter and former center of cigar manufacturing wears two hats today: a creamy Panama for daytime lunching, shopping, cigar smoking and coffee sipping, and a black fedora for the high-spirited playground it becomes at night."
- - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - -
Ybor city is definitely a 'must see' location in the Tampa Bay area. We have enjoyed photographing and touring the city many times. Our plan, most often is to arrive in Ybor city just before sunset, grab a parking spot (public fee-based) and then walk to main street to capture street activity, people walking, shopping for cigars, and enjoying real Cuban dining on street tables. We particularly enjoy sharing a pitcher of Moheetos with friends at the Columbia restaurant - on bar stools. For dining, our favorite restaurant is Bernini's Italian restaurant. (Tip) ... the best time to go to that Bernini's lunch time, where you can enjoy excellent dining for half the price of a dinner meal.
To Do: Street walks (7th Ave); Cigar-making; Shopping; Sip Mojito's at the Columbia Restaurant at the bar; Dining; Tampa Bay Brewing Company; note: Off-street public parking available
About: To learn more about Ybor City - its history, geography, culture and more ... click here.
Photo Recommendations:
- The Trolley Station
- Centro Ybor (renamed) from across the street
- The Columbia Restaurant (and door)
- Cigar-making
- Street scenes and cigar shops in action
- Interior architecture of restaurants
- Nighttime - people gathering, shops
Other: Dining: Bernini Italian Restaurant - lunch; The Columbia for Mojito's (by the pitcher at the bar)
Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor_City
Visit Tampa Bay - Ybor ... https://www.visittampabay.com/districts/ybor-city/
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