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Ybor CIty, Tampa
- Thread starter alexgtp
- Start date
grateful1
Oh My!
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 19,606
I'm down to Fla about once a year...usually head to Ybor a couple times during my vacation. Metropolitan cigar has the best prices while King Corona the best atmosphere----> Bar/Ceegar shop/Barber! - yes- I've had a haircut while smokin' a nice Fuente!!
The Columbia restaurant has great - AWSOME - meal and is not to overboard$$$...although I did find a new restaurant that I would head back to ..it served crepes.
The local rolling shops are nice to stop in and I have had some nice cheap smokes!
Daytime is mellow and casual...nightitme on weekends--->all the clubs open up and 7th ave gets closed from 15th-22nd. The Green Iguana servers some great apps..
Parking in the town garage is recommended. Don't stray off the main drag late at night - especailly on the weekends. It's just not worth the hassle.
There's also a new area in Tampa...west of Ybor...younger, 'yuppie-ish' crowd...not really a cigar spot...but nice restaraunts and shops. I'll have to get back to you with the location/name.
Let me know if you'd like more info....I've been going to Tmapa regularly for over 20yrs.
CC can check my spelling...I'm in a rush...all typos and grammar are up for grabs.
Later!
(edited)
The Columbia restaurant has great - AWSOME - meal and is not to overboard$$$...although I did find a new restaurant that I would head back to ..it served crepes.
The local rolling shops are nice to stop in and I have had some nice cheap smokes!
Daytime is mellow and casual...nightitme on weekends--->all the clubs open up and 7th ave gets closed from 15th-22nd. The Green Iguana servers some great apps..
Parking in the town garage is recommended. Don't stray off the main drag late at night - especailly on the weekends. It's just not worth the hassle.
There's also a new area in Tampa...west of Ybor...younger, 'yuppie-ish' crowd...not really a cigar spot...but nice restaraunts and shops. I'll have to get back to you with the location/name.
Let me know if you'd like more info....I've been going to Tmapa regularly for over 20yrs.
CC can check my spelling...I'm in a rush...all typos and grammar are up for grabs.
Later!
(edited)
stevehawk
'Member? C'mon you 'member!
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 4,107
There was a great article about Ybor City in the Southwest Airline magazine on the flight home from the CP Herf. It's a very cigar-centric place according to the article -- steeped in cigar history and very cigar-friendly.
I took my copy off the plane, so I still have it. I'll see if there's any mention of an on-line link to the article. If so, I'll post it up.
I took my copy off the plane, so I still have it. I'll see if there's any mention of an on-line link to the article. If so, I'll post it up.
I lived in Tampa for 2 years and still keep the house. Greatful1 covered the basics. What else do you want to know?
edit: I've been to the Colombia and Tampa Sweetheart more times than I care to count. You MUST eat at Burn's Steak House...the top 5 wine lists in the US. Want a 65 Cab. for $150 that would be marked close to $1000 elsewhere? All over the wine list. Last I heard they had the 3rd largest cellar.
edit: I've been to the Colombia and Tampa Sweetheart more times than I care to count. You MUST eat at Burn's Steak House...the top 5 wine lists in the US. Want a 65 Cab. for $150 that would be marked close to $1000 elsewhere? All over the wine list. Last I heard they had the 3rd largest cellar.
All the info about the hot spots.
things to do
cigar shops to visit
and places to eat and stay would be appreciated.
Can you scan the article?
things to do
cigar shops to visit
and places to eat and stay would be appreciated.
Can you scan the article?
jgohlke
My other hobby
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
- Messages
- 990
If you have the time (and the $$)...Bern's is great to place to have dinner and dessert.
Visit Tampa Sweethearts and you'll probably talk to one of the Fuente's...Don't let the dumpy exterior scare you off (my wife kept asking, "Are you sure this is the place?").
Visit Tampa Sweethearts and you'll probably talk to one of the Fuente's...Don't let the dumpy exterior scare you off (my wife kept asking, "Are you sure this is the place?").
Who is in your group? (wife, friend...)
What's your budget?
Why are you coming?
How long will you stay?
All the pertinent details.
stevehawk
'Member? C'mon you 'member!
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 4,107
There's no link to the article on line. I can scan it sometime over the next few days.
stogieman
" Herf King "
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2002
- Messages
- 18,306
Gary (grateful1) covered it really well and if you do go and think thatyou missed some shopping in the day, a lot of the cigar shops are open late at night as well. I'd also state that the street partying on the weekend is great and you might want to start with a tall frozen drink at Adobie Gilas in Centre City and go from there........ 
:thumbs:
:thumbs: 
MiamiCubano
El Martillo (My Boxing Name)
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2003
- Messages
- 3,875
I lived in/on St. Pete Beach for awhile too, which is a drive over the Howard Frankland Bridge from Tampa and then Ybor. Used to go to Ybor frequently as St. Pete Beach was just too damn sleepy for me and Ybor had a pretty good night life scene. As others have said, you need to hit Berns' Steakhouse. Ol' Man Berns died a while back, but the place is still ran perfectly and produces the finest steak around. Avoid other steakhouses in the area such as Charleys and Sam Seltzer's. For a real treat, late-nite, Bern's has a little off-shoot right next to it called Side-Berns which has really great tapas and dim sum. Good stuff, very much worth trying.
There's always Hyde Park to hit too, some good little boutique-y shopping and dining. All depends on who you are with. If you are married as I am, I usually had to hit this area to appease the wife whenever I went back to the Tampa area.
Ybor...others have hit on it very well. The Green Iguana is a happening night life place if you're into that. Nice viewing and possibilities with the broads too. Of course, you need to hit Tampa Sweetheart when you are in Ybor too.
grateful1
Oh My!
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Messages
- 19,606
http://www.ybor.org/
http://ybor.tbo.com/
http://www.ybor.org/shopping/shopping2.asp?catid=CIGARS
Channelside is the other area that I referred too.
http://ybor.tbo.com/
http://www.ybor.org/shopping/shopping2.asp?catid=CIGARS
Channelside is the other area that I referred too.
No budget...Things just got fun.
Stay here (the Don) or here (the Grand Hyatt). The Wyndham Westshore is also a choice due to Don Shula's being on site.
You will eat here (Burn's), here (Columbia) and here.
You will make a separate reservation for dessert at Burn's. You will also remember that Burn's has european service. This means that a gratuity of 15% is included for ALL checks. While at Burn's you will take the tour (ask for it, if not offered). You WILL get your fill of wine at Burn's. From this visit on, you will feel sticker shock when you look at every other restaurant's wine list. You will have a bottle of wine from the year you were born. You more than likely can afford it, at Burn's.
You will make reservations for the dinner show at the Columbia. It is a little cheesy, but can be great fun with the right group. You will make the reservations for the day you visit Ybor. The time should be 7:00 or later. You will arrive several hours early. You will visit every single cigar shop on Main St. You will visit Tampa Sweethearts last.
You may want to time the Ybor trip so that the non-BOTLs can take in a movie at the adults only Muvico (leather seats and higher grade of snacks including beer/wine, not porn). The adult theaters are part of the regular theaters, which are attached to several shops. You will want to leave the non-BOTLs here. Otherwise your good time may be ruined. For a cigar lover Main St in Ybor (Cigar City) is like Main St in the Magic Kingdom. You will need to look in every shop and get a haircut. Yes, you CAN do that at both the Magic Kingdom and Ybor City, but only one allows you to smoke during. You will bring NO cigars with you, but you will bring a cutter and your preferred lighting method. You will dress for the weather (usually hot). The Tommy Bahama look would be great. If it's summer and it's between Noon and 3:00 it will rain. The rain will not last long. Sometimes the rain may only be a few drops, but it will rain. You will buy more cigars than you planned. You will treat every roller you see with the respect and awe that he is due, for the many years of pleasure his kind has brought you. You will only buy sticks, going up the street. You will check prices on your favorite boxes. You will ask for match packs and write the prices down on them.
You will go to Tampa Sweethearts. You will buy a box and have a Fuente sign it. You will then buy the largest Opus, Anejo or Maduro Hemingway on the shelf, light it and have your picture taken with said Fuente while smoking it. You will then walk back toward the Columbia for dinner. At this time you may stop and buy your boxes. If you have a car take your purchases to the car.
Call those at the mall and ask if they have anything that needs to go to the car. Collect if necessary. Deposit in the car. You did park in the garage, right? You also put the cooler-dor in the trunk, right? What, you didn't think you would buy that much, right? You just visited BOTL Disney World...be realistic. Meet your party back at the Columbia for dinner.
While at the Columbia, you will have the Palomilla (a thin steak covered with onions and lime, served with black beans, yellow rice and plantains). Your nicotine numbed pallet will be able to taste little else on the menu and the meal will still taste fantastic. If you were a light smoker, try any of the Grouper dishes or the bacon wrapped shrimp dish. The paella is good but trite. Order a very large pitcher of sangria...enjoy the show...eat desert...spill out into the street. Main St. Ybor at night is Tampa's version of Bourbon St (sans strip clubs) only much tamer. Let the driver walk off the sangria while the others hop a few bars. Go back to your hotel. Put the cooler-dor in a safe place. Sleep with the Magic Kingdom glow.
Your last night will be spent at Armani's. You will wear a jacket. You will snicker as you walk by the bar, because most of the Ravens had to dine there (durring superbowl week) because they forgot thiers. You will have the anti-pasta bar as an appetizer, no arguments. You will look at the wine list. You will wish you had more wine when you were at Burn's. You will then have a bowl of the lobster bisque, one of the best ever. My wife and I have dined at many of the world's finest eateries. Please take my word for it. If you like lobster bisque, this is THE one. If you don't like soup, you will have a half order of pasta. You will then have an entree of your liking, followed by desert. You will experience a food coma. You will find a nice spot, back at your hotel, to smoke a cigar (downstairs if you are staying at the Grand Hyatt). You will sleep the sleep of the dead.
If its a huge HERF you may want to make Ybor the first day...stocking up.
Other things not to miss...
Cuban Bread (everywhere)
Cuban Sandwiches
Cuban Coffee (the best shop closed...damn you Starbucks, damn you to hell)
A grouper sandwich at Frenchy's in Indian Rocks Beach
The beaches
The Crab Shack
The Hurricane
The Salt Rock Grill
Fresh orange juice from the Garden of Eatin' on Westshore Dr.
Malio's
A mozzarella, basil & tomato sandwich from Pane Rustica (Review)
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Ringling Museum & Estate
The Salvador Dali Museum
Things to avoid...You'll just be disappointed...
The Hard Rock
The Mons Venus
The original Hooters
Anything that involves free theme park tickets
I'll be adding to these lists over the next few days.
Anything else you want to know?
Edit: More things to do...
Stay here (the Don) or here (the Grand Hyatt). The Wyndham Westshore is also a choice due to Don Shula's being on site.
You will eat here (Burn's), here (Columbia) and here.
You will make a separate reservation for dessert at Burn's. You will also remember that Burn's has european service. This means that a gratuity of 15% is included for ALL checks. While at Burn's you will take the tour (ask for it, if not offered). You WILL get your fill of wine at Burn's. From this visit on, you will feel sticker shock when you look at every other restaurant's wine list. You will have a bottle of wine from the year you were born. You more than likely can afford it, at Burn's.
You will make reservations for the dinner show at the Columbia. It is a little cheesy, but can be great fun with the right group. You will make the reservations for the day you visit Ybor. The time should be 7:00 or later. You will arrive several hours early. You will visit every single cigar shop on Main St. You will visit Tampa Sweethearts last.
You may want to time the Ybor trip so that the non-BOTLs can take in a movie at the adults only Muvico (leather seats and higher grade of snacks including beer/wine, not porn). The adult theaters are part of the regular theaters, which are attached to several shops. You will want to leave the non-BOTLs here. Otherwise your good time may be ruined. For a cigar lover Main St in Ybor (Cigar City) is like Main St in the Magic Kingdom. You will need to look in every shop and get a haircut. Yes, you CAN do that at both the Magic Kingdom and Ybor City, but only one allows you to smoke during. You will bring NO cigars with you, but you will bring a cutter and your preferred lighting method. You will dress for the weather (usually hot). The Tommy Bahama look would be great. If it's summer and it's between Noon and 3:00 it will rain. The rain will not last long. Sometimes the rain may only be a few drops, but it will rain. You will buy more cigars than you planned. You will treat every roller you see with the respect and awe that he is due, for the many years of pleasure his kind has brought you. You will only buy sticks, going up the street. You will check prices on your favorite boxes. You will ask for match packs and write the prices down on them.
You will go to Tampa Sweethearts. You will buy a box and have a Fuente sign it. You will then buy the largest Opus, Anejo or Maduro Hemingway on the shelf, light it and have your picture taken with said Fuente while smoking it. You will then walk back toward the Columbia for dinner. At this time you may stop and buy your boxes. If you have a car take your purchases to the car.
Call those at the mall and ask if they have anything that needs to go to the car. Collect if necessary. Deposit in the car. You did park in the garage, right? You also put the cooler-dor in the trunk, right? What, you didn't think you would buy that much, right? You just visited BOTL Disney World...be realistic. Meet your party back at the Columbia for dinner.
While at the Columbia, you will have the Palomilla (a thin steak covered with onions and lime, served with black beans, yellow rice and plantains). Your nicotine numbed pallet will be able to taste little else on the menu and the meal will still taste fantastic. If you were a light smoker, try any of the Grouper dishes or the bacon wrapped shrimp dish. The paella is good but trite. Order a very large pitcher of sangria...enjoy the show...eat desert...spill out into the street. Main St. Ybor at night is Tampa's version of Bourbon St (sans strip clubs) only much tamer. Let the driver walk off the sangria while the others hop a few bars. Go back to your hotel. Put the cooler-dor in a safe place. Sleep with the Magic Kingdom glow.
Your last night will be spent at Armani's. You will wear a jacket. You will snicker as you walk by the bar, because most of the Ravens had to dine there (durring superbowl week) because they forgot thiers. You will have the anti-pasta bar as an appetizer, no arguments. You will look at the wine list. You will wish you had more wine when you were at Burn's. You will then have a bowl of the lobster bisque, one of the best ever. My wife and I have dined at many of the world's finest eateries. Please take my word for it. If you like lobster bisque, this is THE one. If you don't like soup, you will have a half order of pasta. You will then have an entree of your liking, followed by desert. You will experience a food coma. You will find a nice spot, back at your hotel, to smoke a cigar (downstairs if you are staying at the Grand Hyatt). You will sleep the sleep of the dead.
If its a huge HERF you may want to make Ybor the first day...stocking up.
Other things not to miss...
Cuban Bread (everywhere)
Cuban Sandwiches
Cuban Coffee (the best shop closed...damn you Starbucks, damn you to hell)
A grouper sandwich at Frenchy's in Indian Rocks Beach
The beaches
The Crab Shack
The Hurricane
The Salt Rock Grill
Fresh orange juice from the Garden of Eatin' on Westshore Dr.
Malio's
A mozzarella, basil & tomato sandwich from Pane Rustica (Review)
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Ringling Museum & Estate
The Salvador Dali Museum
Things to avoid...You'll just be disappointed...
The Hard Rock
The Mons Venus
The original Hooters
Anything that involves free theme park tickets
I'll be adding to these lists over the next few days.
Anything else you want to know?
Edit: More things to do...
