From cigar craftsmanship to Gilded Age splendor, this list blends beloved icons with neighborhood originals. Expect living history, indie creativity, and bold flavors that tell Tampa’s story. Go hungry, bring curiosity, and explore beyond the obvious.
Best Things to See in Tampa
10 Places
From cigar craftsmanship to Gilded Age splendor, this list blends beloved icons with neighborhood originals. Expect living history, indie creativity, and bold flavors that tell Tampa’s story. Go hungry, bring curiosity, and explore beyond the obvious.
Tampa Theatre
Movie theater
A 1926 movie palace where films begin with the Mighty Wurlitzer and monthly Balcony to Backstage tours reveal starlit ceilings and restoration secrets. Featured by Southern Living and celebrated by Fodor’s and BBC lists, it’s Tampa’s cultural heartbeat.
J.C. Newman Cigar Company
Manufacturer
Step inside El Reloj, America’s oldest family-owned cigar factory, still rolling by hand in Ybor City. Factory tours, a free museum, and hands-on rolling classes spotlight Tampa’s cigar heritage, often recommended by travel editors and local historians.
Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple
Buddhist temple
On Sundays, the riverside temple fills with the aroma of guiteow soup, grilled meats, and pandan sweets. The volunteer-run market funds the temple and welcomes everyone; local TV and community papers regularly highlight it as a singular Tampa experience.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Museum
Housed in the Moorish-inspired Tampa Bay Hotel, this museum channels Gilded Age glamour and Spanish‑American War history. Rotating exhibits and living‑history performances keep it dynamic, and critics consistently praise its evocative storytelling.
Tampa Bay History Center
History museum
A Smithsonian Affiliate on the Riverwalk exploring 12,000 years of regional stories—from Tocobaga to cigar workers. Timely exhibits on immigration and Florida fishing sit alongside a stellar map library; local outlets note its deep community ties.
Rooster & the Till
New American restaurant
Seminole Heights’ inventive standard-bearer, honored by the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand. An open kitchen, seasonal tasting menus, and cult favorites like the cobia collar show how Tampa cooks with global curiosity while staying resolutely local.
Oxford Exchange
American restaurant
A sunlit bookstore‑café and design-forward gathering place near the university, known for afternoon tea and author talks. Frequently lauded by food and travel writers, it blends literary culture with polished Tampa style without feeling corporate.
Shuffle
Bar
Florida’s first indoor shuffleboard bar pairs league nights and live music with scratch-made snacks. Covered by Spectrum News and Creative Loafing, it’s a welcoming, intergenerational hang that revives a classic Florida pastime in Tampa Heights.
Ulele
American restaurant
Set in a restored 1903 waterworks on the Riverwalk, Ulele cooks with Florida ingredients over a barbacoa grill and pours house‑brewed beers. Local and national outlets spotlight its native‑inspired menu and riverfront setting.
Skatepark of Tampa
Skatepark
A skater‑owned landmark since 1993 and home of Tampa Pro and Tampa Am. In 2025, international pros again filled the warehouse course, reaffirming SPoT’s global stature; music gigs and art shows add to the gritty, creative energy.
