In the last few months a new change in the downtown Tampa’s lodging and restaurants. It was a perfect day to experience and reconnect to the new growth of the downtown center. So it was off for a Mark & Carrie experience day.
We started on Harbor Island’s at Jackson’s. Pretty well known for the gorgeous view on the waterfront and to the tall skyscrapers that make up Tampa’s center. The view was exceptional with a clear bright sunny sky. Our waiter TJ is a regular down in GaYBOR District in Ybor City. The recommendations for lunch were
super. A pastrami burger for myself and for Mark, salmon over greens. It was really awesome. We were talked into a slice of freshly made cheesecake. Not sweet and super delicious!
A short walk to the downtown area passing Sheraton Hotel right next door was the new ALOFT Hotel on the corner of Kennedy Blvd & Ashley Drive. The transformed Merchant Bank & business center is right on the Hillsborough River over looking the bridges and the University of Tampa campus.
We adored the new check in foyer. Unique options are that you can get your room and go to your room without check-in at the desk by an app! Open airy space feel keeps the one of a kind boutique hotel on the brisk of idiomatic The smaller brother in a friendly chain from W Hotels. Trendy, Tech and Savvy with a touch of Splash are terms relating to this new capsuled hotel. !We then had the royal treatment with a special VIP tour of the new trendy hotel by our dear friend Crystal Rivera, Director of ALoft Tampa Downtown Sales.The hotel kept the inner cement columns and the very high open ceilings. The trademark WXYZ Bar is located on the first floor sleekly aside the outdoor pool. There is also a large firepit outdoors for a fun intimate setting. The hotel division started in 2005 and now have over 100 locations. In 2015 they expect to increase and double the ALOFT Hotel numbers around the world to 200.
A walk across the Gaslight Park to the renovated historic Federal Court House on Florida Avenue. The new Le Meridien Hotel is a charming warmth of European character. Keeping with character of the other Starwood Hotel partners, this is a luxurious & unique different feel for downtown Tampa. Inside is the French pastry bakery and restaurant, Bizou Brasserie which is along side the Longitude Bar. It is atop the buildings front tiered granite steps. The open original 2 story wood ceilings and marble floors and walls take you into a world other than Tampa, Florida. The wall separator is 20′ walls of shelved lot named wines. Maybe the Smithsonian Library and definitely not a federal court house feel. It is enriching to see.
Walking up to our next intended stop we passed the old HUB Bar location. This famed bar 1940’s bar was known for the “Hub Pour” meaning generously poured and strong. Vacant and along side an old newspaper convenience store and sandwich shop. Closed for many years and just there. Across the street was the old Woolworth Building still trimmed in chrome and red trim and JJ Newberry Dept Stores, both empty.They were used most recently during the 2012 GOP Republican National Convention.
The last stop for the tour was Floridan Palace Hotel. This 1926 nineteen story hotel (Floridan Hotel) was restored and is really a part of Tampa and Florida history. It was identified in 1928 as the tallest building in Florida. After a decade of being sealed up & closed down, wrecking balls were eyeing this ol’ darling. We had friends living on the 9th floor 20 years ago when it was a boarding house. Soldiers stayed during WWII and Korean War. The up & coming Rock & Roll King, Elvis Presley was said to have stayed there in 1956 when he played at the Old Ft Homer Hesterly Armory in West Tampa.
Old creeky elevators, beautiful marble floors and the ornate fixtures turned anyones brow hearing ghostly whispers of “Fix Me” back then. Now totally restored the historic hotel and the old Sapphire Lounge is in full force. We were told to try the “In between the Sheets” drink. This drink recipe was found when the remodeling started back in 2006. You’ll have to stop by to try it!
So that was our day out and experience the New downtown Tampa and more renovations and buildings are on the way.
