Places to visit in Tampa in 48 hours

Where I stayed

Palihouse in Hyde Park Village

Since it was only a two-night stay, we opted for a hotel rather than an Airbnb. We booked the Palihouse in Hyde Park Village. It’s a small boutique hotel above the shops with lots of shopping and eateries within walking distance. The hotel was charming, and the staff was great. The only downside was the hotel room doors. They are heavy, so they slam closed. We heard doors slamming constantly in a busy hotel in the early morning and late at night. I would not stay alone again for that reason. This is why people AirBNB despite not loving AirBNB.

However, the location was great and their beds are really comfortable.

Rooster and the Till

Each time I am in Tampa, I try to have dinner at Rooster and the Till. Nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of Seminole Heights, it has never failed to offer a food and drink experience. The vibe is slightly elevated without making you feel you’re in over your head. My love and affection for it, calling it my Strand in Tampa, was confirmed by its receipt of a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2023.

The Flan Factory

The Flan Factory might sound like it only serves up jiggly delights, but in fact there is a whole menu of Cuban fare in this cafe. On my visit I tried the flan and some croquettes. There are so many flavors of flan it’s a little overwhelming. Everything we tried was really good, and I would absolutely go back on another trip.

Elevation Coffee Heights

There are other coffee spots near Elevation, so you can make your own choice. However, I’ve been a fan of their drinks and their space on several visits. If you are in the area and need a quieter place to get some work done, I’d suggest Foundation. It doesn’t hurt that they have some cute outdoor art walls nearby.

Lucky Tigre

Lucky Tigre is one of those spots that ruins your food adventures when heading toward Tampa because it’s so good; it will keep you from trying new eateries because you want it every visit. The food is rooted in Filipino culture and other Asian influences. Since my last visit, they have moved locations, but no matter where you are hanging out in Tampa, please track them down. (they were on a holiday break on my last visit, and I was so bummed). Garlic jasmine rice, dumplings, lechon, lumpia, a feast of flavors that will make you so happy. Their drinks are not to be missed, either. They also have some vegan options.

Willa’s Provisions

Is Willa’s Provisions a trendy coffee shop? Yes. Are the coffee and bites worth it? Double yes. One of the most tragic coffee losses to Tampa was losing King State (which was my favorite spot for coffee and breakfast). At Willa’s, you can get King State coffee, and while they don’t have the perfect breakfast platters, they have tasty breakfast burritos that will satisfy you.

Elevenses Co

I learned about Elevenses because they hosted a Gilmore Girls pop-up weekend. It was all over my social media, and I had serious envy seeing how magical it all looked down to the yellow daisies. They host these well-done and perfectly themed pop-ups regularly, and I just had to wait for another one to come around. Seeing how well they executed everything and how picture-perfect it seemed, I feared it was too good to be true, and the pastries and coffee may be lacking. The more I see a place get posted, the less I trust it. Thankfully, I was woefully wrong; not only were the baked goods exquisite, but the coffee was solid as well.

Since then, they’ve had Lord of the Rings and Schitt’s Creek-themed weekends - I can’t wait to see what else they do. If you happen to visit on a regular day, you still won’t be disappointed.

Flatbread and Butter

I first visited Flatbread and Butter in St. Petersburg, and they now have a location in Downtown Tampa. They had good coffee and a tasty and affordable breakfast. The Tampa location isn’t quite as cozy, sitting at the bottom of a high rise in downtown, but the coffee was still as good.

I don’t think I would recommend getting a sit-down breakfast here based on what we got, but it's definitely a good spot for coffee if you are already in the area (which will be a paid parking area of downtown).

Chill Bros Scoop Shop

Over in Ybor City, this ice cream shop has huge waffle cones that I would suggest filling with a syrup of your choice and then adding in your dreamy, creamy layers with their homemade ice cream. The space, like many of the newer spots in Tampa, indulges in photo-ready colors and corners, making sharing your treats that much sweeter. Oatmeal cookie and pumpkin ice cream flavors hit the spot.

King of the Coop

Finding Hot Chicken in Orlando isn’t exactly an easy task (for now) so my cravings could finally be satisfied over at King of the Coop. Located in Seminole Heights (are you catching a theme here) is this modest operation where you literally watch your chicken get slapped, breaded, fried, and seasoned in front of your eyes as you wait.  Heat levels are up to you and noted on the menus.  I was so happy how the heat hit the back of my throat at the end of each bite without torturing me. For reference, I got the signature Nashville Hot heat level.  Also worthy of a shout out was the perfectly crisp and well-seasoned fries and the piping hot hush puppies that I slathered pimento cheese on.  I’m ready for round two.

Tacos Las Californias

A great spot for authentic birria tacos. When I visited, I went to the food truck located on Armenia Avenue, but it also has another location on Memorial Highway. Locals love them, and it's always a good idea if you're near them and need a taco fix. Sometimes Birria can be exceedingly greasy and make you regret your decision afterward, but that hasn’t happened with these to me… yet.

Mojo Books & Records

If an independent book/record store is something you are hunting for in Tampa, Mojo is a staple. They have a good selection of vinyl, and it’s bigger than what you may think when you step inside. There are also many books available here.

The Far Forest

This shop is tiny, but packed with vintage, with a pretty solid selection of home goods, books, clothes and more.

Big Redhead Vintage Toys

We always hit up this retro toy shop over in Seminole Heights. Bins of loosies, vintage on card, but not a lot of video games if that is what you are looking for.

Obviously there is a lot more to Tampa than this, but this was a relatively short trip but it’s a great start if you want to experience the parts of Tampa that are still down to earth and not overly bougie.