Have you ever wondered if these Insta-hyped bougie spots in Tampa are worth it? I break down 6 of these restaurants and bars below.
Tampa EDITION: Check it Out Once
It’s worth it to go once and see the grand indoor foliage on the first floor, famous spiral stairs, and the beautiful indoor and outdoor rooftop. Otherwise there is not much revisitability! We waited in line for 45 minutes a couple weeks after it opened to give in to the hype, and couple of the bars and restaurants that are a part of the whole thing weren’t even open. It was actually nice that the boys shamelessly walked into a cabana and arbitrarily claimed it as our own which made the experience a bit more fun and real.
PONTE: Definitely No
Ugh where do I start? The vibe was very “nice,” but like bland nice, not interesting nice. Good things I can say was I actually loved the full-bodied cab they recommended. Our vegetarian food was actually decent for the most part but we heard otherwise from our friends who ordered steaks and other things off the menu. The service was extremely slow, it was hard to tell if this was an effect of the need to be high-class or if it was just actually taking forever.
It was very nice of them to let us bring our own cake but once again it look so long for them to take the cake after the candles were blown, cut slices, and bring it back. We got to meet the chef in the kitchen since it was Van’s birthday which was very nice but also felt a little gimmicky and we were over it at that point. I would have much rather grabbed Xtreme Taco and spent the remainder of that money somewhere more gimmicky but less painful such as at Cake Drip’s champagne flight and chocolate-making experience.
Oxford Exchange: Yes-ish
Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes-ish. I think the revisitability comes from the diversity it offers with the bookshop, coffee shop, and champagne bar, so you don’t necessarily need to make that reservation for sit-down that is required so far in advance to have a nice experience here. The food is actually quite good with some great veggie options; very reminiscent of its sister restaurant The Library which I am so happy to have right at home at my hospital. There are a few spots to walk around outside of the OE area to check out if it’s just too packed or you’re just not feeling it, like the cute little Lady and the Mug coffee shop across the street.
Ciro’s Speakeasy: YES
This is one of the bougie spots in Tampa that IS worth it, and I stuck it in this post to provide some semblance of hope. I’m literally the biggest sucker for anything remotely speakeasy. This spot features a discrete wooden door hidden in the most unassuming place: nestled in a residential apartment complex. The inside provides a surprisingly comfy but also funky feel, with private booths on one side and open seating on the other. The drinks taste obviously extremely well-crafted by the bartenders and their staff seems to all have been working there for quite a while. Ciro’s remains hyped while still living up to a cool experience. The parking/valet situation was a nightmare but we found street parking pretty easily a few streets down.
OLIVIA: Nah
Overall the food was average, of course as always there WERE vegetarian options, but not GREAT ones. The drinks were pretty good. Parking was difficult and you either have to valet or wait forever for a spot in their tiny lot. I liked this one a little more than some of the others, but not my favorite place.
Hyde Park: Not Really an Apples to Apples Comparison But Yes
I’ve talked about Forbici in another post which I think I just liked because of the good company and pizza; BarTaco is always a good time I think for their more interesting decor and layout and system of picking your own variety of tacos, margs are great too. I haven’t been to several other spots like On Swann, but I have a feeling they will be similary overhyped and overpriced but not worth it, especially for vegetarians. I really do appreciate the nicer clothing shops, Sprinkles Cupcake vending machine, Capital One Cafe, and even the Candle Pour candle-making experience. Overall it’s a relatively small space for how packed the area is with businesses. But usually it’s a nice time even to walk around and peruse what HP has to offer.
Sunda: Yea
Sunda is one of the newest additions to the fancy Midtown Tampa. It actually delivered with a large setting and variety of Asian Fusion food. The drinks were a little overpriced but decent. I loved that they had blueberry and lychee Asian soda options, it made me feel like a little kid again! The service was fantastic, MUCH better than Ponte. It’s also located just below Sal Y Mar rooftop bar. This makes for the perfect pairing of a fancy night out that offers diversity and is not too basic. Overall I recommend checking Sunda out!
Predalina: Actually Yes
Predalina exceeded our expectations! It’s obviously a very beautiful restaurant situated in a really nice spot near Amalie Arena and Sparkman Wharf in Tampa. It’s Mediterranean-inspired fare was very flavorful and the cheese and crispy layered potatoes were particularly amazing. This is one spot I would actually return to for both the ambience AND the food.
Jekyll: Yes!!!
Jekyll is the classiest but not pretentious speakeasy located in the back of the bagel shop Sesame in Hyde Park, Tampa. Its decor is sophisticated and the service was really great. My favorite part was the tinctures of an assortment of flavors complete with a recipe guide. This wway you could customize your cocktail (or mocktail in my 12 weeks pregnant case) all by yourself! Make sure to make a reservation in advance!
All in all, I think there is always a push to be a part of the “bougie” scene in Tampa Bay. As soon as a very high-end spot opens up, social media explodes with the photos of these new high-end spots as if they are crying “you MUST visit and take a pic here if you are worth anything!!!” The best spots bougie spots in Tampa that are worth it offer a variety of experiences and options. A little bit of something for everyone like OE and HP. The worst are the standalone restaurants that don’t do enough uniqueness to the table.
There are so many more nice spots I want to try in Tampa. I’m going to think more carefully and research in advance what I think will fit my taste, dietary restrictions, and patience. Next spot might be Noble Rice (which just earned Michelin star “recommendation”). What have your experiences been at these spots? Lemme know what you guys think!!!
