Columbia Restaurant

By VISIT FLORIDA staff
Published: July 17, 2009
Last Updated On: December 9, 2011

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Related Cities & Topics:

Sarasota

St Augustine

St Petersburg

Tampa

Clearwater Beach

Ybor City

Dining

Spanish Heritage

Lido Key

Florida's Spanish Colonial Heritage Trail

The Columbia, a Spanish restaurant with locations across Florida, is the oldest restaurant in the state.

Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., whose family originally was from Spain, The Columbia in Ybor City is "The World's Largest Spanish Restaurant," with 15 dining rooms and seating for up to 1,700 people. The Columbia is the oldest restaurant in Florida.

Today guest enjoy arroz con pollo and paella, along with a wine list recognized by Spain’s leading winemakers as the world’s most complete and best collection of wines from Spain.

The Columbia began in Tampa's Ybor City as a small 60-seat corner café serving the area's cigar rollers. Today guests enjoy arroz con pollo and paella, along with a wine list recognized by Spain's leading winemakers as the world's most complete and best collection of wines from Spain. Spanish flamenco dancing is featured live, Monday through Saturday night. Today, all Columbia Restaurants are owned and operated by 4th- and 5th-generation members of the founding family.

Columbia Locations:

In Tampa's Historic Ybor City, 813.248.4961

On St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, 941.388.3987

In Historic St. Augustine, 904.824.3341

Waterfront At the Pier in Downtown St. Petersburg, 727.822.8000

Water On Sand Key in Clearwater Beach, 727.596.8400

In Downtown Celebration, 407.566.1505

The Columbia Café on The Riverwalk, 813.229.5511