Known as the former “Cigar Capital of the World,” Ybor City’s brick-lined streets offer its visitors unexpected surprises. This area was once occupied by Cuban, Spanish, Italian and German immigrants. Today it is designated as one of three National Historic Landmark districts in Florida.

Walking through the neighborhood in the morning, you can smell the aroma of Cuban coffee brewing, in the afternoon your taste buds will feast on Spanish delights and in the evening the Salsa beats and rhythms will have you dancing the night away….

 

Ybor City is well-known for its vintage stores, restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops, bars and dance clubs. You will also find antiques, gothic statues and handcrafted Spanish ceramics and tiles. For the cigar aficionados, buying Cuban hand-rolled cigars is as simple as walking into the old brick buildings of this historic district.

 

A clothing store you must visit is Revolve Clothing Exchange. It is not your everyday type of shop since they buy, sell, and swap clothing and accessories directly with their customers. This allows them to offer an eclectic and vintage mix and affordable and discounted merchandise. The Mermaid’s Slipper is an enchanting shop, next to the lovely Tea Rose Cottage.  It is filled with unique handmade jewelry, handbags, hand painted silks and whimsical art and blown glass.

 

While exploring Ybor City and the hunger kicks in, you must go to the Columbia Restaurant. It has received several prestigious culinary awards among them the “Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award of Excellence" earlier this year; and was recognized as "One of the Top 25 Restaurants in Florida” by Florida Trend Magazine several years in a row. My preferred dishes are snapper Alicante, and Paella "a la Valencia," rice combined with shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, chicken and pork!  Delicious… Not to be missed is their evening Flamenco Shows. 

Enjoy! Ciao.