Ybor City is the bar crawl capital of Tampa, but not only that, this little historic Latin neighborhood makes some of the finest cigars in the world, has music filled streets, an eclectic range of restaurants and did I mention bars? Lots and lots of bars. I mean, like a lot of them.
The Beginning
Ybor City was founded in 1880 by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar-makers. He began life in Spain and moved to Cuba at the age of 14 in order to avoid being conscripted into Spain’s military.
He got into the cigar-making business in Havana and had a hit with his brand El Principe de Gales (Prince of Wales). However, in 1868 the Ten Year’s War broke out (Spain vs. Cuba) and he had to flee because of his support for the Cuban rebels.
He went to Key West and established his cigar factory there, but he soon had labor issues and transportation issues. Time to move again.
He decided to move his base of operations to Galveston, TX, but a friend recommended he check out Tampa, FL. So he did and it was perfect. He bought 40 acres of scrubland northeast of Tampa in October 1885 and got to work.
Other cigar-makers moved in, drawing Cuban (and other) workers to the area and eventually, Ybor City became the cigar-making capital of the world.
To combat the labor unrest he dealt with in Key West and to keep the cigar-makers year round (it was common practice for the workforce to bounce around from Tampa, Cuba and other factories), Vicente Martinez-Ybor built Ybor City into a company town–cheap housing that workers could buy, civic clubs, and mutual aid societies.
The plan worked. The city flourished and so did the Ybor City cigar industry. Vicente Martinez-Ybor took his money and started many other businesses in Tampa too–a brewery, a hotel, an ice factory, a gas company, a brick factory, an insurance company, a streetcar line.
When Vicente Martinez-Ybor died on December 14, 1896 many businesses closed for his funeral and he was greatly honored in Tampa. The Tampa Tribune ran the headline “Great Benefactor Gone.” An end of an era.
Peak, Decline, Rejuvenation
Ybor City hit its peak in 1929 when 500 million cigars were produced. Residents were living vibrant, productive lives.
Then, the Great Depression hit and everything changed. The demand for high-quality cigars declined. Cigar-makers lost their jobs. Businesses closed. The workers moved on.
The notable exception was the Columbia Restaurant, which continued to draw and entertain customers.
Ybor City continued to struggle. Building were demolished. The lots left empty. I-4 was rammed through the center of the city, plowing through anything in its path.
And yet, the spirit of the city continued to live on…
The city slowly started to transform. Artists, attracted by the architecture and cheap cost of living were drawn in. Nightlife, such as bars and clubs, moved into the old abandoned buildings.
By the 1990s, Ybor City was an incredibly popular destination for people looking to celebrate, drink and have a good time and that trend has continued to the present day.
Visiting Ybor City
Long ago, Ybor City covered more ground but when I-4 was built the city was cut in half. Today, when people talk about Ybor City they mean the section south of I-4, and even more specifically, 7th Avenue.
There is a city parking garage at 1500 E. 5th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605. There are also a number of parking lots scattered around the 7th Avenue area with pay kiosks that take cash and credit card.
Once parked, there is a lot to explore. I suggest starting with a stroll down 7th Avenue to take in the sights and sounds and to see if any bar or restaurant catches your eye.
Where To Eat And Drink
I haven’t even come close to sampling everything Ybor City has to offer, still, I’ve tried out enough places to make a few suggestions.
The Columbia Restaurant is the most iconic in Ybor City. Established in 1905 and still going strong after a century and still family owned and operated. The 1905 salad is a popular menu option. And guys, this is a good place to bring your gal on a date. It’s a restaurant from another time and place.
Gaspar’s Grotto is a pirate-themed bar and restaurant. You can get a cheap beer and shot of whiskey here. I recommend their Cuban sandwich if you dine here. This is my favorite bar in Ybor City.
Add a touch of class to your evening at the Ybor City Wine Bar. Sample the finest wines and beer in town.
The Bad Monkey is a military themed bar with great pub grub. Definitely stop for a drink if you get a chance. They get bonus points for being named after a Carl Hiaasen novel.
The James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery is a beautiful little pub that serves traditional Irish beer and grub. Also, they know how to properly pour a Guinness.
The Castle, located on 16th Street, is only recommended for those willing to experience something, well, a bit different. Is it a goth club? A gay club? Nobody really knows. But it’s fun and you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in Tampa.
Again, these are just a few suggestions to help you get started because once there, you’ll see about a hundred different options, and it might be nice to have a few recommendations to check out.
Other Things To Do
The Ybor City Museum State Park is just $4 entry and will give a fun overview of the history of the city.
Also, you should grab a cigar* as some of the finest cigars in the world are made at the little shops in Ybor City. If you haven’t really had a cigar before, you’ll be safe by starting with something that is citrusy.
Then you can grab a ride on the trolley. The trolley runs from Ybor City all the way to Channelside and Cutis Hixon Park, which has great things to do such as the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa Museum of Art, and Henry B. Plant Museum, just to name a few.
So, yup. You should definitely check out Ybor City next time you get the chance and I hope this guide helped you gain a bit of an understanding about the area!
If you really want to dig in and get more information, here are some books that have helped me write this article and/or find a better appreciation of Ybor City (and if you use my Amazon links you will help support this website!):
- A Wake In Ybor City by Jose Yglesias
- Ybor City Chronicles: A Memoir by Ferdie Pacheco
- Ybor City (Images of America: Florida)
- Immigrant World of Ybor City: Italians and Their Latin Neighbors in Tampa, 1885-1985 by Gary R. Mormino and George E. Pozzetta
*Yeah, I know. Cigars are bad but Big Macs, Starbucks Milkshakes Coffee, and binge watching Netflix until 2:00am is good.
