The 32 best boutiques in Tampa (2024)

This is a well oiled machine. From the moment we arrived we enjoyed the professional staff who genuinely seemed to enjoy working there. The restaurant is beautiful and every presentation shows attention to detail. We had a private room for 15 guests that was lovely. Slight smell of mold, but that’s the smell of old Florida. Our Cuban guests enjoyed the food as much as we did. We had every appetizer…the garlic shrimp was my favorite. The 1905 salad is a must, the paella is perfect and every dessert was delicious! We had both pitchers of the white and red sangria and there is a nice gift shop next door where you can buy the pitchers, coffee, and painted stoneware.

Amazing food, great atmosphere, fun experience, and this is our second time here, so we had to try different entrées, which were also excellent. We brought family with us this time too. We walked around to see some of the dining rooms after finishing our meal and the restaurant decor is so interesting. Every room is completely different!

My group had an amazing experience at The Columbia last night. Our waitress, Courtney, was fantastic and took great care of us. I gave her 3 menu options and let her pick my meal and she absolutely nailed it. The stuffed grouper was phenomenal. One of the best dishes I’ve had in years. The devil crab croquettes were to die for. The salad … I don’t know if i just wasn’t expecting much or if an angel made it, but the 905 is extraordinary. I will no doubt be back!!!

We took our chances, going on a Saturday, late afternoon, without reservations, but were fortunate enough to get in, and the experience was well worth it! The venue is old world magnificence, the ambiance elegant, the service spectacular and the food absolutely delicious.I don't think you could go wrong with any of the dishes - our party of three each chose very different items and were all delighted. Personally I was delighted with the Spanish bean soup in particular. Wholesome, hearty, satisfying on almost a molecular level, with enough spice to tickle my taste buds without burning them down.When you go (because there is no if - you should!), ask for the history of the statue! Absolutely added to the gravitas of the venue!

A true food palace--this is not simply just another Cuban restaurant. It is an absolute masterpiece. The quality of food and ambience makes this place something that is truly special. Something you should not miss! I'm in awe of the Columbia And I cannot wait to go back again. I had the paella and it was truly excellent! I would also recommend sitting at the bar if you get a chance. Make a reservation and get there now!

Fantastic food, atmosphere, and service! This restaurant has a lot of history & an amazing menu. Drinks were delicious as was the food. Great price for the amount of food we got. If you're anywhere near here stop in and try it. Worth the wait to get in.

I did not realize this was the oldest restaurant in all of Florida until after we left out. The atmosphere was amazing! It felt like you were in the old country! The beautiful design and architecture really stood out. This place had such character and you could just see the history and all the hard work that went into it over the years. The story itself of how it came about is remarkable. The list of people who used to come in and the current ones are mind blowing. The service was excellent and the portions were big and the price was very fair. The food was amazing and you could just taste the authenticity. I wanted to get desert, but after the bread and the calamari and the Sangria, I couldn’t eat another thing. I can not wait until the next time I am back in Tampa, I will certainly be back! A heads up, this place gets busy so I suggest making your reservations well in advance. The parking is not the easiest to find once it gets busy, the lot fills up.

Really neat place filled with history. The architecture of the building was stunning, and it was so nice to see the waiters dressed up. It felt as though I was stepping back in time. The waiter, John, was very knowledgeable about the place, menu options, and just an all-around nice guy. The food was very good though a little too much sauce for me. I would highly recommend this place for an occasional visit as the prices are pretty high, but understandably so.

Excellent dinner dining experience with my family! The restaurant is a magnificent piece of old Latin art, with multiple dining area…each with its own unique ambience. Our waiter (Jim) was extremely knowledgeable about many aspects of the restaurant, from its long history to the food. The menu was creative, but not overwhelming. The food was very well seasoned and served in a very reasonable amount of time. I would definitely recommend trying this spot!

Beautiful restaurant, great menu, very good service and excellent food..I couldn't decide what to order.We started with red Sangria and a Mango co*cktail.We had gazpacho and stuffed mushrooms as appetizers. Cuban sandwich and lobster canellonies.Everything was excellent

Absolutely delicious food all around. The scallop tapas was so good I almost cried at the table. Our waiter was fabulous and did not lead us astray once with their recommendations. The paella was perfect and I've never been so sad that I needed a to-go box, I wish I had room to eat it all when it was hot and fresh. Definitely come hungry as every bite is worth it. Us and everyone in line around us had made a reservation, so I would suggest - for dinner especially - you do the same.

Kourtney you did such an incredible job making our anniversary memorable. Thank you for taking care of our table, you are just the sweetest!! Thank you so much to everyone on the team for living up to the historically memorable experience of dining at Columbia. Thank you Benjamin for the tour you gave us, I have a passion for culinary arts and meeting your team was a memorable experience. Needless to say, we will be coming back!

The building is beautiful inside and out! The servers are all so sweet as well! As a free appetizer, each person at the table receives a half loaf of bread and butter. It is crumbly and has a great taste!I ordered “The Original Cuban Sandwich” with a “1905 Side Salad.”Although I wasn’t a big fan of the side salad very much, the sandwich had a pleasant taste. The whole table shared a bunch of the desserts on the menu, and we loved every single one of them!The whole experience here was a blast, and the little store attached to the restaurant is a must as well!10/10

This is iconic Tampa!! I take anyone who visits me to this amazing historical marker in Ybor City. The roots of the city is in the food at this restaurant. Cuban and amazing! I always order freshly muddled red sangria served in a beautiful ceramic pitcher. And the 1905 salad which gets mixed at your table and of course their initial course of freshly toasted Cuban bread is always a hit with newcomers. The building is a museum with so much to look at and the ambience is classic Cuban Tampa. Everyone who visits should experience this place, and if you don’t wanna wait in line for a table, go left at the front door to the original restaurant and sit at the beautiful bar - there’s usually a spot.

Really exceptional experience this evening at Columbia Restaurant. This classic and iconic Florida destination boasts exceptional food with a staff of over 200 people to make an exceptional dining experience. The restaurant can seat over 1700 people and they’re always busy, which ought to tell you just how good and flavorful the food is. You’ve got to snag the 1905 salad, sangria, and the paella undoubtedly for a traditional experience. Expect a bit of a wait even with a reservation, but it’ll undoubtedly be worth it.✅ There is a dress code - you should be mindful and dress for the occasion✅ Would highly recommend making reservations in advance✅ Great for larger groups and folks seeking entertainment options (Flamenco show starts at 7 PM)(Shoutout to Mike - our server tonight - who was considerate and attentive and made our experience at the restaurant even better)

Columbia is a Tampa institution, and rightfully so. They’re the oldest restaurant in the state and a lot of their menu staples seem unchanged by food trends in the best way. Their menu includes timeless classics prepared with long-standing techniques and great ingredients.Their 1905 salad is the perfect balance of crisp, tangy, and salty. The crab croquettes are spicy, slightly crunchy on the outside, and a soft seafood flavor throughout. You can’t beat their main courses either! Save room for dessert, especially their white chocolate bread pudding which offers a crispy exterior and soft bread inside. I’m not big on white chocolate, but this is perfect because it’s not cloyingly sweet at all.There’s plenty of free parking across the street. There’s also a gift shop where you can grab some of their signature dishes, pitchers, seasonings, and sangria mix.Highly recommend getting a reservation if you’re visiting anytime during the weekends.

I mean, y’all 😍 EVERYTHING here was amazing. The food, service, reasonable prices, atmosphere, architecture, dining rooms, everything! Our whole experience was phenomenal. Loved reading the history of Columbia House on their website while in the restaurant, such a nice touch! Photos below are of the building and what I ordered (Chicken Salteado 😋). Our whole group loved this restaurant and their meals! Can’t wait to return.

Gorgeous old building with so much history and character. But this is a 5 star review because of the food and the outstanding service. We didn’t have to ask for a thing. Our server was attentive, on top of things and entertaining and knowledgeable about the restaurant and it’s history. This place is a must visit in Tampa!

1905 Salad, Cuban bread, Paella, and Sangria, with Key Lime pie for dessert. Diego was accommodating and had a great sense of humor. We were seated in the Garden Room and the atmosphere was lovely. We were easily able to have some lovely conversation without straining to be heard. A beautiful meal in beautiful surroundings. This place is a must for anyone wanting a true taste of Tampa and Ybor City. Make a reservation, otherwise you can have an hour or more wait.

Wow! These place was amazing! 15 dining rooms under one roof and 5 star service anywhere you went. One can truly feel the history and the family's dedication to providing a top quality experience. Our server James went the extra mile in all that he did and even kind enough to take me and my girlfriend on a short tour. There was two live performances happening when we were there and didn't want to leave. Highly recommend this place. Can't wait to return and eat in a different part to experience it in another way

During my visit to Columbia for dinner with a large group, I encountered some ups and downs. I began by sitting at the bar before my companions arrived and noticed that the restaurant was quite busy, which was expected. However, I wasn't particularly impressed with the coffee I ordered, as it lacked the desired potency.On a more positive note, the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the flamenco show that provided entertainment throughout the evening. The dancers were truly excellent, especially during a particularly mesmerizing routine where they maintained beautiful smiles. It was a joy to watch.As for the decor, it wasn't surprising to find it a bit dated, considering Columbia's long history within the Tampa community. This traditional touch, though outdated, presented a certain nostalgic charm.Moving on to the food, the Caesar salad was an enjoyable starting course, while my main dish was also satisfying. It wasn't remarkable, but it didn't disappoint either.Overall, my experience at Columbia was decent.

Fantastic place for lunch or dinner. Lots of seafood options - went with the classic 1905 salad which was excellent, every bite had a great balance of flavor and refreshing, especially the tomatoes.Cuban sandwich was above average - bread was fresh and there was a perfect balance to all of the ingredients.Only thing we didn’t love were the crab croquettes - they were just slightly overdone.Service was fantastic and the restaurant itself is a piece of artwork.

It's a large, very busy restaurant with a well trained and very attentive wait staff. Our server, Aaron, was outstanding. We had starters of crab croquettes and the 1905 salad, along with warm Cuban bread. All were very tasty. For entrees, I had a seafood special with mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops over rice. It was delicious. My husband had crab stuffed shrimp with rice. The rice was slightly undercooked. Our co*cktails were great. Dessert was the white chocolate bread pudding, unique and excellent. It was a lovely dining experience. We recommend it.

The Columbia Restaurant was established in 1905 in Tampa's Ybor City. It has since grown to become Florida's oldest continuously operating restaurant and the world's biggest Spanish restaurant. The establishment boasts 15 dining rooms, with a capacity to seat 1600 guests, and employs approximately 260 personnel.It's interesting that you can request a tour of the restaurant. When we asked for a tour, Seth Davis gave us an amazing 45-minute tour. He shared the restaurant's history and showed us around 15 different dining rooms, including the enormous kitchen. The restaurant has an impressive history and beautiful rooms, each unique. I highly recommend requesting a tour.The food and service are top-notch, with large portions, vegetarian options, and great desserts.Overall, I suggest visiting this fantastic restaurant.

My husband and I just enjoyed another wonderful meal at Columbia. We loved the gazpacho, the Cuban sandwich, the 1905 salad and the bread pudding. The food was on point, as always. Our server Amanda B. was exceptional! She was attentive and took amazing care of us without being intrusive. We made a mistake in ordering, and she efficiently helped me get what I had actually wanted. Amanda B. was intuitive, resourceful and enhanced our dining experience. We look forward to our next visit!

We were worried that this would turn out to be an overpriced and disappointing touristy meal, but we were pleasantly surprised! We only had a short wait for lunch midweek. The service was very personable and engaging. Most of the food was very, very good (chicken was dry and tasteless). Bread was delicious. 1905 salad wasn’t much to look at, but the dressing is fantastic. Cuban sandwich could use more pickles, but was otherwise excellent. Steak sandwich would be helped by just a bit more lettuce and dressing. Drinks were great. Clean bathrooms. We were in the main/central dining room and we liked the atmosphere in there.

Wow, what a unique restaurant! The food - as good as it is - isn't the best part about the restaurant. It's the history and the atmosphere and the all round enthusiasm with which you're served..You have to reserve here, unless you want to sit at the bar - which happens to be the least interesting corner of this restaurant.We were seated almost immediately, and we were able to start ordering within a few minutes. The servers are really well dressed, and they have a lot of knowledge about the history of the restaurant.We ordered a pitcher of sangria, which they prepare at the table with a lot of flair. The food takes a bit to start arriving, but it's worth the wait - everything was fantastic .The decor and the layout of the restaurant adds another layer to the whole experience... You literally feel like you're transported to a wealthy Spanish hacienda a hundred years ago.

What a fabulous experience! This is more than dining. We had the 1905 salad table side before our meals and it just is amazingly delicious. The large amount of bread is so tasty. But be sure to save room for your meal because every entree we had was superb! Jorge our server was very attentive and made you feel like you were at a fine dining establishment where you are the only guests. But the prices were very fair and family friendly! The flamenco show was icing on the cake! Stop contemplating and Book the show.