Discover Gay Florida :: Tampa

Tampa has been one of the largest cities in Florida ever since the railroad reached town in the 1880s and businessmen such as Henry B. Plant made their mark on the city with their contributions to the city via land and architecture. The Spanish, Cubans and Italians helped grow the Ybor City district of Tampa into the cigar capital of the United States by the early 20th century, by extension putting the entire city on the map.

It wasn't all smiles for the bustling city, however, as the money that the cigars brought in ended up sustaining one of the largest Mafia operations in the country, and Tampa almost fell to the violence fueled by organized crime. By the 1960s, the cigar industry dried up, and so did much of Tampa's influence nationally.

Tampa rebuilt itself as a family tourist destination with the grand opening of Busch Gardens and its subsequent success in the 1960s. The city also became well-regarded statewide for education with the steady growth of the University of South Florida. The 1970s brought an NFL franchise to Tampa and many millions of dollars in revenue with it. Finally, after decades of neglect, Ybor City blossomed again, this time as a nightclub district.

Down but never out, Tampa has proven that it can adapt and grow against the odds. Thanks to current mayor Bob Buckhorn and past mayor Pam Iorio, Tampa can now boast that it has only a fraction of the crime it had 10 years ago, and in the same time it has also become a leader in Southern art and culture.

Let us show you what Tampa has to offer.

Accommodations

Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown

The Hampton Inn, is the quintessential gay-friendly hotel in Ybor City. It has served as host accommodation for a number of gay events, including the Miss Gay USofA pageant. Hotel rooms overlook the old Ybor Square cigar factory and are within two blocks of the hottest bars. (1301 E. 7th Ave., 813-247-6700)

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District

Ybor City can feel very crowded, what with so many things to see and all the people partying every night of the week, but with the Hilton Garden Inn, you can feel like you're at a resort miles away, yet you're still in the action. The hotel also plays host to events in nearby Channelside and to various cruise and accommodation deals at the Port of Tampa. (1700 E. 9th Ave., 813-769-9267)

Floridan Palace Hotel

This building was once the tallest in the state of Florida when it opened in 1927. Once the place to stay while in downtown Tampa, it closed and went untouched for decades, but a seven-year and $11 million renovation has restored it to its original glory. Dine in the Crystal Dining Room (serving Greek fare) to go back in time to the 1920s. (905 N. Florida Ave., 813-225-1700)

Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina

Near the Port of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Times Forum, this is a place where you can enjoy downtown, Channelside, Ybor City, and anything else you desire while still soaking in such creature comforts as a full-service spa, a rooftop pool, and if you want to bring your boat, a 32-slip marina. (700 S. Florida Ave, 813-221-4900)

Restaurants

Ceviche

Ceviche prides itself on its welcoming decor (the Tampa location's tropical patio is a sight to behold), all while serving what they assure is the best in Spanish cuisine. Over 100 different tapas options are on the menu, prepared with fresh ingredients imported from Spain. The Zagat Survey especially noted the freshness of its flan ($5.95), made on-site each day. (6 locations across central and south Florida, Tampa location at 2500 W. Azeele St., 813-250-0203)

Columbia Restaurant

The Columbia has been a Tampa dining tradition since 1905, in existence longer than any other restaurant in the state of Florida. It has been named a Tampa icon both by the Tampa Bay Times and the Associated Press. Enjoy Spanish and Cuban food in the indoor courtyard with the sun shining down and flamenco dancers practicing their craft to your delight. (2117 E. 7th Ave., 813-248-4961)

Bern's Steak House

Steaks are aged and then cooked to your exact specifications. All food served at Bern's is organic and grown, made or raised specifically for the restaurant. Enjoy your steak with a wine from a list that is certified as the most exhaustive in the world. They have over 200 wines by the glass with vintages dating back 40 years. (A '79 Bordeaux costs $8.55 a glass). (1208 S. Howard Ave., 813-251-2421)

Lee Roy Selmon's

This restaurant now has seven sister locations all over the west coast of Florida, but it is still regarded as a Tampa favorite, just like its first owner and proprietor, the late Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Lee Roy Selmon. You can't go wrong with a dish that incorporates any one of Selmon's barbecue sauces (the half-rack of baby back ribs with the house sauce costs $12.99). (8 locations across west Florida, original location 4302 W. Boy Scout Blvd., 813-871-3287)

Events

Guavaween

Tampa is called the "Big Guava," and Ybor City plays host to a Latin-tinged Halloween celebration every year honoring Tampa's special fruit. Originally planned as a block party by struggling artists and writers living in Ybor City lofts, it has since grown as the community has grown, and now that Ybor City is the city's nightclub district, Guavaween brings in nearly 100,000 people each year, crowding the bars up and down 7th Avenue. (October 31, Ybor City)

Gasparilla Pirate Festival

Gasparilla is a festival that is uniquely Tampa in flavor. Mix the idea of Mardi Gras, put it on a weekend and throw in the legend of pirates (each year the parade is an "invasion" of Tampa by pirate Jose Gaspar and his crew) and you have the most popular event in Tampa, held nearly every year since 1954. Downtown hosts a day parade and Ybor City hosts a night parade. (Last Saturday in January)

Florida State Fair

The Florida State Fair is held at the Fairgrounds off Interstate 4 about 20 minutes northeast of downtown. It has been held every February since 1904, bringing in hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals each year. The adjacent amphitheater plays host to a number of well-known national and international musical acts during the fair days as well as year-round. (Second and third weeks in February)

GaYBOR Days

For many years, Tampa tiptoed around the idea of a gay pride celebration (thanks to former State Senator Ronda Storms, who had banned the county commission from recognizing gay pride in any form, ever). That didn't stop the GaYBOR Business Coalition from putting together events in the nightclub district which would help the community celebrate its pride. From its slow beginnings in 2008, it has expanded to include four days of events, and it even got the seal of approval from the county commission in 2013 (who had overturned their ban on gay pride just days prior). (Last weekend in May)

Nightlife

There are quite a few nightlife options in Tampa. A little more than half of the gay establishments are located in the city's nightclub district, Ybor City. Those include GBar (1401 E. 7th Ave., 813-247-1016), which plays host to some high-energy dance parties; Ybor City Social Club (1909 N. 15th St., 813-242-2717), a chill all-ages bar that offers a more intimate experience on the ground floor and a busier, more exuberant one higher up; The Honey Pot (1507 E. 7th Ave., 813-247-4663), which offers various theme nights for both men and women throughout the week; Liquid Tampa (1811 N. 15th St. 813-248-6104), a cozy bar on a street corner that still offers the full nightclub experience; Bradley's on 7th (1510 E. 7th Ave., 813-241-2723), an expansive venue well-known for its drag shows; and Hamburger Mary's (1600 E. 7th Ave., 813-241-6279), a place where drag shows are combined with a full food menu and full bar.

There are a number of bars away from Ybor City as well, such as City Side (3703 Henderson Blvd., 813-350-0600), whose welcoming decor and soothing lighting will bring you in and the friendly bartenders and clientele will make you a regular; Baxter's (1519 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., 813-258-8830), a blink-and-you'll-miss-it bar that is the epitome of the gay "neighborhood bar"; Valentines (7522 N. Armenia Ave., 813-936-1999), which is especially popular with Tampa's black and Latin LGBT communities on weekends; 2606 (2606 N. Armenia Ave., 813-875-6993), Tampa's one-stop establishment for the leather community (complete with a store); and The Body Shop (14905 N. Nebraska Ave., 813-971-3576), the sole bar in north Tampa, close to the University of South Florida. It can skew young one night, older another night, and is extremely welcoming of the bear community.

Things to See and Do

Busch Gardens

Like its sister theme park in Virginia, Busch Gardens tells the story of colonial life through its exhibits and jaw-dropping roller coasters. The theme for Busch Gardens in Tampa is "Africa" (unlike Virginia where it is Europe). Such African-themed rollercoasters as SheiKra, which reaches speeds of 70 mph, and the park's most recent addition, Cheetah Hunt, which propels with the force of 4 G's, are not to be missed. Having a stomach of steel is recommended! (10165 N McKinley Dr., 813-987-5000)

International Plaza and Bay Street

Tampanians take their shopping seriously, so much so that a luxury hotel was built on the premises of International Plaza and Bay Street, an upscale mall which houses many designer stores and west-central Florida's only Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom department stores. If you can't find your favorite luxury items at International Plaza, head on down to Miami because Tampa probably doesn't sell it. (2223 N. Westshore Blvd., 813-342-3790)

Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is the crowning jewel of the Channelside District, in between downtown, Ybor City and the Port of Tampa. One of the signature exhibits at the aquarium is its own coral reef, which is replenished four times a year with half a million gallons of natural saltwater. The open exhibits, seen through glass, mimic the aquatic ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. (701 Channelside Dr., 813-273-4000)

Raymond James Stadium

Don't get it twisted...Tampa loves their Buccaneers. For a city that has so much pride in its team, however, televised games are blacked out quite a bit. So to ensure you can see a Bucs game, and to do your part for the Bucs Nation, go see a game in person at Raymond James. Hardcore fans sit near the battleship, which fires every time the Bucs score, but I wouldn't recommend it; it definitely isn't for the faint of heart and it rattles my nerves. The Bucs play their divisional rivals the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers once every year at home. (4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., 813-350-6500)