Ybor City was created in 1886 when Cigar Factory was moved there from Key West
Getting to Ybor City
Ybor City is northeast of downtown Tampa and is a 4 block by 5 block area between Palm Ave (10th Ave) and 6th Ave and 20th St and 13th Street. The easiest way to get to Ybor City is to take I4 and get off on exit 1 (SR 585) and head towards 21st/22nd Street.
There are several parking garages in Ybor City and Valet Parking is also available.
Historic Hotel
Don Martinez Ybor was the founder of Ybor City and today the Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn is a boutique hotel that occupies a building originally built by Ybor in 1895.
Ybor City Museum
The Ybor City Museum gives you a view back in time in a 1923 era Frelita Bakery. See a casita that is representative of cigar workers family home. There is also a lush Mediterranean Garden and a Museum Store.
Permanent Exhibits at the Ybor City include:
- The Historic Cigar Industry - life in the cigar factories
- The Founders of Ybor City
- Life for the Cuban, Spanish, German, Sicilian, and Romanian immigrants
- The Casita - the small homes lived in by cigar factory workers and other immigrants
Columbia restaurant in Ybor City Tampa has outstanding Spanish and Cuban Food
Great Restaurants
Ybor City is known for great restaurants - both historic restaurants like Columbia Restaurant and new restaurants including Acropolis Greek Taverna, Shrimp and Co, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, and La Terrazza (Italian).
Columbia Restaurant is truly historic and an experience you will remember. The restaurants was named an All American Icon, earned the distinguished Restaurant of North American award, and was named one of Florida’s top 25 restaurants. Columbia Restaurant has been in Ybor City since 1905 and is operated by 4th and 5th Generation Hernandez Gonzmart family members.
The food at Colmbia Restaurant is Spanish and Cuban and there are performances by Flamenco Dancers.
Cigar Stores in Ybor City
Ybor City started as a Cigar Factory and today there are several cigar stores that sell hand rolled cigars. El Sol has Cigar Factories in Tampa, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic and is the oldest cigar store in Ybor City.
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