Discover Tampa Bay’s Cuban Cuisine
Ropa Vieja is a popular Cuban dish.
Cuban cuisine has deep roots in Tampa, thanks to the city's long history of Cuban immigration. From traditional dishes like ropa vieja to delicious pastries like guava pastelitos, Tampa's Cuban restaurants offer a taste of the island's rich culinary heritage. Here are our top picks.
1. Columbia Restaurant: The Columbia Restaurant is a Tampa institution, opened in 1905. It's the oldest restaurant in Florida and one of the most prominent Spanish restaurants in the world. The menu mixes Spanish and Cuban dishes, featuring classics like paella and Ropa Vieja. The décor is also a standout, with ornate tiles, stained glass and a flamenco dancer performing during dinner.
2. La Teresita: La Teresita is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving authentic Cuban cuisine since 1972. The menu is extensive, with everything from Cuban sandwiches to Picadillo to Lechon Asado. The restaurant is also open 24 hours most days, making it an excellent spot for a late-night snack.
3. The Floridian: The Floridian is a popular spot in downtown Tampa for Cuban and other Latin American dishes. The menu features classic Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, arroz con pollo and unique dishes like the Floridian quesadilla made with plantains.
4. Pipo's: Pipo's is a local chain with several locations throughout Tampa. The menu offers classic Cuban dishes like ropa vieja, picadillo, black beans and rice. The standout dish, however, is the Cuban sandwich, made with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on Cuban bread.
5. Bodega: Bodega is a hip, casual spot in the Seminole Heights neighborhood that serves delicious Cuban sandwiches, bowls and pastries. The menu is simple but flavorful, with options like the Medianoche sandwich made with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and mustard on sweet bread.
Ybor City is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood celebrating its multicultural history. It's also a popular destination for nightlife, with many clubs and music venues drawing crowds on the weekends.
Savoring the Cuisine of Cuba: Facts About Tampa’s Cuban Past
Cuban immigration in Tampa dates back to the late 1800s. Cuban immigrants first arrived as cigar makers, settling in Ybor City, a neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa. Over time, Ybor City became known as the “Cigar Capital of the World” and the center of the Cuban American community in Tampa.
The first wave of Cuban immigrants to Tampa were skilled cigar makers fleeing political turmoil in Cuba. Many arrived in the 1880s and 1890s, and by the early 1900s, Ybor City housed more than 10,000 Cuban immigrants. They brought with them their culture, traditions and cuisine, which helped shape the city's identity.
One of the most notable figures in Tampa's Cuban history is Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a Spanish businessowner who founded the Ybor City neighborhood in 1885. He established the first cigar factory in the area and brought in Cuban cigar makers to work in his factory. Ybor also helped establish the social and cultural institutions that would become integral to the Cuban-American community in Tampa, including mutual aid societies, social clubs and newspapers.
By the early 1900s, Ybor City had become a bustling hub of cigar factories, restaurants and cultural institutions. The neighborhood was also home to a diverse mix of immigrants from Spain, Italy and other parts of Latin America, but the Cuban-American community remained at its center.
Over time, the cigar industry declined in Tampa, and many Ybor City factories closed. However, the legacy of Cuban immigration in Tampa lives on. Today, Ybor City is a designated National Historic Landmark District, and the city has many Cuban restaurants, cultural festivals and museums that celebrate Tampa’s Cuban heritage.
The contributions of the Cuban-American community to the city's culture and economy are still felt today, and their legacy serves as an important reminder of the importance of diversity and inclusion in Tampa.