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Privacy NoticeGreat food is a major part of any holiday and, inspired by celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty’s travels around the Sunshine State in his new ITV1 show, Jimmy’s Taste Of Florida, OK! followed in his footsteps, focusing on the Tampa Bay area in the hope of finding some foodie gems. New restaurants are popping up all over Tampa, and even cultivating their own agriculture thanks to Meacham – an urban farm that grows more than 30 varieties of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Top tip: The heritage streetcars offer a fun, free ride around Ybor City and downtown Tampa, but the best way to explore is by hiring a car, or taking an Uber – our preferred mode of transport since there was plenty of amazing wine to sample, too.
Tampa is fast becoming a popular holiday destination thanks to it’s warm weather and fantastic cuisine
The Tampa Streetcar is a brilliant way of exploring the city – and absolutely free
Unwind in the city The Epicurean is a sleek hotel with luxurious, spacious rooms situated in the sought-after SoHo (South Howard Avenue) district of Tampa. It’s just a short walk from the river, as well as a host of bustling bars. The hotel has a pool, rooftop cocktail lounge and spa and fitness centre, so there’s plenty to occupy you on your downtime. The on-site restaurants include Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, where the chefs create renditions of American classics and take advantage of being near the water with dishes such as baked oysters and grilled octopus. There’s also Chill Bros. Scoop Shop – run by a local family, it’s renowned for its gorgeous ice creams. Treat yourself to a scoop of Guava or Double Down Oreo – delish.
The Élevage rooftop bar is the perfect place to unwind with a cocktail
A rich history Ybor City, once the cigar capital of the world, is where Tampa’s cultural roots lie, so a tour is a must (it’s also where more than 200 chickens roam the streets!). We learned why Vincente Martinez Ybor moving his cigar operation from Cuba to Florida led to the invention of the famous Cuban sandwich – never has a ham and cheese sarnie tasted so good. Make sure you try one at Columbia restaurant, which has been open since 1905. Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest open-water estuary, so we also enjoyed taking the Riverwalk. Buy a pass to see attractions such as the aquarium, art museum and history centre, then stroll down the riverside path that stretches for 2.6 miles, or take the Pirate Water Taxi – stop in at Armature Works for a bite to eat or a refreshing drink. There’s also the Straz Center performing arts venue where Broadway shows stop off while on tour.
The Cuban Sandwich is a delicacy in Tampa thanks to its history of cigar factories
Early risers The Oxford Exchange is more than a place to enjoy breakfast; it’s a beautiful, airy space that’s also a book and gift shop, coffee house and champagne bar. We had brunch in the sunlit conservatory and our favourite dish was the flatbread with whipped feta, pistachio and honey. There’s also a high chance of celebrity spotting as the local WAGs love a catch up there, there has also been a sighting or two of wrestler turned actor John Cena. A shout out, too, to Greek restaurant Psomi where we tried loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) and Willa’s, which is a favourite spot for brunch. Hyde Park Village is perfect for shopping and eating, and restaurants include Goody Goody – a classic American diner that does all-day breakfast.
There’s no shortage of breakfast options from pancakes to French toast and savoury plates too
Late night dining Another great place to try is ro, which serves wonderful Asian dishes and imports its fish direct from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. We enjoyed the black cod and spicy tuna maki. For a dining experience you won’t forget, head to Donatello, which has been serving authentic Italian cuisine for almost 40 years. The waiters hand out roses to all the ladies every evening, and there’s an old-school piano bar. And over the years they’ve had celebrity clientele from Prince to John Travolta and Whoopi Goldberg. The up-and-coming area of Water Street is home to the stylish Boulon, an American-style continental brasserie. The French Dip sandwich, made from shaved ribeye, onions, gruyère and Dijonnaise, comes with a jus for dipping, and was a firm favourite of ours.
Asian restuarant, ro, is a recent addition to Tampa and is very popular with the locals
How to book Virgin Atlantic flies daily from Heathrow to Tampa with return fares from £430 per person. For more information, visit virginatlantic.com or call 0344 874 7747. Rooms at the Epicurean Hotel, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, start from £186 a night. For more details, visit epicureanhotel.com. Prices subject to change.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnTravelTaste of FloridaJohn TravoltaPrince
