Money has been singing Tampa’s praises for quite some time. In 2023, we named it one of the best places to travel nationwide, and in 2022, the ninth best place to live.
It’s easy to see why: Tampa has a warm, sunny climate. Quick access to renowned beaches. Top level sports teams. A booming economy. No state income tax. But this year we want to give credit exactly where it’s due. Many of the factors that make Tampa such a great place are concentrated in Ybor City, the area’s undisputed cultural epicenter.
Also known as Cigar City, Ybor is located just north of the port, Port Tampa Bay, and is a historic melting pot of Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants. The architecture, art and local cuisine are even richer. One main street, 7th Avenue, dissects the neighborhood and boasts boutiques, award-winning food, lively venues and welcoming cafes; many hidden inside impeccably preserved old cigar factories. The strip is affectionately called La Setima (not quite Spanish and not quite Italian for “seventh”). Here, roosters can roam free, adding an extra touch of color and charm to an already quirky neighborhood.
Adding to its prestige, Ybor is one of Tampa’s most walkable areas and, by Florida standards, has extensive public transportation options. A free streetcar system connects Ybor to downtown. From the port, a ferry across the bay takes you to nearby St. Petersburg in less than an hour. Also in the works is a high-speed rail system that would connect Ybor directly to Orlando and then to Miami.
Ybor has been a vibrant place to live and work for years now, but its future looks even brighter. More bike infrastructure is planned to better connect the neighborhood to other Tampa hot spots, and a massive development project, which will transform Ybor’s waterfront area into a walkable neighborhood with thousands of new homes, green spaces, a boardwalk and a pier, was just announced in 2023.