Sight guide · Tampa · United States
Visiting Columbia Restaurant
Opened in 1905 as a corner café for cigar workers, the Columbia has grown into a tiled Spanish restaurant of 15 dining rooms covering a city block, still run by the founding family.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: LittleT889, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Columbia Restaurant is a historic site in Ybor City, Tampa. Allow 1.5–2 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Ybor City
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- food, history, couples and after dark
- Best months
- May and October–November
Plan a trip to Tampa
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Columbia Restaurant
Opened in 1905 as a corner café for cigar workers, the Columbia has grown into a tiled Spanish restaurant of 15 dining rooms covering a city block, still run by the founding family. Order the 1905 Salad tossed at the table and the Spanish bean soup, and see a flamenco show in the evening.
Tip: Book the flamenco dinner show ahead; at lunch, the café side serves a classic Cuban sandwich without a reservation.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Ybor City, brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street.
Best time to visit Columbia Restaurant
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- November: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Tampa has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Tampa itinerary visits Columbia Restaurant on day 2, together with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Lettuce Lake Park.
- No. 8 of the 17 sights in our Tampa things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Tampa.
Near Columbia Restaurant
Within walking distance of Columbia Restaurant (straight-line distances):
- Ybor City Museum State Park — about 0.4 km away, 1 hour, low cost
- The Florida Aquarium — about 2.0 km away, 2–3 hours, mid-priced
- Ybor City Historic District — about 1.0 km away, half a day, free
If you like Columbia Restaurant
- Tampa Theatre — Downtown, 2 hours with a film
- Armature Works and Heights Public Market — Tampa Heights, 1–2 hours
Staying near Columbia Restaurant
Stay in Ybor City ($$) to walk here: brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street. All areas to stay in Tampa.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Columbia Restaurant?
Plan 1.5–2 hours. Ybor City Museum State Park is about 0.4 km away in a straight line, so the two fit a half-day.
+Is Columbia Restaurant free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Columbia Restaurant?
May and October–November, the quietest of the good months. Book the flamenco dinner show ahead; at lunch, the café side serves a classic Cuban sandwich without a reservation.
+Do I need to book Columbia Restaurant in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.