Shopping · Tampa · United States
Shopping in Tampa
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa · Photo: Bbphotos, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Tampa's shopping is mostly in big malls, with hand-rolled cigars and Cuban bakery goods the most distinctive local purchases. Best souvenirs: Hand-rolled cigars, Cuban coffee and Gasparilla pirate gear.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Hand-rolled cigars
Plan a trip to Tampa
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Where to shop
International Plaza and Bay Street
The city's upscale mall in Westshore, with an outdoor dining and bar street.
Hyde Park Village
An open-air shopping district of boutiques and restaurants in a historic neighbourhood.
Ybor City 7th Avenue
Cigar shops, vintage stores and souvenir shops in the historic district.
Markets
Ybor City Saturday Market
A weekly market of local produce, crafts and food in Centennial Park, Ybor City.
Heights Public Market
The food hall inside Armature Works, with local vendors selling everything from tacos to gelato.
What to buy
Hand-rolled cigars
Bought from Ybor City cigar shops where you can watch them being rolled; check your home country's import limits.
Cuban coffee
Ground Cuban-style coffee and a stovetop espresso pot from Ybor or West Tampa shops.
Gasparilla pirate gear
Pirate-themed shirts and beads tied to the January festival.
Natural sea sponges
Sponges from the Tarpon Springs docks, a day trip north of the city.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Tampa Heights
Armature Works and Heights Public Market
A brick depot built to maintain Tampa's electric streetcars now holds a food hall of local vendors, restaurants and bars, with a riverfront lawn where families spread out on weekend evenings.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Outdoors
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Cuban bread, Guava pastries and Cigar City craft beer. La Segunda Central Bakery in Ybor City has baked it since 1915 and supplies many of the city's restaurants. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Channel District and Water Street | $$$$ | New towers, the cruise terminals and the Florida Aquarium on Garrison Channel |
| Ybor City | $$ | Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street |
| Hyde Park and SoHo | $$$ | Bungalows and brick streets off Bayshore Boulevard, with a bar strip on South Howard |
| Tampa Heights | $$$ | Restored streetcar depot food hall and a riverside lawn at the north end of the Riverwalk |
| Seminole Heights | $$ | Craftsman bungalows, independent restaurants and craft breweries north of downtown |
| Westshore | $$ | Business hotels, the International Plaza mall and quick airport access |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tip about 18–20% at table-service restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis, rideshares and tours. Check the bill: some restaurants add an automatic service charge for groups.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in August–September; the busiest months are March.
- January: Gasparilla Pirate Festival — pirate ship invasion and parade along Bayshore (usually late January)
- February: Florida State Fair (usually February)
- March: Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (usually early March)
- December: Victorian Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for shopping, budget and families
Westshore
Business hotels, the International Plaza mall and quick airport access
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Tampa?
Hand-rolled cigars, Cuban coffee, Gasparilla pirate gear and Natural sea sponges.
+Where is the best shopping in Tampa?
International Plaza and Bay Street: The city's upscale mall in Westshore, with an outdoor dining and bar street.
+What are the best markets in Tampa?
Ybor City Saturday Market and Heights Public Market.