The third time's the charm in Tampa, Florida!
After staying at two very good but not conveniently located hotels, one of which Donna accompanied me to, she and I rolled the dice and stayed at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. We expected it would be to our liking in every way, and it's a keeper!
Nestled along the Tampa Riverwalk in downtown Tampa, this four-star gem offers waterside dining, outstanding restaurants and an indoor bridge to the five-star JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. That means you get to avail yourself of five-star quality shopping and dining while staying at four-star prices!
Our 350 square foot city view room came with a king bed and guest room area that were perfect. Both of us found the bed and pillows to our liking.
Being that I am an early riser, I appreciate a lobby that feels welcoming in the wee hours, and Tampa Marriott Water Street did not disappoint, offering many high-top styled tables (aka bar tables) with charging ports as well as large-sized chairs that give the feeling of privacy when sitting in one.
For breakfast, we tried the Concierge Lounge located on the 24th Floor. It was less crowded, offered quiet dining, and though it was self-serve buffet style, it was well-staffed for the moment when help was needed.
Among the many items available were eggs, sausage, fruit, an assortment of breads, Chobani yogurt, a small-sized but no less delicious charcuterie and oatmeal.
Donna enjoyed the oatmeal as I did the eggs.
Picking at nits, I'd say the cheese Danish was a bit mushy. Chobani yogurt was a downgrade compared to the rest of the hotel, and there was no omelette station. I do believe they will bring an omelette to the table if asked; however, with no omelette station at the ready, it felt odd to ask for one.
Those issues were not enough to sway us from agreeing that we'd include the Concierge Lounge on our next visit.
The area surrounding the Tampa Marriott Water Street is bustling with action. Step outside the hotel, and you'll see that you are one block away from Amalie Arena and a short walk from the cool vibe of the Water Street Tampa Neighborhood.
If you are sitting in floor seats at Amalie Arena, be prepared; there is no food or beverage for sale. You must buy it before entering the orchestra seating. The closest vendors are in the 100s level. It was not a major inconvenience, but something I thought you should know to avoid having to double back for a beverage and some grub.
For the show we attended, TobyMac, on Feb.2, there was nothing healthy to eat. Though the Amalie Arena website lists some concessions that might serve good enough food for an arena for other events.
After the show, we were back at the hotel for a late-night meal at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval. It is a Mexican restaurant, though in this instance, I had a market salad. It tasted great! In addition to the shrimp, it had avocado, chayote squash, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, panela cheese and red onion.
Donna opted for dessert. Loving every minute of her indulgence into the spiced warm mole chocolate cake punctuated with dulce de leche and a dollop of apple cinnamon ice cream.
I must mention the Café + Market within the Tampa Marriott Water Street. It is like a Starbucks on steroids. I mean that as a compliment.
The next day, we made our way to Hyde Park Village. A pedestrian-friendly shopping district full of fashion, specialty stores, restaurants and the like. An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, it is but a short 10-15 minutes from the Tampa Marriott Water Street.
For lunch, we dined at Timpano Hyde Park, a self-described elegant Italian steakhouse. The weather was perfect for outdoor eating, so that's where we went.
I had a baby spinach salad; Donna chose the grilled vegetable panini. Her sandwich was presented excellently; my salad, consisting of Boursin cheese, toasted almond, red onion, golden raisins, and red wine vinaigrette on the side, had just the right amount of cheese. In other words, it wasn't drowning in cheese as some chefs have a proclivity to do.
There are plenty of food choices in Hyde Park Village. Timpano Hyde Park is definitely one that you should consider.
A quick mention regarding the two hotels I referred to as being very good but not conveniently located. One is The CURRENT Hotel. It is a beautiful place that, as I mentioned in this blog, is unfortunately surrounded by a mix of residential, parking, and only one restaurant, The Rusty Pelican.
The other hotel that isn't located well is Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse. The people were great; the service was equally great; the funky renovation of the courthouse was neat, the dining was decidedly average and similar to the CURRENT Hotel; it is a bit removed from the Tampa scene.
The Tampa Marriott Water Street, located at 505 Water Street, takes all the goodness of the CURRENT and Le Méridien combines it with a fabulous location, moving it to the front of the line for hotels we will stay at the next time we are in Tampa.
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See ya soon! Photo Credit: Abdulla Haljawini, IHG Hotels, Me,
~30~
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