SOHO / HYDE PARK

Hyde Park's walkable village and perfect date-night atmosphere complement SoHo's after-dark party vibe, where all types of people meet for lively happy hours or a night on the town. Indeed, all points on “south Howard” lead to vivacious fun.

Must-See

The uninterrupted stretch of sidewalk running along Bayshore Boulevard is the world's longest (4.5 miles) and attracts dog walkers, joggers, bikers and sun worshippers. Locals sate their appetites for comfort food and on-tap craft brews at beloved gastro-pub and gourmet market, Datz. Its quirky offshoot, Datz Dough, serves grab-and-go sweets. Another Datz venture, Roux uses Florida foodstuffs to make its Cajun/Creole fare. Not to be outdone, the 137-room Epicurean Hotel represents all of the posh sophistication South Tampa has to offer, deemed a “foodie hotel” for its tempting offerings: élevage Restaurant, Chocolate Pi, Epicurean Theatre, Edge Social Drinkery, Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits and Spa Evangeline.

By Day

Unique retail offerings such as Don Me Now Styling & Clothing Lounge draw rambling shoppers to Hyde Park Village. Foodies find their bliss here, too, at Wine Exchange Bistro & Wine Bar-- its diverse wine list touching on more than 40 vintages by the glass-- and Irish 31 pub and eatery, which has ample draft and bottle beers. There are plenty of food haunts outside the village. Daily Eats serves breakfast and brunch all day amid hip diner environs, Boca Kitchen is a farm-to-table eatery housed in a 1920s era gas station and Mott & Hester could well be one of the area's best delis, alongside the equally delicious Wright's Gourmet Café.

By Night

The lounge at CinéBistro is the place to take a date for a bite and libation before, during and after catching a film at Cobb Theatres. Bern's Steak House boasts the largest wine selection in the world. A trip to Tampa's most famous fine dining restaurant must include a stop by its low-lit dessert room. Ciro's Speakeasy and Supper Club brings on cool vibes and artisan cocktails, Copperfish Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar gets the aphrodisiac juices flowing, Irish pub favorite MacDinton's draws the college crowd with beer pong tourneys, and another Irish pub staple, The Dubliner, rounds out SoHo's spirited nightlife scene with live music.