Located in Tampa’s SoHo district and close to many restaurants and bars, the 137-room Epicurean Hotel is a luxury, culinary-themed property. Multiple fine wining and dining options at the chic hotel include a restaurant, rooftop bar, patisserie, wine shop, and the Epicurean Theatre, a demo kitchen that hosts regular classes and tastings. Even the spa offers delectable food-themed treatments. The rooms are stylish and sophisticated, with a curated selection of wine bottles available for purchase and gourmet snacks, though some guests complain of thin walls and traffic noise. There are an outdoor pool and fitness center on-site, and Wi-Fi is free.
The 240-room Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is an upscale resort with a 24-hour casino located off the I-4 highway. Contemporary, rock-themed rooms offer modern bathrooms, Keurig coffeemakers, iPod docks, and minibars, while some also have butler service, wet bars, and Bose speakers. An array of on-site restaurants are available with cuisines ranging from steak and seafood to sushi and noodles, plus there are several bars and lounges with live music. A wonderful outdoor pool (equipped with underwater speakers) and hot tub are accompanied by a poolside bar and furnished cabanas (though the pool closes early), and there's also a full-service spa and salon, as well as a small fitness center.
The 244-room Westin Tampa Bay is an upscale waterfront hotel on Rocky Point Island. Stylish, sunlit rooms offer minibars, iPod docks, and coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee as well as modern bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers and soaking tubs. Some rooms also offer splendid ocean views, kitchenettes, fitness equipment, and free continental breakfast. Aqua, the on-site restaurant and bar, has waterfront views from floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, and a beautiful walk-in wine cellar with a chef’s table. The beach is small and gets highway noise, but there's a lovely indoor pool and hot tub, a 24-hour fitness center, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic ocean views. Wi-Fi is free in the common areas, but in-room Wi-Fi incurs a fee for non-SPG members, as does parking.