South Tampa

Whereas New Tampa may bring to mind a tangle of disconnected, albeit beautiful, new master-planned communities and big box shopping outlets and malls, South Tampa brings to mind a unique combination of gracious, established, character-rich neighborhoods and urban sophistication. South Tampa is not a community proper; instead, it comprises the upper and lower Tampa peninsula and is home to McDill Air Force Base, the University of Tampa as well as many thriving commercial districts and well-established residential communities south of West Kennedy Boulevard, such as the notable Hyde Park, Bayshore Boulevard and Ballast Point.

While South Tampa is considered one of the most expensive areas in Tampa, its residents are quick to tell you the many reasons they love to call South Tampa home, among them the always-on bay breeze, the area's architectural diversity, brick streets, towering oaks and city living—and with it the ability to find just about anything you need or want within a 15-minute drive…without four-lane highway traffic and long commutes out of new subdivisions.

Convenient to downtown Tampa, the Westshore business district and lots of upscale shopping and many fine restaurants, South Tampa provides a distinctive blend of urban amenities and southern hospitality and culture. But South Tampa, being an older and "established" neighborhood, is not all—and not at all—old and rusty! On the contrary; drive into downtown Tampa and you'll notice the area's chic, developing architectural skyline with prominently designed, high-end, high-rise condominiums now being occupied and with more on the way. Many of the older homes, including charming bungalows and large mansions, have been lovingly restored and rebuilt; some areas, such as Hyde Park, are considered National Historic Districts.

The historic district of Tampa, west of the Hillsborough River, was first inhabited by Cuban fishermen in the late 1700s. It was only in the late 1800s, when Henry Plant and his railroad came to town, that the area gained prominence and became a favored address among the affluent.

Residents in South Tampa enjoy a mix of mostly older homes and new construction, single family homes and condominiums with dramatic bay views, such as those along Bayshore Boulevard. South Tampa also features luxury golf course homes, as well as gated waterfront communities, townhomes, executive homes and custom estates. In general, the neighborhoods south of Gandy Boulevard, which bisects the South Tampa peninsula north and south, are more modest, with many homes being more than 40 years old and much smaller than their newer counterparts. And although you can still find townhomes, condominiums and starter homes in the $200s, most South Tampa homes begin in the $300s and extend into the millions. To give you an idea: the average sale price of a South Tampa home was $690,000 in July, 2007; in June, $576,000.

Bayshore Boulevard, called the "emerald jewel of Tampa," is home to the longest, continuous pedestrian sidewalk in the world, lined with a historic white balustrade atop the seawall of Hillsborough Bay. It is also home to Tampa's most stately and elegant homes, many of which reflect the proud history of the Tampa area. The Boulevard runs south to north, from the Tampa Yacht and Country Club to the outskirts of downtown Tampa, with many townhouses and high-rise condos lining its shores. Homes in the Bayshore area range from $250,000 to $4 million—and up.

Hyde Park is one of South Tampa's oldest neighborhoods; as such it offers many heavily shaded, older bungalow-style homes with inviting front porches, reflecting the architectural style of the 1920s and 30s. Many of these homes have been lovingly restored and retain the area's old-world style charm, thus making Hyde Park a destination experience in itself. Location-wise, Hyde Park lies just across the Hillsborough River and extends west of Tampa's downtown business and cultural center. Its social center is Old Hyde Park Village, an upscale shopping and entertainment venue with large and small boutiques, excellent restaurants with outdoor seating and a movie theater. Homes in the Hyde Park area range in price from $160,000 to $3 million.

Another notable and popular South Tampa community is New Suburb Beautiful; although it is still beautiful, it is no longer new—the community was originally developed during the 1920s and 30s. Many of the homes along New Suburb's oak-lined, cobblestone streets have been restored to their original splendor; prices today range from $300,000 to $1 million.

South Tampa is also home to the up-and-coming Channelside district, which exudes "Urban Experience" with its distinctive high-rise condos, trendy restaurants and night-life hot spots, just blocks from the bay and downtown Tampa. Some of the more popular condominiums in Channelside include The Place at Channelside, Grande Central at Kennedy, The Slade and Parkcrest at Harbour Island.

Other notable South Tampa communities, each with their own unique personality and flavor, include Ballast Point, Beach Park, Davis Island, Interbay, New Suburb, Parkland Estate, SoHo (South Howard) and Sunset Park.

South Tampa is served by the Hillsborough County Public Schools system. Children in the area attend Gorrie Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Middle and H.B. Plant High schools. South Tampa is also home to the University of Tampa, a private four-year college set amidst 100 acres of prime riverfront land in the heart of downtown Tampa. The beautiful spires of UT's Plant Hall are familiar friends to Bay area locals; the hall and its spires serve as a leading example of Moorish architecture in the southeastern U.S.

As one South Tampa resident said, "If I can't find it in South Tampa, I figure I don't really need it." South Tampa is home to a plethora of top notch restaurants, trendy fashion boutiques and hip bars, particularly along the palm-lined streets of SoHo, Hyde Park and Palma Ceia, yet another South Tampa neighborhood.

Dining out tops the to-do lists of most South Tampa residents—and there is no shortage of great restaurants to choose from. Bern's Steak House on South Howard Avenue is Tampa's most prestigious and well-known dining affair, esteemed for its Rococo-style décor, mammoth steaks and a wine cellar stocked with more than 6,500 labels from around the globe. Tour the kitchen and cellar, if you wish. And then, after dinner, retire upstairs to an intimate, subdued "dessert room" where specialty coffees, fresh fruit, desserts and great cheeses flow along with aged cognacs, liqueurs, sipping whiskies and dessert wines from around the world.

South Tampa is also well-known for its selection of ethnic eateries, including The Byblos Café on MacDill Avenue. Byblos is well known locally for its authentic Lebanese atmosphere, complete with Middle Eastern music and Belly Dancers, as well as for its Middle Eastern wait staff and incredible food: lamb chops, kabobs and Lebanese wine, to name a few. Or perhaps French-Vietnamese is more your style; in that case, head over to Restaurant BT on Snow Avenue in Old Hyde Park Village—their motto is Eat, Drink, Love. Sample authentic bo tai chanh, lamb stew, duck in orange sauce, tuna sashimi or "langoustines a la BT"—jumbo marinated crustaceans grilled on sugar cane.

Other South Tampa favorites include 717, Ceviche and Cellini's, which is in the Ballast Point neighborhood just off Bayshore Boulevard south of Gandy. Cellini's serves up fresh breads, Italian specialties and its namesake: the Cellini Pizza, topped with calamati olives, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheeses.

Would you like a little shopping to go along with your South Tampa experience? Shopping opportunities, as with dining, abound. Not only are major malls within reach; so, too, are many boutiques and specialty shops. Deborah Kent's on Dale Mabry Highway is one such stop; owner Deborah Skyrms regularly travels to New York, Paris, Milan and Los Angeles in search of international couture, from which she hand-picks with her stylish customers in mind. The Pink Palm on South Dale Mabry is another must-see, offering colorful sunshine and beach prints, embroidered jeans and lots of suede.

Other great, local shopping experiences include Whaley's Market on South Howard, the Village Health Market on McDill and The Fresh Market on Henderson. Whaley's has been in business since 1932; it is South Tampa's wholesale farmer's market, offering high quality meats, seafood delicacies and the freshest fruits, sandwiches and ready-to-go entrees in the area.

Leisure and Play in South Tampa

South Tampa abounds in opportunities for play as well. Beyond boating and parks and nightlife galore, the area also hosts some of Florida's most exciting urban festivals and celebrations, including the annual Gasparilla Pirate-fest and Parade, a Tampa tradition and weeklong-celebration held each January since 1904. South Tampa is also home of the annual MacDill AirFest, one of the largest air shows by the Department of Defense. The event draws more than 750,000 people to South Tampa in April each year for the two day extravaganza, which includes civilian and military aerobatics demonstrations.