The best hotels in Tampa are The Tampa EDITION for luxury on Water Street, Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse for history downtown, Hotel Haya for a boutique stay in Ybor City, and the Epicurean Hotel for food lovers in SoHo. Pick the neighborhood first: Water Street and downtown for the Riverwalk and events, SoHo and Hyde Park for restaurants and shopping, and Ybor City for nightlife and history.
Tampa has more hotel rooms than any other city in the Tampa Bay region, and the newest of them are clustered in Water Street, the waterfront district between downtown and the Channel District. This guide compares the standouts by neighborhood, with room counts, restaurants and who each one suits. If you are still deciding between the two big cities, read Tampa vs. St. Petersburg first, and see the Tampa Bay travel guide for the wider trip.
Best hotels in Tampa at a glance
| Hotel | Neighborhood | Rooms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Tampa EDITION | Water Street | 172 | Luxury, design, rooftop pool |
| JW Marriott Tampa Water Street | Water Street | 519 | Upscale full-service stays, events at the arena |
| Tampa Marriott Water Street | Water Street / Channel District | 727 | Conventions, families, waterfront location |
| Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse | Downtown | 130 | History lovers, theater nights |
| Hotel Haya | Ybor City | 178 | Boutique style, nightlife, Cuban food |
| Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection | SoHo | 188 | Food and wine, Bern’s Steak House |
| Palihouse Hyde Park Village | Hyde Park | 36 | Small, quiet, walkable shopping |
| The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas | Rocky Point / Westshore | 276 | Pools, bay views, close to the airport |
What are the best hotels on Water Street?
The best hotels on Water Street are The Tampa EDITION, the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street and the Tampa Marriott Water Street. Water Street is Tampa’s newest district, a walkable grid of towers, restaurants and shaded streets beside the Riverwalk, the Lightning’s arena, the Tampa Convention Center and Sparkman Wharf. It is the best area for travelers who want to walk to a game, a concert or the Riverwalk and take the free TECO Line Streetcar to Ybor City. Browse the Water Street area page for more places nearby.
The Tampa EDITION
The Tampa EDITION at 500 Channelside Drive is the city’s most design-forward luxury hotel, created with hotelier Ian Schrager. Its 172 rooms fill the lower nine floors of a 26-story tower, with private residences above. Dining and drinks include Lilac, a Mediterranean restaurant; Azure, the ninth-floor pool deck with cabanas and a menu of its own; Market, an all-day cafe; and The Punch Room bar. Choose it for a splurge, a celebration or a weekend built around the pool and restaurants.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street at 510 Water Street opened in late 2020 with 519 rooms, two restaurants, a rooftop bar and pools. It is a polished, full-service hotel that works for business travel, weddings and anyone who wants big-hotel amenities a short walk from the arena and the Riverwalk.
Tampa Marriott Water Street
The Tampa Marriott Water Street at 505 Water Street, formerly the Tampa Marriott Waterside, is the district’s largest hotel with 727 rooms and suites. It sits next to the convention center on the water, and a major renovation added Garrison Tavern, a gastropub with indoor Topgolf Swing Suites, and Anchor and Brine, a seafood-focused restaurant. It is the practical choice for conventions and for families who want space and a central location.
Which downtown Tampa hotel has the most character?
Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse has the most character downtown. It opened in 2014 inside a restored federal courthouse from the early 1900s at 601 North Florida Avenue, preserving much of the original building’s grand architecture across its 130 rooms and public spaces. Bizou Brasserie, the hotel’s French restaurant, is convenient for dinner before a show. It is a short walk to Tampa Theatre and about 10 minutes on foot to the Riverwalk, the Straz Center and the Tampa Museum of Art.
Where should you stay in Ybor City?
Stay at Hotel Haya, the first boutique hotel in Ybor City. It opened in 2020 at 1412 East 7th Avenue and is named for Ignacio Haya, an early Ybor cigar manufacturer. The 178 rooms nod to the neighborhood’s Cuban and Spanish roots with patterned tile, local art and handmade ironwork. Flor Fina is the hotel’s Latin-inspired restaurant and bar, and Quiquiriquí is a casual Cuban-style cafe for coffee and pastries. There is also a palm-lined lap pool.
Ybor City is the right base if you want to walk to the Columbia Restaurant, cigar shops, the Ybor City Museum State Park and 7th Avenue’s bars. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from 7th Avenue on Friday and Saturday nights. The full neighborhood guide is things to do in Ybor City.
What are the best boutique hotels in SoHo and Hyde Park?
The best boutique hotels in South Tampa are the Epicurean Hotel in SoHo and Palihouse Hyde Park Village. Both put you within walking distance of Tampa’s most popular restaurant strip and a short ride from Bayshore Boulevard.
Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection
The Epicurean Hotel at 1207 South Howard Avenue was developed with Bern’s Steak House, which sits directly across the street. A 2024 expansion brought it to 188 rooms and suites. Food is the theme: Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar is the main restaurant, EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge has city views, the Epicurean Theatre hosts cooking and wine classes, and guests have access to Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits. Book it if a Bern’s dinner is a highlight of your trip.
Palihouse Hyde Park Village
Palihouse Hyde Park Village at 1509 West Swann Avenue opened in 2023 as the first hotel inside Hyde Park Village, the open-air shopping district of boutiques and restaurants on tree-lined streets. With just 36 rooms set above street level and a second-floor lobby lounge, cafe and bar, it feels more like a private residence than a hotel. It suits couples and solo travelers who want quiet nights and walkable mornings.
Is there a waterfront resort-style hotel in Tampa?
Yes. The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas Tampa sits on Rocky Point Island along the Courtney Campbell Causeway, about 10 minutes from Tampa International Airport. All 276 rooms have a private patio or balcony with bay or skyline views, and the grounds include two heated pools, 15 poolside cabanas and WTR Pool & Grill. It is the closest thing to a resort in the city, and it is on the way to Clearwater Beach.
Which Tampa hotels are best for families?
The best Tampa hotels for families are the Tampa Marriott Water Street and The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas. The Marriott’s size means more room types and suites, and it is a short walk or streetcar ride from The Florida Aquarium in the Channel District and the playgrounds and splash fountains along the Riverwalk at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The Godfrey’s two heated pools keep kids busy between outings, and its Courtney Campbell Causeway location makes Clearwater Beach an easy drive. Families heading to Busch Gardens or ZooTampa should plan on driving from any downtown hotel.
Which Tampa neighborhood is best to stay in?
The best Tampa neighborhood to stay in depends on the trip:
- Water Street: Best for first-time visitors, events at the arena or convention center, and walking the Riverwalk.
- Downtown: Best for theater at the Straz Center or Tampa Theatre, museums and a historic hotel.
- Ybor City: Best for nightlife, Cuban food and history. Expect noise on weekends.
- SoHo and Hyde Park: Best for food, bars, boutique shopping and Bayshore Boulevard.
- Westshore and Rocky Point: Best for early flights and quick access to the Pinellas beaches.
Ybor City and SoHo have only a few hotels each, so book early for event weekends.
Tips for booking a Tampa hotel
- Watch the event calendar. Rates climb during Gasparilla (January 30, 2027), the Florida State Fair (February 4 to 15, 2027), big conventions, Buccaneers home games and spring break.
- Budget for parking. Downtown and Water Street hotels typically charge nightly valet or self-parking fees. Ask before you book.
- Use the streetcar. The fare-free TECO Line Streetcar connects Water Street, downtown and Ybor City, running until 11pm most nights and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
- Ask about the room view. At Water Street hotels, upper-floor rooms facing the channel or bay are worth requesting.
- Check resort and amenity fees. Some full-service hotels add a nightly fee on top of the room rate.
FAQ
What is the best luxury hotel in Tampa?
The Tampa EDITION on Water Street is the city’s top luxury hotel, with 172 rooms, the Mediterranean restaurant Lilac and a ninth-floor pool deck. The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, a few steps away, is a larger, full-service alternative.
Where should I stay in Tampa without a car?
Stay on Water Street, downtown or in Ybor City. All three are on the fare-free TECO Line Streetcar, and Water Street and downtown are on the Riverwalk, so you can reach most sights on foot or by streetcar and use rideshare for the rest.
Is Water Street Tampa walkable?
Yes. Water Street was designed as a walkable district, with shaded sidewalks, ground-floor restaurants and direct access to the Riverwalk, the arena, the convention center and Sparkman Wharf. The TECO Line Streetcar stops nearby for trips to Ybor City.
Are there boutique hotels in Tampa?
Yes. The best boutique hotels in Tampa are Hotel Haya in Ybor City, Palihouse Hyde Park Village in Hyde Park, the Epicurean Hotel in SoHo and Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse downtown.
Which Tampa hotel is closest to the airport?
Of the hotels in this guide, The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas Tampa on Rocky Point is closest, about 10 minutes from Tampa International Airport. The Westshore business district nearby has many other airport-area hotels.