Best place for a girl’s night out:
I like anywhere with a rooftop for a girl’s night out. I would probably say the best rooftop in Tampa is the Edge at The Epicurean Hotel. I also like Fly Bar for a more casual night out.
Favorite local boutique:
Penelope T. It carries my favorite line of jeans, Mother, and great mix of brands that you can’t find in department stores. I also love the unique jewelry they carry.
Favorite breakfast spot:
Breakfast is hands down my favorite meal of the day, so this is a hard one. When I can get there early enough, Pinky’s is my favorite breakfast spot.
Best Chinese food:
Yummy House.
Best place for a date night:
The patio at Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill. I had never been to Miguel’s until two years ago when my boyfriend took me for the first time. It was kind of our first “date,” and I fell in love with the back patio and the margaritas. The string lights and the open-air top truly make it feel like a little oasis. Even in the summer, the patio seems to stay tolerable and mild.
Favorite craft cocktail:
The jalapeño margarita at Bartaco. I know it is a new spot, but I am a big tequila fan, and this place has the best tequila list I have seen in Tampa. My bartender made the freshest jalapeño margarita I have ever had. It’s not on the menu, but you can ask for one.
Place you take people from out of town:
Oxford Exchange. I feel like the opening of Oxford Exchange in 2012 was very significant. Not only has it won architectural awards on an international level, it is a venue that I would be impressed with if I saw it in San Francisco or Manhattan.
Best place to celebrate a special occasion with family:
My family likes to go to Carmel Kitchen because it is easy to order on the iPads and because it’s somewhere my 5- and 2-year-old nephews can get their meals fast. It’s also a great place to try a lot of different foods that the whole family can share.
Favorite place to have lunch at the beach:
You can’t go wrong with a grilled grouper sandwich from Frenchy’s in Clearwater.
Cool Tampa fact:
I think most people know that Tampa has a long history of cigar making but are unaware that the industry is being threatened by FDA regulations, which aim to treat cigars the same as cigarettes. There are only a few remaining cigar manufacturers here in Tampa, and I think it is vital that Tampa residents new and old do what they can to protect the cigar industry since it is a part of Tampa’s unique history.
