East Tampa - Tampa, FL Area Guide

In 1911, the city of Tampa annexed the southwestern part of what is now called the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area. The city incorporated other portions of the East Tampa community in 1923, and the remainder in 1953.

The City of Tampa’s ongoing redevelopment scheme includes projects designed to update much of the community’s infrastructure put in place during periods of annexation, including the potable water, sewage and transportation systems.

Over a 12-day period each February, more than 500,000 visit the Florida State Fairgrounds located on a 330-acre site in East Tampa. Also the home of the Cracker Country Historical museum — dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of rural life in Florida in the late 19th century — fair attractions includes a turn-of-the century living community, complete with a train depot, black smith shop, post office and general store.

In the East Tampa area you can find cuisine offerings from around the globe.Ulele has the perfect combination of a trendy chic restaurant with a great atmosphere and excellent food, especially the lobster roll and the signature Ulele burger. The popularity of the place can mean a long wait for seating. In case you must wait, its ideal location near Waterworks Park and the Hillsborough River makes it convenient to take a scenic stroll -- the restaurant will simply give you a buzz when your table becomes available.

Once you reach the general vicinity of Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que, the smell of hickory smoke wafting out of the parking lot will surely make your mouth water. The establishment has roosters walking around the grounds and fairly drips with genuine southern charm. To get a feel for the food, order the three-meat sampler -- ribs, sausage and pork. The ribs come with a traditional barbecue sauce and have a nice smoky flavor that will definitely leave a lasting impression. Add a side of the delicious Mac-n cheese and the potato salad, which has a sweet mustard taste.

Run by the same proprietors of the original Yummy House on Waters Avenue, the new Yummy House Chinese Bistro restaurant serves authentic Chinese cuisine in a modern casual setting. The restaurant has a diverse selection on the menu and includes all of the favorites like wonton soup, egg rolls, pot stickers, and sweet and sour pork dishes. You can also find an amazing lineup of salt & pepper dishes.

The Tampa area has a diverse exciting nightlife and nothing epitomize this more than the Castle. This place may not be for everyone, but the club’s inexpensive mixed drinks and legendary diversity, such as Goth night, dance remix night, 80s night, industrial night or indie rock/electroclash night, make it one of the best venues in Tampa for having a good time.

For house music, the Hyde Park Cafe has two rooms -- separated by an awesome patio -- with different genres playing. You’ll need to check to find out what will be playing on a particular night, but it always has an electric atmosphere, and you will be dancing all night long.

If you would prefer a good local bar, the laid back Mermaid Tavern offers phenomenal cuisine, an intriguing wine list and excellent craft beer.

Wide streets, multiple highways and spread out shopping center locations have contributed to Tampa’s reputation as one of the most car-oriented large cities in the U.S. For public transportation, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) operates fixed route and express route bus services throughout the city and county, including nine bus routes serving the East Tampa neighborhood.

HART also offers door-to-door paratransit service and a unique HARTFlex Service — commuter vans that provide walk-up transportation at regular HART stops or at reservation-only pick-up points.

Along with several cab services for getting about town, Lyft and Uber have recently become players in the public transportation industry proving residents with other options. Overall, the area has a mid-grade low walk score and some bicycle infrastructure

The Cyrus Greene Park provides a 10,000 square foot community center and offers residents a computer lab, game room, multipurpose room and a host of programs for adults and children. The facility also has a 25-yard pool that has six swim lanes, a splash pad with three water drops, floor sprays, two rain arches and a tube slide.

With nearly 11 acres of green space, the Ragan Park Center provides East Tampa residents numerous amenities, including a KaBoom playground. Rent the community center space for meetings, weddings and other special events.

East Tampa is a very livable community and has a cost of living that about 4 percent lower than the city’s overall average. A one-bedroom apartment rents on average for $585 per month. A gallon of gasoline cost about 1 percent less than the national average, and a beer costs between $3.50 -$5, depending on domestic or import branding. Basic fare for the local and limited express bus routes costs $2.

Residents have a variety of shopping options, from large malls to niche boutique shops. For an aesthetically pleasing shopping and dining experience, visit the Hyde Park Village. This shopping area features a blend of upscale stores, boutiques, small shops and an assortment of food choices, from Steakhouse French/American to a wine bistro and Irish bar.

For people 21 and over seeking a good place to take in a movie, check out Hyde Park Village's CineBistro. It has good food, a full-service bar and spot-on customer service that will take going to the movies to a different level.

The older Tyrone Square Mall has been modernized and includes plenty of TV's playing music videos, the mall's channel or giving fashion tips. It has a decent select of the familiar brand name stores. Many locals frequent the mall because of the abundance of clearance sales and a good food court with plenty of restaurants.

For grocery shopping, the well-know chains have stores in the general area, with Publix being a top choice. For those looking for fresh options, you can buy fresh cilantro, choose from multiple kinds of bok choy or purchase fruits and vegetables in bulk at the Sanwa Farmers Market. It also has a variety of ethnic foods, meats, and seafood.