Hola friends! Ciao, desde mi casa! I’m sitting at home, still, and I don’t know about ya’ll but I STAY hungry during this quarantine! I can’t quite figure out why being en casa makes me feel like I’m starving all the freaking time, but it’s true. Tengo hambre!! I’m hungry, amigos, but not for the food I’ve got in this house. Nope. Listen, I know some of ya’ll have turned amateur chefs during this pandemic, baking banana bread and trying new recipes, but that’s not me. Nah. I lost the joy of cooking somewhere in March tbh, and I currently find no pleasure in slaving behind my stove. Lo que si quiero es comer comida RICA. I want some yummy ass food. Food that I don’t have to make myself. I’m tired of eggs, and spaghetti, and frozen pizzas. I’m ready to hit these Tampa streets again and dine at some of my favorite restaurants once more. I know that at this very moment things are slowly opening up again, but I’m not ready to sit in an enclosed locale just yet. Call me cautious, but I’ll wait. I also know that take-out orders are available, and I strongly encourage you guys to join me in supporting local businesses by ordering this way. It’s just that, I miss actually GOING to my favorite food spots. I miss sitting there, taking in the atmosphere, and chowing down on the delicious grub. Don’t you? Let me tell you about the places in the Tampa area that imma hit up AS SOON as the coast is clear.

1. Loli’s Mexican Cravings

Loli’s is my favorite place to eat in Tampa PERIODT! Full stop! It’s that good! It started out as a food truck, selling authentic Mexican street food, and it grew to be so popular that the opened up 2 brick and mortar locations. Mira, the food at Loli’s is the ONLY legit comida Mexicana that I have found in the Tampa Bay area, and that’s saying something. My go-to order, is a plate of tacos. Uno de Pastor, uno de Campechano, y uno de Pescado. If you close your eyes while taking a bite, you feel like you could be standing in El Zócalo en Mexico. Ok, haha, so maybe that’s an exaggeration, but its DAYUM good and super authentic. Cree me. Try the quesadillas, the sopes, and the agua de jamaica if you go… you won’t be sorry.

2. The Library

Oigan! One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is BRUNCH! In my opinion, there isn’t a better meal of the day. Especially if you pair it with some mimosas, a sundress, and a few amigas. Brunch anywhere is nice, but brunch at The Library in St. Pete… that’s a by-god TREAT! First of all, es una belleza de lugar, it’s just a gorgeous place. The design is of a “library” (huge shock, I know) inspired by the George Peabody Library collection, but think “refined library” with loads of natural light, modern fixtures, parquet floors, and bookshelves filled with delightful, old books! It’s a vibe. The food rises up to meet the high expectations that the decor creates; just yummy. Pictured is the superb dish that I had on my last brunch date con las chicas. It’s called: “Benedict”. This brunch plate has pork belly, poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, and creole fondue on a warm biscuit. Is your mouth watering yet?

3. Oak and Stone

Downtown St. Pete is fantastic for strolling, for meeting with friends, for drinking, but ESPECIALLY for eating. There are a million incredible food options in the area, but you would be doing yourself a disservice, if you didn’t drop by Oak and Stone for a meal. Este lugar tiene buenas vibras, it’s filled with good vibes. The energy is chill and homey, like your classic neighborhood brewery, but only more dope. Everything here is taken up a notch. The pizza, isn’t just regular-schmegular pizza, it’s that artisan shit that you could never recreate at home. The beer on tap is next level and LOCAL. They have a killer “brew wall” that contains 40-60 varieties of craft beer from the region; beer that you can have by the ounce. Check it, you can savor the delicious pizza, and then go fill up with an ounce (or several ounces) of each of the beers that tickle your fancy. Qué te dije? DOPE!

4. Grain and Berry

A veces, a girl just wants to eat something fresh. Something she’s not gunna feel guilty about later. Feel me? When I’m hankering for something healthy but totally mind blowing, I head to Grain and Berry. They create the kind of “good-for you” food that tastes positively sinful. Like “suck on your spoon & lick your plate” sinful. And the best part is that everything is all natural, created right in front of you, and has loads of powerful nutrients to boot. A mi me encanta los Yogurt Splits, like the one pictured. It’s basically a healthier cousin to the traditional ice cream banana split, but tastier. Feel free to fight me! The kiddos are all about their bowls though, Acai and Pitaya in particular. I think I know why, too. They are as pretty as they are scrumptious. Full of color, with bursts of different flavors and textures. You gotta hit up Grain and Berry, friends. Not just for the benefit of your waistline, but for your taste buds too!

5. The Oxford Exchange

The Oxford Exchange might be my favorite place to eat in all of Tampa. It’s the type of place that makes me giddy, the type of place that I get excited to enter. No se, pero, I feel like when I enter that beautiful atrium in the middle of the restaurant and I glance up at the paintings lining the walls, I become the classiest version of myself. I sit up a little straighter, I keep my elbows off the table, and my pinkie goes right up! The ambience is light and airy, with a touch of sophistication. I’m totally here for it. Me encanta. And I haven’t even told you about the food, ya’ll! The food, aye mi madre, it’s soo good… all of it is. If I had to choose my favorite thing on the menu, though, it’d be the Afternoon Tea service. The tea is delightfully flavorful and the tier of goodies is almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Cant wait to go back, I could use a little more “class” in my life. Quarantine living has made me a bit sloppy. Ha!

6. Armature Works

Now, you can’t come to Tampa and not swing by our “favorite hangout place”. Armature Works is the shizz. It’s a food hall located in the heart of downtown, right on the banks of the river. It’s connected to our famous River Walk and it’s got loads of wonderful outdoor space. The aesthetic is quintessentially Florida, with it’s palm trees, outdoor seating, and decor. Es un encanto, de verdad. It’s always filled with people, at every time of day (well except now, obvi), and that’s because its just a rad place to be. This is the place you go for date night, for “me-time”, for Ladie’s Nights, AND for Family Sundays. It’s versatile! You can eat everything from Empanadas at Empamama’s to speciality drinks at BAR to Poke Bowls at Zukku. Everything is delicious. Everything is fresh. I have never been disappointed at Armature works, I bet you won’t be either!

7. Sparkman’s Wharf

The Channelside area of Tampa is booming at the moment. New construction is bringing all types of flair to the area of town that is best known for it’s Arena and it’s waterfront. One of my favorite new Channelside spots is Sparkman’s Wharf. Oh man, es un lugar tan divertido! In a word, it’s FUN! It’s got twinkle lights, it faces the sunset, it has an AstroTurf lawn for people to picnic on while live music plays… AWESOME! Imagine an “outdoor food hall” where the street food vendors sell comida out of colorful shipping containers! Isn’t that a place you wanna hang? Yea, yo tambien! The dining hall at Sparkman’s has a kick ass Biergarten, a tapas bar, and even a fresh Oyster spot. All good, but I stay dreaming about the Vietnamese “Bahn Mi” sandwich from BT in a Box. Es el sandwich de mis suenos! Next date night, I’m so there.

8. M. Bird

M. Bird is the type of locale that music videos are made of. It’s the perfect spot to meet up for drinks in the Tampa area. Try to envision an open-air rooftop bar, some eclectic/modern decor, live palm plants sprinkled throughout the dining area, and a drop dead gorgeous view of the Tampa skyline. That’s M. Bird. Es el lugar PERFECTO for a Bumble meet-up, or a first date, or a co-worker happy hour. It’s dripping with swag, the kind that young professionals totally dig. I love it, I’m not gunna lie. The cocktails are muy creative, the appetizers are hella inventive, and there’s no otro lugar en Tampa that’s gunna give you a view of the Tampa city lights like that one you’ll see there. If you get asked out for a date, suggest M. Bird and make sure you order the “Vaca Frita Tostones” (pictured) and the ” Not All Heroes Wear Caipirinhas” cocktail! You’ll love it. Confia en mi!

9. King State

King State is my favorite spot to bring a good book to. It’s the kind of place, I wanna stay all day. You could describe it as a cafe that specializes in coffee roasting and beer brewing with a super mellow vibe. Hence, la razon que me quiero quedar todo el dia. When you walk in, you notice the quiet ambience. This is not the place you wanna party at. Instead, it’s the perfect setting for writing a song or reading poetry. The ideal location for savoring a cappuccino without rushing; every sip enjoyed at your pace. Not only that, but the buidling is clean and bright as well as cozy. It’s a dream. I spent a solid hour chatting with a buena amiga on the over-sized couch near the entrance; didn’t wanna get off that thing. Ha! The place is just pleasant, the drinks are as tasty as they are cute, and positive energy just flows through, the whole time you are there. Cant wait to return with the memoir I just purchased.

10. Edisons: Food+Drink Lab

Edison’s Food+ Drink Lab is no joke guys! This place is fancy! Es un lugar to splurge on. You make reservations way in advance and you look forward to Edison’s. That’s the type of restaurant this is. Well that, and you come ready to have your mind blown. You see, the food is inventive with a capital I. It’s a showcase of classic meals that have been deconstructed, tweaked, and expertly modified by a world class chef. I went for El Marido’s birthday recently, and I couldn’t stop Ooohing and Ahhhing over each plate that the waiter brought out. Every single one was a revelation; a testament to the fact that food preparation is an art form. Es una experiencia unica! Edison’s provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that you can have all the times you want… provided your wallet can handle it. I’m gunna start saving up right now so that we can go back asap. I love it that much!

Amigos, I know that this pandemic has been hard on all of us. One of the best things that live has to offer, food, has lost a bit of it’s joy. I bet you will agree with me when I say, that while I’m super afortunada to have all the food that I could want at home and that I’m healthy enough to prepare it for myself, I’m ready to go out to eat again. Es la verdad. I wanna eat food that I don’t have to cook and I’m ready to do it at some of the spots in my hometown that make me happy. Some of the spots that do food very well! This list is a bit of wishful thinking, a food wish-list of sorts. La cosa es, that I need to have things to look forward to during this time. Thinking about the restaurants that I’d like to frequent after the pandemic gives me hope. Hope that things will return to normal. I think we all need that, verdad que si? So, lets keep that wish list going, and in the meantime, let’s support all of our local spots by ordering to -go and keeping them open for business. I’ve given you 10 awesome Tampa spots to try, if you haven’t tried them already. Andale mi gente, let’s do this! I’ll check in again soon!

Con quarantine hugs y mucho carino,

Joana