10 Best Hotels in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Brought to you in part by the people behind Bern's Steak House across the street, this vibrant, cuisine-centric installment of Marriott's Autograph Collection hotels is an absolute must for foodies. Food and wine inspire everything—butcher-block tables line walls in the rooms, minibars are stocked with high-end snacks and beverages (mind the prices!), and guests can take part in world-class cooking and cocktail-making courses at the Epicurean Theatre. The Élevage restaurant serves classic dishes reimagined with a modern twist, and the Edge rooftop bar offers intelligent beverage options. Little Midway, an ice-cream parlor and pastry shop, and a wineshop courtesy of Bern's are also on site.

In addition to superb Gulf views from many of its rooms and suites, this stylish resort has two free-form pools and three hot tubs, all facing the beach.

Take a Waikiki surf shack from back in the day, shake it up with a little midcentury Miami chic, and give it a clean modern twist—that's this ultra-hip beachfront hotel to a T. Each room is furnished with a different antique lamp, rustic but refurbished dressers, and vintage surf memorabilia, and the quirky decor is balanced by the crisp white bed linens. The restaurants and bars, fire pits, Olympic-size swimming pool, Ping-Pong table, and vintage photo booth make this a fun destination for anyone who's up for something out of the ordinary.

You’ll be hard pressed to leave the grounds of this high-rise beachfront property, where amenities include two pools—one for adults and one for children—lots of hammocks, a surf simulator, a play area, fire pits that are perfect for making s'mores, and a poolside tiki bar. Rooms aren't overly fancy, but they have mini-refrigerators and microwaves so you can heat up simple meals when you want to eat in. The on-site RumFish Grill is a popular seafood restaurant with a gigantic aquarium stocked with local sea life (in the off hours, you can suit up for a tank swim for $25).

This resort sits over mineral springs—which feed its pools and water coolers—and has been drawing visitors since 1927, though accommodations are continuously being upgraded, so expect to find high-end mattresses and luxurious linens, as well as the latest treatments and therapies in the 50,000-square-foot spa. Request a treatment room overlooking Tampa Bay and plan to spend a little downtime in the tranquillity garden. 

Few things are as emblematic of Beach Drive's renaissance as this boutique hotel, which, like many of Downtown's best attractions, seamlessly blends old and new. The former apartment building's 1924 facade was lovingly restored by developer Chuck Prather, who also dramatically renovated its interior with eclectic decor and furnishings—guest bathrooms, for instance, have both European claw-foot bathtubs and modern, glass-door rain-head showers. Most rooms also have stately canopy beds, and some rooms overlook Beach Drive and Downtown's banyan-dotted waterfront parks. Everyone can enjoy fantastic views from Canopy, the überhip nightspot, and the ground-floor Birch & Vine restaurant has had local foodies buzzing since it opened.

The Pink Palace, as it's called thanks to its paint job, is a storied resort and Gulf Coast architectural landmark, with exterior and public areas exuding turn-of-the-20th-century elegance. Ditto for the rooms. The staff is known for friendly old-world service. The Don once was a favorite of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Babe Ruth, and Clarence Darrow. Maritana Grille is the hotel's deservedly popular restaurant, which specializes in Florida seafood and is lined with huge fish tanks. Ghost hunters may be interested in knowing that Thomas Rowe, who built this Roaring '20s–era hotel, is said to have come back after death to meet his beloved; some guests and staff swear they see the couple occasionally having a rendezvous in the garden (more romantic than spooky); others say Rowe appears in corridors and rooms.

There is debate about what attracts more guests to this spectacularly landscaped property–the 45 holes of challenging golf, the 20-court Tennis Gardens facility, or the 291-slip marina. It could also be the Island House Spa or the delicious dinner in the resort's Sand's Pointe, one of on-site six restaurants. Water is the test on both golf courses, which have excellent pro shops. Stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and bicycles are available. All rooms have balconies overlooking the golf course, the beach, or the private lagoon where manatees and dolphins are occasionally spotted. Golf and dining facilities are for guests and members only.

The only resort on the beach with its own fireworks display, the island-chic TradeWinds is also very pet-friendly—in addition to a play area and a room-service menu for dogs and cats, there's an entire building with rooms reserved for those traveling with pets. Those with children in tow will appreciate such younger-set activities as swimming lessons or digging for sharks' teeth with the notorious pirate, Captain Redbeard. Standard rooms have a wet bar with a microwave and mini-refrigerator; many rooms have beach views, though you may have to crane your neck (to avoid having to do so, opt for a Gulf-front suite with a balcony).

This resort near Pier 60 guarantees sweeping views of the Gulf or the Intracoastal Waterway from the balcony of your room. Guest quarters are decorated in a clean, modern style; those with bunk beds are great for families, though the hotel offers no organized kids programs. If the beach is too crowded or the Gulf is too warm, you can head for the large pool, which is shared by residents of the condos in the hotel's twin building on the same property. The restaurant, Ocean Hai, is probably the only place for miles where you'll find Asian-fusion cuisine. The large, full-service spa and the fitness center will keep adults occupied.