The neighborhood just west of downtown along Howard and Kennedy. Oxford Exchange brunch, Psomi Greek Bib Gourmand and the Tampa Heights tipping-point cafes.
Psomi on North Howard Avenue in Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Christina Theofilos' Greek daytime kitchen and bakery. The patio fills first.
Signature: Octopus ceviche, House-made dolmades, Pastitsio
Order: Octopus ceviche, house-made dolmades, and a Greek coffee with the bougatsa.
Tip: Theofilos runs a daytime-only kitchen: breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Friday, brunch on weekends; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Oxford Exchange on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa runs a bookstore, restaurant, coffee bar and TeBella tea bar, with a sunlit conservatory and Buddy Brew Coffee.
Signature: Buttermilk pancakes, Avocado toast, Afternoon tea
Order: Buttermilk pancakes with the maple butter, the conservatory egg sandwich and a flight of TeBella teas at brunch.
Tip: Toast named Oxford Exchange among the top 20 brunch spots in America; arrive before 9am on weekends or expect a 90-minute wait.
Petra on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa has served halal-certified Jordanian and Palestinian dishes since 2004, with mansaf and shawarma as the table builders.
Signature: Mansaf lamb shank, Chicken shawarma, Knafeh
Order: Mansaf lamb shank with yogurt sauce, the chicken shawarma wrap and the knafeh for dessert.
Tip: Halal-certified; gluten-free menu available except the pita; lunch special runs until 3pm.
Psomi on North Howard Avenue in Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Christina Theofilos' Greek daytime kitchen and bakery. The patio fills first.
Order: Octopus ceviche, house-made dolmades and a Greek coffee.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; breakfast and lunch Wednesday to Friday, brunch on weekends.
Oxford Exchange on Kennedy Boulevard runs a bookstore, restaurant, coffee bar and TeBella tea bar in a sunlit conservatory with a retractable glass roof.
Order: Buttermilk pancakes at brunch with the maple butter and a flight of TeBella teas.
Tip: Toast named Oxford Exchange among America's top 20 brunch spots; arrive before 9am on weekends.
Petra on Kennedy Boulevard has served halal-certified Jordanian and Palestinian dishes since 2004, with mansaf lamb shank and shawarma as the table builders.
Order: Mansaf lamb shank with yogurt sauce and the chicken shawarma wrap.
Tip: Halal-certified; gluten-free menu available except for the pita; lunch special runs until 3pm.
Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs Mediterranean small plates, a curated wine list and a creative cocktail bar in a sleek Howard Avenue room.
Order: Bone-in lamb chops, the burrata fig salad and the Negroni Sbagliato.
Tip: Bar seats first-come; the wine room books for special occasions.
The Oxford Exchange coffee bar is operated by Buddy Brew, pouring espresso classics alongside the TeBella Tea bar inside the Kennedy Boulevard bookstore.
Signature drink: Buddy Brew flat white
Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs a cocktail bar alongside the Mediterranean restaurant, with seasonal cocktails and an aperitivo program.
Signature drink: Negroni Sbagliato
Food: Mediterranean small plates
Oxford Exchange on Kennedy Boulevard runs Tampa's most-booked brunch in a sunlit conservatory with Buddy Brew Coffee, TeBella Tea and the Toast top-20 brunch.
Order: Buttermilk pancakes with the maple butter; flight of TeBella teas.
Psomi on Howard Avenue runs Greek brunch with Chef Christina Theofilos' Bib Gourmand kitchen, with bougatsa, octopus ceviche and a daytime-only menu.
Order: Octopus ceviche, house dolmades and a Greek coffee.
Rome and Fig in North Hyde Park runs Saturday and Sunday Mediterranean brunch with shakshuka, burrata salads and an aperitivo-led brunch cocktail program.
Order: Burrata fig salad plus Mediterranean shakshuka.