Stepping into the Tampa EDITION, you enter into a tropical jungle and quickly wonder if you are in a boomtown Florida city or a tranquil and tropical beachside resort somewhere over the water in the Caribbean. Ian Schrager is the conductor of the symphony in this incredible latest edition of the EDITION hotels.
Spread over 26 stories, there are 172 rooms and 38 private residences, a rooftop terrace with a pool, expansive spa and wellness facility, fitness centre, and seven bars and restaurants including a signature offering from Michelin-starred chef John Fraser.
One of our favourite things about the Tampa EDITION was the ‘always-on’ availability of truly sensational food. First-up, Market on the ground floor. This relaxed venue changed by day and night from a high-end bakery in the early mornings to a casual lunch fair in the afternoons to a relaxed bar in the evenings – always providing a relevant menu to the time of day. There’s always an endless provision of service at the Tampa EDITION, whatever the time of day and the vibe you are looking for, you could always find a quick snack between visits outside the hotel or trips to the spa and pool.
Azure, the restaurant on the pool deck rooftop, provided a much more exclusive and tailored table service style which was great for the evenings. The rooftop dining experience showcases fresh Greek cuisine. The menu invites you to transport yourself to a warm Greek island in the height of summer by engulfing you in the cool azure tones of the pool and the beautiful blue sky.
We’d recommend booking Azure for a late dinner at sunset. The views are remarkable and the relaxed evening atmosphere is a great pairing for the light bites and great cocktails.
Outside Azure is the deck. Top marks here as The Tampa EDITION team have done an incredible job at making you feel like you are not in a downtown area. The pool and deck area provides pristine Miami South Beach vibes raised up high above the traffic and the noise of the city.
Looking out past the deck and pool, the greenery and cabanas embrace and welcome you and transport you to a deck on the beach, lounging around without a care in the world. This gives the hotel an incredibly relaxing feel (quite impressive considering its location).
Perhaps the most transportive of spaces was the dark and moody interconnected bar and club which takes you back to Ian Schrager’s roots at Studio 54 in New York City. Don’t blame too many margaritas but we really did feel like we were in Midtown or Lower Manhattan with the nooks to explore and low level lighting. The atmosphere and vibe is absolutely electric and the mixture of locals and guests give the club experience a unique feel that you might not find anywhere else in Tampa.
Only when returning to your room (a little unsteady after said Margaritas) are you reminded you aren’t in Lower Manhattan but by the sunny Florida seaside.
After dancing all night, GT recommends visiting The EDITION’s wellness facility and spa for the EDITION Signature Massage to melt all your tensions away. Our visit was incredibly peaceful and you wouldn’t think there’s a city outside the windows while you’re smelling Florida orange scent in the expansive facilities.
As always with EDITION hotels, the rooms were incredibly understated with white and beige tones throughout and beautiful oak wood cabinets and flooring that give you a very relaxed beachy feel even though you are in the heart of the city. The views sometimes left a little more to be desired with some of them looking over the nearby downtown development, however GT was treated to rooms overlooking the Marina and we recommend these if you care for views!
The spotlight is shining brightly on Tampa and, along with its legendary service, The Tampa EDITION is setting a new standard of luxury in a city with an ambitious future. “Tampa is a city that’s really coming into its own,” said Schrager. “It’s got a good quality of life and a great food scene. It’s a city in the sun, but it’s not a vacation-only spot, it’s a real living breathing city and that’s what I think is so special about it.”
GT highly recommends the Tampa EDITION for guests who are looking for a 5-star experience and the tranquillity of a beachside town in the heart of Tampa – with that signature Schrager New York twist.
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