When to Visit - Arts and Events

There is a hundred-year-old tradition in Tampa known as the 'Gasparilla Pirate Fest', a weekend long celebration each February that draws nearly 400,000 visitors and includes a pirate invasion, parade and arts festival.

Tampa Dining

Tampa specializes in fresh, sumptuous seafood dishes. Everywhere in the city there are bars serving oysters, mussels and clams, ideal for a mid-afternoon snack with a difference. The Latin influence, apparent in much of the local cooking, is particularly delicious when combined with these ocean flavors. "Spicy fish paella served with black beans' is just one tantalizing example of this flavorsome cuisine. International cuisine is also very evident throughout Tampa, with a number of French, Italian and Greek restaurants, many with outdoor terraces to enjoy the warm evenings. The Sarasota area, to the south, has the highest concentration of excellent restaurants.

Tampa Tipping Advice

Tampa restaurants usually do not add gratuities to the bill, so tipping is usual, with a recommended 15 percent for the waiter when customers deem the service to be good. Also a tip of five to ten percent to the maître d', 15 percent to a bartender and 15 percent of the wine bill for a wine steward, who makes a special effort in selecting and serving wine. Tips for taxi drivers should be paid along similar lines. The recommended rate for doormen, parking attendants and valets is one US dollar.