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Papi's Cafe

4.7 (35 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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Kim N.

Found this cute little café while searching for a 'different' Cuban Sandwich shop in South Tampa. Located in the lobby of the Florida Blue office building there's plenty of parking in a nearby garage or directly in front of the building. Was pleasantly surprised by the food, quality and selection. Even better pricing is very fair and affordable, cheaper than a fast food meal. There is a hot food bar that changes daily, most of the customers were ordering that, but I was just craving a solid Cuban sandwich and they did deliver. The portion is big enough to share. I was only able to finish half. I would maybe ask for light mustard next time as that was a bit heavy and running off the sandwich. Can't wait to revisit and try the hot food selections.

Cuban Sandwich  Beef Empanada
Sammie23464 A.

Visiting nearby and walked to this awesome restaurant! At first I was a little intimidated walking into the business building but as soon as I walked in it was directly on my left. It's a cute little cafe for a bite to eat, they serve breakfast and lunch with plenty of space to dine inside! I ordered one beef empanada, one chicken empanada, one blueberry muffin, and one Cuban sandwich. The Cuban and the beef empanada were my absolute favorite, followed by the yummy toasted muffin! The lady who helped me was very pleasant and answered all the questions I had with a smile! I wish I had time to try more delights as everything looked wonderful! They also have an assortment of drinks and snacks (chips and cookies) you can order as well. Everything was very reasonably priced and I had a great experience! Definitely will be back!

Super clean restaurant and great light

Had the Cuban sandwich...sooooo good! Really friendly staff and super clean. Highly recommend!

In the store
Carissa A.

This was a great stop about 5min away from TPA. They stopped serving breakfast at 11am so I squeezed in just a few minutes prior. Their menu looked delicious. I had ordered an egg sandwich with egg whites, chorizo, and Swiss cheese on Cuban bread. They made the sandwich to order and prepared everything after I placed the order. The 2 employees were very nice and genuine. Fortunately the wait for the food to be prepared was only 7min or so because I'm unsure if I would be able to stand there looking at the baked goods without being increasingly more hungry. The sandwich itself was very good. I do not often see chorizo sliced as thin deli meat so that was a pleasant surprise. The size of the sandwich was relatively big so I had half for breakfast and half for lunch. I had paired the sandwich with a medium passion fruit juice which was the right amount of sweetness. The overall experience was great though the parking situation is a little confusing as all of the spots say Reserved or Deliveries. However, I parked in a "deliveries" spot and had no issues. This was a great brunch experience. Please be aware that this cafe is in a building and there is not a sign for the cafe outside of he building

Ginger L.

Papi's Cafe is a blessing to society. My husband has raved about it for a couple of years, as it is in his office building. If he could, he would have a cafe con leche from Papi's every day. And so when I finally got the chance to try...my expectations were high. And I am happy to report they were surpassed after just one empanada. The portions- awesome The flavor- fantastic The price-shocking! The menu is always changing, which is a delight, and the owner himself is a delight! Overall, I would highly recommend tucking in here for a quick lunch or stop for breakfast on the way to work, even if you're not working in this building. (There are plenty of public parking spots.)

10. Cuban Sandwich
A J.

Delicious Cuban sandwiches. Close to the airport. It's in the lobby on ground floor of an office building

T C.

Papi's is located inside the building. It has a chalk board menu on the outside by the door. The inside is very spacious and clean. We stopped by after a drop off at the airport. We were greeted as we came in by a very nice gentleman. They had a display of stuffed potatoes and chicken and beef empanadas. We ordered Cafe Con Leche and a stuffed potato, beef empanada and cuban toast. The coffee was delicious and the food was also excellent. The stuffed potato was amazing. I can see why they were so busy with the people in the building stopping by on the way upstairs to work. We will stop again when in the area. We want to try lunch.

10. Cuban Sandwich
Kila O.

Hard to find but worth the search. It is located off the lobby of an office building without outside signs. The service is enthusiastic and with a smile. The place is clean and no frills but the FOOD! Legitimately one of the best Cuban sandwiches I have had. Large portions and a great price.

Lunch menu
Teresa M.

This place is a true hidden gem. It is hard to find though. It is located on the lobby floor of the Bankers Life building across from Fairfield Inn and Suites. Everything is freshly made. The empanadas are so good, but they sell out fast. Call ahead if you want some. They are open Monday- Friday 7:30 - 3:00.

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

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5 months ago

Amazing Cuban sandwiches!!! Great service. Highly recommend. I stop here every time I fly into Florida.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

Food is good at there but only has limited options to choose for lunch menu. The staff is nice too.

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Cuban food was good. Breakfast food just ok. Would recommend for Cuban. Cuban sandwich and empanadas worth a stop.

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Best cafe in Tampa by far !! Great food and great service! I would highly recommend stopping here if you are in the area.

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5 years ago

I take my mom here weekly on Fridays. Fantastic people, delicious food, always leave happy.

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Highly recommend. Black beans and rice are on point. Like my abuelo used to make. Roast pork melts in your mouth

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Ask for a ropa vieja Cuban sandwich it was fantastic. With every other restaurant in this area being expensive it's my go to lunch spot

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Food is authentic and very good. Yellow rice and macaroni was delish. Cuban one of the best I've had in Tampa. New work pit stop.

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Columbia Restaurant

Columbia Restaurant

4.0
(4.5k reviews)
4.8 mi
$$

From the moment I walked in, it resembled a little piece of old Cuba or Spain! The history,…read morearchitecture, and cuisine celebrated here, along with the family warmth of the place, certainly caught my attention!! The wait staff were very friendly, Mark my waiter, has worked here for over 20 year! Speaks volumes about how they run this place! The service was chill, and the food was 1000% full of delicious flavor. I tried their classic famous salad, the seafood paella, and the flan! Absolutely hit the spot!! Visiting here on a Sunday evening was a totally different experience! It felt less like dining out and more like sharing a family meal in a much-loved, historic home. I'll definitely be returning and will bring friends and family with me next time I visit Tampa!

Recommended by our friends, we made a reservation at Columbia Restaurant during our visit to Ybor…read moreCity on Friday. As the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world, we felt it was a must-visit to experience its rich history and unique atmosphere. We also reserved seats for the Flamenco dance show, which had a $10 cover charge per person. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and enormous, with so many different dining rooms. You could probably get lost trying to find your friends inside, just kidding! We were lucky enough to get a table near the stage, so we could enjoy the Flamenco performance while having dinner. For our meal, we started with the Caldo Gallego "Giant Soup" ($10), which was hearty, flavorful, and incredibly comforting. We also ordered Columbia's Original "1905" Salad ($18). Made with crisp iceberg lettuce, julienned baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomatoes, olives, grated Romano cheese, Lea & Perrins® Worcestershire sauce, and their famous garlic dressing, it was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. Our main dish was the Mojito Chicken ($25). The chicken was very flavorful, especially with its delicious citrus-garlic sauce. Although the chicken itself was just a little on the dry side in my opinion, the flavorful sauce made up for it, and the dish was still very enjoyable. We also had the Paella "a la Valenciana" ($40), which was loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari, chicken, and pork, along with green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic, and a splash of white wine. It was a generous portion packed with fresh seafood and rich Spanish flavors. The New York Strip Sirloin "The Bambino" ($53) was another excellent choice. The 14 oz. USDA Choice wet-aged boneless strip steak was tender, juicy, and cooked perfectly. To finish our meal, we ordered the Flan ($8). It was smooth, creamy, and absolutely delicious, a perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. The Flamenco dance show was fantastic! The dancers were energetic and passionate, making the entire dining experience even more lively and memorable. Combined with the excellent service, it made for a truly enjoyable evening. Overall, Columbia Restaurant is much more than just a place to eat, it's a historic landmark and an unforgettable dining experience. Between the beautiful Spanish architecture, rich history, delicious food, outstanding service, and exciting Flamenco performance, it's definitely worth visiting when you're in Ybor City.

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A dining room
A dining room
Crab bites (appetizer)
Crab bites (appetizer)
Gem of the ocean cocktail. Yes!

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Gem of the ocean cocktail. Yes!
La Teresita Cafe

La Teresita Cafe

3.9
(1.3k reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

Brought friends here for lunch and decided to try the milanesa today, with fries and yellow rice as…read moresides. Just as I expected, this place never disappoints. I've only had Argentinian-style milanesa before, and I can easily say I liked the Teresita style better. The marinara sauce on the milanesa brings enough acidity to cut through the grease from the fried meat -- the meat is thin and crispy, but not at all dry. The fries and yellow rice make the meal an absolute steal based on the amount of food you get. My friend had the fried fish, which looked delicious -- excited to try it myself next time. Will definitely be back to try more items on the menu!

This place was okay. There was a guy that was kind and did a good job. The girl up front spoke so…read morelow we could not hear or understand her. Definitely needed to speak up or louder. We tried a few things: -Churro: okay but definitely stale, wish it had been fresher. This was a bit disappointing. -Chicken and rice: chicken was not very flavorful. Parts were cooked perfect and some of it was a little dry. Definitely not great... The rice was fantastic, perfectly cooked and seasoned -Salmon and fries: this was really good, flavorful and cooked great. We just wish it was a little bigger for the cost. -Vanilla Flan: very good, just a bit small. -Tres Leche: stole the show! Fabulous! I would come back just for this! The texture was perfect and the flavor was flawless! It was sweet but not too sweet. Great dessert! Definitely check your food before leaving though as they did forget part of the meal. Not a big deal as the guy up front was super apologetic and friendly. That dude was great! They need more just like him. Also, not the cleanest, floors needed swept and mopped. (That definitely would have helped the experience) Overall, it was a good/okay experience, just not great.

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La Teresita Cafe
La Teresita Cafe
Where you go in

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Where you go in
Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk

Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk

3.7
(685 reviews)
4.1 mi
$$

Drinks only review. Stopped here after Riverwalking over to History Museum, and decided that a…read moreproper mojito would make the museum visit even better. Sat at the outdoor bar, and received prompt service. My mojito was tall, well muddled (if Columbia Cafe can't get a mojito right, who can?) and had all the right components, just a bit too much ice. Offspring's strawberry daiquiri was also quite refreshing. We didn't realize there's an entire other bar and seating area (air conditioned!) up on the second floor museum level - the bar up there looks quite ornate and fits in with the museum-oriented atmosphere.

So my wife and I came in around noon on June 25th for lunch. Food was very good but a couple issues…read morethat ruined my experience. My wife ordered the empanadas and the half 1905 salad and I ordered the half and half......half Cuban and half 1905 salad. My wife should have added 'bring them together' but she didn't and the server didn't bother to ask so the empanadas came out and everything else came out 15 minutes later. My wife had a cocktail and the bill was $60.20. Issues to fix: 1)I ordered a Coca Cola, $4.00 and in 92 degree weather it melts in 5 minutes. We were there for an hour and not one time did she ask if I'd like a refill. 2)When she made the 1905 table side she literally 'dropped' a handful of salad ON THE FLOOR between my wife's and my seat......she kind of chuckled, gave us our salads and walked away. She literally left the SALAD ON THE FLOOR THE ENTIRE MEAL! During the course of our meal probably 20 employees walked by and never bothered to pick it up. That in itself was the epitome of laziness and complete lack of respect to the customer. Our bill was $60.20 and I tipped $12 which normally I'm a 30% tipper and I could kick myself for giving her 20%. She deserved zero. I know I will never get a response from management but do you think I will ever come back? Nyet.

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Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk
Columbia Columbia's Original"1905" Salad with "Shrimp Al Ajillo"
Columbia Columbia's Original"1905" Salad with "Shrimp Al Ajillo"
Patio

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Patio
Sal Rosa

Sal Rosa

4.0
(37 reviews)
3.5 mi

I only came here for a drink before heading out for festivities but it was a solid experience at…read morethe bar that is located in the main hall of what was the old courthouse where Le Meridien now resides. Located on the second floor, accessible by the front entrance, the stairs from the lobby, or the elevators on adjacent sides, Sal Rosa comprises a coffee bar and ice cream parlor, a full restaurant, and a bar and lounge. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week if you aren't looking to leave the hotel property in downtown Tampa for a day or night. The dirty martinis are ok but I felt they could be dirtier, especially since I asked for extra -- for some reason, bartenders in more than one establishment tend to still be sparingly with the olive brine. But the service was attentive regardless.

Excellent breakfast offered by the Le Meridien's restaurant. Great deal, I could not finish this…read moremassive stack of pancakes even though I tried. Everything was hot and tasty, coffees were delicious. I'm excited to see what other offerings they have here.

Photos
Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes, craft cocktails, 
and an exciting line-up of events and happenings.
Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes, craft cocktails, and an exciting line-up of events and happenings.
Located in the heart of downtown Tampa with an eclectic dining experience that combines classic Latin cuisine with a modern American twist
Located in the heart of downtown Tampa with an eclectic dining experience that combines classic Latin cuisine with a modern American twist
Where bold flavors meet Tampa's social heartbeat, 
Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes and craft cocktails

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Where bold flavors meet Tampa's social heartbeat, Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes and craft cocktails

Papi's Cafe - spanish - Updated July 2026

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