Ybor City Historic District Walking Tour (Self Guided), Tampa
They say, where there’s smoke, there’s Ybor City... Indeed, this historic district, located just northeast of downtown Tampa, is a neighborhood where they've been rolling cigars for over a century. Its name comes from Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a Spanish cigar manufacturer who relocated his operations from Key West to Tampa in 1885, seeking better transportation access and a more favorable business environment. Ybor purchased a large tract of land and built a planned company town that quickly became the heart of the U.S. cigar industry.
In its early years, Ybor City drew thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Spain, and Italy, all seeking work in the cigar factories. These communities brought along their languages, traditions, and customs, shaping a vibrant multicultural identity. Rows of brick “casitas,” small homes built for workers, and large factory buildings defined the urban landscape, while social clubs and mutual aid societies, such as the Cuban Club and the Italian Club, provided support, education, and entertainment for residents.
By the early 20th century, Ybor City was producing millions of hand-rolled cigars annually, earning Tampa the nickname “Cigar Capital of the World.” The neighborhood also became a hub of labor activism, with cigar workers organizing strikes and advocating for fair working conditions. Cultural life flourished in the social clubs, hosting concerts, theatrical performances, and festivals that strengthened community bonds.
Today, Ybor City carefully preserves its rich heritage manifested in brick streets lined with historic cigar factories, colorful casitas, and ornate social clubs. Highlights include the Ybor City Museum State Park, where the immigrant story comes alive, the Ybor Factory Building, and the Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest Spanish eatery. Eclectic shops, street murals, local cafés, and wrought-iron balconies reflect the early 20th-century architecture, while the lively atmosphere keeps the neighborhood feeling as dynamic as ever.
From hand-rolled cigars to busy cafés, Ybor City reflects Tampa’s immigrant history and entrepreneurial roots. Walking through the district, it’s easy to see how the cigar industry shaped its environment. Indeed, Ybor City is called the “Cigar Capital of the World” for a reason — just take this self-guided walk and see for yourself.
In its early years, Ybor City drew thousands of immigrants from Cuba, Spain, and Italy, all seeking work in the cigar factories. These communities brought along their languages, traditions, and customs, shaping a vibrant multicultural identity. Rows of brick “casitas,” small homes built for workers, and large factory buildings defined the urban landscape, while social clubs and mutual aid societies, such as the Cuban Club and the Italian Club, provided support, education, and entertainment for residents.
By the early 20th century, Ybor City was producing millions of hand-rolled cigars annually, earning Tampa the nickname “Cigar Capital of the World.” The neighborhood also became a hub of labor activism, with cigar workers organizing strikes and advocating for fair working conditions. Cultural life flourished in the social clubs, hosting concerts, theatrical performances, and festivals that strengthened community bonds.
Today, Ybor City carefully preserves its rich heritage manifested in brick streets lined with historic cigar factories, colorful casitas, and ornate social clubs. Highlights include the Ybor City Museum State Park, where the immigrant story comes alive, the Ybor Factory Building, and the Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest Spanish eatery. Eclectic shops, street murals, local cafés, and wrought-iron balconies reflect the early 20th-century architecture, while the lively atmosphere keeps the neighborhood feeling as dynamic as ever.
From hand-rolled cigars to busy cafés, Ybor City reflects Tampa’s immigrant history and entrepreneurial roots. Walking through the district, it’s easy to see how the cigar industry shaped its environment. Indeed, Ybor City is called the “Cigar Capital of the World” for a reason — just take this self-guided walk and see for yourself.
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Ybor City Historic District Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Ybor City Historic District Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » Tampa (See other walking tours in Tampa)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Author: jenny
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: USA » Tampa (See other walking tours in Tampa)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 7
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Author: jenny
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Ybor City Museum State Park
- Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Cuban Club)
- Ybor Factory Building
- Parque Amigos de Jose Marti (Jose Marti Park)
- Centro Ybor
- King Corona Cigars Cafe and Bar
- Columbia Restaurant
1) Ybor City Museum State Park
Situated in what was likely the first bakery to serve Cuban bread on American soil, Ybor City Museum State Park is an ideal starting point for a tour of the Ybor City Historic District. The museum features informational displays about the city’s immigrant population and the cigar-producing heritage they brought from Cuba.
The main building and entrance occupy the site of La Joven Francesca bakery, originally established in 1896 but destroyed by fire in 1922. The only item that survived was the brick oven. Owner Francisco Ferlita rebuilt the bakery and added a second oven. The property includes a casita—a typical cigar worker’s home built and paid for by the factories as an incentive—and a garden that hosts events throughout the year.
During its heyday, the bakery and garden were popular gathering spots. Residents would catch up on news, buy their daily loaf of Cuban bread, and enjoy a Cuban coffee. The bakery supplied bread across the city with a daily delivery service, and Ybor City residents often hung the bread on nails placed on their front door frames.
The museum presents Ybor City’s history through self-guided exhibits, a video presentation, and written and audio information about the development of the cigar industry.
The main building and entrance occupy the site of La Joven Francesca bakery, originally established in 1896 but destroyed by fire in 1922. The only item that survived was the brick oven. Owner Francisco Ferlita rebuilt the bakery and added a second oven. The property includes a casita—a typical cigar worker’s home built and paid for by the factories as an incentive—and a garden that hosts events throughout the year.
During its heyday, the bakery and garden were popular gathering spots. Residents would catch up on news, buy their daily loaf of Cuban bread, and enjoy a Cuban coffee. The bakery supplied bread across the city with a daily delivery service, and Ybor City residents often hung the bread on nails placed on their front door frames.
The museum presents Ybor City’s history through self-guided exhibits, a video presentation, and written and audio information about the development of the cigar industry.
2) Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Cuban Club)
The Cuban Club, locally known as CĂrculo Cubano, was Ybor City’s principal gathering place. The building housed a cantina, pharmacy, ballroom, library, spa, and bowling alley. The current structure was built in 1917 to replace an earlier building that had burned down.
The Cubans who settled in Ybor City came via Key West. Ybor and Tampa proved to be better locations for their cigar operations thanks to Henry Plant's railroad, which connected the area to Jacksonville and New York. Key West would not be reached by Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad until 1912. Many immigrants considered themselves exiles committed to liberating Cuba from Spanish colonial rule, and several Cuban Clubs in the area served as meeting places for the community.
The building itself was an important symbol for the locals, helping many Cubans decide to remain in Ybor City after Cuban independence. The Cuban Club functioned as a mutual aid society, providing services not offered by the cigar factories, including health care and English classes. This gave the club significant economic and social importance within the community.
Today, the Cuban Club is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is featured in the American Institute of Architects’ Florida Architecture: 100 Years, 100 Places.
The Cubans who settled in Ybor City came via Key West. Ybor and Tampa proved to be better locations for their cigar operations thanks to Henry Plant's railroad, which connected the area to Jacksonville and New York. Key West would not be reached by Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad until 1912. Many immigrants considered themselves exiles committed to liberating Cuba from Spanish colonial rule, and several Cuban Clubs in the area served as meeting places for the community.
The building itself was an important symbol for the locals, helping many Cubans decide to remain in Ybor City after Cuban independence. The Cuban Club functioned as a mutual aid society, providing services not offered by the cigar factories, including health care and English classes. This gave the club significant economic and social importance within the community.
Today, the Cuban Club is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is featured in the American Institute of Architects’ Florida Architecture: 100 Years, 100 Places.
3) Ybor Factory Building
The Ybor Factory Building is a significant historical landmark, occupying an entire city block. Architect C. E. Parcell designed the building, which Vicente Martinez-Ybor constructed in 1886 after relocating his Prince of Wales cigar line from Key West to the new company town he founded northeast of Tampa in 1885. The headquarters of Ybor’s holding company was built around the same time, directly across 9th Avenue in the The Pasaje building.
When it was completed, the three-story structure was the world’s largest cigar factory and Tampa’s first brick cigar factory. Skilled cigar makers produced hundreds of millions of cigars over the following decades on wooden workbenches in the building’s sunlit rolling rooms.
After Ybor’s death in 1896, the factory changed ownership but remained productive until after World War II, when the cigar industry and Ybor City declined. The buildings sat vacant for several decades before being repurposed as gallery and studio spaces for artists and later transformed into a festival marketplace called Ybor Square in the mid-1970s. On November 15, 1972, the Ybor Factory Building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In 2002, most of the buildings were converted into office spaces, while the former tobacco storage warehouse housed a Spaghetti Warehouse franchise until 2016. In 2010, the Church of Scientology purchased the building to consolidate its facilities in Ybor City and West Tampa.
When it was completed, the three-story structure was the world’s largest cigar factory and Tampa’s first brick cigar factory. Skilled cigar makers produced hundreds of millions of cigars over the following decades on wooden workbenches in the building’s sunlit rolling rooms.
After Ybor’s death in 1896, the factory changed ownership but remained productive until after World War II, when the cigar industry and Ybor City declined. The buildings sat vacant for several decades before being repurposed as gallery and studio spaces for artists and later transformed into a festival marketplace called Ybor Square in the mid-1970s. On November 15, 1972, the Ybor Factory Building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In 2002, most of the buildings were converted into office spaces, while the former tobacco storage warehouse housed a Spaghetti Warehouse franchise until 2016. In 2010, the Church of Scientology purchased the building to consolidate its facilities in Ybor City and West Tampa.
4) Parque Amigos de Jose Marti (Jose Marti Park)
In an unusual twist of history, the land of this small parkis officially owned by the Republic of Cuba, meaning that when you step along its walkway, you are—at least symbolically—standing on Cuban soil. The property has been maintained for decades by local Cuban heritage organizations.
The land was donated to Cuba in 1956 by Paulina Pedroso, a prominent Ybor City resident and supporter of the Cuban independence movement. Pedroso and her husband once operated a boarding house on this site, offering a safe refuge to political activists.
One of its most notable guests was JosĂ© MartĂ, considered a national hero of Cuba. MartĂ stayed here during several visits to Tampa, including while recuperating after an assassination attempt in 1892. From Ybor City, he rallied support among cigar workers for the movement to free Cuba from Spanish rule.
Today, the park features monuments dedicated to Martà and fellow independence leader José Antonio Maceo, as well as plaques and a colorful mural. In a nod to Cuba’s geography and identity, the grounds include soil brought from each of the island’s provinces. Though the park is small and can be explored in just a few minutes, its significance is tied deeply to Ybor City’s Cuban heritage and the struggle for Cuban independence.
The land was donated to Cuba in 1956 by Paulina Pedroso, a prominent Ybor City resident and supporter of the Cuban independence movement. Pedroso and her husband once operated a boarding house on this site, offering a safe refuge to political activists.
One of its most notable guests was JosĂ© MartĂ, considered a national hero of Cuba. MartĂ stayed here during several visits to Tampa, including while recuperating after an assassination attempt in 1892. From Ybor City, he rallied support among cigar workers for the movement to free Cuba from Spanish rule.
Today, the park features monuments dedicated to Martà and fellow independence leader José Antonio Maceo, as well as plaques and a colorful mural. In a nod to Cuba’s geography and identity, the grounds include soil brought from each of the island’s provinces. Though the park is small and can be explored in just a few minutes, its significance is tied deeply to Ybor City’s Cuban heritage and the struggle for Cuban independence.
5) Centro Ybor
Centro Ybor is a lively shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located in the heart of Ybor City. The site sits on the historic grounds of the Centro Español de Tampa, a social and mutual aid club founded in 1891 to support Spanish immigrants.
Like other social clubs in the neighborhood, the Centro Español served as a cultural hub, providing education, health services, and a place to celebrate traditions while helping preserve the heritage of Ybor City’s immigrant community.
Opened in 2000, Centro Ybor transformed the historic site into a modern plaza while maintaining ties to the neighborhood’s past. Visitors can enjoy a range of dining options, from casual cafés and dessert shops to bars and local breweries, serving both international cuisine and regional specialties. The plaza also houses retail stores where tourists can shop for souvenirs, gifts, and unique items reflecting Ybor City’s multicultural roots.
Entertainment at Centro Ybor is equally diverse. The complex hosts live music, comedy shows, and seasonal events, while former theater and entertainment spaces have been repurposed into coworking areas and event venues.
Like other social clubs in the neighborhood, the Centro Español served as a cultural hub, providing education, health services, and a place to celebrate traditions while helping preserve the heritage of Ybor City’s immigrant community.
Opened in 2000, Centro Ybor transformed the historic site into a modern plaza while maintaining ties to the neighborhood’s past. Visitors can enjoy a range of dining options, from casual cafés and dessert shops to bars and local breweries, serving both international cuisine and regional specialties. The plaza also houses retail stores where tourists can shop for souvenirs, gifts, and unique items reflecting Ybor City’s multicultural roots.
Entertainment at Centro Ybor is equally diverse. The complex hosts live music, comedy shows, and seasonal events, while former theater and entertainment spaces have been repurposed into coworking areas and event venues.
6) King Corona Cigars Cafe and Bar
King Corona Cigars Cafe & Bar is a popular destination for cigar enthusiasts, coffee lovers, and anyone looking for a relaxed yet lively social atmosphere.
Steeped in Ybor City’s rich cigar-making heritage, the lounge offers a wide selection of premium handmade cigars from top brands such as Arturo Fuente, Padrón, and Oliva, all housed in an expansive humidor that stretches along the space.
Beyond cigars, King Corona serves as a café and bar. Patrons can enjoy a café con leche, sample the signature “Café Corona” (espresso with steamed milk, caramel sauce, and a hint of cayenne), or sip well-crafted cocktails, wine, and beer.
The atmosphere encourages lingering, with indoor high-backed chairs, outdoor patio seating ideal for people-watching, and occasional live music. For seasoned smokers and newcomers alike, the staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to guide you.
Steeped in Ybor City’s rich cigar-making heritage, the lounge offers a wide selection of premium handmade cigars from top brands such as Arturo Fuente, Padrón, and Oliva, all housed in an expansive humidor that stretches along the space.
Beyond cigars, King Corona serves as a café and bar. Patrons can enjoy a café con leche, sample the signature “Café Corona” (espresso with steamed milk, caramel sauce, and a hint of cayenne), or sip well-crafted cocktails, wine, and beer.
The atmosphere encourages lingering, with indoor high-backed chairs, outdoor patio seating ideal for people-watching, and occasional live music. For seasoned smokers and newcomers alike, the staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to guide you.
7) Columbia Restaurant
After walking through the Ybor City Historic District, you may find yourself working up an appetite. If that’s the case, there’s no better option than stopping by the historic Columbia Restaurant. Columbia is a Florida-based chain with locations in Tampa, Sarasota, Orlando, Clearwater, and St. Augustine — but the Ybor City restaurant is the original, in continuous operation since 1905. It holds the distinction of being Florida’s oldest restaurant.
Columbia has been recognized as one of America’s most historic restaurants and among Florida’s best. Southern Living magazine even named it one of their favorite romantic dining spots. It goes without saying that the food is spectacular — a showcase of classic Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Their tapas, salads, and Cuban sandwiches are among the most popular choices.
The Hernandez Gonzmart family opened the restaurant, and it has remained a family-run operation ever since. The recipes have changed little over the years, though the clientele has evolved — from cigar workers just off their shifts to celebrities, loyal locals, and visiting tourists. The restaurant has grown from a modest 60-seat café into a world-class dining destination.
For the full experience, plan your visit around one of their Flamenco dinner shows, held on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. The restaurant is open 365 days a year, and reservations are always recommended.
Columbia has been recognized as one of America’s most historic restaurants and among Florida’s best. Southern Living magazine even named it one of their favorite romantic dining spots. It goes without saying that the food is spectacular — a showcase of classic Spanish and Cuban cuisine. Their tapas, salads, and Cuban sandwiches are among the most popular choices.
The Hernandez Gonzmart family opened the restaurant, and it has remained a family-run operation ever since. The recipes have changed little over the years, though the clientele has evolved — from cigar workers just off their shifts to celebrities, loyal locals, and visiting tourists. The restaurant has grown from a modest 60-seat café into a world-class dining destination.
For the full experience, plan your visit around one of their Flamenco dinner shows, held on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. The restaurant is open 365 days a year, and reservations are always recommended.
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