Best Luxury Hotels in Tampa

The 137-room Epicurean Hotel is a luxury property with chic and modern interiors accented with a culinary theme. Multiple fine wining and dining options include a restaurant, rooftop bar, patisserie, wine shop, and the Epicurean Theatre, a demo kitchen that hosts regular classes and tastings. Even the spa offers delectable food-themed treatments. The rooms are stylish and sophisticated, with a curated selection of wine bottles available for purchase and gourmet snacks, though some guests complain of thin walls and traffic noise. There are an outdoor pool and fitness center on-site, and Wi-Fi is free.

The Grand Hyatt is essentially an airport hotel that caters to business travelers, but its lovely location on a 35-acre nature preserve makes it feel more like a resort. Highlights include two pools with bar service, three restaurants, two tennis courts, a 24-hour fitness center, and an artificial beach with ping-pong tables, lounge chairs, and a fire pit. About 10 percent of the hotel’s 442 guest rooms are private casitas, clustered in a mini-community that's accessible through a mangrove forest.

The 240-room Seminole Hard Rock Tampa is an upscale resort with a 24-hour casino located off the I-4 highway. Contemporary, rock-themed rooms offer modern bathrooms, Keurig coffeemakers, iPod docks, and minibars, while some also have butler service, wet bars, and Bose speakers. An array of on-site restaurants are available with cuisines ranging from steak and seafood to sushi and noodles to burgers and fries, plus there are several bars and lounges with live music. A wonderful outdoor pool and hot tub are accompanied by a poolside bar and furnished cabanas (though the pool closes early), and there's also a full-service spa and salon, as well as a small fitness center.

The 244-room Westin Tampa Bay is an upscale, waterfront hotel on Rocky Point Island and close to the airport. Stylish, sunlit rooms offer minibars, iPod docks, and coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee as well as modern bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers and soaking tubs. Some rooms also offer splendid ocean views, kitchenettes, fitness equipment, and free continental breakfast. The hotel's Aqua restaurant serves seafood in a stylish space, and there's an on-site Starbucks. The beach is small and gets highway noise, but there's a lovely indoor pool and hot tub, as well as a modern 24-hour fitness center. Business travelers are well catered for with ample meeting rooms and event space, plus a 24-hour business center. Wi-Fi is free in the common areas, but in-room Wi-Fi incurs a fee for non-SPG members, as does parking.

The 323-room InterContinental Hotel Tampa is an upscale business option in Tampa's Westshore business district. Modern and bright rooms include floor-to-ceiling windows, and upgraded rooms with bay views can be requested. The hotel is a destination for many conferences, but expect hefty fees for features like Wi-Fi for guests who aren't IHG members. A ninth-floor pool overlooks the city and a 24-hour gym is an added convenience (as is the free airport shuttle). Shula’s Steak House offers fine dining on-site, and there’s also a bar and cafe.