Just 15 minutes outside of the “cigar mecca” that is Ybor City, you’ll find another type of mecca, a gaming mecca. Boasting 245,000 square feet of gaming area, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa offers the largest gaming area in the state of Florida. The area includes over 5,000 slot machines, a multitude of table games, and a dedicated poker room. It also features a high-stakes area that provides an exclusive environment for serious gamers, complete with VIP services that elevate the gaming experience. Smoking is allowed on the entire first-floor gaming area while non-smokers can play in 26,000 square feet of smoke-free gaming on the mezzanine level.
The AAA Four-Diamond-rated Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers over 800 rooms and suites, designed with a focus on detail and comfort. The accommodations range from rooms with minimalist decor to those with state-of-the-art amenities. As expected, music is the heart of Hard Rock hotels, and The Sound of Your Stay program is a three-pronged manifestation of that ethos. With Tracks, guests can enjoy curated Spotify playlists throughout the property; Picks allows the musically inclined to reserve their choice of a Fender guitar complete with amp and headphones for impromptu, in-room jam sessions; and lastly there is Wax, where the Hard Rock’s team of music experts will curate a collection of vinyls and a turntable for guests who want that throwback musical experience.
Aside from the musical amenities, all rooms are equipped with 100% cotton sheets, plush towels, signature Seminole Hard Rock robes, Sweetgrass body products, free wi-fi, and a media hub. Every room is also equipped with a refrigerator and coffeemaker.
Dining at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel includes a variety of options, featuring upscale venues like Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Cipresso for Italian fare, and The Rez Grill serving up elevated American classics. For a more casual experience, there’s the Hard Rock Café, Rock ‘N Raw sushi bar, and Jubao Palance Noodle Bar. The poolside bar and grill, High Tide, provides a relaxed, beach-themed environment with a selection of cocktails and local craft beers. Smoking is allowed in most of the uncovered areas on the pool deck, which incidentally is the site of the annual Tampa Cigar Bash, a large scale, multi-vendor cigar event hosted by Casa de Montecristo.
There’s no shortage of bars and lounges on the property but two of them are dedicated to just drinks, the Center Bar and L Bar. Situated in the heart of the casino floor, the Center Bar provides a 360-degree bar around a tower of TVs. Gaming screens on the bar allow you to keep the good luck ball rolling while you enjoy wine, beer, spirits, and hand-crafted cocktails. The L Bar is the classier of the two, a laid-back bar just off the gaming floor with subdued lighting and cozy corners with a style that harkens back to the Golden Era of Hollywood. L Bar also has a small stage where live entertainment livens things up on Fridays and Saturdays. Cigars are welcome in both locations and in the event that your stash is running low, Lucky Cigar has you covered with 24/7 access to a selection of premium smokes. Additionally, the shop has a terrace where you can take a break from the action while the store’s staff takes care of your smoking needs.
