Market at The Tampa Edition
Nestled within Tampa’s newest 5-star hotel, The Tampa Edition, is the Market’s café. ‘Market’ is one of three restaurants the Edition offers to its guests and is located on the first floor of the building just east of the receptionist. Patrons are treated to a tropical/contemporary atmosphere with a variety of plants strategically placed all throughout the property to create what felt like a private garden party. A signature scent of theirs is pumped through their HVAC system filling your nostrils with a delightful aroma that only adds to the high-end experience they strive to bestow on everyone that walks through their doors.
Although officially a part of The Market at Edition, the cade operates almost as its own entity and does not require reservations or a hotel stay to enjoy its services. I occasionally like to join the other regulars and work at the bar while I enjoy my coffee as customers are welcome to grab a seat at the bar or sit at one of the surrounding tables to enjoy their drink without the pressure of a waiter on top of you. It’s a delightful experience that everyone should experience at least once.
Experience
Ordering is always a pleasure, the staff is well-trained and treats you with the utmost respect. The bar is well-equipped and can produce virtually any coffee drink you desire along with other non-coffee options such as teas and refreshers. An array of fresh baked goods also line the front side of the bar tempting guests to indulge while making their selection. My wife usually goes for the Croissant, I don’t blame her, it’s warm, flaky, and soft, a true pleasure.
During this visit, I chose to do something a little different and get a shot of espresso alongside my standard oat milk flat white. I wanted to properly taste the quality of the coffee and give you a bit more insight.
The Coffee
On this particular day, the café was using La Colombe’s Nizza blend beans. Per the company’s website, this is a medium roast blend that is said to contain notes of sweetness, fruitiness, and nuttiness. From my tasting, I can confidently say that I was able to pick out each of those claims along with a touch of acidity but not in a bad way. The coffee had plenty of clarity and thankfully not much bitterness. All-in-all a great shot of espresso.
The Summary
While I found it to be a bit on the expensive side for a cafe, for good reason, I found the coffee itself very enjoyable and on par with what you’d find at your local specialty coffee shop. While I wouldn’t make this my everyday shop for coffee, I definitely enjoy making this a weekly treat for me and my wife when we’re in the mood to be pampered.
This, in my opinion, is a great place to visit if you want to step outside the norm and treat yourself to an upscale experience. If you don’t care about that, then I’d recommend looking elsewhere as you’ll likely find options with coffee just as good, if not better, at a much more affordable price.
As always, thank you for reading. Until next time.
