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Pura Vida Miami in downtown Tampa. Credit: Gnazzo Group<\/p>\nPura Vida Miami in downtown Tampa. Credit: Gnazzo Group<\/p>\n
OPENINGS\/CLOSINGS<\/p>\n
New Mexican restaurant Lolita\u2019s Coastal Cocina opens in Clearwater Beach<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s not quite clear if Tampa Bay currently has too many modern Mexican concepts, but nevertheless a new luchador has entered the fight.\u00a0 Lolita\u2019s Coastal Cocina<\/a>\u00a0recently opened at Opal Sol on Clearwater Beach, located at 400 Coronado Dr. The new waterfront restaurant is open to hotel guests and non-guests and centers around a menu featuring shareable plates like customizable guacs, street tacos, meaty nachos, charred octopus and even heartier entrees such as the Grouper a la Veracruzana or the Lolita\u2019s Carne Platter. Guests can also expect a large offering of wines and beers and of course, tequila and mescal-based cocktails.\u2014Colin Wolf<\/p>\n New caf\u00e9 Pura Vida Miami opens in downtown Tampa this week<\/a><\/p>\n Is Tampa the next Miami? Well, the verdict is still out, but a popular South Florida restaurant chain is about to debut in Tampa\u2019s Water Street neighborhood.\u00a0 Fast-casual wellness caf\u00e9 chain\u00a0Pura Vida Miami<\/a>\u00a0opened this week at 1038 Water St., in the former Dwell & Company location. Pura Vida, founded by Israeli businessman and restaurateur Omer Horev, offers a\u00a0MAHA-friendly<\/a>\u00a0seed oil-free menu, with items like avocado toast, salads, various eggs, protein plates, smoothies, a\u00e7a\u00ed, coffee and matcha, as well as seasonal fare.\u2014CW<\/p>\n FOOD FEATURES<\/p>\n Tampa Bay\u2019s hottest new restaurants to open this summer<\/a> <\/p>\n Tampa Bay restaurants are up against quite a bit. Despite rising rents and food costs, pesky inflation and even GLP-1 weight loss medications, local restaurants are still making it happen. And, even though summers are often the slower months for local eateries, Tampa Bay still witnessed a slew of new spots to explore. From new smash burger joints, high-end sushi spots, and elevated Spanish cuisine, what follows are some of the most popular new restaurants to debut in Tampa Bay over the last few months. READ THE WHOLE LIST HERE.<\/a> \u2014CL Staff<\/p>\n FOOD EVENTS<\/p>\n The Tampa Bay Food Fight chef battle comes to St. Pete on Tuesday<\/a><\/p>\n After\u00a0winning the \u201cTampa Bay Food Fight\u201d title in 2025<\/a>, a team of chefs from St. Petersburg will try to repeat on home turf this week. Allelo\u2019s Nick Ocando captains a side featuring some of the most creative minds in the \u2018Burg including Tim Lentsch from Juno and the Peacock, plus Chris Astrip of the Black Pearl in Dunedin.\u00a0 Leading Team Tampa in 2026 is Taro Larrea from the new Sapphire supper club who\u2019ll have cooks like Felicia Lacalle of Quiote Tequilaria and Noble Crust\u2019s Fernando Sanchez at his side.\u2014Ray Roa<\/p>\n Wines of Spain returns to Ybor City, benefitting preservation at 125-year-old Centro Asturiano de Tampa<\/a><\/p>\n Tamp\u00e9nos get a taste of its Spanish heritage with the Wines of Spain at\u00a0Centro Asturiano de Tampa<\/a>\u00a0in Ybor City.\u00a0 Wines of Spain brings wine lovers together as the Ybor City landmark, located at 1913 N Nebraska Ave., prepares to celebrate its 125-year anniversary.\u00a0 Attendees will raise a glass from a selection of 50 Spanish and Mediterranean wines, including reds, whites and dessert wines. The evening\u2019s entertainment includes flamenco dancers, live music and a silent auction. More than just wine, the event offers a cocktail bar, Spanish-inspired tapas and a cigar lounge to smoke it all down. Proceeds from Wines of Spain will go towards The Big Lift, a fundraising project that will renovate the historic gymnasium into a new communal space.\u2014Leif Helland<\/p>\n Latin food, drink and music coming to Ybor City this weekend for \u2018Salsa Con Ron\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Sorta Pretty Good is hosting its second\u00a0Salsa con Ron<\/a>\u00a0Latin dance party featuring\u00a0Rum & Coke<\/a>, the three-person Afro-Caribbean all-vinyl DJ collective playing music from the \u201860s, \u201870s, and \u201880s. Think of the kind of tunes that spark a core memory that makes guests say: \u201cI haven\u2019t heard this song since I was at my grandma\u2019s,\u201d in the best, nostalgic way.\u00a0 Kress Contemporary once again opens its beautiful doors, atriums and balconies overlooking Ybor City\u2019s old bricks to bring people together for a day party full of music, dancing, dominoes, food by\u00a0Chicken and Pig<\/a>, along with plenty of margs and mojitos to go around. The DJ collective entrusted with spinning the good stuff is renowned in its world, holding one of the longest running residencies in Miami, happening monthly at Dante\u2019s for the past five years.\u00a0\u2014Annalise Mabe<\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in September 10 \u2013 16, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t