Walking into Columbia Restaurant feels like stepping through a portal into old Florida, where history hangs in the air alongside the scent of garlic and saffron. This family-owned landmark has been serving Tampa’s most iconic Cuban sandwich since 1905, making it the oldest restaurant in the entire state.
For more than a century, locals and travelers alike have gathered here to taste authentic Spanish and Cuban flavors that haven’t changed with the times.
Florida’s Oldest Restaurant Has Been Open Since 1905
Casimiro Hernandez Sr. opened a small corner café in 1905 with just sixty chairs and dreams bigger than his modest budget. What started as a gathering spot for cigar workers in Ybor City has grown into Florida’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, still thriving after twelve decades.
The walls have witnessed everything from Prohibition-era whispers to modern celebrations, yet the commitment to quality hasn’t wavered…