Instagram story viewer> @columbiarestaurant> Posts

Columbia Restaurant

@columbiarestaurant

42.4K

followers

7580

following

Locations: Tampa, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, Celebration, Tampa Riverwalk, @flytpa. Call for curbside takeout. Michelin recommended.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

There’s a reason these tiles have become part of the fabric of Ybor City. 💠

The hand-painted Spanish tiles that adorn the Columbia in Ybor City are more than a signature of the restaurant, they’re part of its history.

From intricate florals to Spanish-inspired designs, these colorful tiles have helped make the Columbia’s exterior instantly recognizable for generations.

And like so much of the Columbia, there’s a family story behind them, too.

At Florida’s oldest restaurant, history isn’t just something you read about. It’s something you can see all around you. 💙
-
#ColumbiaRestaurant #YborCity #TampaHistory #FloridaHistory #SpanishTile taken in Tampa, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

356

13

2 months ago

Some places stay with you long after you leave.

The glow of the bar. A glass of red sangria. A Cuban sandwich on the table. The 1905 Salad tossed tableside.

Familiar sights, familiar flavors and the kind of tradition that never needed to be reinvented.

Just the Columbia, as generations have known and loved it. ❤️
-
📷: @pezzphoto
#ColumbiaRestaurant #Since1905 #YborCity #TampaHistory #TampaEats taken in Tampa, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

3

7

3 months ago

Your sign to finally experience flamenco in Tampa. 💃

Live flamenco, Spanish-Cuban cuisine and a tradition that has captivated guests for generations, six nights a week at Columbia Restaurant in historic Ybor City.

Whether it’s date night, family visiting or you’re rediscovering Tampa, this is one experience that’s worth seeing.

Reserve your table at ColumbiaRestaurant.com.

Tag someone who’s been saying “we need to do this.” ❤️
-
#TampaThingsToDo #YborCity #TampaDateNight #Flamenco #ColumbiaRestaurant taken in Tampa, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

3

4

3 months ago

“Date night this past weekend was at the Columbia Restaurant in downtown Celebration! 🍷

I love the 1905 salad and their Cuban sandwich at lunch is also awesome. They have such a large menu so need to try new things - let me know if you have any favorites!”
📷: @princessandthemouse on TT
-
#columbiarestaurant #floridalife #celebrationflorida #orlandofoodie #disneyworld taken in Celebration, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

199

3

2 days ago

Florida stone crab season is back at the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota! 🦀

Locally harvested Gulf of Mexico stone crab claws are a seasonal favorite at the Columbia, which Wade Tatangelo of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune previously named among the best restaurants for stone crab in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice.

The Columbia’s stone crab tradition dates to the mid-1980s, when fourth-generation co-owner Casey Gonzmart Sr. expanded the restaurant’s focus on locally sourced ingredients. An ice display in a large window drew passersby to the fresh catch, and Casey’s Stone Crab Corner helped establish the Columbia as a destination for stone crab.

“We became the place to eat stone crab, not just the place to have a Cuban sandwich or the place to have paella,” Gonzmart said in The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture and Cuisine. 🧡

The tradition goes back even further. When Babe Ruth trained with the Yankees in St. Petersburg during the 1920s and ’30s, he would sneak away to the Columbia in Ybor City for late-night dinners, sometimes ordering six portions of stone crab in one sitting or 27 Café Diablo cocktails.

Make stone crab part of your next visit to St. Armands Circle!

For reservations, visit ColumbiaRestaurant.com/Reservations. For availability, call (941) 388-3987. taken in Sarasota, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

172

1

3 days ago

On Tuesday evening, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association honored Richard Gonzmart as Restaurateur of the Year at the 2026 FRLA Hall of Fame dinner at the Opal Sol Resort in Clearwater Beach a short distance from Columbia Sand Key! 💫

Also honored were:

🏆 Hotelier of the Year:
Tony Lapi, ‘Tween Waters Inn

🏆Supplier of the Year:
Susan Kopstad, Sea Breeze Coffee & Tea

“These honorees exemplify the leadership, innovation, and commitment to service that strengthens Florida’s hospitality community, drives our economy, and creates memorable experiences for millions of residents and visitors,” said Carol Dover, FRLA President and CEO. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and celebrate the lasting impact they make on our industry and our state.” by @columbiarestaurant

48

3

4 days ago

Columbia Restaurant in Celebration, Florida is an outpost of the oldest restaurant in Florida.. the original 1903 location in Ybor City, Tampa. All locations serve traditional Spanish and Cuban dishes inspired by over 120 years of recipes. The Celebration outpost is located inside the Celebration Town Center near Walt Disney World.

📍649 Front Street, Celebration, FL 3474

Follow @orlandoisdope for everything dope in and around Orlando, Florida 😎🌴🍊

#columbiarestaurant #columbia #celebration #celebrationflorida #orlandofoodie taken in Celebration, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

220

18

5 days ago

Some things never go out of style. Especially when they’re tossed tableside. 🥗

The Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad® has been a guest favorite for generations, and for good reason.

Crisp iceberg lettuce, julienne of baked ham, natural Swiss cheese, tomatoes, olives and grated Romano cheese, all brought together with our famous garlic dressing and a splash of Lea & Perrins® Worcestershire sauce.

Fresh, flavorful and unmistakably Columbia. There’s a reason this salad has become one of the most iconic dishes in American dining.

Enjoy the original at any Columbia Restaurant location.💙
-
#ColumbiaRestaurant #1905Salad #FloridaRestaurant by @columbiarestaurant

62

6

6 days ago

Sixty years ago, third generation Columbia matriarch Adela Hernandez Gonzmart envisioned the Ybor City Gala as the official start of the Latin social season in Tampa. The glamorous event stood in contrast to an Ybor City that was reversing a decline of businesses, urban renewal and suburban flight.

Six decades later, Ybor again is on the rise thanks to another generation of visionary leaders who were recognized Saturday night during the 60th Ybor Chamber Gala at Columbia in Ybor.

Adela’s son Richard Gonzmart received the 2026 Rosalie G. Simms Service Award given by the Ybor Chamber of Commerce in honor of service provided to the historic district.

Later in the event, Richard and daughter Andrea Gonzmart Williams, fifth generation caretaker, presented the 2026 Adela and Cesar Gonzmart Award to Cristal Lastra, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for JC. Newman Cigar Co., and the President of the Board for Centro Asturiano de Tampa.

Santiago Corrada, Visit Tampa Bay’s President and CEO, accepted the 2026 Ybor City Business Impact Award on behalf of the tourism agency. taken in Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City by @columbiarestaurant

226

14

7 days ago

Andrea Gonzmart Williams, fifth generation caretaker of the 1905 Family Of Restaurants, has been appointed as an Honorary Commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, a prestigious role designed to strengthen ties between the base and the Tampa Bay community.

Williams was appointed during a recent ceremony at the base. Her husband, Beau Williams, was in attendance.  
The Honorary Commander Program is a unique initiative that educates community leaders about the base’s mission and fosters partnerships with the local community.

The Honorary Commander Program pairs local civic leaders with military commanders to enhance community relations and understanding of the base’s mission. This initiative fosters collaboration and provides opportunities for civic leaders to engage with military operations and personnel.

This program has been instrumental in bridging military and community ties.

Andrea’s father Richard Gonzmart, fourth generation caretaker, president and CEO was named an honorary commander in 2011.

The program selects community leaders who can positively influence local support for MacDill AFB. Over the two-year program, participants engage in various activities, including meeting with wing leadership, attending base events and taking part in immersion tours. These tours include mission briefings, viewing aircraft and learning how the base projects air power globally. by @columbiarestaurant

100

3

10 days ago

The best kind of Friday night? Running for a reason. 💙🏃‍♂️

And if you want the shirt to prove it, this Sunday is your deadline! 👕

Register by Sunday, Oct. 11, to guarantee your official Richard’s Run For Life event T-shirt in your selected size!

On Friday, Nov. 6, we’re bringing the streets of Ybor City to life for the 23rd Richard’s Run For Life. Join Richard Gonzmart and the 1905 Family for an evening of running, walking, great food and an even greater purpose: supporting Tampa General Hospital’s Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program.🎗️

🏃 5K Run: 7 p.m.

🧡 One Block Walk: 7:10 p.m.

🎉 Party in the Park: Food, drinks and celebration with Columbia Restaurant, Ulele and Casa Santo Stefano.

Every year brings new faces, familiar friends and another reason to keep showing up.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Register today at the link in our bio!
-
#RunnersCommunity #YborCity #TampaBay #TampaRunClub #TampaEvents taken in Tampa, Florida by @columbiarestaurant

46

2

11 days ago

Before there was a Columbia Restaurant, there was Ybor City. ♥️

On Oct. 5, 1885, Vicente Martínez Ybor and Ignacio Haya formed a partnership to develop a cigar-manufacturing town near Tampa, purchasing 40 acres of land and hiring surveyor Gavino Gutiérrez to lay out its streets and parcels.

Just months later, on April 13, 1886, the first cigar was rolled in Ybor City at the Sanchez y Haya factory on Seventh Avenue, helping set in motion the industry that would shape the neighborhood for generations.

As Tampa’s Latin Quarter grew, so did the need for labor. Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. found work at the Florida Brewing Co. on Fifth Avenue, co-founded by Ybor. There, he would glimpse an opportunity of his own.

At the time, saloons occupied all four corners of 22nd Street and Broadway, today’s East Seventh Avenue. Locals knew the junction as the “Seminole,” a longtime gathering place and marketplace. A large watering trough once stood in the intersection, and legend has it Theodore Roosevelt watered his horse there while training the Rough Riders in Tampa.

Eventually, Casimiro’s path led him to the small café that would become part of the Columbia story. Grateful for the opportunity he found in his adopted country, he chose a name inspired by the patriotic song “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean.”

140 years later, Ybor City’s story is still being written. 📰

For Columbia, this neighborhood is more than where our story began. It is part of who we are.

Ybor’s story came first. Ours grew from it. 🗝️

Historical information adapted from “The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture and Cuisine,” by Andrew T. Huse.
-
#YborCity #ColumbiaRestaurant #TampaHistory #CigarCity #TampaBay taken in Ybor City by @columbiarestaurant

211

5

14 days ago