Various artworks and lounge chairs at our Ybor City, Tampa hotel

History & About

Color And Character In Tampa

On 7th Avenue, grab a Cuban sandwich or a café con leche as you wander the streets of Tampa's historic district while the scent of hand-rolled cigars wafts around you. As you reach the brick façade of the historic Las Novedades with Ybor City's all-new hotel, Hotel Haya, rising behind it, you bear witness to a community resurgent.

Vintage black and white photograph of a mustached man
Vintage black and white photograph of a mustached man

Ignacio Haya and the Roots of Ybor

Our name honors the roots of Ybor City, carrying the spirit of the founding fathers and cigar artisans who established our neighborhood. We are proud to pay homage to Ignacio Haya whose cigar factory, Haya y Sanchez, was significant for rolling the first cigar in Tampa. Haya was instrumental in building Ybor City alongside another notable cigar manufacturer Vicente Ybor for whom our neighborhood was named. Haya’s factory was one of the first in the nation to make cigars from the light-colored Cuban tobacco called “Clear Havana.”

Small intersection near our hotel in Ybor City, Florida

A New Heart of the Historic District

Revitalized casitas and brick façade storefronts along 7th Avenue are shining examples of Ybor City’s rebirth. It all comes together at Hotel Haya. Through careful renovation and reimagining, the iconic past of Ybor and thoughtful new construction join together in a boutique hotel blending reverence for history and optimism for the future.

Small intersection near our hotel in Ybor City, Florida
Old photo of a building near our hotel in Tampa near the Ybor Historic District
Old photo of a building near our hotel in Tampa near the Ybor Historic District

Where Industry and Artistry Meet

An eclectic blend of people, cuisines, and cultures. Named for Vicente Martínez e Ybor, these bustling blocks  became home to Cuban cigar makers, German printmakers whose box labels became pieces of art, and inspired individuals from all over the globe. Today, Ybor City is an architectural gem, with wrought iron balconies and colorful tile work, standout restaurants and shopping, as well as friendly neighborhood chickens.

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How Can We Help?

Our FAQ provides answer to some of our guests most common questions about rooms, amenities, our food and beverage program, and event spaces.