Tampa, FL, Decided.

✦ Stay: Le Méridien Tampa, The Courthouse ($$$)

✦ Eat: Ulele — book days for prime dinner/weekends; walk-in feasible off-peak. The play: reserve a river-view table for golden hour, and treat the Ulele Spring Brewery beers as part of the visit. Pairs naturally with an Armature Works / Riverwalk-north-end afternoon.

✦ Stay: Hotel Haya ($$-$$$)

✦ Eat: Columbia Restaurant (Ybor City) — book days — the huge capacity absorbs walk-ins at off-peak, but BOOK AHEAD for the flamenco-show seatings, weekends, and any group. The play: reserve a flamenco dinner seating (check the current schedule) for the full experience, and ask for the 1905 Salad tossed tableside.

✦ Stay: Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection ($$$)

✦ Eat: Bern's Steak House — book weeks — reserve as far ahead as the book allows. The play: standard tables open on a rolling ~60-day window; parties of 9+ open ~90 days out; demand is high and there's reportedly no waitlist/callback, so book the moment your date is available. The HARRY WAUGH DESSERT ROOM is reserved SEPARATELY (by phone) — you can add it after your steak; treat it as its own booking.

✦ Stay: JW Marriott Tampa Water Street ($$$-$$$$)

✦ Eat: Armature Works (Heights Public Market) — book none for the food hall — walk in, order at vendor counters, grab communal seating. The play: come with a group, graze several stalls, take drinks to the riverfront lawn or up to the rooftop at sunset. Full-service restaurants inside (e.g. the M.Bird rooftop) may take reservations — book those for weekend evenings.