Originally from Orlando, Kelly Kurtz, co-founder of the Instagram channel @whenintampa, moved to Tampa after graduating from Florida State. Initially obtaining a degree in accounting, she realized it wouldn’t be a long-term career path for her. She eventually started When in Tampa with her husband as a fun way to share their favorite Tampa spots. It quickly became something she took over and became passionate about. Now, she does it full-time and loves connecting with people and sharing about local businesses.
ABOUT ME
My love for social media and creating reels started when I realized how powerful it could be in impacting a business. Before When in Tampa, I wasn’t a huge social media person. When I work with someone and they tell me they had a line out the door or sold out of something after I posted about it, I know that I’m really making an impact, which is my favorite thing about social media.
MY LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
For a “hidden gem” spot, the first thing that comes to mind is Piccola Italian Bistro! It’s a mom-and-pop Italian restaurant that has some of the best food. The menu is always rotating and it’s BYOB, which is a huge bonus! I also really love La Setima Club. It’s a cozy vegan wine bar that not enough people talk about.
I feel like there were a ton of new restaurants that opened in 2023 and early 2024 that are now some of my favorites. Things have seemed a little slower lately, but Perfect Press Coffee Co. in Carrollwood and Blooming Floral Cafe are two new, cozy coffee shops that I’ve been really enjoying!
My favorite coffee shop lately has been Willa’s Provisions. Boulon’s bakery has also been at the top of my list lately, but my primary reason for going there for their Lemon Poppyseed Crumb Cake. If I’m looking for an indoor, dog-friendly coffee shop, my go-to is Grassroots Kava House in Seminole Heights.
One of my favorite places for brunch is Psomi! They have an amazing bakery and you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. I’ve never left without ordering their Bakalava Coffee Cake. You also can’t go wrong with Oxford Exchange.
My favorite place for a casual lunch is either Naked Farmer or Wright’s Gourmet House. Wright’s has amazing sandwiches and sides, but I’ll look for any excuse to grab a slice of their cake! My husband and I actually used Wright’s for our wedding cake.
If I’m looking to dine out for a special occasion, Haven is one of my favorite spots. Wine and cheese is my love language, so sitting on their beautiful patio with a charcuterie board and a glass of wine is the perfect way to celebrate. My husband and I also go to Bella’s pretty often for anniversaries and birthdays.
Tampa has so many great desserts that people don’t talk enough about. Some of my favorites are: Synergy Sweets for the cheesecake, Fat Beet Farm for the cinnamon rolls, Supernatural Food and Wine for the cinnamon sugar sourdough donut and Elevenses Co for… honestly everything.
When we have visitors in town, they’re usually from up north so we’re spending the day outside. We’d start the morning at a local coffee shop, grab lunch in Hyde Park, probably at Forbici, and then walk on the Riverwalk. I always love showing visitors how beautiful Tampa is from the water, so we’d pack a cooler with food and drinks, rent a boat from eBoats and do a sunset cruise down the river.
For art, the Dali Museum would have to be my top choice for St. Pete and The Straz is my top choice in Tampa. They’re great places to experience creativity and culture. Also, a super fun event each year is Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.
To get outside, if I’m not going running, I love kayaking. I usually rent from Urban Kai’s location by The Getaway because I’ve had great luck seeing dolphins there.
For a great workout, I love getting a run in on either Bayshore or the Riverwalk. Flatwoods Park is also a great option. I’ve been super into pickleball lately and I’m loving the classes at Tampa Pickleball Crew. Whether you’re going with a partner, alone or want a lesson, they have something for everyone.
For a staycation in Tampa, I love the JW Marriott in downtown. It’s within walking distance of so many restaurants, the views are amazing and they have a great spa! If I’m looking for a beach staycation, the Don CeSar is always a great choice and The Hiatus on Clearwater Beach is a beautiful, newer hotel.
A perfect date night would start with a wine flight on Wine & Wood’s patio. We would bring our dog Louie, then do a picnic on Davis Islands with takeout from Fresh Kitchen. Afterward, we’d go for a sunset walk on Bayshore.
When I’m not working, I love spending time with my husband, Jake, and my golden retriever, Louie. We like to either spend time outside or explore new local spots.
I wish more people realized how much time, effort, and love go into curating content that highlights our amazing local spots. It’s not just about taking nice photos and videos, it’s about making connections, writing thoughtful and informative posts, keeping up with everything happening in Tampa Bay, responding to emails, comments, and messages, supporting small businesses, and giving people real recommendations they can trust.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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