TL;DR What makes this hotel special? Why should I stay here?

Upscale apart-hotel: ROOST in Tampa shows the chain at its best.
Prime location: Central and waterfront on Water Street, near Garrison Channel.
Stylish vibe: Clean, minimalist, Floridian touches with subtle color and greenery.
Amenity-packed: Concierge-level services, fitness, pool, lounge, and recreation.
Check prices here

A stay at a ROOST is never a horrible idea, but this Tampa, Florida, iteration of the boutique apart-hotel concept shows the small chain at its best.

Water Street itself is a chic development project between Downtown Tampa and the Garrison Channel.

It’s both central and waterfront, an excellent location for anyone getting to know the city.

It’s also jam-packed with amenities targeted at a certain income level. Water Street is designed for yuppies, basically, to bring some life into a sometimes lackluster Downtown.

Tucked into the first several floors or the newest, hippest residential building, apartments are fully stocked and roomy.

The vibe is a clean, minimalist kind of swank, with just the right amount of subtle color, sun and plant life to feel Floridian.

Your stay will mirror just another day in the upscale Tampa life, if everyone had a concierge on hand.

If you’ve ever wanted to indulge in a stylish urban fever dream, now’s your chance.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 97 apartments.
Room types: Studios, 1- and 2-bedroom units, all with king beds.
Decor: Minimalist, hand-selected artwork, vintage rugs, imported cabinets.
Amenities: Full kitchen, coffee machine, 4K smart TV, Sonos speakers, climate control, washer/dryer, SFERRA linens.
See each room in detail here

Accommodation starts with small(ish) studio apartments, and options for one- and two-bedrooms as well.

They’re all king beds, so you’ll have plenty of space even if you’re sharing.

We don’t see much need to go over your needs, save for the terrace rooms. These are superb in reasonable weather (read: pay extra for outdoor access during a Florida summer at your own risk).

The giant windows give post-industrial, but all the other touches keep things feeling posh and put-together.

Decor is well-curated for a charming but unobtrusive cool. Artwork is hand-selected, rugs are vintage, cabinets imported from Greece, the works.

It’s like a set made for a version of Freaky Friday starring Timothée Chalamet and Cate Blanchett.

The main differences between room options are simply size and number of rooms.

Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy full kitchens with coffee machines and top-notch appliances, 4K smart TVs, Sonos speakers, individual climate control, washer and dryer units, and super-cosy SFERRA linens and towels.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: No onsite dining, full kitchens in apartments.
Nearby options: Walkable to casual and fancy restaurants.
Communal amenities: Grill area, pool, jacuzzi, cabanas, co-working spaces, fitness, recreation, lounge, library, grocery delivery.
Transport: Shared bicycle scheme for exploring the city.

Of course, being an apart-hotel, there’s no onsite dining, but you do have all the capabilities for cooking at your fingertips.

You’re also just a walk out the door to plenty of nice places to eat, both fancy and casual.

They do have a communal grill area on site.

It’s part of the ‘amenity level,’ which is the real GOAT of this location. It’s a floor dedicated to the kind of hotel services you’re used to.

You’ll find great views of the city from the lounge, plus places for co-working, indoor and outdoor fitness areas, recreation spaces, and many other types of entertainment.

It’s also where you’ll find the pool, jacuzzi and cabanas.

Many apart-hotels call themselves a home away from home, but if this was our home, we don’t think we’d leave too often.

The on-site lending library and grocery delivery service will definitely make it easy to simply vacation on-site.

If you do fancy getting out into the city, check out the shared bicycle scheme.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Water Street: Upscale, mixed-use development with homes, shops, hotels, restaurants.
Nearby attractions: Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, Aquarium (5–10 min walk).
Downtown: Tampa Theatre, Museum of Art, Henry B. Plant Museum (~20 min walk).
Ybor Square: Hip district ~10 min drive, breweries, restaurants, event spaces.
Walkable & central: Good access to city amenities, river, and campus areas.

Water Street is a bit of its own beast, a recent development designed to bring some energy, and money, downtown.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by upscale homes, shops, hotels, and restaurants.

At this point, we’d typically start hinting at a lack of authentic engagement with residents and lots of outside money.

It’s all true, but Water Street’s alleged interest in walkability has put it slightly above other (typically gated) developments in the area.

The best thing you can do is bop down to the Channel, check out Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park and the Aquarium, both just 5-10 minute walks.

Downtown, with the Tampa Theatre, the Museum of Art, and the Victorian gem that is the Henry B. Plant Museum, will be about 20 minutes on foot.

It’s not a super charming walk, but it’s doable depending on the time of year.

Cross the Hillsborough River to get over the University of Tampa campus and the west side of the city.

In the other direction, you’ll find Ybor Square, arguably the hippest area of the city. It’s about a 10-minute drive.

Here you can find the Tampa Brewing Company, a handful of event spaces, and plenty of places to eat, drink, and hang.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“It was modern, new, clean, every amenity possible including designated work space and steps from many restaurants. Le Labo toiletries were a bonus….”

“Everything about this place is exceptional. Would highly recommend to friends and family. And as a travel agent, I will recommend it to clients….”