Opening Shot is a column that peeks inside new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with dreamy interiors.
ROOST TAMPA
Location: Tampa, Florida
Designer: Method Co. and Morris Adjmi Architects
On Offer: Gracing the lower levels of Asher’s pristine new residential tower in the city’s live-work-play Water Street Tampa district is the latest outpost of extended-stay brand Roost, the high-design concept from Method Co. whose distinct mix of apartment-style living and boutique hotel ambiance has proved successful in Philadelphia and Cleveland. (Locations in Baltimore, Charleston, and Detroit are forthcoming.) The formula works equally well on the Gulf Coast, albeit with slightly more sun and high-octane neighbors such as the new Edition Hotel. Method Co’s array of lifestyle programming makes Roost an ideal addition to Water Street Tampa, whose wellness-minded vision by landscape architects Reed Hilderbrand and planners Elkus Manfredi Architects became the world’s first WELL pre-certified neighborhood.
A warm atmosphere prevails in the lobby and other communal spaces thanks to walnut accents, regional foliage, and ambient glazed roku lighting crafted by FurnitureWorks, the studio helmed by designers Morris Adjmi and Aaron Poritz. They also envisioned standout furnishings throughout, from the sumptuous, ‘70s-inspired leather banquette snaking through the lobby to custom pieces inspired by Clara Poset, Luis Barragán, Pierre Chapo, and Roger Capron. A melange of cultural influences helped shape the hotel’s eclectic personality, such as the Surrealist artwork of Salvador Dalí and Massimo Colonna gracing the walls and subtle aesthetic references to nearby Ybor City—a historic Latin quarter once regarded as the world’s cigar capital—that nod to Tampa’s re-energized creative spirit.
Standout Features: When they aren’t recharging in the 97 spacious rooms outfitted with plush Moroccan rugs by Beni, leather Luteca lounge chairs, Sonos speakers, and full-sized kitchens stocked with La Colombe coffee, guests can explore Tampa through the hotel’s bike-share program or community running group. They can also lounge on the seventh-floor rooftop pool deck—the city’s largest—where picturesque downtown views and idyllic cabanas adorned with sheer curtains offer a welcome reprieve. More than 30,000 square feet of amenities are on-hand, including an entertainment lounge, state-of-the-art exercise facilities, and co-working spaces with private conference rooms. Thanks to Method Co.’s lifestyle programming (swimming lessons, cooking demos, wine tastings, live acoustic sets), a relaxed, convivial mood pervades.
