
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Best for business, large events, and guests who want downtown Tampa access plus rooftop dining and multiple city-facing pools.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street is a large downtown luxury hotel focused on meetings, rooftop bars, and easy access to Amalie Arena and the Riverwalk; this guide is for travelers choosing a city-center luxury stay in Tampa. The Don CeSar is an iconic historic pink beachfront resort on St. Pete Beach; read on if you’re deciding between a downtown hotel and a Gulf-coast beach resort.
Updated · about 28–35 miles apart by road (Tampa downtown to St. Pete Beach)

Best for business, large events, and guests who want downtown Tampa access plus rooftop dining and multiple city-facing pools.

Best for classic Gulf-coast beach vacations, beachfront access, and a historic resort atmosphere with a full-service spa.
When JW Marriott Tampa Water Street wins: choose the JW if you need big-event or conference space, want multiple on-site dining options and rooftop views, or plan to be based in downtown Tampa for attractions and sports/entertainment.
When The Don CeSar wins: choose The Don CeSar if your priority is a beachfront stay on St. Pete Beach, classic resort architecture and direct Gulf access, plus on-site beach amenities and a seaside spa experience.
Bottom line: pick JW Marriott Tampa Water Street for city and event convenience; pick The Don CeSar for a traditional Gulf-beach resort stay — both are upscale, but they serve different trip purposes.
| Category | JW Marriott Tampa Water Street | The Don CeSar |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Modern downtown luxury, business- and event-oriented | Historic beachfront resort, resort-leisure oriented |
| Location | Water Street district, adjacent to Amalie Arena and Tampa Riverwalk | On St. Pete Beach at 3400 Gulf Boulevard, directly on the Gulf of Mexico |
| Size (rooms) | 519 rooms across 27 floors | 277 guestrooms |
| Pools / beach | Two outdoor pools on the sixth floor (including a saltwater pool) with cabanas | One outdoor pool plus direct beach access and beach amenities (loungers, umbrellas, cabanas for surcharge) |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple venues including Driftlight Steakhouse, SiX (sixth floor), Beacon rooftop lounge, Turntable, JW Market | Two restaurants, 1 coffee shop/cafe, and 2 bars/lounges with room service |
| Spa & wellness | Spa by JW® with 10 treatment suites, lounges, steam room, rooftop mineral-water whirlpool | Full-service spa offering massages, body treatments, facials; reservations required |
| Event & meeting space | Extensive — ~100,000 sq ft total, largest ballroom 29,060 sq ft (Tampa Bay Ballroom) | Conference and ballroom space ~38,000 sq ft (conference-capable resort) |
| Family / age policy | All ages welcome; minimum check-in age 18 | |
| Parking & fees | Valet parking (published fee), destination fee applies (~$39.72 per night) | Self parking and valet available for a fee; some resort fees and per-night internet/parking charges noted |
| Address | 510 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602 | 3400 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 |
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street sits in the Water Street district with immediate access to downtown attractions and transportation.
Ideal if you want to be in the middle of downtown Tampa’s cultural and event scene.
The Don CeSar is located directly on St. Pete Beach, steps from Gulf sand and seaside activities.
Choose The Don CeSar if a Gulf-front beach location is the primary reason for your trip.
JW Marriott offers 519 rooms and suites with multiple water- and city-view categories and accessible options.
Stronger selection and higher room count for groups or travelers wanting varied room-category choices in downtown Tampa.
The Don CeSar has 277 guestrooms across a historic resort footprint with many room and suite variants.
A classic resort room lineup focused on beach views and bayside suites rather than a large urban inventory.
JW Marriott concentrates on multiple on-site restaurants and bars with rooftop and steakhouse options.
Best if you want varied on-site dining choices, including a landmark rooftop lounge and a hotel steakhouse.
The Don CeSar offers resort dining with two restaurants, a coffee shop/cafe and 24-hour room service.
A straightforward resort dining program geared to beach-day pacing and casual resort meals.
JW Marriott places its pools on the sixth floor with scenic water views and service from the SIX rooftop bar.
Poolside options are rooftop- and city-view focused rather than beachfront.
The Don CeSar’s primary waterfront amenity is direct beach access plus an outdoor pool and beach services.
If you want sand and the Gulf at your doorstep, The Don CeSar provides the beach-first experience.
JW Marriott pairs a full-service Spa by JW® with elevated nightlife options such as a high rooftop lounge.
Wellness plus an elevated urban nightlife scene make the JW a dual spa-and-evening option.
The Don CeSar focuses wellness around its full-service spa and daytime beachside activities.
The Don CeSar centers wellness on spa treatments and beach activity rather than a late-night rooftop scene.

JW Marriott — far larger overall event capacity and multiple ballrooms including a 29,060 sq ft Tampa Bay Ballroom.

The Don CeSar — direct Gulf-front location, beach amenities, and seaside resort atmosphere.

JW Marriott — Beacon Tampa Rooftop Lounge on the 27th floor and multiple bars with late hours.

The Don CeSar — an iconic historic pink resort known regionally as a landmark on St. Pete Beach.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street is in downtown Tampa within walking distance of Amalie Arena, the Riverwalk, and museums; The Don CeSar is on St. Pete Beach across the bay.
The Don CeSar has direct beach access and beach services; JW Marriott is a downtown hotel without an on-site beach.
Yes — both offer full-service spas. JW Marriott’s Spa by JW® lists 10 treatment suites and a rooftop mineral-water whirlpool; The Don CeSar also lists a full-service spa with massage and facial options (reservations recommended).
Both properties have substantial event space: JW Marriott has ~100,000 sq ft of meeting space including the 29,060 sq ft Tampa Bay Ballroom; The Don CeSar offers about 38,000 sq ft of conference space and meeting rooms.
Explore how JW Marriott Tampa Water Street stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·