Things to do nearby — walkable sights and waterfront activities
Walk the Tampa Riverwalk directly from the hotel for waterfront views, river taxis, and nearby museums. On-site waterfront activities include two sixth-floor outdoor pools with cabanas and poolside service, plus spa access to a rooftop whirlpool for a quieter water-side option.
In this guide
Tampa Riverwalk & Waterfront Strolls
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street has direct access to the Tampa Riverwalk, a paved waterfront path that runs along the Hillsborough River and is designed for walking and biking.
Follow the Riverwalk to nearby sites including the Tampa Bay History Center and the Tampa Museum of Art; the route is a straightforward, year-round waterfront walk from the hotel.
- Direct Riverwalk access from the hotel
- Easy walk to Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Museum of Art
- Scenic route for walking, jogging, and casual waterfront views
| Nearby Stop | Typical Walk Time from Hotel |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay History Center | A few minutes (short walk) |
| Tampa Museum of Art | Under a mile (easy walk) |
| Florida Aquarium | Around 0.8 miles (walkable) |
Pools, Cabanas and Poolside Dining
The sixth floor features two outdoor pools (one described as a rooftop pool and one a saltwater pool) with scenic water views and luxury cabanas. Pool hours run daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Cabanas are reservable and have set availability; poolside service at SiX operates during daytime hours, making it easy to order food and drinks without leaving the deck.
- Pool hours: daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM
- Cabana reservations available (cabana hours listed as 9:00 AM–6:00 PM by an independent source)
- Poolside service at SiX: daily 11:00 AM–4:30 PM
| Service | Hours / Notes |
|---|---|
| Pools | 8:00 AM–10:00 PM |
| Cabana reservations | Typically offered 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (price varies) |
| SiX poolside service | Daily 11:00 AM–4:30 PM |
Spa, Rooftop Terrace and Relaxation
Spa by JW is the on-site full-service spa with a relaxation lounge, 10 treatment suites, separate men's and women's lounges, and a steam room. The spa also provides an exclusive rooftop terrace with sun loungers and a mineral-water whirlpool for treatment guests.
Signature treatments include the JW Signature Facial (organic strawberry and rhubarb) and science-driven options such as HydraFacials and JetPeel. The spa accepts non-hotel guests as well.
- Spa name: Spa by JW®
- Rooftop terrace with mineral-water whirlpool (for spa guests)
- Sample treatments: JW Signature Facial, HydraFacial, customizable 80- or 100-minute massages
| Amenity | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Rooftop whirlpool | Available to spa guests on an exclusive terrace |
| Treatment suites | 10 suites and a retail boutique |
| Spa facilities | Relaxation lounge, steam room, separate gender lounges |
Water Taxis, Cross-Bay Ferry and Short Cruises
The Pirate Water Taxi docks near the Tampa Convention Center close to the hotel; it offers hop-on/hop-off service along the Hillsborough River and Channel District. This is a convenient way to see the riverfront without walking the entire route.
A seasonal Cross-Bay Ferry connects Water Street Tampa across Tampa Bay to downtown St. Petersburg; schedules are seasonal, so check current operating dates before planning a crossing.
- Pirate Water Taxi: hop-on/hop-off river service with multiple downtown stops
- Cross-Bay Ferry: seasonal service between Water Street Tampa and St. Petersburg
- Both options provide waterfront perspectives without a car
| Service | Use case |
|---|---|
| Pirate Water Taxi | Sightseeing/hop-on river transport around downtown and Channel District |
| Cross-Bay Ferry | Seasonal transit to downtown St. Petersburg |
| Riverwalk | Continuous pedestrian route for shorter waterfront access |
Nearby Cultural and Civic Sights — Walkable Options
Amalie Arena (listed on some pages as Benchmark International Arena) and the Tampa Convention Center are within a short walk from the hotel, making the property convenient for events. Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park is also a nearby green space a few blocks away.
Other walkable cultural stops include the Tampa Bay History Center and the SS American Victory museum ship; the hotel’s Water Street location puts several waterfront attractions within easy walking distance.
- Amalie Arena / Convention Center: within walking distance
- Tampa Bay History Center: a short waterfront walk
- SS American Victory and small parks along the Riverwalk are nearby
| Attraction | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amalie Arena | Event venue within walking distance |
| Tampa Bay History Center | Short walk along the Riverwalk |
| Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park | Nearby green space about 200 meters from the hotel |
On-site Dining and a Rooftop View
Dining at the hotel covers casual to formal: Turntable and JW Market provide grab-and-go and coffee options while SiX Tampa and Driftlight Steakhouse are full-service venues on the sixth floor and main floor respectively. Beacon Tampa Rooftop Lounge is on the 27th floor and focuses on craft cocktails, tapas and panoramic views.
Beacon Tampa Rooftop Lounge encourages reservations on busy weekend evenings and enforces a 'dress to impress' policy on entry at evening hours; SiX is the pool-level bistro open daily through dinner.
- Beacon Tampa Rooftop Lounge hours: Sun–Thu 5 PM–12 AM; Fri–Sat 5 PM–1 AM; weekend brunch noted 11 AM–2 PM
- SiX Tampa hours: daily 11 AM–11 PM (kitchen typically closes at 10 PM)
- Driftlight Steakhouse hours include breakfast and lunch on weekdays and dinner nightly
| Venue | Type & Typical Hours |
|---|---|
| Beacon Tampa Rooftop Lounge | Rooftop cocktails & tapas — evenings (see hotel for current hours) |
| SiX Tampa | Sixth-floor bistro — daily 11 AM–11 PM |
| Driftlight Steakhouse | Steakhouse — breakfast, lunch (weekdays) and dinner nightly |
Rooms with Water and City Views
If a waterfront or harbor view is important, consider the Deluxe Room, Water View or Superior Room, Harbor View, Corner which are listed among the hotel's room types. Higher-floor Premium Room (Water View, High Floor) options also emphasize harbor or bay views.
The property offers 519 rooms across multiple room categories; if you want access to lounges, the Executive Room (Executive Lounge Access) is a named option to check when booking.
- Room options to note: Deluxe Room, Water View; Superior Room, Harbor View, Corner; Premium Room (Water View, High Floor)
- Executive Room (Executive Lounge Access) is available for guests seeking lounge amenities
- Room inventory includes accessible and mobility-adapted layouts — inquire at booking
| Room Type | Feature |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room, Water View | Harbor/water-facing window options |
| Premium Room (Water View, High Floor) | Higher-floor water views |
| Executive Room (Executive Lounge Access) | Includes Executive Lounge access |
