If a night out at a rooftop bar sounds like a fun way to spend an evening or the perfect venue to host a party, there’s no need to head to downtown Tampa.
Stay right here in Wesley Chapel instead, where the Skybox Rooftop Bar is perched atop the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, located next to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, just off S.R. 56 near the Shops at Wiregrass. Skybox is a unique and fun spot for gatherings with gorgeous sunset views, small plate food options, and tasty drinks.
Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is a Marriott-branded hotel designed and managed by Mainsail Lodging & Development. Mainsail was founded in Tampa by Joe Collier in 1998, and now has eleven hotel properties in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean, including signature properties such as the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin and the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa.
Not only is Skybox the only rooftop bar in Wesley Chapel, it’s also the first-ever at a Residence Inn. It’s available to both hotel guests and those who want to enjoy craft cocktails and tasty small plates, even if they’re not hotel guests. Many of the Skybox’s online reviews refer to it as a “hidden gem” in Wesley Chapel.
“It’s a sports bar atmosphere with TVs and a beautiful sunset view,” says Becky Hayes, the Residence Inn’s general manager and director of sales.
Becky says that makes it the perfect place to watch football, with specials on wings on Sundays and beer buckets on Thursdays. There also are sangria specials on Tuesday, and Wednesday is Hospitality Night with specials for anyone working in the hospitality industry.
Any night, you can try a Skybox whiskey flight or a “bubbles and wine” flight offering a variety of wines and champagnes.
There’s also a large selection of premium alcohol craft cocktails, fine wines, craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Skybox Rooftop Bar’s food menu was revamped as of early September. While there are only a few small plate options, Becky says there’s enough variety to find something for everyone, from wings to flatbreads to the soon-to-be-famous Skybox Cuban.
Becky says Skybox is an absolutely perfect to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or any type of party. This time of year, the hotel is getting a lot of inquiries for holiday parties. Parties at Skybox can be semi-private, where an area of the bar is reserved for your group, and private parties also can be booked.
For more information or to book a party, go to SkyboxRooftopBar.com or contact sales manager Erica Davis via email at EDavis2@mainsailhotels.com.
If you want to visit Skybox, be sure to look for the Residence Inn sign on S.R. 56, as there is no separate sign for the rooftop bar.
Staying At Residence Inn
Although Skybox is worth the trip without staying in the hotel, some locals find that the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is great for a weekend getaway, as well.
Theresa Pandales is a New Tampa resident who says she recently visited the hotel for a quick “staycation,” spending a weekend away from her busy life with kids and grandkids.
She was pleasantly surprised at how perfect the entire weekend turned out to be.
“I like that it feels like home away from home,” Theresa says. “It’s so inviting. The lobby even smells amazing.”
Theresa says she enjoyed lounging by the pool, relaxing and visiting the Skybox for drinks.
Becky says the hotel also is great for those who need long-term accommodations, as it is fully equipped to be a home away from home.
“Because we’re extended stay, we offer full amenities, including full kitchens with refrigerators, dishwashers, stove tops — although not all units have ovens — pots and pans, dishware, silverware, living and sleeping areas,” Becky says. “All rooms have a living area and a sleeping area, while some are open and some have one or two bedrooms.”
She says the hotel also is a great choice for guests coming to visit family in the area. Also, a lot of people stay at the hotel while they are purchasing a home, waiting for a closing or the completion of their home’s construction.
The hotel offers 128 rooms, including 65 studio king suites, 24 studio kings with conservation views, 19 studios with two queen beds, 8 one-bedroom king studios, 8 one-bedroom studios with two queen beds and 4 two-bedroom suites with one king and one queen bed.
Other on-site amenities include complimentary hot breakfast, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, market and an on-site laundry with washers and dryers. Some other fun and unique perks include bicycle rentals with the first hour free, and outdoor grills by the pool for guests. “We are perfect for families,” Becky says.
And, while larger parties are hosted at the rooftop venue, the hotel also has a cozy meeting space inside, too, accommodating up to 25 people in its indoor meeting room.
The Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel recently won a Marriott award, called the Silver Circle Award, for meeting stringent Marriott standards and placing in the top 20% of all 856 Residence Inns in the U.S. and Canada, based on how guests rated the hotel in customer service, cleanliness and their intent to recommend the hotel to others.
Becky says the award is thanks in no small part to the housekeeping staff. She says the housekeepers are the hardest working group in the hotel. The Residence Inn management recently celebrated the team during “Housekeeping Week,” providing meals, gift and activities to thank them for their efforts to keep the hotel clean and up to the guests’ high expectations.
Based on her stay, Theresa feels the award is well deserved. “Everyone was so nice, the food was delicious and the service was unbelievable,” Theresa says. “My sixtieth birthday is coming up, and that’s where I’m going,” she says. “I won’t go anywhere else.”
The Skybox Rooftop Bar and the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel are located at 2867 Lajuana Blvd. For more info about hosting a party at Skybox or booking a stay, call (833) 214-9098, visit Marriott.com or SkyboxRooftopBar.com. The Skybox is closed on Monday, open Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., and 5 p.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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