Predalina transforms into Water Street’s next major nightlife spot
- Jake Nicholas
- Nov 30, 2025
- 3 min read
Water Street Tampa is about to feel different—brighter, louder, and unmistakably more alive at night—because Predalina is officially stepping back into the spotlight on December 9 with a complete creative reinvention. The modern Mediterranean restaurant from Oxford Commons, originally inspired by the owners’ great-grandmother and her coastal Greek heritage, has been rebuilt into a high-design, lounge-driven destination that finally matches the energy and momentum of the district around it.
Predalina’s history has always been anchored in family and Tampa’s maritime roots. When the restaurant first opened in 2023, it was conceived as a tribute to Predalina herself—a woman whose journey from the Mediterranean to Tampa shaped the family’s hospitality legacy. Her influence guided everything from the seafood-forward flavors to the décor. With this reintroduction, Oxford has preserved that lineage while sharpening its identity into something more expressive, atmospheric, and aligned with Water Street’s accelerating evolution.
The Oxford team closed the restaurant in late October to rebuild Predalina into something that felt more like them. What followed was a top-to-bottom reinvention led by Oxford Design Studio. The space now glows with Mediterranean glamour—hand-painted tilework, layered lighting, rich upholstery, dramatic drapery, aged brass accents, oversized olive trees, and statement artworks, including a custom mural of Predalina. The effect is immersive and textural, giving the 7,000-square-foot interior the warm, cinematic glow of a permanent golden hour. Outside, the 2,000-square-foot patio has been redesigned with large umbrellas and softer lighting, adding a true open-air extension to the experience.
Central to the relaunch is the debut of Predalina After Dark, the restaurant’s new nighttime identity. As evening hits, the space shifts into Water Street’s next major nightlife environment: DJs, a gold disco ball, a painted dance floor, and two cocktail lounges with plush seating that turn dinner into a full evening out. Even the former private events room has been transformed into a cocktail lounge built to meet Water Street’s growing late-night crowd. It’s lively, theatrical, and built with intention—the district’s new evening heartbeat.
The culinary direction evolves with the space, leaning deeper into modern Mediterranean flavors while embracing a more social, playful style. Highlights from the updated menu include Blue Crab Chitarra with citrus, chili oil, spring pea, and olive-oil breadcrumbs, the standout Fire Roasted Razor Clams served with urfa butter and rustic bread, and Charred Cauliflower finished with ladolemono, toasted hazelnut, mint, and lemon garlic tahini. Other favorites return in sharper form, such as Zucchini Chips with whipped feta and aleppo, Lamb Chops with lemon-garlic tahini and caper verde, and the Shaved Lamb Dip layered with caramelized onion, provolone, kefalograviera, herby aioli, and warm jus on a sesame baguette.
Images of Predalina, Penlight Media
For heartier plates, dishes like the Branzino with artichoke, sundried tomato, crispy Yukon potatoes, castelvetrano olives, and shaved fennel; Steak Frites with urfa butter and kalamata aioli; and the Predalina Burger with dijonnaise and crispy fries showcase the menu’s elevated yet approachable sensibility. Large-format offerings—including the Salt Crust Branzino with herb olive oil and caper verde, and the Rack of Lamb with salsa verde and charred lemon—anchor the menu with coastal drama.
Predalina will reopen with dinner and weekend brunch first, with lunch following later in the season. The beverage program has also expanded with Mediterranean cocktails, coastal wines, spritzes, and tableside martinis designed for Predalina After Dark’s new energy.
