A new waterfront restaurant will open at AER Tampa, adding a full-service dining option along the Riverwalk and completing retail leasing at the River Arts District residential tower.
Matilde, a 7,600-square-foot coastal Mexican steakhouse, is scheduled to open in spring 2027 at the base of the 32-story building at 300 W. Tyler St. The restaurant will face the Riverwalk and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
The lease fills the final retail space at the 334-unit development, bringing the property to full street-level occupancy.
“Our vision for AER Tampa has always centered on activating the River Arts District with best-in-class experiences,” said Zvi Gordon, president and CEO of Gazit Horizons. “Matilde introduces a dining and entertainment concept that will bring new life to the waterfront and further define the neighborhood.”
The restaurant will sit next to the Straz Center and the Tampa Museum of Art, where nearby venues drive evening and event-based demand. The concept will combine coastal Mexican cuisine with steakhouse offerings and focus on shared dining.
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“We’re excited to begin introducing Matilde as it takes shape,” said Jeff Gigante, founder of Next Level Brands. “It will build on our commitment to shaping Tampa Bay’s culinary landscape.”
Next Level Brands operates Boulon in Water Street Tampa, Forbici in Hyde Park and St. Petersburg and Union New American in Westshore. The group has expanded into areas with strong residential growth and established foot traffic.
The restaurant is named after co-founder Andrew Wright’s grandmother and is designed around group dining and gathering.
The retail lineup at AER Tampa includes JetSet Pilates, YogaSix, Bagel Nook and Engel & Völkers.
AER Tampa adds 334 rental units to the River Arts District, with apartments ranging from 740 to 1,636 square feet. The property includes co-working space, private offices and resident amenities. Developers American Land Ventures and Gazit Horizons developed the project as a mixed-use addition to the Riverwalk corridor.
“Matilde will bring new life to the waterfront while serving residents, neighbors and arts patrons,” Gordon said.
The addition completes the retail mix at AER Tampa as development continues to expand west of downtown along the Riverwalk.
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