Tampa's historic Floridan Palace Hotel announces new restaurant ‘The Dan,’ slated to open in May

One of downtown Tampa’s most notable historic landmarks will soon unveil its newest (and swankiest) addition.

The historic Floridan Palace Hotel—located at 905 N Florida Ave.—plans to open its new restaurant The Dan on Saturday, May 20, according to its newly-formed social media pages.

The Dan will replace the hotel's former signature restaurant Sapphire Lounge,  an old-school eatery that's known for its classic cocktails and upscale American eats.

Inspired by the Roaring Twenties with a New Orleans-style approach to cuisine, The Dan will be a “modern take on old-school speakeasies."

Although there’s no menu listed on its website just yet, photos depict raw oysters, fresh seafood dishes, beignets and fancy cotton candy. The Dan’s website also promises live jazz music and entertainment.

In addition to opening its brand new restaurant, The Floridan Palace might soon go by another name entirely. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the hotel’s new owners—investment firm 1754 Properties—recently filed a historic preservation tax exemption application which proposed a name change, among other renovations. The application states that the hotel's prospective name is "Hotel Flor."

The Floridan Palace’s new restaurant is just a small facet of the hotel’s $25 million dollar renovations.

It seems like the historic hotel has already redesigned its website to promote its new name “Flor” alongside its upcoming restaurant and bar "Dan." With a palm tree acting as an “I" between the two words,  the concepts can read as “Floridan” together.

For the latest information on The Dan and its grand opening, head to dineatthedan.com or follow its Instagram at @thedantampa.