Complementing Ybor’s Latin charm, Papi’s, an American restaurant with smashburgers, Latin-inspired cuisine and cocktails, is filling the two-story space at 1708-1710 E. Seventh Ave.—formerly the home of White Lie, which closed in 2023.

The new business intends to be a jack of all trades, operating as a restaurant by day and a lounge until its 3 a.m. close, with a full-service bar and VIP space also open for private events on its second floor.

Papi’s will be owner Robert George’s second eatery. He also owns a Ybor location of the frozen drink franchise Fat Tuesday. While there is no official opening date for the restaurant, George expects Papi’s to open before the new year, per the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

This article appears in Dec. 04 – 10, 2025.

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Latin-American restaurant Papi’s replaces White Lie in Ybor City next year

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