Lights are low and warm. Conversations buzz and drinks flow on the corner of Swann Avenue and Himes, home to the newest Carmel Cafe location.
"This is our first free standing building we've opened," co-founder Nancy Schneid said Tuesday. "We weren't pre-conditioned with the space and got to create our own vibe."
The space is separated between the bar and high tops, group seating on couches, and smaller tables for a quieter dinner on the edge of the dining area.
"We wanted different zones for different uses," Schneid said. Opening in South Tampa has always been in the plan Schneid said, finding the right location took some time though.