Tampa’s Riverwalk is getting a splashy new spot for surf, turf and everything in between. Matilde, an elevated coastal Mexican steakhouse from local restaurateurs Next Level Brands, is slated for the ground floor of the AER Tampa tower, with plans to serve both tower residents and arts patrons heading to and from shows nearby. The concept promises seaside Mexican flavors paired with classic steakhouse cooking in a roughly 7,600-square-foot space aiming for a spring 2027 debut.
As reported by Tampa Bay Times, AER Tampa has signed a lease with Next Level Brands for the project and describes Matilde as the group’s latest dining venture. Reporter Meaghan Habuda first detailed the announcement on May 6, 2026, outlining the deal and the partners behind it.
Developer Gazit Horizons confirmed the agreement in a statement covered by CityBiz, noting that the 7,600-square-foot restaurant will face the Riverwalk and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and is planned for a spring 2027 opening. Gazit Horizons CEO Zvi Gordon said the addition will “bring new life to the waterfront,” and the report noted that Matilde’s lease completes the tower’s street-level retail lineup.
Next Level Brands, the hospitality group behind Boulon Brasserie, Forbici and Union New American, will operate Matilde and describes the concept as a space built around scale and shared plates. Creative Loafing Tampa reports that the name honors co-founder Andrew Wright’s grandmother, and that the team envisions a restaurant that transitions from daytime dining to a livelier evening scene.
Menu and leadership
Next Level Brands has tapped Culinary Director Jacob Rios to lead the kitchen while Heather Rivas oversees development and operations, although the company has not yet released specific details on the menu or beverage program. According to That’s So Tampa, Rios’ background and the group’s existing track record signal a lineup likely centered on seafood, fire-cooked meats and shareable plates.
Where it will sit
Matilde is set to anchor AER Tampa’s ground-floor arcade at 300 W. Tyler St., putting a full-service restaurant within a short walk of the Tampa Museum of Art and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that the lease fills the final retail space at the 334-unit tower and joins fitness and service tenants already committed to the property.
Next Level Brands says it will roll out more details on Matilde’s design and operations as construction progresses, with pre-opening updates expected over the next year while teams are assembled and permits are processed. CityBiz relayed founder Jeff Gigante’s comment that Matilde is intended to build on the group’s commitment to shaping Tampa Bay’s culinary landscape.
