Photos: Brandon LaJoie
S TAYC AT I O N
Gastronomic GETAWAY The new Epicurean Atlanta offers a chic, culinary-focused hotel stay STORY:
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Above: The 16-story Epicurean Hotel is part of the $530 million development at 1105 West Peachtree.
Giannina S. Bedford
otels combine all of my favorite things: travel, stylish interior decor and, of course, food. One of the newest members of Marriott International’s Autograph collection, Epicurean Hotel on West Peachtree in Midtown, prides itself on focusing on the latter, while keeping the former very top of mind. The Epicurean Atlanta, opened September 2021, is the second location of the brand, a collaboration between Mainsail Lodging & Development and Tampa’s legendary Bern’s Steak House. Known for its exemplary cuisine and jaw-dropping wine cellar boasting half a million bottles, Bern’s aims to transfer its gastronomic genius into the hotel experience through this new property. The multifaceted culinary concept includes two restaurants and the Epicurean Theatre, a state-of-the art show kitchen where guests experience and learn the skills of chefs, winemakers, mixologists and more. Some recent events included rum tastings, wine pairing seminars and holiday dinners. The hotel also weaves in its namesake in other ways. At check in, I was offered a complimentary glass of Sauvignon Blanc or a sour beer by West Midtown’s Fire Maker Brewing Company. Each hotel floor is named for a wine varietal, displayed on an accent wall made of wine crates
Erik Meadows Photography
Above: Reverence's chef-driven menu pays homage to seasonal, local produce.
Below: The room's stylish bar showcases items from canned cocktails and craft mixers to pour-over coffee.
serving upscale, Latininspired tapas with a skyline view. After a mezcalinfused Zarzamora cocktail and a small serving The hotel's 178 guest rooms feature artisanal pantries of molcajeteand butcher block accents alongside striking city views. crushed guacamole with serrano chili, queso fresco from Bern’s Steakhouse. Halls and and totopos (corn chips), I tore myself guest rooms also showcase foodfrom the view to head to dinner. focused art: Pieces in my guestroom Aerial’s vacation-inspired tropical vibe on the Bordeaux floor paid homage was a contrast to the dark, modern to Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Ponce ambience I encountered at ReverCity Market and local produce, from ence, the lobby-level restaurant where Georgia shrimp to strawberries. suits gathered at the Office Bar for liOne of my favorite amenities bations. I met up with a friend, and we was the in-room bar, equipped with found our way to our high-top where pour-over coffee singles, an electric warm woods and leather seats set the kettle and a stylish floating bar with a tone for the seasonal menu of meats display of glassware, mixers, liquors, and seafood. We kicked off with a wine and canned cocktails that would Trilogy of Salmon (lightly smoked make anyone wish for happy hour. rillettes, bourbon-cured and caviarHigh up on the 15th floor, my room topped salmon) and the recommendoverlooked the one-acre Sky Terrace ed Chichirones Surf and Turf (wild that links the hotel with a Class A ofuni, avocado hummus, pork belly, fice tower and luxury residential conpomegranate). The inventive creations dominium. The central promenade is kept our culinary senses engaged home to a green space, outdoor pool and wanting more. For the mains, we with resort-style cabanas and Aerial shared the duo of grass-fed heritage Kitchen & Bar, an open-air restaurant
January/February 2022 | Simply Buckhead
beef and the roast halibut steak. The fish was slightly overcooked, but the beef, served with three sauces, was perfectly juicy. We enjoyed our meals and bottle of Boneshaker Zinfandel and left wondering about some of the other unique menu offerings, such as the Moroccan duck meatballs and bourbon shoyu-cured lamb tataki. Between the on-point decor, stellar Midtown location and thoughtprovoking food, Epicurean is the kind of place that leaves you wanting to come back for another taste. n EPICUREAN ATLANTA 470.283.2000 epicureanhotelatlanta.com @epicureanatlanta
