Staycation Gastronomic Getaway

Above: Reverence's chef-driven menu pays homage to seasonal, local produce.

Gastronomic GETAWAY

The new Epicurean Atlanta offers a chic, culinary-focused hotel stay

Erik Meadows Photography

STORY: Giannina S. Bedford

Above: The 16-story Epicurean Hotel is part of the $530 million development at 1105 West Peachtree. Below: The room's stylish bar showcases items from canned cocktails and craft mixers to pour-over coffee.

Hotels 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 from Bern’s Steakhouse. Halls and guest rooms also showcase foodfocused art: Pieces in my guestroom on the Bordeaux floor paid homage to Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Ponce City Market and local produce, from Georgia shrimp to strawberries.

One of my favorite amenities was the in-room bar, equipped with pour-over coffee singles, an electric kettle and a stylish floating bar with a display of glassware, mixers, liquors, wine and canned cocktails that would make anyone wish for happy hour.

High up on the 15th floor, my room overlooked the one-acre Sky Terrace that links the hotel with a Class A office tower and luxury residential condominium. The central promenade is home to a green space, outdoor pool with resort-style cabanas and Aerial Kitchen & Bar, an open-air restaurant serving upscale, Latininspired tapas with a skyline view. After a mezcalinfused Zarzamora cocktail and a small serving of molcajetecrushed guacamole with serrano chili, queso fresco and totopos (corn chips), I tore myself from the view to head to dinner. Aerial’s vacation-inspired tropical vibe was a contrast to the dark, modern ambience I encountered at Reverence, the lobby-level restaurant where suits gathered at the Office Bar for libations. I met up with a friend, and we found our way to our high-top where warm woods and leather seats set the tone for the seasonal menu of meats and seafood. We kicked off with a Trilogy of Salmon (lightly smoked rillettes, bourbon-cured and caviartopped salmon) and the recommended Chichirones Surf and Turf (wild uni, avocado hummus, pork belly, pomegranate). The inventive creations kept our culinary senses engaged and wanting more. For the mains, we shared the duo of grass-fed heritage

The hotel's 178 guest rooms feature artisanal pantries and butcher block accents alongside striking city views.

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