By Kathy L. Collins
If you are looking for a fun summer get away, check out the Epicurean Hotel located in the trendy Hyde Park section of South Tampa (known as SoHo). The Epicurean is located at 1207 S. Howard Ave. in Tampa.
This 137 room boutique hotel is a collaboration between Mainsail Lodging & Development and the legendary Bern’s Steak House. When you step into the hotel, you immediately see that every element of the hotel has been carefully selected. This goes from the wine crates that make up the lobby desk to the butcher block style cabinetry to the reclaimed wood bathroom doors.
I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Epicurean for my daughter’s graduation party. The staff was solicitous to our every need. The guest rooms were stunning and luxurious. Each room is decorated to reflect the culinary heritage and unique nature of the area. Four unique art themes reinforce the Epicurean’s primary themes- Grow, Create, Imbibe and Indulge.
We used every part of the hotel including the pool, bars (The Bar at Elevage and EDGE), and the restaurant (Elevage). Best of all, we held the party in the Epicurean Theatre, a 1,000 sq. ft. amphitheatre which is complete with a Viking demonstration cooking area. The chef demonstrated several dishes for us. The food was delicious and the desserts provided by Chocolate Pi, an in-house patisserie featuring the specialty sweets of Chef Kim Yelvington, were decadent and delicious.
In addition to the Epicurean Theatre, the Epicurean offers several other spaces including a Grand Cru Ballroom and Garden Terrace for celebratory events such as weddings.
The Epicurean is situated just down the road from the picturesque waterfront of Bayshore Blvd. and is in the midst of the city’s social buzz for high-end boutiques and top rated restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Take advantage of the hotel’s vintage bicycles and see the area.
Once you have had a ride or walk around the area, indulge yourself in a spa treatment at Evangeline, the hotel’s spa. Take my word for it, the Epicurean is a wonderful place to get away from everyday life and offers a wonderful experience to see all of South Tampa’s vibrant neighborhoods. You have to visit the Epicurean to get a complete understanding of just how wonderful it is. For more information, visit www.epicureanhotel.com or call 999-8700.
