Get a taste of Florida’s food scene at one of these top hotels for culinary enthusiasts
Hot take: Florida is in the spotlight for its Michelin Key Hotels and Michelin-rated restaurants in Miami, Orlando and Tampa. If your ideal vacation means easy access to delicious dining, consider checking into a hotel that also houses a top restaurant — even if Michelin hasn’t anointed them with any accolades yet — some even offer epicurean perks from cooking classes to a beekeeping experience. A foodie getaway is just what the stomach ordered.
PGA NATIONAL RESORT, PALM BEACH
The recently transformed PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens is not only a golf and pickleball dream vacation spot, with a waterfront pool and spa, but it’s a culinary powerhouse. The resort is home to one of Florida’s best restaurants, The Butcher’s Club, led by Chef Jeremy Ford who is a Bravo “Top Chef” winner and also helms a Michelin Star restaurant in Miami.
This glam steakhouse impresses with its drinks and dishes that often come with a tableside show — like a swinging wagyu tomahawk that’s set on fire or an Old Fashioned cocktail that’s smoked tableside — and top cuts of meats from tender filets to a bison ribeye. The menu is full of hits like jalapeno poppers stuffed with wagyu brisket and aged cheddar (it’s one bite that you’ll obsess over); a rigatoni pasta bathed in a Calabrian chili sauce and topped with crunchy garlic; and the best Caesar salad of your life.
Reserve time for lunch or dinner at Honeybelle, where James Beard Award-nominee Lindsay Autry has crafted a menu of Southern-style and Florida favorites like her famous hot honey fried chicken, crispy chicken sandwich, and a garlic toast coated in Key West pink shrimp and white wine.
Honey is widely featured on the resort’s menus from food to cocktails/mocktails and even the spa — that’s because PGA exclusively has its own beekeeper and four on-property hives buzzing with more than 250,000 honeybees. Book the interactive “Beekeeping Experience” with the resort’s beekeeper, Sierra, to be whisked away on a golf cart to the resort’s hives that are picturesquely set along the lake. After slipping on a head-to-toe protective suit, Sierra (armed with smoke to keep the bees calm) will open up the hive boxes and pull out the frames to show off how the colonies work together, reproduce and make honey. While you’ll get a taste from the raw honeycomb, when you’re done, head to Honeybelle for a special tasting that includes a charcuterie board paired with hot honey, a hot honey pizza from the wood-fire oven, and mocktails tinged with the sweet stuff.
Foodie tip: Plan your Palm Beach stay around the annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival in December, or during Flavor South Florida Restaurant Month in September.
ETTE HOTEL, ORLANDO
Take a hard pass on the park food. One Michelin Key-awarded Ette Hotel is a boutique culinary wonder that elevates the typical Orlando hotel experience and is located mere minutes from the theme parks. The posh hotel shines with stellar service, guest beds fitted in exquisite linens that promote dreamy sleep (or book a wellness suite with perks like a Peloton bike and weights), relaxing spa treatments and a tranquil pool worthy of all-day sunbathing.
But you’re here for the food — and guests are treated to gourmet artistry and tableside performances at Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back. At this inventive Mediterranean-Asian restaurant, presentation is everything; elaborate dishes and drinks bubble, smoke and tout a story behind their composure. Think airy pizza topped with tuna and truffle oil, and entrees such as seared scallops or glazed duck breast, and even a splurge-worthy 24-karat gold tomahawk. Another experience worth checking out is the restaurant’s Afternoon Tea to sip French teas and nosh on pretty bites and desserts in a garden setting.
More Orlando Hotels With Standout Restaurants: Another One Michelin Key hotel, Lake Nona Wave Hotel, boasts Michelin Recommended BACAN restaurant and contemporary Japanese restaurant Nami; Four Season Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is home to Capa, a Michelin Star, Spanish-influenced steakhouse that holds court on the rooftop.
Foodie tip: Look out for Visit Orlando’s annual culinary event Magical Dining every September, with more than 150 participating restaurants offering 3-course, specially priced menus.
EPICUREAN HOTEL, TAMPA
With a moniker like “epicurean,” you know this hotel delivers on food-focused fun. Located in South Tampa’s trendy Hyde Park historic district, Epicurean Hotel presents guests with a world of culinary experiences. A hotel highlight is the Epicurean Theatre, a hi-tech kitchen and 40-person theater where guests can take part in curated cooking classes, demonstrations and more.
Catch sunset views with a cocktail in hand at EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge, then have dinner at Elevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar to savor a range of gourmand favorites like honey fried chicken to smoked short ribs and melt-in-your-mouth steaks. Since one of the hotel’s owners also owns beloved Bern’s Steakhouse, guests can book a package to score a highly coveted reservation at the legendary restaurant that’s located directly across from the hotel. For a spacious stay, choose one of the eight historic apartments that are now suites. Evangeline Spa offers a recipe for relaxation, with culinary-inspired treatments that use everything from chocolate to whiskey and garden herbs.
Another Tampa Hotel For A Culinary-Cation: Located inside the ultra-trendy The Tampa EDITION hotel, Lilac is a high-end, Michelin Star restaurant that’s playful yet serious about incredible food.
HOTEL GREYSTONE, MIAMI
While there’s a litany of standout culinary-centered hotels in Miami’s South Beach, Hotel Greystone is an under-the-radar gem for top-notch food and child-free solitude. Michelin recently took notice of the adults-only retreat (but pets are welcome) that’s perched above busy Collins Avenue and located a block from the beach — and awarded the hotel One Key denoting a very special stay. Start the evening at Sora Rooftop Bar with a tropical cocktail to capture incredible views of the city, and end the night at the moody Greystone Bar, where jazz music floats through the space on select nights.
The star, however, is the hotel’s signature restaurant Sérêvène, a Japanese-French izakaya where Chef Pawan Pinisetti touches every table and is often seen mingling with guests (don’t be surprised if you see him hand-feeding regulars). The restaurant is known for their playful dishes like caviar push-pops and over-the-top presentations such as foie gras crème brulee crowned with cotton candy that’s torched at the table. You’ll want to slather umami butter onto soft Hawaiian rolls, then dig into specialty dishes like the lobster uni alfredo or the chef’s version of a smashburger.
More Top Culinary Hotels In Miami Beach: Faena Hotel Miami Beach, which recently snagged two Michelin Keys for an exceptional stay, and is home to Los Fuegos by lauded Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann; and The Setai Hotel receives high marks for its incredible restaurants including Jaya, a modern Asian restaurant known for its nightly live entertainment.
Foodie tip: Mark your travel schedule for Miami Spice every August and September when top eateries offer special prix-fixe menus for lunch, dinner and brunch.
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL & RESIDENCES, FORT LAUDERDALE
At Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale, guests are treated to two exemplary restaurants deserving of a reservation. One of the hottest reservations in Fort Lauderdale is at MAASS by Chef Ryan Ratino, where dinner is often a personalized experience, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion. (Don’t be shocked if they’ve stalked your social media to find out your favorite things or hobbies). Sit at the chef’s counter for a front-row seat to the kitchen’s fiery action and to sample the nightly tasting menu, or simply let your server guide you through the creative menu.
Also, don’t miss dinner or brunch at Evelyn’s, where Chef Brandon Salomon churns out inventive Mediterranean-inspired plates and exquisite veggie-forward plates that will tempt hard-core carnivores. You never know how Salomon will surprise you, from a bouquet of flowers stuffed with caviar to a garden of veggies paired with fresh dips. The resort is located steps from the beach, and guests can expect the brand’s lauded service, coastal-style rooms with rich amenities, and a serene poolscape overlooking the ocean.
Foodie tip: Save up your calories for the annual Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival.
THE BOCA RATON, BOCA RATON
The recently reimagined The Boca Raton is one of those luxe resorts where you could literally dine on property every night of your stay. The waterfront property, which flaunts five distinct accommodations, its own mini-water park and an impressive spa, has bragging rights to more than 10 on-property eateries. Kick off an evening with a cocktail at the Palm Court lounge, where a lively piano player often belts out tunes, and then start your personal culinary crawl around the property. Restaurant standouts are: The Flamingo Grill, where servers in pink jackets prepare tableside Caesar salads and flaming desserts; and Japanese Bocce Club, a Major Food Group concept, which delivers on sexy ambiance and modern Japanese fare like sushi, lobster dumplings and jumbo prawns. Guests can also look forward to the reopening of Marisol in December, the Beach Club’s Mediterranean restaurant that overlooks the ocean.
Foodie tip: Raise a glass to the new three-day affair, Artisans of Wine & Food, held at The Boca Raton, January 17-19, 2025. This famous event that’s been held in California since the 1980s will feature famed Chef and Restaurateur Mario Carbone, and Laurent Tourondel along with Napa Valley vintners.
These Florida stays deserve a “chef’s kiss.”
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 4:28 PM.
