Developed in conjunction with Bern’s Steak House, The Epicurean Hotel is the first new-construction Autograph Collection hotel property in North America and, with The Gettys Group behind the interior design, has become a stylish retreat in the trendy Hyde Park district of South Tampa, Florida.
The central vision for the project was to create a culinary destination, and the partners built upon the strong legacy of fine dining introduced to the area in the 1960s with Bern’s Steak House.
“The architecture for this new-construction building was definitely of a post-industrial vernacular, and ‘the conversion’ thereof of these buildings to lifestyle living environments inspired us to develop that into an interior statement,” says the project’s lead designer, Meg Prendergast.
“We wanted to employ a sense of renewal and reclamation to the interior spaces that could be inclusive of the rich history of the surrounding Hyde Park area of Tampa. Bead-board panelling, combined with polished concrete floors, front desk backdrops of reclaimed wine box tops, with glowing wine rack front-desk pods and barn doors from old wine barrel staves definitely contribute to that feeling.
“The furniture and appointments feel collected so they are multigenerational in style, covered in textural fabrics, crunchy bomber jacket leathers, accented with vintage cookbooks, and cowhide rugs. We even learned of one of the owner’s beloved pet pig, so there is a bronze pig side-table in the lobby as well. We loved the personalisation that something like this gives a space.”
One of the most notable aspects of the interior is The Epicurean’s Demonstration Kitchen, a teaching theatre equipped with state-of-the-art culinary equipment and technology to allow for the ultimate learning experience.
The dining area of the restaurant emanates a warehouse feel, with industrial glazed wall tiles, patterned concrete floor tiles and post-industrial lighting. Elsewhere, there is an intimate dining room area for indoor events and a 2500ft² outdoor terrace.
The guest rooms, meanwhile, feature butcher block style case goods with details such as built-in wine buckets and postcard art reminiscent of Bern’s and the early glory days of Tampa. Reclaimed, locally-carved wood doors reveal bead board detailing at the vanity, and glass showers with peek-a-boo corners into the rooms. Artisan pantries feature fine wines and carefully selected snacks for guests to enjoy.
“In this age of multiple brands, hotels, and traveller profiles, one thing holds true – regardless of the type of travel, guests want to stay in a hotel that feels right and looks terrific,” Meg continues.
“At Gettys, we want each project to have its own voice and to always have a great vibe to beneficially add to those guests’ experiences. Internally we strategise a design through ideation, concept and branding along with creative planning to best effectively ‘deliver the dream’ to the client, the brand, and ultimately the guest.
“We understand that to deliver a promising ROI, spaces need to be compelling and memorable. We often ask ourselves ‘How would we as guests feel in this space?’ This always serves as a build for us to layer on the next level of design and experience while creating operational value. We like how at the end of a project, guests and owners love the hotel and get a great experience at the end of the day.”
