| We found a special offer from one of our partners that we think is perfect for Food & Wine readers — check it out! | | | | | | Dinner Served in a Former Firehouse + More Southern Tables to Know | |  | | Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa | | Amelia Island, Florida | | At Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa, flavor is part of the landscape. From oceanfront breakfasts to cocktails above the marsh, each venue captures a facet of the island’s coastal rhythm. Surfcaster pairs Atlantic breezes with Southern ease — fresh seafood and relaxed boathouse style just steps from the sand. Nonna Mia celebrates coastal Italian cuisine with a lively Southern spirit. At Bob’s Steak & Chop House, the mood shifts to classic refinement, where prime cuts and signature sides are served with easy confidence. For something bolder, Paloma & Pico delivers vibrant artisanal tacos and ice-cold cervezas poolside, while Falcon’s Nest invites guests to linger over burgers and aviation lore. Marsh View Bar & Grill overlooks fairways and the Intracoastal Waterway with a menu as inviting as the view, and FloraBelle does buffet breakfast with coastal polish. With still more restaurants to discover, dining here feels less like a typical resort lineup and more like a full-on flavor tour. | | | | |  | | Hotel Effie | | Miramar Beach, Florida | | If you’re looking for a stay with a rooftop pool and incredible onsite dining on Florida’s Emerald Coast, there’s (quite literally) only one place to go — Hotel Effie. Located in sunny Sandestin, on the shores of beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay, this luxury hotel features a full-service spa for all your pampering needs, access to four championship golf courses, and a private shuttle service to miles of white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Foodies are in for a treat with four food and beverage establishments including Ovide, a delightful elegant dining venue that combines classic Gulf Coast flavors and southern culinary traditions. Start your day at Ovide with classics like biscuits (made in-house!) and gravy, or grab a gourmet bite to-go at Sweetbay Coffee. If you’re spending the day by the pool, snack and sip in the shade of your private cabana with offerings from Ara Rooftop Lounge. While we recommend tucking into a meal in the dining room at Ovide (shrimp and grits or a cast iron half-roasted chicken, anyone?), you can have it delivered to your room to enjoy in the ultimate privacy. Enjoy fluffy pancakes and farm-fresh eggs at Ovide for two when you book the But First, Breakfast offer. | | | | |  | | Laurel Hotel & Spa | | Auburn, Alabama | | What better way to savor gourmet dining than with dishes crafted by culinary masters, with some help from tomorrow’s talent? Alabama’s first ultra-luxury hotel, Laurel Hotel & Spa, is a unique destination located on the grounds of Auburn University, offering guests an exceptional blend of luxury and hands-on learning for hospitality students. This AAA Five Diamond hotel offers luxurious rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, gardens, and a world-class spa, but its refined fare is what really sets it apart. Dining at the Michelin-recognized onsite restaurant 1856 Culinary Residence is an immersive experience. Helmed by renowned chef Joël Antunes, the restaurant’s skilled team crafts innovative dishes using fresh ingredients from the hotel’s rooftop garden. Culinary students assist in creating signature meals like roasted maple leaf duck, offering a roof-to-table experience. After dinner, head to Walts on the Roof for stunning views, craft cocktails, and tapas. | | | | |  | | RumFish Beach at TradeWinds | | St. Pete Beach, Florida | | At RumFish Beach, the dining scene is as much a part of the stay as the sand itself. RumFish Grill® takes center stage as an undersea world that shimmers just beyond the table. A 33,500-gallon aquarium, once featured on Discovery Channel’s Tanked, serves plates that showcase Florida’s freshest catches alongside pastas, steaks, and other Gulf-inspired staples. Guests can even snorkel through the tank or explore its Touch Tanks before raising a glass at the bar, where you can sip curated rum flights. By day, Gulfside Kitchen channels breezy Key West energy with dishes like Lemon-Blueberry Pancakes and Ybor Cubans, served poolside. Come game time, the RumFish Sports Bar and Deck delivers big-screen action with cold taps and coastal cocktails, while the SandBar takes the edge off with toes-in-the-sand sundowners, fire pits, and live music. From refined seafood dining to easygoing beach bites, the resort’s culinary lineup keeps pace with St. Pete’s playful Gulfside rhythm. Book the Rise and Dine Offer and get a $25 breakfast credit per guest to start your days in the sun out right. | | | | |  | | The Lantern Hotel Columbia | | Columbia, South Carolina | | Columbia has a James Beard story to tell before the trip — and the former firehouse on Senate Street is the reason to make it. The Lantern Hotel occupies Columbia’s historic Central Fire Station in the Vista, its 59 rooms threading mid-century modern interiors and firehouse details through three restored buildings. The dining anchor is Ladder 13, set behind the original firehouse doors in the engine bay: James Beard–nominated chef Kevin Johnson directs the culinary program, with executive chef Joseph Wolfson executing his produce-forward, Lowcountry-inflected approach through Mediterranean small plates built on seasonal ingredients. At the bar, the cocktail list goes rock-and-roll — each drink named after a classic track and built on combinations like mezcal-limoncello and cherry balsamic bubbles. Steps from the South Carolina State Capitol and the USC campus, the Vista delivers Columbia’s best dining and nightlife at a walk — but with Ladder 13 behind the original firehouse doors, the pull to stay in for dinner is hard to argue with. | | | | | | Food & Wine is part of the People Inc. publishing family. | | | | |
