Three years since its groundbreaking in October 2017, Luminary Hotel & Co. is taking its place in the spotlight in downtown Fort Myers.
“It’s truly been a labor of love making Luminary a reality as a central part of this exciting new time in downtown Fort Myers,” says Bob Megazzini, general manager for Luminary Hotel & Co.
Rising 12 stories, the boutique hotel features 243 guest rooms along with two restaurants, a coffee shop and a rooftop bar. With warm, natural tones and clean lines, the vibe at Luminary is fresh and modern, yet comfortable and inviting at the same time.
Right off the lobby on the ground floor, guests will find The Silver King Ocean Brasserie, the hotel’s signature restaurant showcasing fresh seafood; Ella Mae’s Diner, a classic-yet-modern spot to spend time over a meal; and the Coffee Roastery for a fresh cup of joe. Twelve stories up is Beacon Social Drinkery, serving cocktails, fine wines and Champagnes, craft beers and small plates in an indoor/ outdoor space with nearly 300-degree views overlooking the Caloosahatchee River and the city.
“The views are spectacular from that perch,” says Megazzini.
HAUTE CUISINE: The Silver King Ocean Brasserie is Luminary’s signature restaurant.
Guests will find the indoor/outdoor fitness center focused on health and wellness, including a Pilates deck, spa pool with chaise lounges and a pool bar that overlook the river from the fourth floor.
Back on the ground floor, right off the lobby, is what may very well be the focal point of Luminary: The Workshop, a culinary theater inspired by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, whose winter estates are just about a mile from the hotel.
“Edison had a workshop down here; he’d do his experiments and testing in his workshop,” explains Megazzini. “This is our workshop, and I can see the chef from Silver King cutting fresh fish and guests popping in to see what he’s doing. Or, if they’re working on a new menu item, a couple of chefs could be in there playing around, and guests passing by are welcome to stop in and chat.”
With floor-to-ceiling windows looking in, The Workshop was designed to be flexible; stadium seating fills the back of the room, while the front can be arranged as needed.
“We see The Workshop being really fun for culinary competitions,” says Megazzini of the space, which is equipped with a camera system and TVs to zoom in and see the details of chefs at work. “But it’s also flexible and can be used for intimate dinners, where you could sit around the center island and a chef could cook for 10 to 12 guests and talk them through the dishes. We can really shrink the room down so it feels intimate.”
In addition to private dinners and culinary competitions, Megazzini says the space is ideal for wine and beer tastings, coffee cuppings and even meet-the-artists series and traditional business meetings.
When its doors opened a few weeks ago, Luminary Hotel & Co. became the first of Marriott’s exclusive Autograph Collection Hotels in Southwest Florida.
