It’s the final leg of our foodie tour of Epic Universe! The Helios Grand Hotel is the newest hotel on Universal Studios property – an incredible 500 room hotel, this site features all the luxury accommodations one would expect from a Universal Orlando Resort hotel, including magnificent pools, arcade areas, and a fitness center, as well as four unique dining options within the hotel itself.
The Helios Grand will feature quick service counters like the Aurora Market, which allows guests to access things like the coffee bar, wraps, paninis, salads, gelato, and more all for guests and families who are on the go! This market stocks everything from breakfast to dessert, and is the most convenient options for guests looking to roll out with their day (but need to fuel up first!).
While little information has been given about the Aurora Market, Universal Orlando Resort Hotels are no stranger to this style of grab-and-go dining. Similar set ups can be seen in hotels like the Aventura, Sapphire Falls, and the twin Endless Summer resorts. If you’ve ever been inside of a Universal Orlando Resort hotel before, you’ll be familiar with this cafeteria-styled shop that makes food on the run a breeze.
If you’re not looking to go anywhere fast, then guests at the Helios Grand can check out the Lotus Lagoon, a full-service, open-air restaurant located alongside the pool area of the hotel for ultimate relaxation. This on-property restaurant will be stocked with frozen cocktails, beer, and fountain drinks, as well as snacks and appetizers. Convenience is King at the Lotus Lagoon, and the restaurant allows guests to order right from their chair alongside the pool, or from their specially-rented cabana, for the ultimate in relaxation.
Of course, guests must be 21 or older with valid ID to purchase alcoholic beverages (and I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me say that by now!), so don’t leave your ID in your room if you intend to enjoy a nice cold drink while lounging by the pool.
The two remaining restaurants at the Helios Grand Hotel are both more traditional dining styles. Bar Helios is a quick service dining area with three distinct seating sections. Guests can choose from the lively circle bar with a 360 degree view, an intimate dining area within the bar, of the al fresco area overlooking the park below, offering a breathtaking and unique view of Epic Universe.
Featuring casual fare like burgers, sliders, and salads along with more complex comfort foods like seafood, lamb and chicken gyros, and exceptional appetizers, the Bar Helios has a little bit of everything for everyone!
Guests can try unique and daring dishes like the Charred Octopus – an octopus steak served with crispy herb potatos, brined olives, creamy salsa verde and brassica leaves for a rich and flavorful experience.
Guests can also sample the Scallop Crudo – raw scallops served in a sour orange vin sauce, paired with Persian cucumbers, peppers, and topped with the sweet crunch of pistachio.
Both of these unique seafood dishes are available at the Bar Helios, to enjoy with cocktails or soft drinks amid some of the most spectacular views of any theme park in Orlando.
For a full-service experience, guests can head over to the Flora Taverna, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel. Check out the full breakfast buffet and the classic Mediterranean comfort foods that this kitchen stocks. Featuring an open kitchen to view things like live cooking, the fiery pizza oven, searing grills, and the gyros station, this restaurant boasts a light and airy atmosphere that will make guests feel right at home amongst the sunlight streaming in through the windows. No matter where you sit, guests will be treated with stunning views of Epic Universe down below, and to even better food.
Check out the Heritage Tomato & Burrata Salad, a light and refreshing option that features fresh heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese, agave-glazed walnuts, Reggiano pesto, microgreens, and topped with mostarda. This dish is the perfect appetizer, and can be enjoyed with any meal.
Also available are hearty entrees like the Shish Kebabs; Za’atar chicken, spicy harissa prawns, and tender beef spiced with pimento are served with a trio of sauces, letting guests get their fill of the Moroccan herb, rich garlic, or tang daqoos sauce in whatever way they please. Served hot and fresh, the Shish Kebabs are a savory option perfect of sharing or enjoying as a main dish.
Whole Branzino is also on the menu at the Flora Taverna. This whole butterflied fish is grilled to perfection and served with a tangy pickled tomato gribiche, fresh grilled citrus, and a vibrant and flavorful Moroccan herb sauce called Chermoula. Seafood lovers rejoice for this exceptional dish, and dig in!
Guests can also enjoy Mezzes & Spreads, a charming variety of dips, spreads, and sauces all served with warm focaccia, pita, and lavash breads. Choose your favorites as you sample dishes like baba ghanoush, marinated olives, muhammara, hummus, tzatziki, whipped summer feta, and roasted red pepper dip. These savory dips are full of spices and exquisite flavors that truly pull together any of the Mediterranean dishes served at the Flora Taverna.
The full menus for restaurants at Epic Universe and the Helios Grand Hotel have yet to be revealed, but this sneak peek at the food and beverage offerings at the new Universal Orlando Resort park have proven that Universal is elevating their food offerings fay beyond anything we’ve seen up to this point – following a trend in their existing theme parks, Epic Universe is taking it a step further and truly offering an unforgettable dining experience to all who visit.
Epic Universe opens May 22nd, 2025, and will welcome guests to five brand-new and distinct lands like Celestial Park, The Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic and Wizarding Paris. These lands are without a doubt some of the most immersive and well-themed lands Universal has ever constructed, and that intense theming also extends to the food and beverage options the park offers.
Theme Park Shark will continue to report on any more information that Universal reveals in the weeks leading up to the grand opening of this groundbreaking new theme park – but in the meantime, congratulations on making it through the Foodie’s Tour of Epic Universe!
