Kimpton Serves Up The Curious Palate: A New Chapter of Culinary Originals

ATLANTA, GA (October 22, 2026) – Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, introduces The Curious Palate by Kimpton, a new global food and beverage platform celebrating the people, places and wonderfully original ideas behind the brand’s culinary culture.

Some hotel restaurants merit a reservation. At Kimpton, they inspire an entire stay. It’s a legacy that goes back to founder Bill Kimpton, who believed a hotel restaurant should be a destination in its own right. Now, The Curious Palate carries that spirit forward with secret menus, unexpected pairings, chef-led dining experiences and new twists on beloved Kimpton rituals. And with a global collective of culinary talent helping curate what’s next, there’s plenty more on the menu.

The Curious Palate is shaped by Kimpton’s global food and beverage storylines spanning flavor, technique, locale, service, tabletop design and format. But the real magic happens when those ideas take on a life of their own, with each hotel interpreting them through its people, culture and destination. The result is a platform designed to feel unmistakably Kimpton, but never exactly the same twice.

A Little Something for the Curious

Guests will discover The Curious Palate throughout Kimpton properties, with food and drink experiences extending beyond restaurants and bars into unexpected moments of their stay. From morning sips through Kimpton Kickstart and off-menu discoveries through IYKYK to spirited social gatherings, immersive dinners and bartender-inspired nightcaps, the platform creates new reasons to gather, explore and linger.

Where Ideas Travel

At the heart of The Curious Palate is a global collective of Kimpton chefs and bartenders, each bringing their own influences, obsessions and creative instincts to the table. From Tokyo and Bangkok to Barcelona and Grand Cayman, these culinary originals are sharing what they’re tasting, testing, sourcing and discovering in their corners of the world, while opening the door to one-off collaborations, visiting chef moments, bartender pop-ups and secret-menu favorites that can travel somewhere unexpected.

Vicki Poulos, Vice President of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands at IHG, said: “At Kimpton, great hospitality has always started at the table. More than 40 years on, that spirit is still very much alive. The Curious Palate celebrates the incredible chefs, bartenders and creative minds who make Kimpton what it is, and gives them even more room to experiment, surprise and bring a little personality to the table. We want every Kimpton to have something you simply have to try. And maybe something you didn’t even know you wanted.”

A Legacy with Plenty More to Discover

That spirit was on full display at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove, where chefs and bar experts from across the global portfolio came together for the inaugural Table of Curiosity dinner. Set against Monterey’s rugged coastline, the evening brought together culinary traditions and influences from around the world, with dishes and cocktails inspired by the chefs’ diverse backgrounds and the ingredients of California’s Central Coast. The menu was anything but ordinary: a Hong Kong-inspired margarita, Saudi Arabian camel filet and sea urchin risotto inspired by Tokyo were among the creations served throughout the evening.

The event gathered talented chefs from across Kimpton hotels globally, including Chef Jeremy Acuña of Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove, Chef Kristin Beringson of Kimpton Aerston Hotel in Nashville, Chef Michele Di Bonito of Kimpton KAFD Riyadh, Chef Marcel López of Kimpton Vividora Barcelona, Chef Shinsuke Nakajima of Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo and Chef Lamberto Valdez Lara of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. The talented bar experts who created craft cocktails for the dinner included Benjamin Boyce of Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong, Monika Lukaszyk of Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh and Jim Wrigley of Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman. Together, they explored how emerging culinary and cocktail movements can be transformed into experiences that feel rooted in place, socially engaging and inspiring guests’ exploration.

Now Serving Around the World

This curiosity is already finding its way onto menus, into bars and beyond the dining room at Kimpton hotels around the world. Here’s a taste of what’s happening:

• A Global Holiday Pour | All Kimpton Properties in North America and Most throughout the Rest of the World: Through the Kimpton Festive Seasonal Enhancements, available at properties from November 27, 2026 through February 28, 2027, hotels will feature the Gather ‘Round cocktail, created by Head of Food & Beverage Monika Lukasyk of Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh. The spiced rum cocktail includes festive syrup, apple juice, black tea, lemon juice, club soda and orange bitters, served on cubed ice, creating a flavor profile of warm spices, apple and bright orange.
• IYKYK | Kimpton Canary Hotel, Finch & Fork (Santa Barbara, CA): Don’t miss this IYKYK offering, a secret menu combo that can be ordered via room service. Unlisted on the menu but always available, guests can order the banana milkshake, a thick and indulgent combination of cinnamon and sugar bananas, vanilla ice cream, a graham crumble and roasted meringue on top - alongside crispy french fries and a bottle of bubbles.
• Fitzroy & Fries | Kimpton Fitzroy London, The Lobby Café: The serve of the season has begun at The Lobby Café – guests can enjoy Fitzroy & Fries, the hotel’s martini and unlimited fry pairing, available daily after 4 p.m.
• A Table for You | Kimpton KAFD Riyadh, The Vinyl by Embers (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): The Chef’s Table offers guests a highly personalized Table of Curiosity experience where a thoughtfully curated menu created specifically for the guest uses only fresh ingredients available that day. When guests are seated, the chef takes time to understand each preference, taste, dietary considerations and experience desires. Based on this conversation, the culinary team creates a bespoke menu combining local Saudi ingredients, seasonal products and signature dishes, created specifically for each individual.
• A Flight Worth Taking | Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, Bambara Bar (Cambridge, MA): Enjoy an elevated happy hour at Bambara Bar, daily from 5-7 p.m., featuring a curated Brandy Flight Trio paired with $1 mini cheeseburgers and $1 oysters. Guests can sip on three exceptional brandies, Pierre Ferrand 1840, Delamain Vesper XO and Germain-Robin Old Havana Alambic, showcasing distinctive notes ranging from bright florals and spice to rich oak, dried fruit and dark chocolate.
• Girl Dinner | Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove, The Calendonian (Monterey, CA): Guests can sip and savor The Caledonian’s new menu offering, Girl Dinner, all night long, complete with martinis, Ceasar salad and bottomless truffle tries.
• Coffee and a Good Read | Kimpton Sawyer Hotel (Sacramento, CA): This Kimpton partners with local mom-and-pop bookstore Capital Books during Kimpton Kickstart. In addition to the complimentary coffees and teas available to guests, attendees can also browse a curated collection of books or order titles for delivery.
• Front-Row Seats | Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, AVE (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands): Every Thursday through Monday at 6:45 p.m., guests are invited to the Chef’s Table Experience, an intimate chef-led tasting journey featuring a multi-course tasting menu, curated pairings and a front-row view of the wood-fire kitchen.
• A Southern Spin | Kimpton Shane Hotel, Hartley & Aveline (Atlanta): Paying homage to Atlanta's iconic Southern fare, Hartley's Wednesday happy hour features chef-curated small plates that celebrate the region's flavors, paired with $6 craft whiskey cocktails. At Aveline, the weekly Southern Taco Takeover reimagines Southern classics through chef-driven tacos, complemented by the venue's signature botanical cocktails.
• A Toast to South Beach | Kimpton Surfcomber Miami, The Social Club: Until December 21, Kimpton Surfcomber Miami will be offering a special fall cocktail menu, pulling inspiration from the vibrant, coastal culture of South Beach. The premier cocktail is The Toasted Flame, including Rumchata, vanilla vodka and cinnamon whiskey.

The stories behind The Curious Palate don't end when the plates are cleared. Across Kimpton's social channels, the brand will shine a light on the personalities and creative processes behind its culinary world, taking followers beyond the finished dishes and into the kitchens, bars and neighborhoods where the ideas begin. Expect a more candid look at the people making it happen: the chef experimenting with something new, the bartender perfecting a pour, the local maker behind an unexpected ingredient, and the moments of inspiration that turn into something guests can actually experience.

Follow along with @Kimpton on social to meet the culinary originals, discover what's happening behind the scenes and find out what's worth trying next.

As The Curious Palate continues to evolve, Kimpton’s chefs, bartenders and hotels will keep bringing their own ideas, influences and personalities to the table. For more information or to book a stay at Kimpton’s 90 destinations around the world, with 67 more due to open in the coming years, visit the hotel’s website. IHG One Rewards members can also book directly using the IHG One Rewards mobile app.

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