A new high-end festive restaurant called Cataluna Lounge & Tapas is getting ready to debut in Baymeadows, located at 8206 Philips Highway Unit 39.
The new restaurant focusing on international flavors will into a space near the Baymeadows Junction, according to the Florida Times-Union. The nearly 6,000-square-foot restaurant will feature flavors from around the world, offering cuisine from the Mediterranean, Spain, and Italy, as well as hand-crafted cocktails, wine, and live music. Owner Lazer Pepaj expects to open the fine dining, luxurious restaurant by year-end, possibly sometime in January 2024.
When Cataluna Lounge & Tapas opens in a few weeks, it will have an energetic vibe, with an iconic interior with chandeliers, original artwork, and plants highlighting the surrounding seating area. The flashy design and international flavors aren’t the only draws of this restaurant. Pepaj, who owns Trio Lounge at 8725 Old Kings Road S., will focus much of his time on training his employees properly to offer top-notch customer service and hospitality.
“My concept, my goal is to bring all that back,” Pepaj tells the Florida Times-Union. “When you go to a restaurant, you should feel like [it’s] home with people who are really giving you high-end service. People who really care about you … and are looking out for you. It’s about keeping everything old school when it comes to customer service but with a new energy and atmosphere. Not being a boring restaurant.”
