Ocean Seven at The Hiatus Clearwater Beach Earns 2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

The upscale Gulf-front restaurant is recognized for its curated, coastal-driven wine program.

Ocean Seven, the signature restaurant located inside The Hiatus Hotel on Clearwater Beach, is proud to announce it has been awarded the 2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. This respected honor celebrates restaurants around the globe with well-curated wine programs that feature quality selections, thoughtful pairings, and a clear harmony between food and wine.

Located along the shores of Clearwater Beach, Ocean Seven is known for blending Caribbean influences with Florida’s coastal cuisine, offering a refined yet relaxed dining experience that’s both destination-worthy and locally beloved.

“The wine program at Ocean Seven enhances the overall experience in a few different ways. First by catering to diverse palates, offering a range of wines allows guests to find options that suit their individual tastes, whether they prefer light and crisp whites or bold and full-bodied reds. Secondly, it creates exploration by allowing guests to explore something they have never tried before,” says Anthony Hughes, General Manager at Ocean Seven.

The wine list at Ocean Seven features 228 bottles, with a focus on balance, versatility, and food-friendliness. The selection spans both Old and New World regions, showcasing a range of sparkling wines, refreshing whites, and bold reds—all curated to complement the restaurant’s coastal-driven cuisine.

Hughes says, “I designed this wine list to be well-rounded and approachable—something that would appeal to everyone. Whether you're stepping off the beach and looking to unwind with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, or you're indulging in a Wagyu steak paired with a bold Bordeaux, there's something here for every taste and occasion.”

Anthony worked closely with the culinary team to ensure that each wine selected elevates the guest experience.

“To select wines that pair well with our restaurant menu, I focused on matching the wine's flavor intensity, acidity, and body to the food's characteristics,” Hughes describes. “Pairing should be based on matching or contrasting flavor profiles, and acidity should be considered as it can balance richness or cut through fat and thankfully, we have an excellent culinary team that makes pairing wine easy.”

The award is a significant milestone in Ocean Seven’s first year of operation, and a testament to the team’s vision and dedication. 

“Leaving the corporate restaurant world and stepping into a space where we had full autonomy—where we could truly sink or swim—was both a thrilling and terrifying adventure. But with that freedom came the opportunity to build something meaningful. Our vision was never to create just another hotel restaurant. We set out to create a true local gem that just happens to be inside a hotel—a place where locals, travelers, and vacationers alike could come together for an exceptional dining experience. What matters most to us is being part of life’s special moments—birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings, or simply families celebrating time together. Being trusted with those memories is the greatest achievement in this business, and it's what drives us every day.”

For those visiting Ocean Seven for the first time, the goal is to deliver something that goes far beyond a great meal.

“For first-time visitors to Clearwater Beach, the ideal experience is one of relaxation, natural beauty, and a true taste of local culture,” Hughes says. “Hospitality is at the heart of everything we do—it's the foundation of our service and the reason we exist. We want every first-time guest to feel like they’ve found their home away from home—a place where unforgettable memories are made and countless more are waiting to happen.”

Reservations are recommended and can be made via OpenTable or by visiting oceansevenclearwater.com.