Universal Orlando has an exciting year ahead! Epic Universe and the Helios Grand Hotel are opening in May, but before that, the brand-new Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts will be opening!

Stella Nova Resort will be the first of the three new hotels opening at Universal Orlando. It’s a space-themed hotel, just like its sister resort, Terra Luna. According to Universal, “It’s inspired by the infinite vastness of the unexplored universe, where galaxies spiral ever outward and unknown worlds revolve around unnamed stars.” And now we get to explore it for the first time ever days ahead of its grand opening!

Stella Nova Resort will open to guests on January 21st. The new hotel is located adjacent to the new theme park, Epic Universe (it’s literally across the street!), and will be a quick walk or shuttle ride away from the five new lands. We’re excited to finally get to stay at the hotel when it opens, but for now, let’s take a look around and see what’s waiting for you!

First of all, we have to address the exterior. Universal shared that there are 140,000 tiles (!!!) on each building. Universal calls this a “boutique hotel,” though it is officially categorized as a Prime Value resort with 700 rooms. Compared to Disney’s Value Resorts, Universal’s Prime Value hotels have more amenities, like a lobby bar and a fitness center.

Lobby

When you first enter the hotel, you’re immediately taken to another galaxy. The high ceiling and unique lighting really make you feel like you’re entering a bright, grand space. In fact, we felt that the lighting was a standout in the design. There were so many innovative hanging lights and chandeliers and plenty of ambient lights that added color and depth to the space. 10/10 to the lighting team!

It’s an impressive space! We’ve stayed at several Universal hotels and can say that this one feels equal to something like Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort. When you first walk in, it feels very open and bright, with plenty of seating in the lobby. Is it a jaw-dropping, knock-your-socks-off lobby? Maybe not compared to something like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, but it’s still a beautiful lobby with some fun space-inspired details.

That stunning chandelier? That’s a showpiece!

Here’s another fun fact for ya! The space images in the lobby are all actual images from NASA, recreated for Universal’s lobby.

Dining

Stella Nova offers several options for dining, including Cosmos Cafe and Market, Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill, Nova Bar, and Pizza Delivery. First, we got to take a peek at the Nova Bar… 

…and Cosmos Cafe, which you’ll find in the lobby. The Nova Bar features a selection of space-themed cocktails, like The Super Nova (whiskey, cherry-infused Campari, served smoked over a large ice cube) and The Nebula (Mezcal shaken with strawberry-rose syrup and topped with tonic and soda). There are also plenty of classic cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Over at the Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill, the menu features some fun snacks and poolside drinks. We spotted a Hottie Chicken Sandwich, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail, and Southwestern Salad Bowl on the menu.

If you’re looking for a refreshing drink, you can try The Orion cocktail, with vodka, Mandarin orange syrup, citrus-sour juice, and orange juice. There’s also a drink called The Calypso, which is made with a frozen blend of tequila and tropical fruits.

We even got to sample a few items! Check out our honest review below.

Everything There Is to EAT at Universal’s Stella Nova Resort

Amenities and Entertainment

Even if you’re staying at this hotel before Epic Universe is open, you won’t find yourself bored here! There’s lots to do. You can hit up the arcade…

…the gift shop…

…or the fitness center!

We GASPED When We Saw These Epic Universe Souvenirs at Universal’s NEWEST Hotel

There’s an amazing pool at the hotel, as well. This pool oasis includes a 10,000-square-foot pool, a kids’ splash pad, outdoor games, a relaxing hot tub, a fire pit, and poolside movies when weather permits!

As you can see, there is PLENTY of seating!

Here’s a peek at the splash pad for kids. We have a feeling this really comes alive when the water fountains are turned on.

Rooms

We’ll have a full room tour of the rooms at Stella Nova!

From the galaxy artwork to the modern furniture, these rooms are pretty slick!

You can check out an in-depth look at the rooms in our link below!

FULL TOUR of the Rooms at Universal’s NEW Stella Nova Resort

We can’t wait for you to experience the brand-new Stella Nova Resort! It’s going to be a blast to visit and even better when Epic Universe opens on May 22nd. Stella Nova opens on January 21st, while Terra Luna opens on March 25th. 

In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Universal updates!

3 Ways Epic Universe Will Beat Disney World Every Time

Are you planning a stay at Stella Nova Resort? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Universal Orlando Resort to attend their media preview of the Stella Nova Resort. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ