Eat like a local on a 24-hour food tour of Orlando’s crave-worthy neighborhood gems.
You’ve probably heard of Orlando’s theme parks, but did you know we’re also home to MICHELIN Guide restaurants, James Beard Award honorees and restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs? Visitors like you are discovering what locals have known for years: Orlando has one of the hottest food scenes in the nation.
Discover: Orlando Food & Drink
Want to eat like the locals do? We’ve rounded up some recommendations to help you create the perfect 24-hour itinerary built around food. We’ve included options throughout multiple Orlando neighborhoods for a fun, choose-your-own-adventure feel. One thing’s for sure: You certainly won’t go hungry for options. Let’s dig in!
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Breakfast
Start your day near downtown Orlando with gravy-smothered biscuits, buttermilk fried chicken and more comfort fare from Se7en Bites. Founder Trina Gregory-Propst created this Milk District staple with the popular diet mindset that if you’re only eating seven bites per meal, those bites better be good. They’re open Thursdays through Sundays.
Discover: Things to Do in The Milk District
Hungry for more? Framework Craft Coffee House is another great option on nearby Mills 50. They offer all-day breakfast, a rotating selection of seasonal drinks, and four-piece coffee flights with an awesome in-house gallery. White Wolf Cafe is another popular option for breakfast favorites done right in Ivanhoe Village Main Street District.
Morning Snack Break
Spend your morning exploring unique shops, museums, galleries and more between Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village, then pop into Phat Ash Bakes for massive cookies like the Knafeh Crunch, Sir Twixx-a-lot and Cookie Butter Mocha. This former “cookie speakeasy” with a rabid local following recently opened its first brick and mortar shop for a convenient sugar high at any time of day.
Discover: Sweet Treats in Orlando
Brunch
If you prefer to sleep in, start your day with brunch seven days a week at Briarpatch, a local favorite in nearby Winter Park. They offer everything from raspberry and brie French toast to a sublime breakfast torta sandwich with chili-braised short rib. Request a table on the patio for prime people watching and idyllic Park Avenue views.
Discover: Orlando Brunch Spots
If you’re exploring Orlando on the weekend, the brunch options are endless. Try The Boheme for a sumptuous buffet, live jazz and bottomless mimosas; The Monroe for modern takes on classic favorites; or The Glass Knife for stunning pastries, sandwiches and coffee. Lake Nona also has several notable brunch spots such as Canvas, Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen, and Garni Cafe.
Discover: Things to Do in Lake Nona
Lunch
When it comes to lunch, variety is key. If you prefer to stay near downtown Orlando, head to Mills Market for six Asian culinary concepts in one space, including numerous MICHELIN honorees. À La Cart is another popular choice serving craft beer and beloved food truck favorites in two central locations. Great Southern Box Company near College Park boasts global flavors and craft cocktails inside a former citrus warehouse. And Market on South features fully vegan vendors near Curry Ford West.
Discover: Orlando Neighborhoods
If you’re up for a change of location, spend the afternoon exploring the charming shops, museums and restaurants of historic Winter Garden. You’ll find plenty of culinary variety inside Plant Street Market, including tacos, empanadas, sushi, ceviche, barbecue and more. Winter Garden is about 25 minutes west of downtown Orlando.
Discover: Things to Do in Winter Garden
Coffee Break
Time to fuel up for the evening’s adventures with a quick coffee break! Foxtail Coffee Co. got its start right here in Winter Park, and with locations all over Orlando, it’s likely there is one near you. Qreate Coffee is another fun option with fun drinks like the Purple Pearl (taro latte) and Wasabi Rose (pistachio and rose milk over espresso). And Lineage Coffee at East End Market is the roaster behind some of Orlando’s most beloved coffee shops. Stop by for a latte and a pastry paired with a shopping spree in the Audubon Park Garden District.
Discover: Buzzworthy Coffee Spots
Happy Hour
Hit up happy hour before dinner for great food, drinks and atmosphere, all with a budget-friendly price tag. Start on Park Avenue in Winter Park, where you can taste test your way through high-end spots like Chayote Barrio Kitchen and MICHELIN Recommended AVA MediterrAegean and Prato. There is ample free parking nearby, and the area is easily walkable if you want to visit more than one place.
Discover: Happy Hour Hotspots
Want even more happy hour options? Head to The Milk District for authentic Cuban food and drink from Otto’s High Dive, a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant. Or try Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen & Bar, Reyes Mezcaleria, or The Courtesy Bar for sophisticated sips and mouthwatering bar bites.
Save on Dinner
If you’re looking for a dinner spot that’s easy on the budget, head to The Milk District west of downtown for tacos, sandwiches, barbecue and more. Stasio’s Deli is a popular choice for authentic Italian sandwiches and coffee, but you’ll have to be quick — this spot tends to close by 7 p.m. Milkhouse has apps, sandos and smashburgers from Swine & Sons, and the aforementioned A La Cart offers arepas, pizza, poke, Sri Lankan cuisine and steak sandwiches.
Discover: Budget-Friendly Bites
Curry Ford West also has plenty of budget-friendly dinner options, starting with mouthwatering barbecue from MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant Smokemade Eats + Meats. Find even more variety in the area with wood-fired pies from the MICHELIN Recommended Pizza Bruno, wagyu burgers from Bad As’s Burgers, traditional fare from Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub, and vegan platters and acai bowls from Purple Ocean Seafood Bar.
Discover: Things to Do in Curry Ford West
Splurge on Dinner
If you prefer to send the night out with a bang, splurge on an exquisite meal from Two-MICHELIN-Star Sorekara. This new Baldwin Park restaurant is one of the hottest tickets in town, and reservations can fill up years in advance — so if you’re a serious foodie, reserve your spot now and make Sorekara the centerpiece of your next Orlando vacation.
Discover: Orlando MICHELIN Guide Restaurants
We also have eight One-MICHELIN-Star restaurants, including several omakase concepts where you’ll be delighted by unexpected flavors, textures and beverage pairings. Discover Vietnamese-French flavors at Camille, Peruvian dishes at Papa Llama, Japanese-inspired fare at Ômo by Jônt, and Japanese cuisine at Soseki Modern Omakase, Kadence and Natsu. We also have two One-MICHELIN-Star restaurants near Walt Disney World® Resort.
Nightcap
Wind down or wine down? The choice is yours with a seemingly endless array of bars, listening rooms, speakeasies and more throughout Orlando. We’ve rounded up a few suggestions by neighborhood to help you customize the perfect night out.
City District: Enjoy small plates, drinks and captivating live music from local and touring artists at Judson’s Live, part of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Stop by Mathers Social Gathering for sophisticated speakeasy vibes in a historic building. Celebrate spooky season all year long at horror-themed bar Cocktails & Screams. And don’t miss popular spots like The Bellhop or Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery.
Mills 50: Score Japanese pub fare and cocktails at Tori Tori, then go bar-hopping in the lively Mills 50 district. You’ll find over a dozen options within a mile of Tori Tori, including Pour Choice Taphouse, Grape & The Grain wine bar, Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, Zymarium Meadery, and live music venues like Will’s Pub and Lil Indie’s.
Ivanhoe Village: Discover even more great bars in the Ivanhoe Village District, which is just north of Mills 50. This laid-back lakeside locale is home to Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company, the speakeasy-styled Imperial Wine Bar, and more local favorites like Arden, The Topher Taproom and The Matador.
Late Night Bites
Need something to settle your stomach before bed? Most of the bars we just mentioned also serve food, but if you’re craving something different, try Santiago’s Bodega in the Ivanhoe Village District. They have an awesome late night happy hour from 11 p.m. – 1 a.m., and they’re open until 2 a.m. daily. Gringos Locos serves tacos, burritos and more crave-worthy fare until 3 a.m. from locations in downtown Orlando, SODO District and The Milk District. And The Bao Spot on Church Street offers bao buns, boba and protein bowls in space-themed digs until 3 a.m.
Hungry for more? Check out this blog’s companion piece for even more incredible dining picks near Orlando’s theme parks and entertainment districts.
Discover: 24 Hours for Foodies Part II
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