Downtown Orlando’s City District

Orlando’s City District

Orlando is best known for theme parks and attractions, but they only tell part of our story. The rest unfolds in distinctive Orlando Main Streets and hidden-gem neighborhoods where you’ll discover out-of-this-world dining, lively nightlife and entertainment, electrifying arts, and more — including downtown’s City District, the vibrant Heart of Orlando.

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  • Orlando Main Streets church street
    Downtown Orlando’s Church Street Area, Part of City District

    Downtown Orlando’s history can be traced to the mid-19th century, with the community officially incorporating as a town in 1875. We gained full-fledged city status in 1885, followed shortly by the arrival of the historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the debut of the Church Street entertainment area, which still hosts some of downtown’s most popular dining and nightlife.

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    Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts walt disney theater performance
    Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando’s City District

    Now known as City District, this area boasts the state-of-the-art Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, acclaimed dining, sizzling nightlife, professional sports teams, engaging museums and many other reasons to visit. You’ll find even more to do at the centrally located Lake Eola Park in Thornton Park District, adjacent to City District — including fun recreational opportunities, live performances and more — and it’s all within easy driving distance of our main tourism districts.

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    AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando  drone exterior
    SkyBar Rooftop Terrace at City District’s AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando

    Or, book a stay here and really explore everything City District has to offer. Top downtown hotels include the art-infused Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando and brand-new AC Hotel by Marriott Orlando, both of which feature rooftop terraces with stunning views of the surrounding city. City District can be an ideal base of operations for all your Orlando adventures: It’s less than 30 minutes from our main tourism districts and immediately adjacent to hip Orlando Main Streets like Mills 50, Ivanhoe Village Main Street, SoDo Main Street District, and College Park Main Street, and minutes from Winter Park,

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    Reyes Mezcaleria
    Celebrity Chef Wendy Lopez’s Reyes Mezcaleria in Downtown Orlando’s North Quarter District

    City District boasts numerous restaurants that can satisfy even the most demanding gourmets. For example, Artisan’s Table in City District’s Church Street area focuses on seasonally inspired food and beverages. Other dining points of interest in the area include The Boheme, which is inside the gorgeous, art-filled Grand Bohemian Hotel. 

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    In the evening, hit up popular City District nightclubs and concert venues such as The Beacham, Independent Bar, EVE Orlando and others. If you love a good block party, Wall St. Plaza is the place to be. Comprised of seven themed bars connected by a central, open-air courtyard, this nightlife hub keeps the celebration going every night of the week.

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    Katrina Dandridge
    DTO Street Art at Discover Downtown in Orlando’s City District

    To make the most of your visit to City District and other downtown neighborhoods, stop by the city’s official visitor center, Discover Downtown. Conveniently located on City District’s main strip, Orange Avenue, the center is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about events, attractions, arts, dining, lodging, transportation, parking and downtown’s complimentary LYMMO bus service.

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    You can also stock up on one-of-a-kind Orlando souvenirs from local makers and brands, and even get an “authentic Orlando” selfie at the famous DTO street installation. It’s been said that no visit to City District is complete without one.

There Is Always More to Do in Orlando

Endless adventures await in Orlando — and Visit Orlando powered by BestofOrlando.com can help you save on admission to top theme parks, attractions and experiences. Take advantage of our free planning tools to discover more ways to save money in the Theme Park Capital of the World.