Guidebook for Maitland/Orlando
Food Scene
Bulla Gastrobar
110 S Orlando AveSnazzy tapas-style restaurant with a fun and lively atmosphere.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Orlando. Located in College Park, which is a nice walkable neighborhood with a good amount of trendy bars, restaurants, and shops. Armando's has another location in Winter Park, but I prefer this location.
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Armando's College Park
2305 Edgewater DrMy favorite Italian restaurant in Orlando. Located in College Park, which is a nice walkable neighborhood with a good amount of trendy bars, restaurants, and shops. Armando's has another location in Winter Park, but I prefer this location.
Sea Thai Restaurant
3812 E Colonial DrLOVE Thai food, and this is my #1 spot in Orlando.
If you like Asian noodle and rice bowls, you must try this place. Service can be a bit slow at times because they stay busy, but you won't be disappointed with the food.
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Hawkers Asian Street Fare
1103 N Mills AveIf you like Asian noodle and rice bowls, you must try this place. Service can be a bit slow at times because they stay busy, but you won't be disappointed with the food.
Very much like Hawker's (below), and right down the street from it. I'd say Hawker's edges it out slightly, but you can't go wrong with either.
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Mamak Asian Street Food
1231 E Colonial DrVery much like Hawker's (below), and right down the street from it. I'd say Hawker's edges it out slightly, but you can't go wrong with either.
Excellent breakfast/brunch spot with a great atmosphere. It's located on Park Avenue, which is an area I recommend all my guests visit anyway. One thing to note: this place gets extremely busy, and they don't accept reservations, so you may have to wait 30+ minutes to be seated. But it's busy for a reason. You can call ahead to check their wait time: 407-628-8651.
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Briarpatch Restaurant
252 N Park AveExcellent breakfast/brunch spot with a great atmosphere. It's located on Park Avenue, which is an area I recommend all my guests visit anyway. One thing to note: this place gets extremely busy, and they don't accept reservations, so you may have to wait 30+ minutes to be seated. But it's busy for a reason. You can call ahead to check their wait time: 407-628-8651.
I get a lot of guests, especially internationals, asking me for burger spot recommendations. Five Guys is my personal favorite. Sure, it's a chain, but I prefer them to the "boutique" burger restaurants, which I think miss the mark by trying too hard to come up with bizarre variations like Krispy Kreme burgers, etc. Five Guys has a simple menu, but they make one hell of a burger. And their fries are amazing (and plentiful!).
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Five Guys
6240 W Irlo Bronson Memorial HwyI get a lot of guests, especially internationals, asking me for burger spot recommendations. Five Guys is my personal favorite. Sure, it's a chain, but I prefer them to the "boutique" burger restaurants, which I think miss the mark by trying too hard to come up with bizarre variations like Krispy Kreme burgers, etc. Five Guys has a simple menu, but they make one hell of a burger. And their fries are amazing (and plentiful!).
If you're with your significant other and you have a sweet tooth, you should try this place. It's a dessert "restaurant", meaning you make a reservation and order from a menu at a candlelit table. Great place to go after a dinner date.
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Better Than Sex - A Dessert Restaurant Orlando
1905 N Orange AveIf you're with your significant other and you have a sweet tooth, you should try this place. It's a dessert "restaurant", meaning you make a reservation and order from a menu at a candlelit table. Great place to go after a dinner date.
It's like Kobe or Benihana, for half the price. You don't get the up-close table theatrics like the Onion Volcano or the Flip the Shrimp into the Hat trick, but I think it's worth the trade-off. The food quality is just as good.
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Urban Hibachi
3120 S Kirkman RdIt's like Kobe or Benihana, for half the price. You don't get the up-close table theatrics like the Onion Volcano or the Flip the Shrimp into the Hat trick, but I think it's worth the trade-off. The food quality is just as good.
Most Orlandoans will tell you this is the best BBQ joint in the area. Personally, I give a slight edge to Bubbalou's on Conroy, but you can't go wrong here, and it's much closer. They have a huge, delectable dessert menu as well.
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4 Rivers Smokehouse - Winter Park BBQ
1600 W Fairbanks AveMost Orlandoans will tell you this is the best BBQ joint in the area. Personally, I give a slight edge to Bubbalou's on Conroy, but you can't go wrong here, and it's much closer. They have a huge, delectable dessert menu as well.
This is my personal favorite BBQ spot in Orlando. I love their "Sweet" BBQ sauce and making sandwiches with the thick pieces of garlic bread they serve with every meal. NOTE: There are several Bubbalou's locations in the area. In fact, the one on Lee Road is right down the street from my house. But I've been to all of them and can tell you firsthand that they are NOT all the same in terms of quality. Strangely, there doesn't seem to be uniformity in the way they cook the meats, the sauces, or even the type of garlic bread they use (which is a big one for me). If you try Bubbalou's, you want to go to the Conroy location. Take my word for it.
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Bubbalou's Bodacious Bar-B-Que
1471 Lee RdThis is my personal favorite BBQ spot in Orlando. I love their "Sweet" BBQ sauce and making sandwiches with the thick pieces of garlic bread they serve with every meal. NOTE: There are several Bubbalou's locations in the area. In fact, the one on Lee Road is right down the street from my house. But I've been to all of them and can tell you firsthand that they are NOT all the same in terms of quality. Strangely, there doesn't seem to be uniformity in the way they cook the meats, the sauces, or even the type of garlic bread they use (which is a big one for me). If you try Bubbalou's, you want to go to the Conroy location. Take my word for it.
My favorite Mexican restaurant in Orlando. If you're there with your significant other (or if you're just really hungry), try the "Fajitas por Dos", a a 2-person serving of fajitas with all the meats — shrimp, chicken, and steak. For dessert, I love their Tres Leches cake.
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Agave Azul
900 South Orlando AvenueMy favorite Mexican restaurant in Orlando. If you're there with your significant other (or if you're just really hungry), try the "Fajitas por Dos", a a 2-person serving of fajitas with all the meats — shrimp, chicken, and steak. For dessert, I love their Tres Leches cake.
Very tasty Greek/Mediterranean spot that's right around the corner. It's a grab-and-go kiosk-type restaurant with no indoor seating, but you can grab a drink at the Copper Rocket Pub next door and they'll bring your food there if you prefer.
Mediterranean Street Food By Shishco
118 Lake AveVery tasty Greek/Mediterranean spot that's right around the corner. It's a grab-and-go kiosk-type restaurant with no indoor seating, but you can grab a drink at the Copper Rocket Pub next door and they'll bring your food there if you prefer.
If you don't want to endure the long wait at Briar Patch, I'd go here for breakfast. In fact, Bagel King is my favorite breakfast spot in town. Quick service, big menu (everything is excellent), and good prices.
Bagel King
1455 Semoran BlvdIf you don't want to endure the long wait at Briar Patch, I'd go here for breakfast. In fact, Bagel King is my favorite breakfast spot in town. Quick service, big menu (everything is excellent), and good prices.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you like jazz, you should go here. It's a smaller, intimate venue that puts you right up close to the action. They have a wine and dinner menu, too. And it's right around the corner from my house.
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JazzTastings
164 Lake AveIf you like jazz, you should go here. It's a smaller, intimate venue that puts you right up close to the action. They have a wine and dinner menu, too. And it's right around the corner from my house.
Huge, lively bar in downtown Orlando with an extensive drink list and food menu.
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World of Beer
431 E Central BlvdHuge, lively bar in downtown Orlando with an extensive drink list and food menu.
Speakeasy bar in downtown Orlando, located on the 3rd floor of Bauhaus bar on 27 E Pine St. You need to call ahead to get the password: 407-476-9446. It's a speakeasy, so the bartenders dress like it's the 1920s and serve up elaborate, overpriced cocktails. But if you're downtown, it's definitely worth visiting to check out the atmosphere and try one of their unique drinks.
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Hanson's Shoe Repair
27 E Pine StSpeakeasy bar in downtown Orlando, located on the 3rd floor of Bauhaus bar on 27 E Pine St. You need to call ahead to get the password: 407-476-9446. It's a speakeasy, so the bartenders dress like it's the 1920s and serve up elaborate, overpriced cocktails. But if you're downtown, it's definitely worth visiting to check out the atmosphere and try one of their unique drinks.
Another speakeasy, and this one can be pretty difficult to find. The easiest way to find it is first to navigate to the Regions Bank at 8061 Via Dellagio Way. Right next to it is Dellagio Center, a giant complex of upscale restaurants and shops.
Facing Dellagio Center from the bank, you will see an elevator door with an old-style "clockhand" type panel above it indicating the floors. This actually isn't an elevator door; it's the entrance to the bar! Just walk up and press the button to enter. Again, this is a speakeasy, so expect the drinks to be pricey, but the recipes are unique and tasty.
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Pharmacy Orlando
8060 Via Dellagio WayAnother speakeasy, and this one can be pretty difficult to find. The easiest way to find it is first to navigate to the Regions Bank at 8061 Via Dellagio Way. Right next to it is Dellagio Center, a giant complex of upscale restaurants and shops.
Facing Dellagio Center from the bank, you will see an elevator door with an old-style "clockhand" type panel above it indicating the floors. This actually isn't an elevator door; it's the entrance to the bar! Just walk up and press the button to enter. Again, this is a speakeasy, so expect the drinks to be pricey, but the recipes are unique and tasty.
If you enjoy wine, you HAVE to try this place. They have hundreds of bottles of wine behind glass and hooked up to dispensing machines. You get a wine glass, load up a charge card, and then go around sampling as many wines as you want. You can get a 1 ounce pour, a 3 ounce pour, or a full glass. A local favorite, and a favorite of all my guests. Even better, it's located on beautiful Park Avenue.
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The Wine Room on Park Avenue
270 S Park AveIf you enjoy wine, you HAVE to try this place. They have hundreds of bottles of wine behind glass and hooked up to dispensing machines. You get a wine glass, load up a charge card, and then go around sampling as many wines as you want. You can get a 1 ounce pour, a 3 ounce pour, or a full glass. A local favorite, and a favorite of all my guests. Even better, it's located on beautiful Park Avenue.
Shopping
A local favorite featuring artisanal food vendors. Open every day.
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East End Market
3201 Corrine DrA local favorite featuring artisanal food vendors. Open every day.
Winter Park Farmers' Market
150 W New England Ave Farmer's Market off Park Avenue. Saturdays 7am-1pm.
Huge farmer's market on Lake Eola (downtown). Sundays 10am-4pm.
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Orlando Farmers Market
20 N Eola DrHuge farmer's market on Lake Eola (downtown). Sundays 10am-4pm.
Much smaller than the Winter Park and Lake Eola farmer's markets, but it's the closest. Located on beautiful Lake Lily.
An added bonus: Live music! Sundays 10am-2pm.
Maitland Farmer's Market
1776 92Much smaller than the Winter Park and Lake Eola farmer's markets, but it's the closest. Located on beautiful Lake Lily.
An added bonus: Live music! Sundays 10am-2pm.