Theme parks are no surprise in Orlando. The art of themed design for parks and attractions has been ongoing since the Magic Kingdom opened its gates in 1971, and it continues stronger than ever as we count down to the opening of Epic Universe on May 22 and what should be the newest pinnacle of the designer’s creativity.
So, it stands to reason that there should also be some fabulous places to dine amongst all this Imagineering magnificence. And, seeing as this is Orlando, and “theming” is its middle name, this strong tendency to create imaginative settings for all places is evident everywhere, and not just the parks themselves.
Whether it’s a golf course or an early 20th century house, there are dining curiosities aplenty and some super-cool restaurants that offer memorable meals amid their design novelty, Here are 10 of our favourites with that “something different” factor (and not one in Disney or Universal!).
A pub plus golf? Why not! Yeoman’s Top Golf is all that, and a bit more besides, in the happening Sunset Walk entertainment complex in Kissimmee (just off Highway 192 next to the H2O water park). Here you can quaff a foaming pint or two AND work on your golf swing at one of their clever simulator bays that make for a really challenging – and fun - environment. The food’s a cut above average, too.
When you’d like the opportunity for patio dining with a great golf view, the 1924 vintage Dubsdread Golf Course (frequented by the likes of vintage sporting legends Ben Hogan and Sam Snead) just west of downtown Orlando offers The Tap Room, a historic hot-spot for elegant dining for lunch or dinner. Frequently hailed as one of the city’s hidden gems, The Tap Room features a scratch kitchen brimming with superb seafood and prime cuts of meat, plus views of the 18th hole and the bonus of fire pits at night. Sunday Brunch is another highlight but usually needs to be booked in advance.
We absolutely adore funky Maxine’s On Shine, which is simply one of downtown Orlando’s most chic dining spots for weekend brunch, but it also comes with a décor secret that is highly amusing. A former Colonialtown district residence that has been converted into a diamond of an indoor/outdoor restaurant, it boasts a men’s restroom decorated in bizarre sci-fi style thanks to co-owner Kirt Earhart and his stepson’s love of programmes like Star Trek and Dr Who!
Talking of homes that have been converted into eclectic restaurants, dive into the secluded suburb of Gotha (just 10 miles north-east of Walt Disney World) and you’ll discover the wonder that is Yellow Dog Eats. This former 1910 guest house was converted into a shop in 1925 and a restaurant in 1999 and is now the preserve of Chef Fish Morgan, a wildly inventive specialist in sandwiches, salads and barbecue who has decorated the interior in equally diverse style, with an outdoor patio and live music stage. It’s simply like nothing else you’ve ever seen in a restaurant.
Is it a treehouse? Is it a restaurant? Well, Norwood’s Eatery & Bar in New Smyrna Beach (just south of Daytona Beach) is definitely both, as this former 1929 petrol station was converted in 1946 and enlarged in 2015 and 2019, all built around the huge oak tree that used to sit out front and now forms part of the Treehouse Bar. The menu features ultra-fresh seafood and it is well worth the 75-minute drive to the coast just to sample this amazing Florida original.
If you’re looking just for an authentic Orlando setting for lunch or dinner, Lee & Rick’s Oyster Bar ticks all the boxes for originality and downhome style in the suburb of Orlovista. From its boat-shaped outer profile to the selection of classic 1950s bar stools along one side of what was its first incarnation before it more than doubled in size, this locals’ seafood shack is a throwback to its 70-year-old origins while serving some of the freshest seafood in Orlando, including oysters every which way. Accept no substitutes!
A classic Florida roadside attraction wouldn’t normally attract our attention for anything gastronomic, but the Showcase of Citrus out on Highway 27 in Clermont (close to many villa communities) has an extra string to its bow that keeps us coming back to this truly rustic location that offers monster truck buggy rides, a petting ranch, country store, fruit picking – and the Big Red Barn. Sidle up to the Barn’s bar and you’ll be offered the must-try treat of their patent Orange Creamsicle, a fresh, natural orange juice slushy and soft-serve ice cream concoction that can only be described as heavenly!
Fans of comic-books and the wide variety of collectibles that go with them will definitely want to know about the Gods & Monsters store on International Drive. Fans of outrageously eclectic bars and horror/alien theming will then love Vault 5421, the mind-boggling venue that is tucked away at the back of the shop. Proudly proclaiming itself as Orlando’s nerd hub, this is the epi-centre of all things weird and wacky, and that definitely goes for the Vault, too, which features 80-plus types of bottled craft beer, cider, sake and wine, plus seasonal selections, themed drinks and shots, all while surrounded by props from various incarnations of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights programme and other creepy film scenery.
Staying on I-Drive, Twenty Pho Hour is another eyebrow-raiser with its black-and-white living art setting for terrific Asian street food dishes. It claims to be America’s first 2-D noodle bar, and it’s easy to see why as soon as you step through the door, as the duo-chrome colour scheme feels like walking into a comic book. The food – an authentic mix of Vietnamese dishes and other noodle creations involving traditional Pho – is also as good as the vivid surroundings.
Finally, back in downtown Orlando, Cocktails & Screams is a lively “haunt” that offers creative cocktails with a Halloween-style twist. The venue also features a hidden witch bar called The Craft, where guests can enjoy “magical potions” served by bartender Corven the Corrupt, while the décor is straight out of an evil scientist’s dungeon, complete with skeletons, cobwebs, dancing ghost projections and horror movie posters. Definitely a different night out!
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