One of the best things about our job is the new stuff, and not necessarily just at the theme parks. There is frequently new stuff all over this great area of Central Florida that we like to call Orlando, and we are often invited to check it out before it officially opens.
New stuff like the Palm Tree Club at Pointe Orlando. Which, in turn, is part of a dramatic redevelopment of this long-time shopping and dining complex in the heart of I-Drive, where there has been a remarkable transformation in recent months.
It started in September with the opening of four diverse new bars, dining venues and entertainment options and is rapidly approaching its full build-out potential with the debut last weekend of the super-chic Palm Tree Club, which will be followed in the next few weeks by the final element of this dramatic revamp, Sal’s Pizza.
Most regular Orlando-goers will already be familiar with Pointe Orlando, dating back to 1997 when it was anchored by things like a huge FAO Schwarz toy-shop, IMAX cineplex and WonderWorks entertainment centre.
The cinema complex is still there, as is WonderWorks, but much of the rest of the Pointe has changed over the years, with the usual turnover of businesses in such a busy and competitive area. The Covid pandemic had a particularly drastic effect, though, and the open-air upstairs section was especially badly hit, with the closure of most of the restaurants and bars.
Happily, that section of the complex has been addressed – in comprehensive fashion – by the Live! Hospitality & Entertainment Group, who have created a number of entertainment-rich destination centres across the country, including Kansas City, St Louis and Atlanta.
Guests are now invited to experience Live! at Pointe Orlando throughout this all-new collection of bars and restaurants, with five on the first-floor level and one – the Palm Tree Club – on ground level.
As the very latest element, Palm Tree Club is actually split between two sections, the main restaurant and bar, with both indoor and outdoor dining on the ground floor and an innovative rooftop lounge on the upper level, complete with live music and DJs. The Club is the brainchild of renowned international DJ and record producer Kygo, and brings an element of sophisticated style and vibrancy to the Live! mix.
We were invited to sample the sights, sounds and tastes of the restaurant and were wowed by the cool nature of the venue, some fabulous food – and a few tasters of their speciality cocktails! This is definitely going to be that distinctive place for an intimate date night for two, or a fun group gathering with friends over a suitably chilled drink or two. The menu has been created in collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Nick Sharpe, taking an upscale coastal cuisine vibe and adding crowd-pleasing touches like Black Truffle pizza, Wagyu Beef dumplings, sushi, raw bar and handmade pastas (special note – the pizza was delish, but the dumplings absolutely divine!).
Their version of the Espresso Martini (which also comes in flights) was quite sensational, and their signature PTC Golden Hour Ultra Anejo Gold Dusted Margarita worth coming in for on its own, while they also offer a Caviar Royale Martini poured tableside that is a treat to see.
The elegant nature of the restaurant should be a hit with visitors and locals alike, with its “windows” onto a tropical paradise (a clever video screen split by pillars) along one wall and the eye-catching bar along the front. There’s definitely nothing quite like it in the Orlando area, and it acts as an exciting gateway to the other Live! elements upstairs.
As you go up the flight of stairs next to the restaurant, the first thing you come to is the Club’s new rooftop bar and lounge. While still awaiting some final touches with the lighting and staging, it is clearly going to be an imaginative and ultra-trendy hangout, with the benefit of some cool DJs and live music – which is quite fitting, as it was part of the old BB King’s Blues Club that used to take up a large part of the Pointe’s upper level.
Next door is the hard-to-miss Sports & Social, a sports bar and diner on a grand scale that really gets into the ra-ra style of game-watching with its own DJ and special effects, (yes, really!). Special lighting and smoke effects kick in when your team scores a goal or touchdown, and there is a real game-day party style to the general atmosphere, which is uniquely American and exciting. The giant LED video wall is fully 25ft tall (!) and splits into different sections so you can watch multiple games at once.
The food is a cut above normal sports bar menus, too, and we can definitely recommend the Truffle Mushroom flatbread, Cacio e Pepe Arancini, Quesabirria Egg Rolls, signature Sweet Bay Fries and Miso-Glazed Salmon Bowl. And then there are the drinks. Not just the regular, run-of-the-mill sports bar beers and pitchers, but honest-to-goodness curated cocktails for special occasions and game-day favourites, such as the S&S Mojito and Orange Crush (featuring freshly-squeezed orange juice, orange vodka, triple sec and lemon-lime soda).
For a more low-key, intimate setting, head for Houndsmen Lounge, the Pointe’s new night-time lounge bar, where the muted lighting, small-scale setting and distinguished style add up to an old-fashioned gentleman’s club, but with an ultra-modern cocktail list and a dazzling array of whiskies and bourbons.
Immediately opposite is PBR Cowboy Bar, a notable national franchise that is in Central Florida for the first time. This authentic country experience is based on the urban cowboy style of Texas, with the bonus of mechanical bull riding, live music and dance, plus a late-night bar bonus. In contrast, the Shark Bar offers a retro beach party vibe packed with tropical drinks, dance music and themed events, like their Bridal Wave for bachelorettes on the first Friday of every month.
Finally, the one missing element right now is Sal’s Pizza, a novel walk-up concept from Boston that offers either a quick bite or a full meal, or even something delivered to your table at the Cowboy Bar. It is due to open soon, to complete a highly elaborate and enticing selection of night-time fun (or during the weekends for brunch at Sports & Social and Palm Tree Club), and it is just good to see this part of Pointe Orlando coming back to life. For more details, see www.liveatthepointeorlando.com.
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