Known as a theme park mecca with over a dozen attractions including Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Universal, and Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando comes off as a place for tourists and families. Locals, however, will tell you that it is so much more; and that it’s in fact this barrage of parks that has amassed a slew of creative talent. Over time, these artists, designers, and performances have transformed what was once a drab town into a thriving cultural center smack dab in the middle of the sunshine state. With so much to do and literally no winter, don’t overlook Orlando when you’re plotting to escape seasonal affective disorder.
Courtesy of Hunger Street Tacos
A meal from @floridaandco courtesy of @eastendmkt
Where to Eat
Dandelion Cafe
Dandelion Communitea Cafe is a longstanding vegan favorite in the Mills/50 neighborhood of Orlando. The cafe itself is built inside of a historic bungalow, giving it the perfect cozy feel to snuggle up with a cup of organic, artisan tea. Outside, you’ll find a meditation garden that hosts bi-weekly moon circles, making Dandelion central to Orlando’s holistic living community.
East End Market
East End Market is Orlando’s favorite standing farmer’s market. Inside, you’ll find a bar, a bakehouse, and more. Stroll through the market and score some treats before heading to the garden to soak up some vitamin D. Swing by on the weekends for food trucks and pop-ups including Orlando’s go-to flower truck, Dahlia’s and mochi donuts.
Hunger Street Tacos
Hunger Street Tacos is a true cultural experience. Not only are their tacos killer, but dining in their restaurant you’ll be surrounded by Mexican murals brought to Orlando by a collective of Mexican artists know as Lapiztola. From hibiscus tacos to bone marrow sopes, Hunger Street is a safe choice for carnivores and vegans alike.
The Enzian
The Enzian is a restaurant, bar, and indie movie theatre built into a historic, Old Florida home. The theater is a central community fixture hosting regular events as well as the Florida Film Festival in the spring. With its romantic water fountain, twinkly lights, and seemingly ancient oak trees, the Enzian’s outdoor bar and restaurant is also a date night favorite.
Courtesy of The Ritz via Airbnb
Courtesy of The Bermuda via Airbnb
Where to Stay
The Grand Bohemian Orlando
If you’re looking for a luxury experience in the heart of downtown Orlando, look no further than the Grand Bohemian. Not only is the Grand Bohemian walking distance from Orlando’s cultural center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the hotel also boasts an art gallery, craft cocktail lounge, spa, and super decadent restaurant.
Tiny Houses
One of the reasons Orlando is known as the City Beautiful, is its many lakes. As a way to maximize on Orlando’s natural beauty, while keeping environmental impact down, tiny houses have emerged as a growing trend in Central Florida. Luckily, dozens of tiny houses are available across the city as short term vacation rentals. A couple pretty tiny homes include The Bermuda and The Ritz. There is a wide array of waterfront properties to choose from.
The Alfond Inn
Winter Park is a thriving suburb just outside of Downtown Orlando. It’s well known for its historic mansions, many lakes, and roaming peacocks. Like any good southern town, Winter Park is divided up by brick roads lined by august oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Staying at the Alfond Inn is a more laid back alternative to Disney or Downtown proper. The hotel is close to the outdoor shopping district, Park Ave and boasts a Mediterranean style pool walking distance from Lake Virginia, so it’s an ideal choice for Sun worshippers.
Courtesy of @the_guesthouse
Courtesy of @matherssocialgathering
Where to Drink
The Guest House
The Guest House is a local bar totally immersed in plants with an Airstream bar. At this Mills/50 hotspot you can unwind with craft cocktails amid a casual, though stylish group. It gets pretty crowded at night, so get there early and enjoy happy hour.
The Imperial at Washburn Imports
By day, The Imperial is a furniture store in Orlando’s Antique District. By night, it transforms into a laid back wine bar with an awesome tapas menu and live music. With its sultry lighting and furniture imported from India and Bali, it also makes for a pretty sexy date spot.
Mathers Social Gathering
Speakeasy style bars can be a little kitschy, but Mathers makes up for it with a spacious, relaxing atmosphere and excellent cocktails. Most bars in Downtown are over crowded and loud, so if you’re looking for a spot to have an adult conversation, Mathers is your place.
Courtesy of @theheavywp
Courtesy of @wekivaisland
What to Do
The Heavy Winter Park
It’s hard to say exactly what The Heavy is. Part event venue, part plant nursery, and sometimes a bar, The Heavy was an ambitious project from the florists over at Porch Therapy to create a thriving community and arts space in Orlando. The space itself used to be a seafood warehouse before it was converted into a haven for the plant obsessed. Now, it hosts local vendors and a floral bar, i.e. a place you can order drinks and custom floral arrangements. You never quite know what you’ll get when you go to The Heavy, but you will definitely take pictures.
COAL Space
For the more spiritually minded, head to COAL Space, or the Center of Abundant Living. Spiritual types claim an energy vortex has opened in the Mills/50 neighborhood of Orlando, which has attracted handfuls of spiritual centers and health conscious restaurants. COAL is one such spot. Don’t miss their CBD dance parties on Saturdays or the sound healing meditations on Sundays brought to you by the truly outstanding women’s choir, the Beautiful Chorus.
The Venue
Not every city can boast their own burlesque venue, but that’s exactly what The Venue delivers to Orlando. Here you can find burlesque shows, drag performances, and indie plays a few times a week. In May, they also host performances through Orlando Fringe Festival.
Pulse Memorial
There’s no question that the attack on the LGBTQ+ community at Pulse nightclub in 2016 brought Orlando much closer together. But since then, there have been legal challenges towards installing a permanent memorial at the site of the massacre. In the meantime, a semi-permanent memorial can be seen at Pulse in Downtown Orlando. If you want to pay your respects to the 49 innocent lives lost there, you can also walk through the Pulse Memorial Labyrinth in Colonialtown park in the Mills/50 neighborhood. The attack is never far from anyone’s mind in Orlando, so you will also see impromptu murals and graffiti all over the city in homage to those who lost their lives.
The Springs
One of the hidden joys of living in Florida is that the state is dotted with fresh water springs. These gorgeous, blue waters feed Orlando’s many waterways and are some of the richest sources of animal life in the area. Head to Wekiva Island for drinks, BBQ, and water sports. Rent a canoe or paddle board there and make your way to dog friendly Wekiva Springs State Park. Animal lovers checkout Blue Springs State Park for a chance to swim among the manatees.
Feature photo of mural at Hunger Street Tacos in Winter Park by Mexican artist collective Lapiztola; courtesy of Reddit
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