Orlando Evenings Offer the Perfect Ambiance for Outdoor Dining
After the sun goes down on a successful day of meetings, take advantage of some fresh evening air, sans the sun, by dining outdoors at one of Orlando's most popular eateries. Whether you're kicking back for a glass of wine or digging into a four-course meal, an outdoor table creates an idyllic dining atmosphere.
Several great outdoor dining spots include:
310 Park South - After enjoying the Scenic Winter Park Boat Tour, a Park Avenue shopping excursion or a museum tour, this is the perfect spot to grab a sidewalk table and indulge in good food and wine.
Adobe Gila's Margarita Cantina - Located in Pointe Orlando, this happening spot features live music and is known for its sizzling fajitas and specialty margaritas.
Bahama Breeze - Fruity umbrella drinks, nightly live entertainment and plenty of tasty Caribbean-style appetizers and entrees like coconut-curry chicken keep this hot spot on busy International Drive lively throughout the evening.
Bongos Cuban Café - Created by songbird Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, this Disney version of Old Havana seats guests on outdoor balconies that offer a great view of the lake or the bustle of Downtown Disney. Black bean soup, Cuban steaks with grilled onions and thick black coffee go well with live Latin music.
Brio Tuscan Grille - With two locations at The Mall at Millenia and in Winter Park, this Italian-style terrace brings to mind "la dolce vita," the sweet life. Settle in beneath an umbrella, nibble on bruschetta and sip your drink of choice.
The Capital Grille - One of Orlando's newest restaurants, The Capital Grille at Pointe Orlando serves lunch and dinner on its spacious patio overlooking bustling I-Drive. This upscale restaurant specializes in aged steaks, but lighter fare such as salads and sandwiches are abundant on the lunch menu.
Cedar's Restaurant - This Lebanese jewel on Sand Lake Road serves its fresh-baked pita with hummus and dips, fresh fish, quail in lemon garlic and other treats in a relaxed porch setting. Belly dancers entertain on weekends.
Chef Justin's Park Plaza Gardens - Also on Park Avenue, the sidewalk café section of the restaurant offers great people watching and a menu brimming with great tastes, such as the blue-crab cakes and the Florida snapper. If rain threatens, the indoor French-courtyard dining room has a true outdoor feel.
Columbia Restaurant - An outdoor table in an Old World courtyard in downtown Celebration is a romantic spot to enjoy Spanish-Cuban specialties like paella al la Valencia and rich, creamy flan.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - The restaurant's large "beach" deck is a great place to kick back and enjoy music and eats from the Caribbean, including conch fritters, Buffett's famous "cheeseburger in paradise" and Key lime pie.
Panera Bread - Chicken salad on focaccia and French onion soup taste better while seated beneath an umbrella across the brick-paved street bordering scenic downtown Lake Eola. Fresh-baked croissants and a cappuccino can be savored outdoors, too.
Seasons 52 - This eatery's pleasant patio overlooking Little Sand Lake is the perfect spot to kick back, sip one of many wines by the glass and indulge in big-taste, low-calorie flatbreads, ahi tuna, and no-guilt mini-desserts served in miniature parfait glasses.
Wolfgang Puck Café - Tables on the terrace overlooking the lake at Downtown Disney are a great place to enjoy sushi, pasta and Puck's famous pizzas.
Whether you choose a casual spot for late afternoon appetizers and drinks or a more sophisticated eatery for a night on the town, be sure to ask the restaurant's host about outdoor seating. You might just see Orlando in a whole new light.