According to localcollegeexplorer, Orlando has a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of exciting options for those who don’t want to stop at the theme park. From ultra-hip bars and buzzing dance clubs to cozy watering holes and sprawling shopping, dining and entertainment complexes, Orlando has multiple regions to rock when the sun goes down.
International Drive
International Drive, commonly known as I-Drive, offers fun shopping, dining and entertainment both day and night. At Dave & Buster’s, guests can enjoy more than 200 games, at ICEBAR they can sip cocktails in a room made entirely of ice, fiestas are celebrated at Señor Frogs, and duel two at Howl at the Moon Orlando pianos. Pointe Orlando is also on I-Drive, an entertainment complex featuring a variety of specialty shops, live entertainment and exceptional dining. At Pointe Orlando, food and entertainment combine to create exciting taste experiences. Things get fiery at Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar, Taverna Opa promises boisterous Greek dancing on the tables, BB King’s Blues Club serves Southern comfort food, and the Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theater erupts in roars of laughter night after night. In 2014, Blue Martini, RA Sushi, and Minus5° Ice Bar opened at Pointe Orlando.
Restaurant Row
Close to Orlando’s theme parks and a short drive from the Orlando Orange County Convention Center is Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road. It’s a 1.6-kilometer stretch of road that has fifty exquisite restaurants side by side. Many of them have expansive bar rooms, extensive wine lists, and stages for live music. Guests can sip one of the infamous martinis at Bar Louie, sample one of the more than 225 different tequilas in stock at Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, browse one of Orlando’s largest and most comprehensive wine lists at Vines Grille & Wine Bar, with a dummy elevator to theDrive to the Pharmacy to have a cocktail mixed according to your recipe or choose from the huge selection of beers at World of Beer.
Universal City Walk
Universal CityWalk is known as “The Entertainment Capital of Orlando” for being just as good a place to grab a quick bite as it is to relax over an extended dinner. Visitors socialize over cocktails, get excited about electrifying rock concerts, or dance the night away. Popular nightclubs include CityWalk’s Rising Star Karaoke Club, where guests can find themselves in the spotlight and take to the stage with a real live band and backing singers. Authentic American food is served at the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe, while world-famous music and comedy stars perform next door at Hard Rock Live Orlando. The popular brand restaurantJimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville invites guests to savor Key West and Caribbean flavors and spices in a heavenly setting with live music nightly. Pat O’Brien’s serves world-famous hurricane drinks while two pianos compete in the background. Eight new restaurants opened on CityWalk in 2014, including CowFish, Antojito’s Authentic Mexican Food, Bread Box and Red Oven Pizza Bakery.
DisneySprings
The 47-acre entertainment complex at Walt Disney World Resort promises fun for the whole family with shops and restaurants. Disney Springs includes the House of Blues with an eclectic music program where world-famous musicians perform after dinner, Bongo’s Cuban Café designed by Gloria Estefan, sophisticated cuisine to accompany the cinematic experience of AMC Disney Springs 24, the imaginative show La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil and Splitsville, a retro cone center with vintage decor and a novel music, dining and entertainment concept.
Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando’s nightlife revolves around Orange Avenue and the side streets Church Street, Magnolia Street, Central Boulevard and Pine Street. Wall Street Plaza, a collection of bars and restaurants, includes Shine, Waitiki Retro Tiki Lounge, Monkey Bar, Wall Street Cantina, One Eyed Jack’s and The Loaded Hog. Wall Street hosts special events throughout the year; on the weekends there is live music at the popular outdoor parties. Church Street is the center of the inner-city nightlife scene with many special places like Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant and Hamburger Mary’s, a hamburger joint for gays and lesbians. Those who want to celebrate above the rooftops of the city center can do so on the roof terraces of rooftop bars such as Latitudes or One80 Gray Goose Lounge at the top of the Amway Center.
In addition to Wall Street Plaza and Church Street, there are many other addresses in downtown Orlando where the nightlife pulsates. Beer drinkers love Tap & Grind and The Gnarly Barley. The Ember Bar & Restaurant promises the sophisticated flair of a European tavern with delicious drinks and a delicious menu selection. Improvised theater with music and stand-up comedy is available at SAK Comedy Lab. BackBooth and The Social feature intimate performances from local and national artists. Orlando’s speakeasy, The Courtesy, is a reminder of the times when alcohol was served illegallyHanson’s Shoe Repair, a very unusual bar that requires a phone call to ask for a password for the night every night.
