Orlando's culinary scene: A guide to the city's best dining and experiences
Beyond the roller coasters and rides, Orlando boasts a wealth of temptations for the discerning traveler.
By Paul Oswell | April 3, 2024 (Updated July 16, 2025)
When you picture an Orlando getaway, the hugely popular theme parks are an obvious starting point. While this is what the city is rightfully famous for, there’s a multitude of experiences waiting to be explored beyond the park gates. Dive beneath the surface, and you’ll discover high-end dining and plenty of pampering, plus unique experiences that are just as thrilling as the roller coasters.
Elevated experiences
The natural beauty of Central Florida is on display in Orlando, with lagoons, lakes, and grasslands all contributing to a spectacular landscape. One of the most memorable ways to experience this striking panorama is via a private hot air balloon ride with Champagne and a picnic lunch. If you prefer to stay on manicured-ground, Florida is also famed for its glorious golf courses, with more than 50 located in the Orlando area. For guests staying at Conrad Orlando, your concierge can arrange a perfect day on the green for you out on the resort’s highly acclaimed Grand Cypress Golf Club courses, with both the Links Course and the Cypress Course boasting magnificent views. Cool down afterward with a dip in the 8-acre (3.2-hectare) serene crystalline lagoon, complete with white sand, watersports, and chic private cabanas. Additional activities include paddleboarding and kayaking in the waters off of the hotel’s private white sand beach.
Heavenly cuisine
Orlando’s dining scene is varied and dynamic. For a memorable dining experience, choose from a number of Michelin-starred kitchens, including Soseki, in nearby Winter Park. This intimate restaurant features a 10-seat counter reminiscent of Tokyo’s best sushi spots with incredible omakase, a gastronomic symphony where the chef prepares a single piece at a time to be truly savored. There’s also a wealth of equally tempting dishes to be enjoyed at Conrad Orlando. Delight in rooftop dining at Ceiba, where you can feast on contemporary Mexican dishes while taking in the firework shows from surrounding theme parks. The best of Southern Italy comes to Central Florida at the resort’s Sophia’s Trattoria or settle into a more casual atmosphere at the lagoon-side Papaya Club for ahi tuna toast, yellowfin tuna tartare, poke bowls, and more.
Rest and relaxation
When it comes time to unwind, Orlando’s nearly 150 green spaces are a world away from the intensity of the theme parks, and well-worth exploring. You can even claim some serenity in downtown Orlando on the peaceful lawns of Lake Eola Park. Prefer to stay close to your home away from home? Conrad Orlando has its own tranquil corners to escape to as well, including an immersive water garden surrounded by beautiful local flora. Conrad Spa is perched above the garden, perfectly situated to further your revitalizing wellness journey. The menu of signature treatments includes an ocean essence ritual, which offers a seaweed bath, body scrub, and wrap using nutrient-packed ingredients and a garden paradise treatment for couples, featuring massages bookended by aura cleansing and sound rituals, as well as a bespoke flower elixir ceremony.
Paul Oswell
Paul Oswell is a British award-winning journalist and published travel author based in New Orleans, Louisiana. His books include Bucket List North America and The Great American Road Trip, as well as New Orleans' Historic Hotels. He has also been an editor of and contributor to several guidebooks/editions published by Dorling Kindersley (owned by Penguin), including New Orleans, Florida, Orlando, Los Angeles, California, and The United States. His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure (both of which he has written multiple online travel guides for) and The Guardian, as well as dozens of international newspaper and magazine titles, and inflight magazines for major airlines.
Conrad Orlando
Inside the lush 1,100 acres at Evermore Orlando Resort is a captivating retreat. Buffered by a nature preserve, Conrad Orlando offers everything from a tranquil water garden to thrilling aquatic adventures. Explore the crystalline waters of Evermore Bay, golf at the acclaimed Links Course, and dine at our five restaurants and lounges. Take the dedicated motor coach to Walt Disney World® Resort, less than three miles away.
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