Since 2005, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining has been a welcome fall tradition for diners to explore the destination’s top restaurants from the heart of the tourism corridor to eclectic neighborhood districts and everywhere in between.
From August 15 until September 30, diners will be able to select from more than 160+ restaurants, each of which are serving three-course meals at exceptional prices, with up to two dollars from every meal benefitting local nonprofit organizations.
Below, we’ve gathered the fifteen restaurants recognized by The MICHELIN Guide, which span multiple neighborhoods and offer a variety of different cuisines.
Downtown Area
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $40 menu
This freshly minted space wears all the contemporary touches that pepper our Instagram feeds. There are hexagonal tiles and a green "living" accent wall donning a neon sign that reads "Good Vibes Only." The marble bar hums with activity, not unlike the booths situated along the center. It may be billed as updated Japanese fare fused with inventive Pan-Asian elements, but make no mistake—this is not an average strip mall spot. This cooking is unbound by tradition.
Menu:
Appetizers: Wagyu Carpaccio, Tiger Cream, Hamachi Carpaccio
Main: Hand Roll, Berkwood St. Louis Sticky Ribs, Two Makimono
Dessert: C4, Mochi Trio, Matcha Tiramisu
Kaya (MICHELIN Green Star)
Cuisine: Filipino
Price: $40 menu
Kaya occupies a small bungalow-style building in the Mills 50 district. Inside, there's a quirky charm along with views of the open kitchen. Expect a modern spin on classic Filipino dishes with local seafood and central Florida produce taking center stage.
Menu:
Appetizers: Tuna Kinilaw, Filipino Caesar Salad, Lumpiang Shanghai
Main: Adobo Risotto, Sizzling Sisig, Crab Fat Shrimp + Laing
Dessert: Kalamansi Pie, Ube Flan, Cassava Cake
Cuisine: American
Price: $40 menu
In operation for more than a decade, Maxine and Kirt Earhart's Colonialtown charmer is everyone's favorite neighborhood hangout. Crowds spill out in front during the weekend for brunch, thanks to a host of comforting dishes that soothe and satisfy. There are good vibes all round. The décor is eclectic and bears a whimsical slant by way of bold colors, lots of artwork, a dark, sultry bar, as well as tightly packed tables. Interior accommodations are supplemented by ample outdoor seating.
Menu:
Appetizers: Vegan Nachos, Smoked Salmon Waffle, Chicken & Corn Chowder, Tomato Cucumber Salad, Maxine's Combo
Main: Thai Shrimp Curry, Chicken Milanese, Steak au Poive, Zucchini Zoodels & Vegan Meatballs, Pork Tenderloin Schnitzel
Dessert: Berries Romanoff, Kahlua Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie, Chef Kim's Playful Strawberry Trifle
Otto’s High Dive (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Cuban
Price: $40 menu
This tiny but oh-so-sweet space recalls the charm of Old Florida with its whitewashed brick walls and white tile floors. Billed as a neighborhood rum bar, Otto's High Dive is on point at every turn, from the genuine service to the unfussy but well-executed food. The kitchen delivers a concise edit of Floridian/Cuban fare with oodles of tropical elements.
Menu:
Appetizers: Smoked Fish Dip, Ceviche, Squash Burrata
Main: Ropa Vieja, Mojo Chicken, Lechon Asado
Dessert: Florida Orange Tres Leches, Flan Duo, Rum Cake
Cuisine: Korean
Established in 1993 but redone following a fire, this local fixture is beloved for its highly enjoyable Korean dining. The interior is adorned with dark tile floors, wooden booths and white walls. Tables feature a center console for grilling meats, and a mounted television broadcasts a stream of K-Pop videos.
Menu:
Appetizers: Tteokbokki, Goon Mandu, Jumuk Bap
Main: Kalbi Short Rib, Rib Finger Kalbi, Pork & Chicken BBQ (choose one) with Soon tofu)
Dessert: Hottek, Bungeo Bbang (Fish-Shaped Pastries)
20th Anniversary Dish: Jumuk Bap with Yukhoe
Sushi Saint (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $40 menu
Mike Collantes, Chef/owner of Soseki, has another hit on his hands with Sushi Saint. Attached to a brewery but with a separate entrance, this downtown temaki spot lures guests with its lounge-y vibe and contemporary design. The team take great care in sourcing high-quality rice and nori for their cone-shaped temaki.
Menu:
Appetizers: Shishito Peppers, SIchuan Cucumbers, Japanese Elote, Tako Hush Puppies
Main: Choose 3 Temakis // King Salmon Lime Miso, King Salmon Truffle Aioli, Crab, Spicy Tuna, Bluefin, Hamachi, Unagi, Tuna
Dessert: Mochi Ice Cream, Mochi Ice Cream with Macerated Berries, Mochi Ice Cream with Fresh Fruit
Cuisine: American
Price: $40 menu
This trendy first-floor restaurant overlooking Lake Ivanhoe has the substance to support its hype. The name, referring to a "hothouse" or "field" where pineapples are grown, is an homage to the area's history—it was once the center of the nation's pineapple industry. A fire pit outside is set beside an array of tables that offer spectacular sunset views and are a great spot for a seasonal cocktail. Beyond the front door (which dons a brass handle of a pineapple, of course) lies the dining room—warm with earthy hues, plush booths and a tufted leather banquette. The cuisine is similarly inviting, replete with local produce.
Menu:
Appetizers: Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Broiled Blue Crap Dip, Crispy Pork Belly Tacos
Main: Wild Mushroom Truffle Risotto, Chicken and Alligator Linguine, Shrimp and Clam Perloo
Dessert: Brown Butter Cake, Chocolate Brownie S’More, Pineapple Upside Down Bread Pudding
Z Asian (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: American
Price: $40 menu
Simple on the outside, this casual gem is beloved for its distinctively bold dishes and thoughtful design. As you enter, you'll notice their name emblazoned on a black wall. Other stylish details include hanging lanterns, ceiling fans and artwork throughout. The aura is Southeast Asian, not unlike the focused Vietnamese cooking. Dishes are flavorful, bursting with nuance and balance.
Menu:
Appetizers: Crispy Tofu Mango Salad, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Ube Fries, Crispy Quails
Main: Vietnamese Beef Shank Stew, Grilled Rice Plate, Saigon Lobster Red Curry
Dessert: Mango Mousse Cake, Belgian Chocolate Mousse Cake, CHÈ BA MÀU
Stay nearby:
Downtown Orlando is a long way from the theme park resorts, and the AC Hotel Orlando Downtown is too — both literally and stylistically. This is by a considerable distance the most fashionable hotel in town, and can compete with the city’s traditional luxury hotels on comfort. With 180 rooms it’s actually smallish by local standards, but comes with plenty of shared social space, including the SkyBar rooftop terrace, with its astonishing 360-degree view of the city.
Disney / Lake Buena Vista
Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 menu
This exciting concept from Chef Richard Blais is nestled in the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress property. Follow the footpath that leads over a bridge and towards the bright pink entrance, fronted by a waterfall. This retreat radiates a calming, coastal vibe with design details like plentiful windows, warm wood and pops of color. Fittingly, the menu is contemporary Americana meets the tropics. The chef's focus is on seasonal, bold and creative flavors. Couples rejoice, as this is a perfect place to splurge, celebrate and eat to your heart's content.
Menu:
Appetizers: Goat Cheese Brûlée, Seasonal Ceviche, Spiney Lobster Bisque
Main: Key West Mojo Chicken, Red Grouper, Rabo Encendido
Dessert: Coconut Pannacota, Dulce de leche Crème Brûlée, Tres Leches Tiramisu
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $60 menu
This more casual concept at the Four Seasons Hotel has Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi at the helm. The room is bright and sleek with a laid-back feel. High ceilings, muted hues with an occasional pop of orange and a verdant terrace enhance the inviting vibe. Modern Italian is the menu's focus, and the chef employs his own family's recipes.
Menu:
Appetizers: Carpaccio Di Manzo, Caponata di Melanzane con Burrata e Crostini, Gamberi Origanati
Main: Agnello Scottato Alle Erb, Poletto alla Griglia, Branzino e Salse Verde
Dessert: Cannoli Classico, Torta Caprese al Limone, Pistachio Affogato
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
It’s safe to say most theme-park visitors don’t care like we do about hotels, but for those who do there’s the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. This is a hotel that makes remarkably few concessions to its setting, aside from Explorer Island, the fully Disneyfied kids’ club. Adults will view the nightly fireworks display from the open-air steakhouse, Capa, and the rooms, though they look out over the parks in the middle distance, are as sophisticated as any of the brand’s hotels anywhere. There’s a spa, an 18-hole golf course and practice facility, and a gym and tennis club — and of course there’s the matter of Disney World itself, to which Four Seasons guests are offered early admission, a half-hour before the official opening time.
Lake Nona / Orlando International Airport
Cuisine: Latin American
Price: $60 menu
Set in the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, Bacán isn't your typical dining room. Full of energy and personality, the dramatic space dons warm wood, vivid colors, impossibly high ceilings and a luxurious banquette that runs down the middle. On the food side of things, there's a contemporary menu that spans Central and South America, with a good dose of tropical influence. An expo robot that assists with service fits in nicely with the modern aesthetic.
Menu:
Appetizers: Farm Harvest, Hamachi, Charred Octopus
Main: Truffle Chicken, Florida Snapper, Carne Asada
Dessert: Churros, Citrus Tres Leches, Cafe En La Nieba
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $60 menu
Set within the Lake Nona Wave Hotel, Nami makes a splash with its lofted ceilings and sexy vibe. Led by Chef Freddy Money and Chef Jason Beliveau, there are two distinct dining experiences here: a dining room spotlighting contemporary Japanese cuisine (think skewers and maki) and a chef's counter tasting menu presenting a creative interpretation of Japanese cuisine.
Menu:
Appetizers: Nami Nuggets, Tuna Crudo, Spicy Hamachi Maki
Main: Robata Salmon, Crispy Pork Katsu, Lamb Chops
Dessert: Dojima Roll, Panna Cotta, Hot Chocolate Fondant
Stay nearby:
Lake Nona Wave Hotel (One MICHELIN Key)
Both MICHELIN restaurants in this neighborhood are inside Orlando’s Lake Nona Wave Hotel, is known for its technology. It’s among the first to feature smart windows, which dim automatically in response to bright sunlight. Just as important, from our perspective, is the fact that its interiors are, if anything, even more distinctive in their design than the hotel’s memorable exterior. The rooms, in particular, are among the most stylish in town, though that doesn’t mean minimalist or severe — modernist, yes, but of the sunny, colorful, somewhat utopian mid-century variety.
Winter Park Area
Cuisine: Greek
Price: $60 menu
This sleek modern Mediterranean dazzler is smack in the center of the ever-charming Winter Park. It's a bit of a scene, so dress up for shared plates and a family-style menu with a focus on the Cycladic region.
Menu:
Appetizers: Crispy Zucchini, Flambéed Cyprus Halloumi Cheese, Salata Horiatiki, Tuna Tartare
Main: Shrimp & Eggplant Rigatoni, 7oz Hanger Steak, Fileto Solomou
Dessert: Sorbet & Ice Cream, Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Melopita
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $40 menu
While Soseki is known for its intimate stature and serious tasting menu, Bar Kada is its perfect complement. Located in the same building, this space has triple the seats along with a more casual concept (note the disco ball for further proof). Expect the same commitment to quality and the strong creative streak seen at Soseki, only here it's dressed down to fit the laidback vibe. The Japanese dishes with global influences have plenty of personality and deliver on bold flavors.
Menu:
Appetizers: Seasonal Sashimi, Patatas Bravas, Summer Melon Salad
Main: Chili Garlic Shrimp Noodles, Binchotan Short Rib, Catch of the Day
Dessert: Sake Lees Ice Cream, Mochi Cake, Popcorn Ice Cream
The Ravenous Pig (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: American
Price: $40 menu
This Winter Park modern gastropub came to be thanks to the vision of noted restaurateurs, James and Julie Petrakis. Housed right beside their eponymous brewery, the space exudes a moody, industrial vibe by way of charcoal hues, rustic wood accents and a gray ceiling marked by exposed ductwork. The open kitchen on the left has frosted glass panels that add a bit of mystery to the culinary proceedings. Chef Clay Miller's menu is a bona fide study of classic pub fare with creative Southern spins.
Menu:
Appetizers: Gatherer Salad, Pork Belly, Mushroom & Gruyere Beignets
Main: Steak Frites, Tagliatelle Alfredo, Red Snapper
Dessert: Caramelized Honey Semifreddo, Dark Chocolate Tart, Artisanal Cheese Selection
Hero image: Fernando Delgado / Sushi Saint
