Places to See in America: Orlando!

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 Located in the Plaza Venezia, a swanky area locals fondly refer to as Restaurant Row, trendy yet comfortable Amura is the perfect place for a date or family dinner. Make a meal for two out of the Dragon and Atomic Bomb rolls, a bento box to share, and some Nigori sake infused with coconut and vanilla, or feed a group with tempura and The Boat (a mix of crowd-pleasing sushi rolls and fresh sashimi like tuna, salmon, and sea bass). 

 Chef Chico Mendonça brings a taste of Portugal to Orlando with his food truck, Bem Bom. For the signature Prego de Frango Piri-Piri, he marinates chicken in his own piri-piri and serves it on fresh, warm prego (a crunchy yet chewy Portuguese bread) with hot mustard, cilantro, and pepper relish. If you’re lucky enough to be at the truck when Mendonça has piri-piri for sale, don’t leave without buying a bottle. 

 The restaurateurs were aiming for an approachable French spot when they opened this brasserie in downtown’s Bank of America building in 2016—and they’ve succeeded, in spades. Here, the perfect start to both lunch and dinner is a bowl of the savory French onion soup, which features just the right amount of bone marrow. Other menu highlights include steak frites, croque monsieur sandwiches, and artisanal cheese plates for dessert. If seafood is your thing, you’ll also love the raw bar, with its spread of oysters, shrimp, and crab legs. On weekday mornings, DoveCote offers a café-style breakfast, complete with authentic French pastries and espresso drinks served in the open lobby. Every other meal occurs in the actual restaurant, which stuns with soaring ceilings, whitewashed brick walls, and a palette of soft blue, gold, and gray that feels trés français indeed. 

 Opened in Orlando’s eclectic Audubon Park Garden District in 2013, this wildly popular market features a collection of gourmet purveyors in a refurbished industrial building. Among the merchants are an artisan baker, a small enterprise specializing in barbecue sauces and rubs, a specialty cheese vendor with selections from around the world, and a craft coffee roaster. At the market’s anchor restaurant, Domo, guests can also look forward to specialty cocktails, Pan-Asian ramen, and a lively scene that lasts long after the other vendors have closed up shop. Occasionally, the market even hosts community events, pop-up dinners, yoga classes, and courses on cooking, home brewing, and more. 

 Move over cupcakes: Popsicles are the next big dessert craze in Orlando. After my stroll around Lake Eola, I stopped at the popsicle shop Hyppo. You won't find the popsicles of your childhood here. Hyppo's version is inspired by Mexican paletas (ice pops) and comes in two varieties: milk-based and ice-based. When you walk in, you're greeted by a colorful cooler of pops with seasonal flavors that might include pistachio-coconut, the Elvis (peanut butter, banana, and honey), cantaloupe-black pepper, strawberry-basil, key lime, and even some bourbon-based options. 

 At Luma on Park, James Beard Award semifinalist Brandon McGlamery works magic with a modern American menu. While the restaurant follows dining trends with handcrafted cocktails and small plates, it’s really more of a modernized steak house, with dishes like Harris Ranch short ribs, foie gras terrine, cobia ceviche, and classic wedge salad. For a night to remember, request an outdoor table and enjoy the prix-fixe menu alongside some of Orlando’s best people-watching. 

 Located in the heart of Orlando’s Little Vietnam district, this casual eatery does Pan-Asian cuisine perfectly, with a spread of affordable, piping-hot dishes inspired by hawker-style street food. It’s hardly a new concept in a city known for great Asian restaurants, but Mamak does it exceptionally well with small plates like beef bulgogi, golden roti canai bread, Indonesian nasi goreng, and a spectacular version of Malaysian char kway teow noodles. Come with a group so you can order a little bit of everything—it’s the kind of place where sharing just two dishes is nothing short of sin. 

 The surprises at this excellent Italian restaurant in Disney Springs start right when you arrive and gaze upon the airy dining room. Complete with 50-foot-high ceilings, a grand staircase, and sweeping views over Lake Buena Vista, it's themed after an abandoned airline terminal, with lots of fun travel touches that include a vintage-style glove dangling like a giant chandelier overhead. Chef Theo Schoenegger is a native of Italy, and his menu spotlights specialties from Rome and Sicily. Delicious Italian cheeses and cured meats are perfect starters for sharing. And signature dishes include Sicilian arancini di carne (rice balls with meat) and a spiral pasta dish topped with crab called busiate con granchio. Italian red, white, and Prosecco wines star on the well-informed wine list. And don't miss a plate of cannoli to share for a sweet finish. 

 The chance to try Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s first Pan-Asian restaurant is what brings most people to this Disney Springs spot, which opened in 2015. The menu blends flavors from China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia, while the decor impresses with a glass staircase, sparkling chandeliers, and a 270-foot-long bar. This is the kind of restaurant where sharing plates makes for the most satisfying meal, so come with a group and cover your table with Peking duck, sushi and sashimi, shumai dumplings, pad Thai noodles, and more. Just be sure to save room for the revelatory desserts, which range from Oreo tempura to house-made churros. 

 Pharmacy is a bit tricky to find on Restaurant Row—you have to take an elevator to the clean modern space. All the dishes are made from organic food sourced from local farms. The season-driven menu changes, but you'll always leave feeling better. The tapas, the elixirs, and even the condiments are handcrafted by the bar and kitchen mixologists. Try the rock shrimp, a Florida delicacy from Cape Canaveral. Pair it with the Fish House Punch, a sweet concoction of dark rum, apple brandy, cognac, and fresh lemon juice. 

 It’s no surprise that the opening of this beloved gastropub back in 2007 coincided with Orlando’s rise as a culinary hot spot. While its owners James and Julie Petrakis have not stopped opening other ventures around the city (including at Disney Springs), this local favorite—known for its Cask & Larder beers and sophisticated Southern fare—has hardly waned in popularity. Start with the charcuterie platter (a spread of rillettes, dried sausage, and salami), then choose from favorites like shrimp and grits and the enormous Pub Burger, which comes topped with caramelized onions and buttermilk blue cheese. Whether you come for happy hour, dinner, or something in between, expect a lively atmosphere that’s perfectly suited to groups. 

 Treehouse Truck in Orlando, FL is a local food truck roaming the streets throughout Central Florida. If you're lucky, you might even find them in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami!

Known for some jaw dropping menu items, they have some other must try items. “Rachel’s Goat Cheese Burger” is quickly becoming a favorite amongst many local Orlando folks. This is a burger topped with Goat Cheese, Tomato, Fresh Arugula, and drizzled with a Balsamic Glaze served on a Toasted Bun.

Treehouse Truck should be on your list of “must dos” if you are traveling to Orlando on vacation. If you are lucky enough to live here, you are lucky enough to be able to eat at Treehouse Truck almost any day of the week. 

 There’s more to Orlando than theme parks, especially downtown, where you’ll find top-tier concert acts, upscale taquerias, lakefront markets—and no mouse ears in sight. Housed in a repurposed 1960s office building, Aloft Orlando cleverly kept the 10-foot ceilings, teak wall panelling, and mid-century modern vibe from its original iteration, and added a buzzy lobby bar and lounge (where you can listen to live acoustic performances) as well as an outdoor pool. Spacious guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, mini-fridges, and Bliss spa bath amenities, while suites invite business travelers to spread out between a separate seating and work area. The hotel’s Dog in Residence program brings in shelter dogs to interact with visitors, hoping to foster a forever-home love connection. Traveling with your own pet? Fido lodges for free and gets special treats and toys for the duration of his stay. 

 Bavaria meets Florida at this Marriott Autograph Collection property, midway between downtown Orlando and the theme parks, and close to the Orange County Convention Center. The hotel’s unique decor pairs antlers and fake fur with pastels and palm trees, and adds elaborate chandeliers and original artwork throughout. Accommodations have fairy tale–inspired carved headboards and marble bathrooms; book a corner room for a separate seating area—in a turret overlooking the lush grounds. The Poseidon spa pampers you like royalty with body, skin, and beauty treatments that employ ocean-derived ingredients, and massages can be arranged in room or in the garden. Breakfast and lunch are served at the bright and airy Garden Bistro, with dinner and drinks available in the Antlers Lounge, but you can walk to restaurants and attractions along International Drive, including the Orlando Eye Ferris wheel. Just be back before dark: From the Sky Terraces, guests have views of nightly fireworks and may spot another nearby castle—Hogwarts at Universal Studios. 

 A Disney-fied take on an African safari experience, the Animal Kingdom Lodge feels like a trip around the world. The thatched-roof main building follows the theme in the grand lobby, where a mud fireplace meets soaring wood columns. Guest rooms are outfitted with carved-wood furniture and private balconies; some have bunk beds perfect for families, but the savannah-view rooms are worth the splurge for the chance to see zebras and giraffes up close as you sip your morning coffee. You have your choice of watering holes: the 10,000-square-foot Uzima pool has a waterslide, wading area, and two hot tubs, while the Samawati Springs pool, though half the size, has an even bigger waterslide and adjoining playground. Dining options are appropriately over-the-top. At Boma, the market-style buffet features carving stations and flavors from 50 African nations; Jiko pairs a Mediterranean-inspired menu and sub-Saharan flavors with South African wines. Cultural representatives from countries including Botswana, Namibia, and Kenya lead free tours of the resort, pointing out details of the continent’s art, cuisine, and natural history in its design. But nothing is as far-flung as it seems—the Lodge and villas are connected to the rest of Walt Disney World and the Orlando Airport by complimentary bus transportation. 

 This distinctive A-frame structure was one of the first hotels on site when Disney World opened in 1971, fulfilling Walt Disney’s vision for a modern and futuristic hotel, complete with a monorail running directly through the lobby. The location is convenient enough to delight theme park superfans—it’s a short walk or ride to the Magic Kingdom gate—but the aesthetic keeps cartoon kitsch at bay. Rooms feature black-and-white decor with colorful accents, as well as marble bathrooms and balconies overlooking the property or park. Garden wing rooms, while farther from restaurants, are slightly more affordable and quieter than main building rooms. Of course, animated friends eventually make an appearance: Chef Mickey’s is a buffet restaurant set beneath the monorail tracks and decorated with a giant mural by Disney legend Mary Blair, who also designed the “It’s a Small World” ride. Though adults have their pick of running trails, spas, and water sports, kids are the real winners thanks to a 17-foot waterslide and water playground and a Pixar Play Zone. After a fun-filled day, head to the hotel’s fourth-floor observation deck to see the Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks display; the California Grill, on top of the resort, is the perfect place for dining with a view of Cinderella’s Castle. 

 An amalgamation of the classic “parkitecture” that defines the lodges of America’s national parks, Wilderness Lodge remains true to its roots while displaying the full pixie-dust treatment. Inspired by Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn, the soaring lobby includes a massive 82-foot-high fireplace, 55-foot totem poles carved by master craftsmen, and a hot spring that continues flowing outside and through pine-covered grounds that feature erupting geysers and a waterfall. Fittingly, accommodations feel cabin-like, with western decor and lodge pine furnishings. Guests can rent boats to fish or float on Bay Lake, as well as explore the woodland grounds on jogging trails or rental bike; kids beeline to the pool area with its 67-foot high waterslide built into the rocks, hot and cold whirlpools, and children’s splash zone. A ferry is on hand to take you across the lagoon to the Magic Kingdom, while other parks can be reached via shuttle bus. Circle the wagons for family-style cowboy cuisine at the Old West–themed Whispering Canyons Cafe, or leave the frontier behind for the elegant Pacific Northwest menu at Artist Point, overlooking the resort’s forest. The Wilderness Lodge is a favorite during the winter holiday season, as that tall lobby allows for an awe-inspiring Christmas tree. 

 More than four decades after Walt Disney World welcomed its first guests, the Four Seasons opened on 26 acres a few miles south of the Magic Kingdom, finally giving parents a true luxury resort option within the park. Well-sized and well-appointed rooms are typical of the brand’s understated elegance, but expect to pay a premium for a room with a balcony overlooking Disney’s nightly fireworks (or just reserve a table at the top-floor Capa steakhouse). Kids get the luxury treatment, too. The resort makes it easy for guests to organize park visits right on site: The Disney Planning Center helps with tickets, handles extended Magic Hours and Fast Pass requests, and books restaurant reservations and transportation to the monorail station and the rest of Disney World. Serious fans can also have a photo op with Goofy and friends at the resort’s character breakfast. A giant pool with a lazy river and two waterslides beckon on days when you’d rather not brave the park crowds, and children get dedicated welcome amenities, toys, and costumes during their stay. The extensive menu of spa services even includes a princess-themed mommy-and-me makeover treatment, including a tiara and wand.
 

 Just 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, in village-like Winter Park, the Alfond Inn has a unique legacy: The boutique lodging was created to provide income for scholarship funds at neighboring Rollins College, one of Florida’s oldest liberal arts schools. If helping students isn’t reason enough to book a stay, the hotel offers lots more incentive. A skylit domed atrium in the Spanish colonial–inspired main building draws your eye to a rotating collection of artwork curated by Cornell Fine Arts Museum, and pet-friendly guest rooms are simple and cheerful. While the hotel is not a full-fledged resort, it offers guests plenty of opportunities to linger. Fire pits and rocking chairs are dotted around the property, and shaded areas for loungers enhance the rooftop pool’s already undeniable appeal. Hamilton’s Kitchen restaurant serves modern Southern cuisine paired with wines selected by an award-winning sommelier. And shops, wine bars, and independent boutiques like Rifle Paper Co. line the town’s Park Avenue, a few blocks away. You can also take a pontoon boat tour for views of many of the Mediterranean-style mansions along the waterfront. Perhaps best of all, Disney and Universal theme parks are only a half-hour drive away. 

 Part of the Grande Lakes resort complex, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando has enough amenities to keep a family happily occupied without ever having to leave the property. Accommodations feature private balconies with garden or lake views and separate tubs and showers, while club-level suites offer snacks and refreshments throughout the day and exclusive activities such as photography lessons with the hotel’s photo concierge, but the rooms aren’t why you came. Cool off at the clover-shaped pool—the lazy river next-door at the JW Marriott is also available—or with a zero-gravity massage, performed while you sway in a hammock in the spa’s rooftop garden. The Greg Norman–designed golf course has a caddie concierge program; kids play free with an adult. Between the two large hotels on the Grande Lakes property, there are a dozen dining options—try Highball & Harvest, where the farm-to-table cuisine is made with local ingredients and served alongside beer from its own nano-brewery. The $35 daily resort fee covers theme-park shuttles, kids’ club activities, daily bike rentals, driving range privileges, and WiFi and phone calls. 

 The Waldorf Astoria is an elegant option for Orlando visitors looking for alternatives to Disney properties while still maintaining access to all the park attractions (via a free shuttle). Decorated in warm colors and dark wood, guest rooms have marble bathrooms with separate soaking tubs; suites add dining areas and kitchenettes with wine refrigerators. Set within the Bonnet Creek nature preserve, the resort’s Rees Jones–designed golf course balances classic and challenging elements, and lush grounds include a zero-edge lap pool surrounded by cabanas, though families might prefer the lazy river and waterslide at the sister Hilton Resort. After a day of splashing around, the spa offers a tea lounge, eucalyptus steam room, and Jacuzzi in addition to 22 treatment rooms, and you can choose from a dozen dining options that include the Bull & Bear steakhouse and a Sunday royal tea at Peacock Alley. 

 Starwood’s Swan & Dolphin resorts offer all the convenience of a Disney World resort without the over-the-top mouse branding. Designed by iconic architect Michael Graves, the tropical-themed pair is linked by a lagoon and falls within walking distance (or boat or shuttle ride) of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. While room rates here are lower than at some of the Disney-managed resorts, there’s an additional $28 daily fee that covers WiFi, phone calls, access to the gym and pool activities, plus fun extras like a s’mores kit for use around the campfire. Guest rooms are bright and contemporary, with cool colors and geometric artwork; families can book L-shaped rooms, which provide additional space and a sleeper sofa. Multiple lap pools and whirlpools are a bonus to the main grotto pool and white-sand beach, and more than a dozen restaurants are on property, including a Todd English seafood restaurant, Shula’s Steak House, and a casual Mediterranean market serving lighter fare. While restaurants here are not covered by the Disney Dining Plan, there is a loyalty dining program.