Orlando Downtown Guide: ZIP Codes, Things to Do Today, Top Hotels (Marriott, Aloft, AC) & Brunch Spots
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Discover Orlando’s Downtown
While most vacationers visiting Orlando never set foot in downtown and may even think that International Drive is downtown Orlando (it’s not), the central business district is a refreshing and fun escape from the crowds of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, and other theme parks.
If it’s a business trip that brings you here, Orlando has no shortage of excellent hotels and superb restaurants from which to choose. And if you and the family want to dine somewhere other than chain food restaurants, this is where you’ll want to be.
While the City of Orlando only has a population of 329,000, the sprawling metro area is home to 2.1 million people, an amazing number considering it isn’t located on the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. The Orlando area, including downtown, offers much more to see and do than many metro areas that are much larger.
Author: VIAVAL TOURS
Orlando, Florida . December 24, 2018. Colorful buildings and autumn forest at Lake Eola Park on beautiful sunset background in Orlando Downtown area (1)
Vibrant Nightlife in Downtown Orlando
- If you’re in town during the NBA basketball season, the Orlando Magic play their home games at the 20,000-seat Kia Center. Forty-one regular season home games take place between late September and the end of April, with the potential for playoff games continuing in May and potentially even June.
- Affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League, the Orlando Solar Bears minor-league team plays their East Coast Hockey League home games at the Kia Center as well. There are 36 home games from mid-October through mid-April, with the Kelly Cup playoffs following. Enjoy exciting professional hockey at a fraction of the cost of NHL games.
- The largest entertainment complex in downtown Orlando, The Block, is home to eight venues including the historic theater, The Beacham, where more than 200 local, national, and international musicians perform annually. Other hot spots here include The Social for drinks and a more intimate atmosphere, The Corner dance floor, and the Aero Rooftop Bar. The Block describes themselves as “8 Vibes on One City Block”. Weekends are especially active with music, light and laser shows attracting a very enthusiastic adult crowd.
- SAK Comedy Lab is a 250-seat venue for up-and-coming comedy stars looking to follow in the footsteps of alum Wayne Brady of “Whose Line is it Anyway?”. Considered by many to be the best improv in all of Florida, weekend performances are scheduled in the heart of downtown with food and beverages available for purchase.
- In addition to basketball and hockey games, the Kia Center is the place to hear top name entertainers such as Heart, Billie Eilish, Tate McRae, Cody Johnson, and Andrea Bocelli. From hip-hop to rock, and country music to powerful opera singers, you will find an amazing schedule of performances taking place here. And yes, of course, Monster Jam also plays the Kia Center.
- Lake Eola Park is a gem in the heart of downtown Orlando. The perimeter path at 0.9 miles makes it easy to track your personal distance, and you will have a stunning view of the downtown skyline while strolling or running here. USA Today named Lake Eola Park one of the top five city parks in the U.S. Be sure to bring your camera or mobile phone along to snap a few shots of the beautiful live swans and other birds that call the park home. Rent a swan-shaped paddle boat for even better pictures of the park and surrounding area. And be sure to check out the latest schedule of outdoor concerts and unique events that take place here.
- Adjacent to the Orlando Science Center is the renowned Orlando Museum of Art, where the permanent collection includes works by Georgia O’Keefe, Nick Cave, Andy Warhol, and Richard Diebenkorn. Exhibitions change monthly so visitors can anticipate viewing amazing art from other American artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
Author: VIAVAL TOURS
Orlando, Florida. October 11, 2019. Taxiboat sailing on blue lake on colorful buildings background at Lake Buena Vista 2
Downtown Orlando’s Best Cultural Attractions
- Dance performances in Orlando? Sure, why not? The world-class Orlando Ballet is the only professional resident ballet company in the Central Florida. Performances are scheduled at the downtown Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Steinmetz Hall, and Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre. The 25/26 season includes such favorites as Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Carmen, among others.
- The Orange County Regional History Center features three floors of permanent exhibits detailing more than 14,000 years of Central Florida history. This Smithsonian Institution affiliate occupies a restored courthouse from 1927 in downtown Orlando that has been magnificently restored.
- If you have the kids in tow, they will absolutely love spending an afternoon at the Orlando Science Center. Escape the afternoon heat interacting with hands-on exhibits and wonderful planetarium shows. No kids? No problem. Adults will enjoy the incredible 3-D films presented on an enormous screen, as well as delving into the high-tech world of simulation technology. Fascinating permanent and traveling exhibits will open your mind to the wondrous and ever-changing world of science.
- Just north of downtown Orlando visitors can choose from two beautiful gardens that are superb for a slow stroll with photo opportunities of flowering plants and wildlife habitats. The Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre estate with gorgeous gardens featuring roses, camellias, and a butterflies. Just a few minutes further north in the close-in suburb of Winter Garden is the Mead Botanical Garden, a 47-acre gardener’s delight which boasts of flowering garden plants, ample wildlife habitat, and a sprawling green space that is perfect for some quiet time.
Author: NaughtyNut
MERRITT ISLAND, FL - 31 July 2016: The first stage engines of the Saturn 5 rocket which is exhibited at the visitor complex of Kennedy Space Center, United States
Our 10 Top Downtown Orlando Hotels
Travelated, our #1 go-to website for the best hotel deals, offers these hotels in downtown Orlando, which has a very walkable central core. Stay within minutes of a wide array of entertainment, dining, and shopping options, or just take a stroll over to Lake Eola for some well-deserved outdoor relaxation.
If you plan to check out downtown Orlando but prefer to stay in a touristy area, Universal Studios Orlando is the closest theme park and offers 11 excellent hotel properties on-site. Our favorites include Universal’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel. The Grand Hotel Orlando at Universal Blvd. is a popular non-park property that offers a free Universal shuttle. Great affordable rates at these and dozens of other Orlando area hotels can also be found on the Travelated website.
Author: theoutersight
Orlando, Florida - May 2, 2025: View of the Grand Helios Hotel at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, reflected in the lagoon under a bright blue sky.
Downtown Orlando Restaurants
As I’ve mentioned before, Orlando isn’t just theme parks and chain restaurants, though you might think otherwise while driving along International Drive and US 192/Irlo Bronson Hwy. in Kissimmee. Thankfully, this is a major city with a bustling downtown scene that includes a slew of fantastic local dining options. Here are just a few of our favorites:
- The Wellborn - Latin-inspired tapas and creative drinks served in the former I.W. Phillips House, a 1917 antebellum-style mansion that was relocated here in the 1980s. Weekend brunch is extremely popular.
- Drake Kitchen + Bar – Serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, plus daily happy hour. Eclectic internationally inspired menu features tapas, a vintage cheese bar + charcuterie, and distinctive pizza, meat, seafood, and vegetarian cuisine. Nothing is cookie cutter here.
- Gringos Locos – With three local stores, our favorite is the downtown spot. Everything is so fresh and so delicious, with all salsas, marinades, and queso made right here every day. Even the beans, chips, and hard taco shells are fried in-house. The creative menu names like Guaco Taco, OK Jorge and Mouth Hugger burritos make the very casual experience much more fun. Inexpensive with 4-8 p.m. happy hour food deals.
- Reyes Mezcalaria – An upscale and vibrant dining experience awaits you at Reyes Mezcalaria. Executive Chef Wendy Lopez, a Mexican native from the state of Michoacan pairs creative Mexican dishes that go perfectly with the restaurant’s move than 150 agave spirits and craft cocktails. Ingredients are locally sourced to the fullest extent possible, making this spot a favorite in the downtown dining scene.
- The Strand – Serious yet unpretentious dining for foodies describes The Strand well. Serving New American cuisine that focuses on seasonal made from scratch dishes, the restaurant owners strive to rekindle a mid-20th century atmosphere in Orlando’s Mills 50 District. The menu is constantly changing based on availability of ingredients but is always diverse enough to offer specialties such as duck, scallops, Alabama chicken, and vegetarian options.
- The Stubborn Mule – Open daily for lunch, dinner, and late night. Weekend brunch. Named for the Moscow Mule cocktail, the Mule features an American menu with something for everyone. Casual and fun, choose from apps, salads, handhelds, burgers, and full entrees. There’s a full line-up of mule cocktails as well as draft beers.
Additional downtown Orlando restaurants that you may want to consider for a meal either pre-game or pre-concert, or for something more memorable include The Monroe, The Boheme in the Grand Bohemian Orlando hotel, the Dapper Duck, and the Eola Wine Company, a wine bar with light food options as well as a weekend brunch.
Author: Joseph Hendrickson
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL, USA - JANUARY 16, 2021: The House of Blues restaurant and music venue exterior.
Stay and Play in Downtown Orlando
It’s easy to see that Orlando is so much more than theme parks, and with the Atlantic Ocean beaches just an hour away, downtown Orlando is the perfect place to stay. If you are coming to town for work, a sports event, concert, or just to hang out, and theme parks aren’t part of your plan, there’s no better place to spend the night.
Downtown Orlando is packed with hotels in various price categories, and is walkable to Lake Eola, Kia Center, cultural attractions, and plenty of restaurants. Check it out during your next getaway to Central Florida.
