Beyond the theme parks and tourists, a multicultural culinary wonderland awaits in Orlando. If you’re traveling there for vacation or simply heading over for a weekend, there is lots to feast on. The bustling city is home to world-class restaurants near the theme parks and Michelin-starred spots nestled among the town’s residential sprawl. Here are our picks for where to go for some of the city’s most sumptuous bites.
Bacán at The Lake Nona Wave Hotel
If you haven’t visited Lake Nona, a trendy planned community near Orlando International Airport, it’s worth a stop on your weekend trip. The Lake Nona Wave Hotel is one of the neighborhood’s most exciting developments. The 234-room luxury hotel is set near Lake Nona’s swanky Town Center. It boasts a vast array of stunning art and impressive technology (like Toto toilets and smart windows that dim automatically), but it also has strong dining options, including the must-visit Michelin-recommended restaurant Bacán. This spot is influenced by “the boldly seductive flavors of the Americas,” featuring lots of dishes with Central and South American flair.
There’s a five-course chef’s tasting menu offered before 9 p.m. (the whole table has to opt in), or a large a la carte menu offering a wide array of flavorful dishes. Starters like smoked pork belly and tuna crudo are worth sharing, but you must save room for one of the mains. Between the duck breast served with carrots and pickled apricots, the Bacán burger made with wagyu beef and foie gras, the lamb loin with mezcal peppercorn sauce and the carne asada featuring a 12-ounce striploin, it’s nearly impossible to choose. Everything here has a rather dramatic flair, from the warmth of the dining room to the fiery flavors on the plate. Lovely desserts, which rotate often, round out a meal, like the Mont Blanc tart with chestnut cream, pear and Mexican vanilla confit or the Flancocho, almond cake with coconut flan and pineapple cilantro confit.
Before or after your time at Bacán, wander through the hotel’s stunning lobby for a co*cktail at the Living Room Bar, which serves up drinks like Heart Beatz, made with Corazón Blanco tequila, hibiscus, pomegranate and an egg-free “Fee” foam; and Thomas Edison’s Bright Idea with Lillet Blanc, Chandon Garden Spritz and soda. And, if you need more food, there are tapas-style bites like the octopus anticucho paired with baby corn and crispy celery root and tostones paired with grapefruit mojo, black salt and cilantro.
6100 Wave Hotel Drive, Orlando. 407-675-2000. bacanlakenona.com.
Victoria & Albert’s
One of Walt Disney World’s best-kept secrets is Victoria & Albert’s, a Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The restaurant maintains a discreet profile on the outside, but on the inside, ambience and elegance reign supreme: With white tablecloths, a harpist strumming romantic tunes and a selection of over 500 wines to accompany the multicourse menu offered each night, it’s one of the most refined meals you can have in the tourism mecca. The restaurant, currently presided over by chef de cuisine Matthew Sowers, received its first Michelin star in April. Tasting menus in the main dining room start at $295 per person, with optional drink pairings: $155 for wine and $115 for zero-proof pairings. You can also book more intimate chef’s table reservations. The menu changes every day, but recent dishes include Norwegian king crab with kohlrabi and lemon verbena, rabbit cappelletti with sugar snap peas and saffron and a wild boar dish with rhubarb and broccolini. Save room for at least one dessert course (though there’s usually more), with sweet bites like candied carrots with hazelnut praline and cocoa “soil” and a mango pavlova with serrano pepper and Chantilly cream.
4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista. 407-939-5277. disneyworld.disney.go.com.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
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Explore all your optionsIt doesn’t get more luxe than the Four Seasons, a swanky oasis tucked away on Walt Disney World property. Featuring an 18-hole golf course and tennis courts, a 5-acre water park including a lazy river and a serene spa offering massages and facials, this resort is worth a visit whether you’re planning a multi-day stay or just coming for the evening. The hotel’s dining program is top-notch, with a Michelin-starred steakhouse, an Italian restaurant open for breakfast and dinner (there’s even a character breakfast for kids) and elevated poolside dining.
At Capa, the steakhouse on the 17th floor of the hotel, Spanish influences and refined service combine to create a stunning dining experience. The restaurant has one Michelin star from the esteemed food guide, and for good reason: This is some of the best food in the area. The open kitchen is the centerpiece of the dining room, creating a show unto itself with lots of fiery drama as the evening unfolds. The menu is vast and worth perusing patiently. Are you in the mood for one of the gorgeous shareable small plates, like the pulpo a la Gallega (octopus, potatoes, boquerones, pimentón, black pepper glaze and garlic aioli) or the Coliflor (fried cauliflower, culantro sofrito and pasture-raised eggs)? Or maybe a spread of Spanish cheese and charcuterie? You can’t go wrong with any of the starters.
But save room for the entrees: This is a steakhouse, after all, and you must try one of the many cuts on the menu, like the New York strip, porterhouse or Delmonico Platinum X Wagyu. They’re sourced from places like Japan and New Zealand and are cooked on the restaurant’s signature hickory grill. Some are served on a giant Himalayan salt slab. The Iberico pluma, a Spanish pork dish that’s served with Marcona almond romesco and Valencia orange notes, is a worthy non-steak option. With attentive service and an impressive selection of co*cktails (they make a mean Carajillo) and wines by the glass, a meal here is one to remember. And to top it all off, each night, the restaurant’s balcony offers awesome views of the fireworks at nearby Walt Disney World.
10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista. 407-313-7777. fourseasons.com/orlando.
Kadence
The folks behind this refined yet playful Michelin-starred spot in Orlando’s Audubon Park Garden District have helped elevate Orlando’s food scene, ushering in a new wave of high-quality omakase experiences. The restaurant’s nondescript exterior, shown above, belies a lively experience inside. Owners Mark and Jennifer Berdin opened Kappo in the city’s charming East End Market food hall in 2014 and quickly gained a following for the innovative culinary moves at their humble sushi stand. They moved just around the corner in 2016 to open Kadence, a more intimate dining experience boasting a $305-per-person tasting menu that’s heavy on seafood and sake. Both owners come from Michelin-starred restaurants and are “certified advanced sake professionals.” A meal here will not fail to wow.
1809 Winter Park Road, Orlando. kadenceorlando.com.
