Brushing Orlando as a tourist trap for Disney fanatics, it’s easy. But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover that Florida’s third-largest city has long been home to a thriving culinary landscape teeming with mouth-watering options from cocktail-fueled karaoke sessions to spurge-worthy tasting menus.

“I think many people will be surprised by the diversity of Orlando’s culinary scene, as well as the tight-knit community that has been built as more and more local restaurants take center stage,” says Jamilyn Salonga-Bailey, co-owner of Kaya, a contemporary restaurant. Filipino restaurant and 2024 James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant. “Orlando has a very supportive food community, and there are so many people in the city who want to see our food scene go beyond the big box chains.”

Justin Levaughn, co-owner and beverage director of Otto’s High Dive, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized rum bar and restaurant, agrees and adds, “I’ve also noticed over the years that our hospitality industry is taking on a certain sense of pride in This is a secret, world-class food and drink scene that visitors have to dig deep to discover.»

If you’re planning a vacation around quality restaurants and bars, Orlando has you covered. Ahead is a handy guide to where to eat, drink and stay during your visit. The beautiful city.

Kaya

To taste some of the best Filipino food in town, head to Kaya in Mills 50, a neighborhood just north of downtown Orlando filled with all kinds of Asian restaurants. Co-owned by chef Lordlier Lalicon and Salonga-Bailey, Kaya is much more than your typical restaurant; it’s a vibrant community hub where locals do karaoke, enjoy drinks during happy hour, and feast on Sama Sama, Kaya’s signature seafood and vegetable tasting menu. Even better? More than 90 percent of Kaya’s produce comes from area farms, earning it a Michelin green star. If it’s your first visit, Salonga-Bailey recommends the oxtail kare kare: “Chef Lo made this dish for his wife Julie on their first date almost 20 years ago, he so had a lot of time to perfect it.

Ômo de Jônt

Think Winter Park Ômo de Jônt a sort of return to culinary sources for the famous chef Ryan Ratino of Jônt, two Michelin stars, in Washington, DC who dreamed of opening his own spot in Central Florida after attending Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando. As at Jônt, the culinary experience is progressive. Guests start in the lounge with gourmet bites (warm brioche topped with pineapple jam and foie gras) and Krug Grande Cuvée, before being guided to a 16-seat counter for artful compositions of precious Japanese ingredients ( Nanatsuboshi rice, Akamutsu, Bafun). uni) and seasonal products from Florida. Presented at another counter, desserts are also considered; the ice cream for the kakigori is freshly shaved on a Hatsuyuki machine, while the sweet treats are playfully presented in Jônt’s signature box. The three tasting menus (Excursion, Journey, Jaunt) start at $145 per guest. So while Ômo by Jônt is expensive, it’s also refreshing and relaxed, thanks to the cheerful staff and hip-hop soundtrack.

Otto’s dive

Otto’s dive in the Milk District bridges the past and present, while showcasing the region’s rich cultural and agricultural heritage. As beverage director and co-owner Justin Levaughn says, “We honor our roots as Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrant families, embrace our future as Floridians, and highlight the abundance of great food grown in our garden. » Although it’s billed as a neighborhood rum bar, there’s more to it than well-crafted daiquiris and coquitos. The menu offers something for every appetite, from zesty ceviche made with the daily catch to house-made lechon, which is roasted on Otto’s custom-built Caja China “to keep the technique consistent with our families’ favorite roasting method “, explains Levaughn. .

Tori Tori

Since opening ramen-focused Domu in 2016, Sean “Sonny” Nguyen has become one of Orlando’s most prominent chefs and restaurateurs, launching several Asian concepts along the way, including the restaurant recommended by Michelin. Tori Tori at Mills 50. The goal? Combining the best qualities of an upscale cocktail bar with an old-school Japanese izakaya. Tori Tori is not a traditional place to sit; instead, you order drinks and food at the bar, grab a seat, and wait for your order to arrive. As for what to get? You can’t go wrong pairing a Toki Highball, fresh out of the Suntory Toki Highball machine, with charcoal-grilled yakitori chicken skewers like tsukune (meatballs) and skin.

Bacán and Nami at Lake Nona Wave Hotel

Hotel restaurants have long had a reputation for being bland and predictable. This is certainly not the case Hotel Lake Nonaa stylish property filled with art and technology that houses two attractive concepts. Recommended by Michelin Bacán offers refined Latin-inspired cuisine – classic Brazilian Moqueca with fish stew is revisited by chef Guillaume Robin with local seafood, crispy quinoa and coconut broth – as well as equally creative cocktails like the Cocobolo Old Fashioned, a tropical blend from Brugal 1888., Amaro Nonino and Xocolate Mole Bitters garnished with a flambéed banana leaf.

Led by chefs Freddy Money and Jason Béliveau, Nami is a dark and chic hideaway specializing in crowd-pleasing Japanese comfort with elevated touches. Think: lamb chops drizzled with green miso, slices of buttery hamachi with tangy ponzu, and puffy lobster fritters. If you’re in the mood to splurge, look no further than the 20-course Chef’s Counter Experience, where the friendly staff will spoil you with complex bites featuring the finest vegetables, seafood and meats. cooler.