There’s something special about a good landscape--or cityscape--view while you’re wining and dining. Lucky for us, Orlando has quite a few patios, rooftop dining areas and more. Here are some of the best places in the Orlando area for a meal and a view.
20 Orlando restaurants with ridiculously scenic views
By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Jul 28, 2017 at 10:18 pm
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World of Beer
431 E. Central Blvd. | 407-270-5541While World of Beer’s specialty is pretty obvious, it offers so much more. The menu has tons of wines and specialty cocktails (including five different mule variations), and a full menu complete with beer-pairing suggestions. Kick back and share some green chili chicken nachos with your buddies--or scarf them all down yourself--while watching Lake Eola in all of its glory.
Photo via tim_ely/Instagram
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
7488 W. Sand Lake Rd. | 407-355-3011You get what you pay for and, for the most part, this pricey Dr. Phillips fish house delivers. Eddie V’s offers a beautiful view of the Orlando Eye from across the sparkling Little Sand Lake. The steak tartare with lobster and the jumbo lump crab make a splash as starters, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better steak than their 22-ounce USDA Prime bone-in rib-eye.
Photo via helenagp/Instagram
Canvas Restaurant & Market
13615 Sachs Ave. | 407-313-7800The views through the floor-to-ceiling windows at Canvas are unbeatable. In fact, it might be the only place in town where one can relish a gratifying, and picturesque, lakeside meal prepared by a skilled chef (Bryan Thoman). The diverse menu, with items such as yuca fries and sauteed shrimp mofongo, has enough to satisfy your most particular cravings.
Photo via canvaslakenona/Instagram
Paddlefish
1670 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista | 407-934-2628Paddlefish is a three-story floating fortress of food permanently moored at Disney Springs. The riverboat features fresh seafood dishes, a rooftop deck, and multiple contemporary dining rooms and outdoor spaces. When you’re floating on the Springs, pretty much any seat can be considered the best seat in the house, especially with a lobster on the plate in front of you.
Photo via paddlefishorl/Instagram
Mesa 21
1414 N Orange Ave. | 407-930-8000Mesa 21 boasts authentic Mexican cuisine “on American soil,” and that soil happens to be on the edge of Lake Ivanhoe. Stop by in the evening on a Taco Tuesday for an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Photo via Mesa21/Facebook
Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs
1600 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista | 407-939-6686Morimoto Asia offers quite a bit of stimulation when you’re feeling particularly classy. From the hand-crafted sushi and authentic pan-Asian cuisine to the beautiful indoor seating and outdoor patio, the last thing this restaurant lacks is a wow-factor.
Photo via Morimoto Asia
Hillstone
215 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park | 407-740-4005Located right on Lake Killarney, Hillstone is the perfect restaurant to enjoy a beautiful sunset reflecting off the lake while you sip on craft cocktails. The appetizers alone, although only a small list, are the perfect start to the evening, an evening that we suggest should be ended with Hillstone’s warm, five-nut brownie to finish off the night.
Photo via hillstonewinterpark/Instagram
Eleven at Reunion Grande Resort
7593 Gathering Drive, Kissimmee | 407-662-1170By day, the rooftop where Eleven is located is the hotel's pool deck, but come dusk, the sliding glass wall opens to reveal an elegant space where some of Central Florida's best steaks are served. Whatever you order for your main, don't miss the roasted garlic app that spreads like buttah over toasted baguette, Cambozola cheese and confit cherry tomatoes. Views of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks are on deck post-dessert.
Photo via scottparent/Instagram
California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
4660 World Drive | 407-939-3463This 15th-floor restaurant provides every table with a panorama. Diners have full view of food-preparation stations—where chefs prepare gourmet dishes using seasonal ingredients—and Cinderella’s castle. You might want to make an advanced reservation if you plan to see the fireworks show that closes out the parks at night, as the capacity is very limited.
Photo via California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
STK Orlando
1580 E. Buena Vista Drive | 407-917-7440Slowly rolling out the most succulent and choicest of cuts, STK provides a breathtaking view from the rooftop patio. With filets that are overwhelming in taste and texture, we guess you could say the steaks have never been higher.
Photo via STK (Orlando, FL)/Facebook
Nova New American Restaurant
1409 N. Orange Ave. | 407-745-4080Nova, short for North Orange and Virginia, is a farm-to-table restaurant overlooking Lake Ivanhoe. With fresh ingredients and interesting flavor combos, like the lobster bao with preserved lemon aioli and the gorgonzola mashed potatoes, put a sophisticated spin on classic dishes.
Photo via NOVA New American Restaurant/Facebook
Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grille
9840 International Drive | 407-996-3970The Rosen Centre Hotel is luxurious to say the least, and the pool is no exception. With your choice of bar or table seating on the terrace, order from their selection of Caribbean-inspired appetizers and entrees. Pick your poison from the refreshing cocktail menu with drinks like mojitos and strawberry basil lemonade.
Photo via Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill
Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton
4012 Central Florida Parkway | 407-393-4333This ritzy restaurant is one of the most awarded hotel restaurants around, so button up your shirt when you show up for your reservation. The view of the lake and golf course from the outdoor terrace is gold to say the least, and you might prefer to look at that over the hefty price tags on the menu.
Photo via The Ritz-Carlton
Big River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd. | 407-560-0253At Big River Grille & Brewing Works, you have a couple options for your view: you can watch the brewmaster craft six specialty beers, or you can grab a table on the waterfront outdoor patio. The restaurant puts a modern twist on American classics, with dishes such as barbecue ribs with garlic mashed potatoes.
Photo via kylewhit89/Instagram
Shake Shack
119 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park | 321-203-5130The landscaped patio at Shake Shack in Winter Park overlooks Lake Killarney, and is a sweet place to slurp a Fair Shake coffee treat and eat a drippy, delicious burger. Who doesn’t love some fresh french fries and a creamy milkshake to go along with them?
Photo via naplesjay/Instagram
Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
10100 Dream Tree Blvd. | 407-313-7777This Spanish steakhouse’s location on the 17th floor of the Four Seasons Resort makes it a prime spot for watching the fireworks shows at Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Staff will take you out onto the terrace a few minutes before the shows so you can view them from the best seat in the house. Reservations are required, so make sure you call ahead.
Photo via Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
The Boathouse
1620 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista | 407-939-2628The Boathouse offers a variety of indoor and outdoor seating with a view of the Disney Springs dock. The menu features high-end surf n’ turf, like swordfish steak and 28-ounce Porterhouse steak. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can go on the Captain’s Guided Tour of Disney Springs in an Italian water taxi, or in an Amphicar, which can travel both by land and water.
Photo via Google Maps
The Waterfront
4201 S. Orange Ave. | 407-866-0468The Waterfront offers homestyle classics like burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and fries, but also features fresh seafood appetizers and entrees like blackened catfish. Enjoy your meal while looking out across Jennie Jewel Lake, and wash it all down with a microbrew or cocktail.
Photo via thewaterfrontorlando/Instagram
310 Lakeside
301 E. Pine St. | 407-373-0310Located right across the street from Lake Eola, 310 Lakeside offers a high-quality menu with a high-quality view. Sit outside on the terrace and listen to the sounds of downtown Orlando and the Lake Eola fountain. Whether you’re in the mood for munching on some tasty appetizers, biting into a juicy entree, or downing a few selections from the impressive wine list, 310 allows you to kick back in a more sophisticated environment.
Photo via lakeeola/Instagram
The Enzian
1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland | 407-629-1088Dinner with a view is what this place is all about. The Enzian Theater should be one of your top film spots, as both modern and classic masterpieces are screened every week. But what makes it even better is the fact that you can kick back with a glass of wine and a prosciutto cucumber melt while you enjoy the flick.
Photo via ccolunna/Instagram
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