The 20 Orlando bars you need to drink in before you die

The Courtesy Bar
114 N. Orange Ave.; 407-450-2041

Because you should always start the night off right, The Courtesy is probably one of the best bars to kickoff a long night of drinking in downtown Orlando. It's a true connoisseur’s barhop, with truly creative drink recipes and no “hey, this might be good” sloppiness. In addition to the delicious drinks, the vibe is sophisticated without being stuffy: Lighting and sound levels are both pleasingly low, while style points for the vintage furnishings and long banquette are high.
Photo via westjetmagazine/Instagram

Eden Bar
1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; 407-629-1088

Eden Bar at Enzian is arguably one of the most hidden gems in the Orlando area. It’s a place that can make a couple looking for craft cocktails just as happy as a crowd who just want to split a few pitchers of beer. The splashing fountain and tropical landscaping make it picturesque (when the weather’s nice), the menu is a good balance of satisfying bar snacks and more upscale fare, and the best movies in town are screening inside, just steps away. Unbeatable.

Photo by mr_wax/Instagram

Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
110 W. Church St.; 321-319-0600
Love drag shows and brunch? Combine both at Hamburger Mary’s, where drag queens walk around the bar spreading humor and song as you dine. More laughs will be shared once you’re tipsy over a few sips of your cocktail.

Photo via Hamburger Mary Orlando/Facebook

Lil Indies
1036 N. Mills Ave., 407-748-8256
This place is like drinking in your best friend's parent's living room, if they had good cocktails, of course. The bartenders at Lil Indies know how to make a damn good drink. And, as an added bonus, you're right next door to Will's Pub, which is also a mandatory stop in The City Beautiful.

Photo via vacumatic/Instagram

Will's Pub
1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando., 407-748-8256
A culture hub of Orlando, Will's is where any traveling act worth it's salt stops. Whether there's a show that night or not, with tons of quirky events and a great beer menu, Will's is a must stop.

Photo via harpoonlarry/Instagram

The Treehouse
68 E. Pine St., 407-205-2062

Probably the tiniest bar in Orlando, The Treehouse is so perfectly twee that it makes you feel like you're drinking in an elf's apartment. Find the green door on Pine Street and walk up stairs carpeted in fake grass and under "branches" that frame the stairwell, into a cozy wood-paneled room scented like pine needles. Craft cocktails are the bar's specialty, but be forewarned: The menu skews toward the sweet. Fortunately, the bartender was more than happy to mix us something a little less cloying off-menu.

Photo by thetreehouseorlando/Instagram

Stardust Video & Coffee
1842 Winter Park Road, 407-623-3393

OK, bear with us for this one. Yeah, we know, you go here for your coffee, but there’s more to order than a macchiato or cappuccino, kiddos. There’s a bar for a reason, and that specialty cocktail list keeps on growing. Keep cool during the upcoming hot Florida months of hell with a Mint Julep, or check out what’s featured on their constantly rotating menu.

Photo by fresia_a/Instagram

The Guesthouse
1321 N. Mills Ave., 407-630-6574
One of the best cocktail spots on the "Mills Strip," The Guesthouse pours a damn good drink. The many hanging plants (and the nifty palm-print wallpaper in the restrooms) give it a fern-bar feel; the lighting’s soft glow and the cushion-strewn couch pick up on that pick-up vibe. If you get the munchies, you're just footsteps away from Pop Thai and Black Rooster Taqueria.

Photo via geoffforbes/Instagram

Park Social
358 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, 407-636-7020

Walk up a flight of stairs on Park Ave and you're suddenly hanging out in a bar suitable for Austin Powers; '60s-style furniture and decor furnish this hidden Winter Park gem. They have a nice selection of fancy cocktails and beers. and if you're into cutting a rug, this place goes off on the weekends.

Photo by Park Social/Facebook

GB Bottle Shop & Tasting Bar
531 Virginia Drive | 407-634-0110
This new lil hot spot is a sister company to The Gnarly Barley bar in South Orlando. GB claims, whether you're a self-dubbed "beer geek" or casual beer drinker they can find you the perfect brew and with 20 rotating taps and over 200 bottle beers, we can see they're not kidding. The retail shop is open 7 days a week at noon and the bar opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at 3 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. Sundays.
Photo via katymag/ Instagram

Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour
2810 Corrine Drive | 407-893-9832
Redlight Redlight grew from a small Park Avenue boutique into the 23-draft, 250+ bottle wonderland on Corrine Drive. Be aware, if your looking for the everyday cheap domestics look elsewhere, this location is a true beer bar with no cocktails offered either!
Photo via Redlight Redlight/ Facebook

World of Beer
Multiple Locations
You're not going to find a better view of Lake Eola and beer pairing. This craft beer chain has multiple friendly and laid-back locations in Orlando, but the downtown spot is truly awesome. Stop in for happy hour Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays from 10 p.m. to close for $5 tavern shares and $4 drafts.
Photo via lakeeola/ Instagram

Barley & Vine Biergarten
2406 E Washington St. | 407-930-0960
The Biergarten has one of the best patio bars in town, perfect to sip on one of the 25 draft beers available. If you're feeling hungry, your out of luck, except on Sundays during a cookout event, free food with a drink purchase is available.
Photo via uncommoncatering/ Instagram

Hanson’s Shoe Repair
27 E. Pine St., 407-476-9446

Arguablly one of the best patios in downtown Orlando, Hanson's is worth all the speakeasy rigmarole. You actually have to call ahead to get a password; only a limited number of people are allowed into the dim, narrow, impeccably designed space; and the craft cocktails are out of this world. No vodka served here – vodka wasn’t part of the American cocktail lexicon during the Prohibition era – but the bartenders will be happy to mix you something that’ll prove even more satisfying than that Cosmopolitan you may have had in mind.

Photo by kiwi0681/Instagram

Aku Aku Tiki Bar
431 E. Central Blvd.; 407-839-0080
As an homage to a 1950s-'60s Hawaiian beach bar, Aku Aku strives to not be “just your average tiki bar” with throwback bamboo bar stools, leaning surf boards and vintage beach films playing on the TVs. Drinks like the Fu Manchu, made with a heavy dose of 94-proof Sailor Jerry Rum and a kick of ginger, and the Tiger Fucker, made with 44* North Huckleberry Vodka and housemade jalapeño-blackberry syrup, are sure to knock you off your chair.

Photo by Rob Bartlett

Player 1
8562 Palm Parkway; 407-504-7521
If you have a n00b in your group, bring em to Player 1, and from hop from arcade games like Pacman to newer consoles like the PS4, Wii and all types of videogames. Oh, and of course there’s booze. You can get mead, sake or craft beers here too, but no Bud Light and no liquor.

Photo via Player 1 Video Game Bar/Facebook

The Hammered Lamb
1235 N. Orange Ave. | 407-704-3200
There’s nothing "baa"d about this bar! There’s tons of outdoor seating, a ping-pong table and a gorgeous view of the lake. There are two full bars. one for both inside and out, with over 70 beer options. The Lamb is known best for its tradition of offering free shots every time the train goes by and is cool with your furry friend tagging along. Plus, it has a mean Bloody Mary bar on Sundays.
Photo via Hammered Lamb/Facebook

The Hideaway Bar
516 Virginia Dr., 407-898-5892
There's no reason not to stumble into The Hideaway now that it takes credit cards. This local dive is open at 7 a.m. every day but Sunday (when they open at 9 a.m.), so it’s very aptly named any time you want to duck away. It’s a perfect place to catch a game, shoot pool, bury your face in a dark room with insnaley good/greasey burger, or post up on the patio and watch another day in the Ivanhood slip by.

Photo via lemonhearted.com

Sly Fox
63 N. Orange Ave.
Sly Fox is chill little duck-in right off the strip in downtown Orlando and a nice stop before you head into the tsunami of drunks at Wall St.

Photo via sly_fox_orlando/Instagram

Wall St. Plaza
Wall St, Orlando, 407-849-0471
This "drinks-to-go" area of downtown is a mandatory stop for anyone who wants to experience a real boozy Orlando Saturday. There's pretty much a bar for everyone in here. But if you're looking for some mixology, Hen House recently won "Best Cocktail" at The Great Orlando Mixer.

Photo via Wall St. Plaza/Facebook