I stopped into the lobby bar Swizzle when at the Cabana Bay hotel yet again when I was in town the…read moreother week. I first stayed at the Cabana Bay a couple years ago on a whim. Once I stayed once and appreciated the midcentury design of the place I was hooked. And the Swizzle Lounge was definitely one of the perks. When I was running late, driving north after work from South Florida I had a 1st primary objective, make it in time to grab one martini at Swizzle. I was making ok time but when I got into the lobby I knew I only had 15 minutes to spare. And there was a long line to check in. When I finally checked in I only had minutes left. I walked up the busy evening bar with little to no hope. And yet one of the busy bartenders saw me and said they had last call already, but they would get me for one. Halleluiah. One martini later and I was ready to wander to our room. The Swizzle is retro, brightly lit, and especially friendly. Looking forward to stopping in again soon.

Its really just a place to get a drink at certain times in the lobby. They were friendly. It was…read moreexpensive and not super exciting in the taste or presentation of the drink.

Super cool Halloween bar right in the heart of Orlando by Universal Studio's! Super nice staff and…read morethe drinks are a great price and are so unique. Love the vibes, ambiance, and decor. It's in back of a comic store so you would never know it's there. Highly recommend!

Vault 5421 is a speakeasy in the back of a novelty store, God's & Monsters. Came on a Sunday and…read morejust lucked out on getting a seat because the place was packed. Love the horror theme and they play horror movies on the TVs. Definitely a touristy kind of place. They have video games and specialty drinks. There are mocktales and shots, but really they taste about the same, super sweet. I loved there selection of craft beer in the cans and bottles. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a cool way to spend a few hours.

Great atmosphere and vibe , I will say the food wasn't the best but i didn't have high expectations…read morefor an arcade, and in my personal opinion you'll be bored for certain after 2 hrs.

Good variety of games in English and Japanese. They have one of three Maximum Tune 5dx+ cabinet…read moresetups in Florida. Excellent selection of rhythm games. The techs are always on the ball about game maintenance. The servers are also very friendly - Always in good cheer when many of us aren't. Lilly, in particular goes out of her way to make sure everyone is well taken care of.

I have been SO excited to try The Whiskey ever since I saw its amazing reviews here on Yelp, and…read morelet's just say i was definitely NOT let down!!! It was the perfect atmosphere for a quick stop on a Wednesday. We came at about 2:00pm and were greeted by the sweetest bar staff and asked to take a seat wherever we'd like! Choosing which burger was the hardest part. Everything sounded AMAZING!!! I ended up trying the Shroom N' Swiss which fulfilled my craving PERFECTLY!!! Such a flavorful burger that I didn't find too over the top. I had a few of my party's truffle fries and they were incredible as well. I will definitely be back here for some burgers and apps whenever I get the craving! So happy I was able to stop by and finally try!

We popped over here for lunch on a Saturday around two in the afternoon. We were very surprised…read morewith how busy it was as it's typically not that busy on Saturday afternoons. We chose seats at the bar and were greeted promptly by Brian and Rowan. Because there were a lot of people and just the two of them, they were running around taking orders from tables as well as servicing the bar so it did take a little bit to get our drink orders in, but we were enjoying looking through the whiskey library anyways. I started off with a Suncreek blonde ale. It is strawberry blonde ale and it's delicious. My husband started with the Yingling. He keeps hoping they will bring the Kentucky bourbon ale back on tap again. For lunch, I got the whiskey dip which is full of chopped beef with cheese and onions. Served with an herb, dipping sauce, and your choice of side. I opted for the sweet potato waffle fries because they are delicious. My husband got a burger with fries cooked perfectly. Once we are done with our food, we did opt for a taster. My husband had to go through several different bottles before he found one they actually had in stock. That is one of the downside is the whiskey library that is online is not always reflective of what they actually have in stock as he was really looking forward to trying the old Fitzgerald birthday, but alas, they did not have it in stock. He ended up going with the jack Daniels 12 year and really enjoyed it. I opted for the widow Jane 14 year very sweet easy to drink. Great service from Bryan and Rowan always enjoy seeing them behind the bar

Ka La Rooftop Lounge has a nice vibe. I appreciate the fact that it is a rooftop lounge because we,…read moresadly, don't get too many rooftop lounge opportunities in Orlando. I know we have some, but we aren't coming close to other major cities. Nonetheless, the views are nice, so I enjoy that, I believe, the MOST about this lounge. They have free self-parking nearby as well as complimentary valet parking. Depending on when you arrive, a reservation may or may not be recommended. The last couple of times I visited, we were seated fairly quickly, and it was not too busy. The staff has been kind, but I will agree, as some others have noted in their reviews, that service can get a little spotty. Beyond that, everything else has been an enjoyable experience. They do offer food, drinks, and hookah. So, it is a one-stop shop if you are looking for that. I've only had fries here. I cannot speak to the rest of their food menu, but most of what I've seen looks like it would be good. Their drinks are okay. I usually just opt for getting some wine and enjoying the company of my friends and the views from the rooftop. The later in the evening you arrive, they do have live entertainment for you to enjoy, which is a nice touch. All in all, I do enjoy the time I spend here. Pricing is standard for the area. Ka La Rooftop Lounge is, as noted earlier, a nice vibe. I will be back for sure.

Gorgeous sunset view filled the evening here while out with friends!…read more This was my first time here and we were celebrating a birthday . I truly enjoyed the food , the laughs but especially the sunset ! Anyone who knows me knows o love a good sunset anytime ! Service was a bit scattered 3/5 but overall we enjoyed ourselves. Kinda weird too see people I'm swimming attire since theirs a pool close to the restaurant. I'd come back if invited but not something I'd plan .

The Small Plates: The menu is built for sharing, giving you an excuse to try half a dozen things…read more The Cajun Eggrolls and Baked Goat Cheese are absolute classics that never miss, while the Chorizo & Goat Cheese Flatbread brings incredible bold flavors. Every dish comes out hot, fresh, and bursting with creativity. The Atmosphere & Service: Loud, colorful, and buzzing with an infectious creative energy. The service matches the pace--fast, friendly, and expert at guiding you through how many plates to order. Guys this shrimp Tacos WERE AWESOME!!!

This experience was one for the books…read more From the moment we walked into Café Tu Tu Tango, the atmosphere immediately pulled us in. The restaurant was decorated for Halloween, but it still beautifully captured its signature mix of art, music, creativity, and energy. One of the biggest highlights for my kids was the live contortionist, who completely embodied the Halloween vibe with just the right amount of spookiness. Between that, the local artwork throughout the restaurant, artists painting live, and even a small jewelry station where you could watch pieces being created and purchase them, there was always something interesting happening around us. Ben, our server, and his trainee -- I believe her name was Crystal -- were phenomenal. Both were high-energy, personable, and added so much to the experience. Ben explained the small-plate concept perfectly, including how the food would arrive as it was ready and recommending about 2-3 plates per person for sharing. We took that advice seriously and practically ordered the menu. Between the chicken empanadas, chicken skewers, chicken egg rolls, dynamite shrimp, udon noodles, chorizo sliders, elote, mini hamburger sliders, kids chicken tenders, and fish tacos, everyone at the table found something they loved. Everything was flavorful, everyone was satisfied, and we were FULL by the end. The energy is high, the music is loud, and there is a lot happening -- but that is absolutely part of the experience. If you are looking for a quiet dinner, this may not be it. But if you want great food, incredible energy, art, entertainment, and a dining experience your family will actually talk about afterward, Café Tu Tu Tango is absolutely worth it. One of our favorite Orlando experiences.

Tried something new while in the area and searched for Thai food and Coco Thai popped up…read more We ordered Thai ice tea, can't go wrong with this, it's always delicious and refreshing. We started with the shrimp rolls, can't go wrong with these as a starter, only thing I wish the sauce was the peanut sauce for a creamy texture. Usual Thai restaurants spice levels are pretty spicy however their spice level wasn't based on Thai spicy levels. We got the chicken as spicy hot and it felt more mild/medium (forgot to take a pic). The carb fried rice was delicious, lots of chunks of card however we ordered medium spicy and it felt mild to us. We also ordered the chicken pad see ew, spice level mild, it was very favorable. Def would come back but would try to see if there is a spicer level than hot next time.

We love Thai food and always look for it while on vacation. We found this spot, and had a great…read moredinner here. The vibe is really nice, and they have some unique drinks. I like that they have some draft beers. We were nervous at first because we had a large and complex order, and the server did not write anything down. However, everything came out perfect. The drunken noodles and stir fry dishes were all very tasty. If you are looking for Thai food in Orlando, definitely check this place out.

If you're planning on having an event or just a friendly get together, American Social is the…read moreplace where you want to go. The atmosphere is fun, the few food is amazing and properly priced, the service is exceptional, the parking is easy and the location is great being right off of I-4 currently. Their burgers are amazing!!

A Great Spot for Drinks, Food, and Dancing!…read more Located in Sand Lake, this place has a great vibe whether you visit during the day or at night. They open at 11 AM, and the closing time varies depending on the day, with weekends going all the way until 2 AM. So, if you're looking for a place to enjoy good drinks, music, and dancing late into the night, this is definitely a spot to check out. They have a large variety of food, including happy hour bites and drinks. I tried the trio, which came with guacamole, chicken tenders, and chips. It's a good option if you're looking for something to share while enjoying your drinks. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the manager made sure we were having a good time, especially since it was our first visit. My favorite drink of the night was the spicy guava margarita! Definitely a must-try if you enjoy a little kick with a tropical flavor. The atmosphere changes throughout the day, but it really seems like a fun place to come back to on the weekend for drinks, music, and dancing. Price-wise, I would say it's $$, but worth it for the overall experience. I would definitely come back! 10/10!

Although this is a tapas place, the portions are big! It is also a rum bar, so all the cocktails on…read morethe menu are made with different rums. I'm not a fan of rum, but the drink I had (at the recommendation of our server) was actually very good. I can't remember the name unfortunately, but it was one of the "tide" drinks - not the velvet - but it's not on the online menu. For food my friend and I shared the cheesy arepas, which were good but not like usual arepas. She had the empanadas and liked them, I had the la canoa, which is a take on a Puerto Rican dish, it was really good, but different than I expected. For dessert we tried the banana bread pudding. It was huge and tasty, but way too much for two people. I will say, I always get confused and read this dish as bread pudding with bananas, but no it is made with banana bread. So if you don't like that, I'd try something else. Also, shoutout to our great server Freddie. He was very patient and knowledgeable.

Never Made It Inside - Poor Wait Time Management…read more We were really looking forward to trying this place for the first time, but unfortunately never got to eat here. We arrived at 6pm on a Sunday and were told the wait would be 45 minutes to 1 hour. We understood it was busy and put our name down. After waiting 1 hour and 15 minutes, we checked back in, only to be told they had no idea when we'd be seated. We gave it another 10 minutes, but still no timeline or update. I completely understand that restaurants get slammed and wait times can be unpredictable. What was frustrating wasn't the wait itself - it was the lack of honest communication. If it was going to be a 1.5-2 hour wait, just tell us upfront so we can make an informed decision about our evening. Honestly, the host seemed to have forgotten about us as she seemed surprised and scrolled way down the list to find our name even though we were "top of the list". After waiting over 1.5 hours with no end in sight and getting increasingly hungry, we had to leave and grab food elsewhere. With three hosts working, I would have expected better expectation management than what we experienced tonight. I hope this was just an off night, but we left disappointed and hungry.

I stayed at The Hard Rock for 4 nights to celebrate my birthday in June, and Anthony, the…read morebartender, truly made the trip unforgettable. From the first night, he was welcoming, fun to talk to, and mixed some of the best cocktails I've had. He not only remembered my favorite drinks but also recommended a few new ones that quickly became favorites. What stood out even more was how much he cared about making the experience special. Anthony gave me great food recommendations around the resort, and on the night of my birthday he surprised me by sending an assortment of snacks up to my room. It was such a thoughtful touch that made me feel celebrated and really added to the whole trip. Anthony goes above and beyond--great drinks, great conversation, and genuinely top-notch service. If you're at The Hard Rock, or enjoying the universal parks or resort, do yourself a favor and spend some time at the bar with him. He was there the last time we stayed there for my birthday as well. He's the best.

I've been working my way through the Halloween themed Universal Hotel Lounges, and this one sadly…read morehas been one of the most disappointing. The theming was so minimal as to almost feel thrown together, the drinks were unimaginative, and somehow they charge more than any of the other lounges that are so much better. The highlight was the service, both bartenders were extremely attentive and we waited almost no time at all for assistance. The cocktails were just renamed basics, and I can't imagine we'll be back again. It had the feeling of basic hotel bar.