Packwoods is a small, hip cocktail bar in "Maitland Social," a little food hall-ish place with a…read moreFoxtail Coffee, a sushi bar, and a pizza parlor. (I gather you can order food from the neighboring restaurants while drinking here.) It reminds me of The Courtesy in Winter Park--which I definitely mean as a compliment. The drinks are inventive, well-crafted, and well-presented, and the service is friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. The drink menu the night I went was divided into sections: effervescent, shaken, stirred, and "exploring technique." I had two drinks: the "Siam Silk" is a tiki-ish riff on a clarified milk punch using cognac, a rum blend, and Thai iced tea with fruit; the other drink I had was a low-ABV riff on a Sherry Cobbler. They were both great, and I appreciate that they have a creative low/no-alcohol portion of the menu. This was definitely a pleasant surprise to find up north of Orlando, although perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised at all--Maitland has another one of my favorite bars in the metro area (Permanent Vacation). I'll definitely be back.

This was a very nice small cocktail lounge with a cozy and intimate feel. There were a few two…read moretable toppers in the middle, a bar, and a long booth in the back with tables for larger parties. You just sat down wherever you liked and a staff member came over, brought us water, and took our orders. We came the day of the derby and they really leaned into the theme with decorations, complimentary drink coozies and fans, and special drink options, which made the experience feel fun and thoughtful. The service was attentive and welcoming.

Always a good experience at Death in the Afternoon…read more Just a chill vibe, great service, cocktails speak for themselves. Really enjoy trying one of their creations and their take on a classic. Short wait for the bar...worth it!! Street parking available or ride share. Drink Responsibly....cheers!

I had 30 places on my Mills 50 walking route that day, and Death in the Afternoon sat at the very…read moretop of my list. The name alone was enough to capture my imagination. It evokes another era, the 1930s and 1940s, a hidden place where people escaped reality for a few hours and where every whispered conversation felt a little more dangerous than it should. There is something about saying the name out loud that feels almost mischievous. Even before stepping inside, it conjures images of old Hollywood glamour, forbidden romance, and the kind of longing that filled classic films. The sort of place where people met not because they had to, but because they couldn't stay away. The space itself more than lives up to the promise of its name. Death in the Afternoon is one of the most visually interesting places Orlando has to offer. It feels intimate, mysterious, and wonderfully removed from the ordinary. I couldn't help but think of The Great Gatsby, not because of excess or extravagance, but because of that same sense of romance, possibility, and yearning for something just out of reach. In fact, I visited twice in the same afternoon. My first stop was simply to satisfy my curiosity and see if the reality matched the image I had built up in my head. It did. So after completing the rest of my three-hour Mills 50 walk, I found myself drawn back for a meal and a chance to enjoy the atmosphere a little longer. The menu is limited, so choose wisely. The salmon entrée was excellent and easily the standout of my meal. The Caesar salad was pleasant enough, but the salmon is what I would come back for. As a perfect ending to the day, a dear longtime Yelp colleague joined me and we spent some time catching up on the latest news and gossip in our circles. Good conversation, a memorable meal, and an atmosphere that feels like it belongs to another time. Death in the Afternoon is not just a restaurant. It's the kind of place that stays on your mind long after you've left. Make sure your stay is not over 2 hours tho ..

Chase and Julia (gosh I hope i got the names right) were fabulous hosts, guides, bartenders! Step…read moreinside the dimly lit tasting room and craft cocktail bar and relax! I've been trying to stop into this distillery for years, but my timing was always off. Either they were closed that day i was there or not opening before I left. But today, the starts aligned. If you know, John and I love going to small craft/ small batch distilleries & we have the bar to back that up. Years of learning what we love and what we (I really) don't. I was all interested in the bourbon! And they delivered! Every batch is a one and done, with every new batch trying to be better and more refined than the last. Reminds me of myself, I'm always moving forward & trying to do better! Loved the bourbon. The Winter Park Arts Festival blend was phenomenal! Then... I tried the Gincident and that was an easy yes, let's take that bottle home. Meanwhile, Chase was bragging about their Best Espresso Martini.... hmmm, prove it. Made with bourbon, omg yes please. Proprietary blend of coffee, vodka made in house and yes, it was one of my to three I've ever had! And now I want to start trying various bourbons to make one at home! And I heard they do a Halloween Yelp Event!!! Whhhaaaatttt! Please please, I must go this coming fall! I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!

Came to this place and search of a popular food truck & stayed for the drinks and vibes. We were…read moreunsure really what forward slash was until we arrived. To be honest, we thought we were coming to a brewery and quickly realized it was a distillery. We walked in and noticed a bunch of outdoor seating. It was the perfect night so we looked forward to sitting outside. The atmosphere was busy, but laid back. We entered into the dimly lit establishment at Harry Potter playing on the TV (win!). It was a speakeasy-esque vibe and I loved it. We ordered an old-fashioned and espresso martini which were quickly brought to our table. They indicated that the espresso martini was the best one in town, so naturally I had to try it. I would definitely say it takes top five. We sat outside and had a great evening at this place. We will definitely be back and look forward to it.

A table of eight and half of us were here before. No one had anything less to say less than "this…read morefood and place is amazing" The ribs, the cauliflower, the salmon, the red snapper, the fried chicken. WOW! This place is dialed into service, presentation and flavor. Make the reservation, make the trip Amazing job guys. Everyone from the group is looking at brining their respective people for a second visit. Great! Great! Great!

Delicious food!! My husband made reservations and surprised me for dinner. First time here and we…read moregot LOVED IT!! The vibe was immaculate. The drinks were great and the food was soo good that we still talk about it days later. He loved the bone marrow. Steak was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. The cake was not my favorite at all. It took way too long to come out and it came out very cold. Not much chocolate flavor, too much salt. It was missing something. We will skip dessert next time.

Upstairs at East End with a menu that changes from time to time…read more My first visit was in October 2024 and going back I keep finding Great service and great atmosphere. They seem to be doing even more events and promoting them too.

We came in for drinks and pizza and had a great experience. Service was good and you can't beat the…read morelive music and views of the sunset. This was my first time trying their pizza and it was solid. We got The Regular, which has red sauce, cheese, pepperoni, pesto, and hot honey. The pizza had a focaccia like bread. The toppings were flavorful and the portion size was big. 4 large square slices. Next time, I'll definitely share one instead of getting my own. It was hot, fresh, and so flavorful! I got my favorite cocktail, The Winter Park. I love that it comes with a little cookie. I tried their seasonal Sweet Spud cocktail with sweet potato, cheese cream, miso, and salt. I hated it, but I think that's just my taste and not their preparation. Otherwise, be sure to check out their seasonal menu! This is a great place for food, cocktails, and relaxation.

HOW HAVE I NOT REVIEWED THE GUESTHOUSE YET?????…read more Best Tom Collins Cocktail I've ever had! I've celebrated my birthday here, have met up with friends here and more gone when they had a food collab. This place is awesome. They get very busy but the ambiance is fun. Last year, we got a group together to celebrate "The Eve Before the Eve" (12/23) and we had such a blast! Tasty cocktails, chill atmosphere. They do not serve food at this establishment but you can order food or bring food in. It kind of works out because there is so much delicious food on the strip! If you want a good craft cocktail, access to delicious eats nearby or a place to meet up with some friends for a birthday or just because, this is a good place to start! And please, for the love of god try the Tom Collins if that's your kind of drink...it's so good!

The perfect post dinner chill spot. I went on a Thursday and as always it was full of lively…read moreconversation and great vibes. They had two alcohol free beers for me and even though they weren't my favorites it was nice to try something new. Great if you enjoy a light beer. I wish the music wasn't blaring. For a weeknight I wish you didn't have to yell to talk. The bartenders are always nice and helpful. They guided me through my selection. 10/10 atmosphere. Drink up!

Very sad they are closing this amazing bar with high ceiling and great sounds. The best local djs…read moreplayed here. Free parking around! Good drinks..... goodbye

Brought in the new year with a few close friends at a private NYE Soirée gathering at The Oliv bar…read more Having been prior before for another event, I was excited to revisit this cute little local bar but without the overly huge crowd. And as to be expected, the event was amazing. Drinks were good - averagely priced. We also got a welcome shot and a glass of champagne to toast with to bring in the new year! Staff were super friendly and very attentive. I believe the control of the guest capacity aided in that as well because the staff were not overwhelmed and had the ability to attend to all guests in a timely manner. The music (DJ invited to curate the tunes for that evening) was great! Vibes were perfect and again, I put emphasis on the fact that this event was private so we were not crammed into this space. The Oliv Bar is on the quainter side of local bars but it's truly a nice venue. It has tree in the center - which adds a unique twits to the space. The bay windows add another level of uniqueness to the space as well but, pose a capacity challenge since the space is circular in nature. And circular spaces tend to foster areas of non-usable space. Beyond that, it's a unique design experience that isn't necessarily seen in most places. So, I appreciate that as an architectural designer. All in all, I'll definitely recommend this local bar. It's worth going on a regular night as well, as they aren't super packed and you can experience the vibes of the space without being overwhelmed with larger crowds - like you'll see more in the bars in downtown. Great event. Great space. Cannot wait to see what this year brings us all!!

I am so glad I finally got to try Otto's! The food and drinks are delicious! We got the Vaca Frita…read morewhich is a Flank Steak, Tostones, Caramelized Onions, Red Sofrito, and Aji Verde. The flavors are perfectly layered! Same goes for the Mojo Chicken - Roasted Chicken, Braised Onion, Chimichurri, White Rice, Black Beans, and Cuban Bread. The chicken was so moist! The service at the bar was great! Kudos to Brandon for making drink suggestions. We first had the espresso martini, then the Key Lime Fizz (adorable mini key lime cheesecake on top) and followed by the Piña Mamecita. The place is a little small, but decorated with a tropical kind of feel to it. Parking is also limited, however I think they are working on that. I'm already looking forward to going back, just wish I lived a little closer!

Otto's Dive Bar absolutely exceeded our expectations. From the moment we walked in, we loved the…read moreatmosphere. The modern décor paired with classic Cuban music playing in the background created a classy, vibrant space with incredible energy and character. The standout dish of the night was, without question, the Squash & Burrata Salad. OH. MY. WORD. This may be one of my favorite dishes I've had all year. It was refreshing, slightly spicy, and packed with so much depth and texture. Every bite was perfectly balanced and left us wanting more. We also tried the lamb lollipops with cilantro-mint sauce and lemon garlic vinaigrette. The lamb was cooked flawlessly, tender and flavorful. The sauces complemented it well, although the vinaigrette leaned a little heavy on the lemon/vinegar for our taste. For our entrée, we shared the whole grilled snapper, and it was phenomenal. The fish was incredibly tender and well executed with savory and light garnishes. We especially loved the pickled peppers and the green sauce. The combination of mango and passion fruit was something I never would have expected to work so well, but the chef absolutely nailed it. To finish, we enjoyed the classic Cuban guava y queso pastelitos, which were the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal. Great food, awesome vibes, thoughtful execution, and a unique Cuban-inspired menu. We'll definitely be back!