Restaurants are currently allowed to have 25 percent occupancy inside their dining rooms, but patios are pretty much fair game as long as the tables are spaced out and guests can practice designated physical distancing protocols.
The City of Orlando recently announced a series of actions that would allow businesses to expand outdoor seating into green spaces and parking lots but here are some of your best options for outdoor patio dining in our coverage area that won’t have you sitting on hot asphalt.
This list is also available in this month’s Bungalower ‘zine print edition.
BEM BOM IS A FAST-CASUAL EATERY ON CORRINE DRIVE THAT SERVES A MEXICAN/PORTUGUESE MENU AND IS CURRENTLY OPEN WITH A FULL MENU AND HAS A FAIRLY ROOMY PATIO OUT FRONT WITH A BAR TO SERVE DRINKS OUTSIDE SO YOU DON’T EVER HAVE TO FEEL TRAPPED INSIDE. IMAGE VIA BEM BOM FACEBOOK PAGE.
EAST END MARKET JUST REDID THEIR OURDOOR PATIO AND IT IS WAY LESS CLUTTERED AND READY FOR SOME PHYSICALLY DISTANT EATING. ALL TABLES HAVE BEEN SPACED OUT AND WILL BE SANITIZED BETWEEN USES. SOME OF THE INDOOR TENANTS HAVE SERVICE WINDOWS SO YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO HOP INSIDE TO GET A COOKIE, SOME BAKED GOODS, OR A FRESH-PRESSED JUICE. PHOTO VIA EAST END MARKET FACEBOOK PAGE.
STARDUST VIDEO AND COFFEE HAS A SPECIAL TAKE-OUT WINDOW JAMMED INTO THEIR FRONT DOOR AND THEY’RE OFFERING SPECIALTY COCKTAILS TO TAKE HOME OR POUND BACK IN THE PARKING LOT. THEY STILL HAVE OUTDOOR SEATING FOR MAKESHIFT OFFICE WORK AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE WATCHING. PHOTO VIA STARDUST FACEBOOK PAGE.
SOMETIMES, IF YOU SQUINT YOUR EYES AND FACE THE RIGHT ANGLE, YOU’D SWEAR YOU COULD BE IN GREECE WHEN SITTING HERE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE IVANHOE … WELL, FACING A PARKING LOT NEXT TO LAKE IVANHOE. GRAB SOME GYROS AND FRIES, SIP ON A COLD BEER, AND WATCH CUTE BOYS TRY TO BACK THEIR BOATS DOWN THE BOAT RAMP. PERFECT STAYCATION. PHOTO VIA THE GREEK CORNER FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE TEAM AT THE LAMB HAVE CULLED SOME OF THEIR OUTDOOR SEATING SO IT SEEMS A BIT MORE EMPTY THAN IT REALLY IS RIGHT NOW BUT THAT’S ALL TO FACILITATE HEALTHY PHYSICAL DISTANCING. DINE-IN SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AND THEY’RE ALSO DOING TO-GO ORDERS STILL, INCLUDING FOR TRAIN SHOTS. PHOTO VIA THE HAMMERED LAMB FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE HIDEAWAY IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE REAR PATIO WHILE LOCAL ARTIST ANDREW SPEAR REFRESHES THE MURALS ON THIS CROWD-FAVORITE DOLPHINS BAR IN IVANHOE VILLAGE. TELL THEM WE SAID HI WHEN YOU VISIT. PHOTO VIA THE HIDEAWAY BAR FACEBOOK PAGE.
SANTIAGO’S CLOSED EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC BUT THEY’RE BACK OPEN AND SERVING DAILY FROM 11 A.M.-10 P.M. WITH LIMITED INDOOR SEATING. FAMILY-STYLE BRUNCH STARTED LAST WEEK. PHOTO VIA SANTIAGO’S BODEGA FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE TRENDY FOOD TRUCK GARDEN IN THE MILK DISTRICT IS BACK OPEN WITH LIMITED SEATING. THEY’VE SPACED OUT THE TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR MAXIMUM PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND ARE NOT ALLOWING GROUPS OF OVER 10 AT THIS TIME. CHICKEN FIRE AND POKEKAI CORAL GABLES ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND SWEDEDISH AND DULCE PECADO WILL SERVE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY. PHOTO VIA A LA CART FACEBOOK PAGE.
SIDEWARD IS CURRENTLY ONLY OFFERING TAKEOUT SERVICE AT THIS TIME BUT AS ONE OF THE ONLY BREWERIES WITH A KITCHEN AND A PATIO, KEEP AN EYE ON THEM REOPENING SOON. PHOTO VIA SIDEWARD BREWING FACEBOOK PAGE. ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR MEAL DEALS. PHOTO VIA SIDEWARD FACEBOOK PAGE.
MILLS 50
Tako Cheena (Facebook) – 948 N. Mills Avenue [GMap]
ALL WE NEED TO SAY IS “BUTTER CHICKEN BURRITO” AND THAT’S IT. PHOTO VIA TAKO CHEENA FACEBOOK PAGE.
PIG FLOYD’S IS SERVING ON THEIR PATIO – THIS IS AN OLDER PHOTO, THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT ALLOWS FOR ADEQUATE DISTANCING WHILE DINING. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THEIR NEW MURAL WHICH IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS. PHOTO VIA PIG FLOYD’S FACEBOOK PAGE.
REYES IS OPEN AND SERVING YUMMY FOOD STARTING AT 3 P.M. DAILY. THEIR PATIO IS SUPER ROOMY AND HAPPENS TO BE REALLY PRETTY TOO. JOIN THEM FOR HAPPY HOUR AND ASK FOR A PALOMA. PHOTO VIA REYES FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE AARDVARK IS EVERYTHING WE LIKE TO SEE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SHOP – IT HAS BEER, IT’S A PACKAGE STORE, THEY HAVE GREAT FOOD, OUTDOOR SEATING, GREAT STAFF THAT’S FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE, AND THEY THROW A GREAT PARTY. PHOTO VIA THE AARDVARK FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE HISTORIC WELLBORN HOTEL FEATURES A BEAUTIFUL AND ECLECTIC COURTYARD AND ONE OF THE OLDEST HOUSES IN ORLANDO, THE IW PHILIPS HOUSE. THEY SERVE GREAT CRAFT COCKTAILS AND CHEF-INSPIRED BITES. PHOTO VIA WELLBORN FACEBOOK PAGE.
EOLA WINE CO. IS A STEADY DOWNTOWN FAVORITE. EVERYONE LOVES IT HERE. THE WINE IS GOOD AND AFFORDABLE, THE VIEWS ARE GREAT, AND THE NEW OWNERS ARE CUTE AS BUTTONS. YOU CAN TELL THEM WE SAID SO TOO. PHOTO VIA EOLA WINE CO. FACEBOOK PAGE.
THIS IS A LEMON HERB FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH WITH SMOKED BACON JAM, WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE, AND YELLOW SRIRACHA AIOLI ON TOASTED SOURDOUGH BREAD. YOU COULD BE EATING IT WITH A COLD BEER ON ONE OF THE MOST SOCIAL CORNERS IN SOUTH EOLA WATCHING ALL THE COOL KIDS WALK THEIR DOGS IN SHORT SHORTS. PHOTO VIA MENAGERIE EATERY AND BAR FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE STUBBORN MULE IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, ESPECIALLY FOR BRUNCH. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO, THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN GUESTS FOR YOU TO HAVE A GOOD MEAL AND NOT BE SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH ANY MOUTH BREATHING NEIGHBORS. PHOTO VIA THE STUBBORN MULE FACEBOOK PAGE.
THORNTON PARK
Island Time (Facebook) – 712 E. Washington Street [GMap]
THE NEW OWNERS HAVE BREATHED SOME MUCH-NEEDED LIFE INTO THE BUILDING AND THE MENU AT THIS FUN SPOT IN THORNTON PARK. THEY HAVE VEGGIE OPTIONS, GREAT DRINKS, AND WONDERFUL AMBIANCE. YOU’LL FEEL LIKE YOU’RE HANGING OUT AT YOUR FRIEND’S BACK PORCH EXCEPT THEY WON’T MAKE YOU DO THE DISHES. PHOTO VIA ISLAND TIME FACEBOOK PAGE. .
GIVEN THE CONSTANT BUZZ ON THE PATIO HERE, CAVO’S HAS FAST BECOME THE NEIGHBORHOOD HANG IN THORNTON PARK AND THAT’S GREAT TO SEE GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING. THE PATIO IS FAIRLY WELL SPACED OUT AND THE STAFF IS TAKING THE MASK GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ABOVE PHOTO. PHOTO VIA CAVO’S FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE NAME COMES FROM THE SOUTHERN CONTEMPORARY MENU LIKE THIS PEACH PALMER IN THE PHOTO. THE FOOD IS GREAT, THE SERVICE IS WONDERFUL, AND WE CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BISCUITS.
World of Beer – Downtown (Website) – 431 E. Central Boulevard [GMap]
THIS MASSIVE PATIO IS SO CLOSE TO LAKE EOLA THAT YOU MAY END UP WITH A SWAN IN YOUR LAP. PHOTO VIA WORLD OF BEER FACEBOOK PAGE.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT BARNIE’S IS THAT YOU CAN SIT OUTSIDE WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT ON PARK AVENUE. THE BACK COURTYARD HAS A VERY EUROPEAN FLAIR TO IT AND LOTS OF ELBOW ROOM. PHOTO VIA BARNIE’S FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE FOOD AND COCKTAILS AT BULLA ARE AMAZING AND THEY HAVE A FUN LITTLE PATIO FACING 17-92, BUT THEIR CHEF IS REALLY HANDSOME TOO SO, WINNING. HEALTHCARE WORKERS GET 50 PERCENT OFF MENU ITEMS WHEN THEY CALL FOR PICKUP.
HAMILTON’S KITCHEN IS THE FANCY RESTAURANT IN THE ALFOND INN. IT’S SO FANCY, THAT IT’S WHERE ALL THE CELEBRITIES STAY WHEN THEY’RE IN TOWN FOR EVENTS LIKE WINTER WITH THE WRITERS, SO YOU COULD END UP AT A TABLE NEXT TO SOMEONE LIKE GEORGE TAKEII AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. ANOTHER BONUS IS THAT THEY HAVE AN EXPANSIVE PATIO AND OUTDOOR COURTYARD AREA WHERE YOU CAN PARK FOR A PRIVATE WINE PARTY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES WITH PLENTY OF PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
DON’T WANT TO DINE INSIDE? JUST TAKE YOUR FOOD OUTDOORS. STILL FEEL TOO CROWDED? HOP OVER TO THE END OF THE DOCK AND ENJOY THE VIEW WITHOUT HAVING TO LISTEN TO ANYONE CHEW THEIR FOOD NEARBY. PHOTO VIA HILLSTONE FACEBOOK PAGE.
THE ENZIAN THEATER MAY NOT BE OPEN AT THE MOMENT BUT THEIR BAR/RESTAURANT IS. CHECK THEM OUT FROM 11 A.M.-10 P.M. DAILY AND FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR LAPTOP AND WORK FROM THE GARDENS. EVERYTHING IS SPACED OUT AND CLEANED REGULARLY. ALSO, KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN FOR A DRIVE-IN MOVIE SERIES THEY’RE COOKING UP! PHOTO VIA ENZIAN THEATER FACEBOOK PAGE.
THEY’VE OPENED UP THE PATIO AGAIN AND YOU CAN GET SERVED A CRAFT BEER AND AWESOME SAMMICH FROM 11 A.M.-9 P.M. PHOTO VIA THE GNARLY BARLEY FACEBOOK PAGE.
GRILLS HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST OUTDOOR DINING AREAS IN THE REGION AND IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SIT ON THE DECK, JUST PARK YOUR BOAT AT THE DOCK, GRAB SOME TAKEOUT, AND KICK IT BACK ON THE WATER. PHOTO VIA GRILLS LAKESIDE FACEBOOK PAGE.
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We ate at Eden Bar last weekend and it was wonderful. Took off our masks after ordering and could talk to people at the other tables 10 feet away from us.
I’ve heard that HIllstone won’t let their staff wear facial coverings so I wouldn’t go there!
You left out Shakers, Christos & Graffiti Junction all on Edgewater Dr.
And the Ravenous Pig beer garden in Winter Park!
How did you miss Maxine’s on Shine?
You guys are forgetting The Tap Room at Dubsdread
We ate at Eden Bar last weekend and it was wonderful. Took off our masks after ordering and could talk to people at the other tables 10 feet away from us.
I’ve heard that HIllstone won’t let their staff wear facial coverings so I wouldn’t go there!
This is perfect! TY