lakeside restaurants in Central Florida

Discover Places to

Eat & Drink

Central Florida Restaurants

Superb eats are a specialty in Florida’s Sweetest Spot. So what’ll it be? Napkin-obliterating BBQ? Classic high-end steakhouse fare? From upscale elegance to down-home grub, Central Florida’s food scene is sure to please everyone from the culinary curious to the chicken-fingers-only crowd. Try something delicious at these restaurants in Central Florida.

Local Favorites

From kid-friendly restaurants and barbecue restaurants recognized by Garden & Gun Magazine, to Gastropubs and TripAdvisor’s #1 restaurant in Lakeland, here are a few of our local favorites: Andy’s Drive-in Restaurant & Igloo, Harborside and Arabellas Ristorante in Winter Haven, Nineteen61, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, Red Door Lakeland and Café Zuppina in Lakeland, and Peebles Bar-B-Q in Auburndale.

Sweets & Coffee

Cookies, cakes, pies, and CRUFFINS are just a few of the goodies you can find at the various artisan bakeries located in Polk County. Our local favorites include Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) and The Market at Café Zuppina in Lakeland.  Coffee lovers need to visit Concord Coffee, Hillcrest Coffee and Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro in Lakeland, and N+1 Coffee in Winter Haven.

Plan A Trip

Restaurant Type

Restaurant Location

Manny’s Original Chophouse

Manny's Chophouse

Manny's Original Chophouse is a locally owned, small chain of restaurants serving steaks, pork chops,…

Address: 210 FL-60
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-678-0370

LEARN MORE

Ovation Bistro & Bar

hamburger with beef, pork rib and onion rings at Ovations

Ovation Bistro & Bar in Davenport serves barbecue, steaks, seafood and more. Popular dishes include…

Address: 42605 US-27
Davenport, FL 33837

Phone: 863-354-6967

LEARN MORE

Front Page Brewing Co.

Front Page Brewing Co crowlers lined up under taps

Front Page Brewing Co. is a craft brewery in historic downtown Bartow. Located in the…

Address: 190 S Florida Ave
Bartow, FL 33830

Phone: 863-537-7249

LEARN MORE

Richard’s Fine Coffees

Counter of baked goods at Richard's Fine Coffees in downtown Winter Haven FL

Located adjacent to the Winter Haven Public Library in Winter Haven, Richard’s Coffee Shop is…

Address: 330 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881

Phone: 863-291-3082

LEARN MORE

Born & Bread Bakehouse

Two girls ordering at Born and Bread Bakehouse during their weekend in Lakeland

Born & Bread Bakehouse is a bakery located in Lakeland, FL. They specialize in slow…

Address: 1113 S Florida Ave
Lakeland, FL 33803

LEARN MORE

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant

Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant

Enjoy large portions of coastal and interior Mexican cuisine at Abuelos Restaurant at Lakeside Village…

Address: 3700 Lakeside Village Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-686-7500

LEARN MORE

Blackburn’s BBQ

Blackburn's BBQ

Blackburn's BBQ in Eagle Lake serves oak smoked pork ribs, chicken, pulled pork and beef…

Address: 169 5th St
Eagle Lake, FL 33839

Phone: (863) 287-9975

LEARN MORE

Arabellas Ristorante

Arabellas Ristorante, Winter Haven Florida

Arabellas Ristorante is consistently the #1 Restaurant in Winter Haven according to TripAdvisor reviews. The…

Address: 346 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-293-1797

LEARN MORE

LEARN & DISCOVER

Family taking selfie in front of LEGO Movie World

5 Great Reasons to Spend a Weekend in Winter Haven

Ready to book a family-friendly weekend getaway? Here’s a list of 5 exceptionally fun things to during weekend in Winter...

See Details
LEGO Globe at PLANET LEGOLAND at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven, FL

Re-Imagine & Rebuild the World at PLANET LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in Winter Haven has introduced a world with no rules just pure creativity… PLANET LEGOLAND® opening April...

See Details
IG ciaraliebl on couch at Unfiltered Coffee in Bartow, FL - one of the Most Instagram-Worthy Places in Central Florida

Most Instagram-Worthy Places in Central Florida

Trip planning on Instagram is definitely a thing and we love finding new places to take pictures at Central Florida,...

See Details
Exterior of 3-story Wonder House in Bartow, FL

Historic Central Florida Sites That Everyone Should See

Whether you’re just visiting the area or a lifelong resident of Polk County, there is so much history in and...

See Details
Two dogs and owner hiking at lake kissimmee state park

Dog Friendly Spots in Central Florida

We understand that your pets are just as important as your human family members. So we created a list of...

See Details
Photo of scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes at The Terrace Grille in Lakeland, FL

Top Brunch Spots in Central Florida

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then brunch is the most important meal of the week!...

See Details
Kids walking outside of Beach Retreat Bungalows at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven, FL

Alternative Places to Stay in Central Florida

If you’re looking for cheaper places to stay near Disney World or any of the great attractions of Central Florida...

See Details
Lina Greco's weekend getaway with a stop to Bok Tower Gardens

Weekend Getaway in Central Florida

Lina Greco worked in partnership with Visit Central Florida to create this Weekend Getaway Travel Recap. Weekend Getaway to Central...

See Details
I can see the weekend from here!????⁠• • •⁠????: @emily.ruthann⁠.⁠Having trouble finding the perfect gift for that thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie in you life? Well, @JumpFloridaSkydiving might just be the answer!⁠.⁠Jump Florida Skydiving welcomes first-timers and experienced jumpers at their Lake Wales location. Right now, they are offering numerous Holiday Gift Card Packages, perfect for beginners!⁠.⁠What they offer:⁠- Tandem (First Time) Skydiving⁠- Skydive License Training (AFF)⁠- Experienced Jumpers⁠.⁠Click the link in our bio to learn more.⁠.⁠.⁠.⁠#skydiving #skydive #adrenalinejunkie #JumpFloridaSkydiving #FloridaSkydiving #TandemSkydiving #CentralFlorida #VisitCentralFL #LoveFL

Top 10 Adrenaline-Rush Activities in Central Florida

Central Florida’s Polk County, nestled between Orlando and Tampa, is the ultimate outdoor destination in Florida, and is packed with...

See Details
Family taking selfie at the lagoon during LEGOLAND Piratefest Weekend

Top 10 Reasons to Visit LEGOLAND Florida in 2023

The number one theme park for little kids is opening new attractions and hosting lots of great seasonal events throughout...

See Details
water ripples used as email signup background

Subscribe to EMAIL LIST

Join our email list and stay up to date with all the great things happening in Central Florida.