Group of friends dining at Red Door in Lakeland, apart of our A-Z dining guide
Discover Places to

Eat & Drink

Central Florida Restaurants

Come try the best Restaurants in Florida.

Try something delicious at these restaurants in Central Florida. You’ll soon find out superb eats are a specialty in Florida’s Sweetest Spot. Don’t forget our coffee shops or local breweries either!

Room for dessert? Smack dab in the heart of Central Florida, about half way between Orlando and Tampa, you’ll find a tasty treat in the award winning grapefruit pie served at Lang Sun Country Grove’s Taste of Florida Café.

Don’t forget to book a stay . Stay connected through Facebook for all of our events

Ready to get your taste of The Real Florida Magic? 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, Lucille’s American Café and Arabellas Ristorante in Winter Haven, Nineteen61, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, LoveBird – Almost Famous Chicken in Lakeland, and Peebles Bar-B-Q in Auburndale.

 

BBQ Capital of Florida™

Roll up your sleeves, grab a wet wipe, and dig into the kind of smoky, saucy, fall-off-the-bone barbecue that earned Polk County the title of the BBQ Capital of Florida™. Discover some of the state’s best pitmasters at local favorites like Peeples Bar-B-Q and Smokin’ Jim’s House of Barbeque in Auburndale, Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q in Lakeland, and Carter’s Bar-B-Que in Mulberry. They’re just a few of the mouthwatering stops waiting to be explored.

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 favorite includes Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) in Lakeland.  Coffee lovers need to visit Concord Coffee, Hillcrest Coffee, Pressed Books & Coffee and Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro in Lakeland, and Haven Coffee Roasters or Honeycomb Bread Bakers in Winter Haven.

Plan A Trip

Eat & Drink






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

The Terrace Grille

Terrace Grille

The Terrace Grille is a fine dining restaurant inside the Terrace Hotel in downtown Lakeland.…

Address: 329 E Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-603-5420

LEARN MORE

Ave Bar by Arabellas

man and woman with cocktails sitting at bar inside Ave Bar in Winter Haven, FL

Ave Bar by Arabellas is adjacent to the fine dining restaurant in downtown Winter Haven.…

Address: 340 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880

LEARN MORE

Harborside

Harborside Restaurant is a great option for waterfront dining in Central Florida, located on Winter Haven's Lake Shipp

Harborside is a seafood and steak restaurant located on Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes.

Address: 2435 7th St SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-293-7070

LEARN MORE

Ford’s Garage

hamburger and basket of french fries on a plate at Ford's Garage in Lakeland, FL

Ford's Garage, a small Florida chain, is a gourmet burger can craft beer bar. In…

Address: 879 Lakeland Park Center Dr
Lakeland, FL 33809

Phone: 863-337-3673

LEARN MORE

Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro

Black & Brew Coffee House

Downtown Lakeland quick bites cafe and coffee shop offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options including…

Address: 205 E. Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-682-1210

LEARN MORE

Blue Palmetto Café

Blue Palmetto Café at Bok Tower.

Blue Palmetto Café serves delicious salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, fruit and specialty desserts daily. The…

Address: 1151 Tower Blvd
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-676-1355

LEARN MORE

Andy’s Igloo & Drive-In Restaurant

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant Winter Haven, FL

Andy's Igloo & Drive-In Restaurant is a kid-friendly, local favorite near downtown Winter Haven.

Address: 703 3rd St SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-293-0019

LEARN MORE

LEARN & DISCOVER

  • Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant Winter Haven, FL
    Dining at Hidden Gems in Central Florida

    Whether you’re at home or on vacation, the age old questions of “What do you want to eat?” and “I...

    See Details
  • Group of friends dining at Red Door in Lakeland, apart of our A-Z dining guide
    A-Z Guide to Dining in Central Florida

    Central Florida is home to some of the most unique variety of dining options. From delicious cruffins to some 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
  • Harborside Restaurant is a great option for waterfront dining in Central Florida, located on Winter Haven's Lake Shipp
    Waterfront Dining in Central Florida

    If you’re looking for waterfront dining in Central Florida, consider visiting Winter Haven. This “Chain of Lakes” city, has lakes...

    See Details
  • Barbecue Festivals in Central Florida
    Barbecue Festivals in Central Florida

    A new year signals the return of barbecue festivals in the BBQ Capital of Florida™. You’ll find several opportunities to...

    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.