lakeside restaurants in Central Florida
Discover Places to

Eat & Drink

Central Florida Restaurants

eady 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 and Arabellas Ristorante in Winter Haven, Nineteen61, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, Red Door Lakeland 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 favorite includes Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) 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

Eat & Drink



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

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

Cob & Pen

adults gathered around table at Cob & Pen in Lakeland, FL drinking beer and sharing small bite plates of deviled eggs, dip, french fries and wings

Cob & Pen in Lakeland is a local favorite featuring craft beer, boutique wine and…

Address: 1221 S Florida Ave
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-937-8126

Good Thyme LKLD

Food on white table. Vegan power bowl with two eggs, a chicken biscuit and Kombucha from Good Thyme LKLD. Two lattes from Concord Coffee.

Good Thyme LKLD has something for everyone. Popular items include the Fried Chicken Biscuit, Power…

Address: 1037 Dixieland Mall Ln
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-603-8296

Cookie Jar Bakeshop & Eatery

Woman handing purchased baked goods to customer over pastry filled bakery counter at Cookie Jar Bake Shop in Bartow, FL

Cookie Jar Bakeshop & Eatery in downtown Bartow serves freshly baked pastries, macarons, cheesecake, cookies,…

Address: 305 E Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830

Phone: 863-519-3333

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

Nineteen61

interior shot of Nineteen61 in downtown lakeland

Nineteen61 is a popular upscale Latin inspired restaurant in downtown Lakeland. The Restaurant is an…

Address: 215 E Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-688-1961

Swan Brewing

tap wall at Swan Brewing in Lakeland, FL

Swan Brewing features 30 taps of craft beer, live music and food trucks. The brewery…

Address: 115 W Pine St
Lakeland, FL 33815

Phone: 863-703-0472

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
  • 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
  • 2 couples eating beignets at The Poor Porker in Lakeland, FL
    Spend a Weekend in Lakeland

    See how much fun you’ll have when you plan a weekend in Lakeland, FL. Tour the world’s largest collection of...

    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.