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






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

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

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

Peebles Bar-B-Q

BBQ image of Peeble's BBQ with a pulled pork sandwhich

Since 1947, Peebles Bar-B-Que in Auburndale has been mastering exceptional barbecue and part of their…

Address: 441 Dixie Hwy
Auburndale, FL 33823

Phone: 863-967-3085

LEARN MORE

Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q

Jimbo's Pit Bar-B-Q

Since 1964, Jimbo's Pit Bar-B-Q in Lakeland has been serving smoked ribs, chicken, pork, delicious…

Address: 1215 E Memorial Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-683-3777

LEARN MORE

Grove Roots Brewing Co.

kids playing outside Grove Roots Brewing Company in WInter Haven, FL

Grove Roots Brewing Co. produce artisanal ales inspired by the local Florida culture and influenced…

Address: 302 3rd St SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-291-0700

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

Concord Coffee

2 people sitting a coffee bar, reading magazine. Drinks are on bar. At Concord Coffee in Lakeland, FL

Concord Coffee is a craft coffee shop and espresso bar located in Lakeland, focusing on…

Address: 1037 S Florida Ave #135
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-225-2283

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
  • 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 2026

    For families looking for one of the best theme parks in Florida, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort continues to be one of...

    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.