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






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

Pressed Books and Coffee

Shopfront to Pressed Books and Coffee

Pressed is an independent bookstore and coffeeshop located in downtown Lakeland.

Address: 213 E Bay St.
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-603-3166

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

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

blackened tuna over rice at Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille in Lakeland, FL

Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille in downtown Lakeland features fresh seafood as well as Cajun…

Address: 101 N Kentucky Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-686-2228

LEARN MORE

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 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

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

Nineteen61

interior shot of Nineteen61 in downtown lakeland

Nineteen61 is a 2026 MICHELIN Guide Recommended upscale Latin inspired restaurant in downtown Lakeland. The…

Address: 215 E Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: 863-688-1961

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.