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

Restaurants in Central Florida

Your taste buds have a sense of adventure, too. 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.

Plan A Trip

Lakeside Dining

With more than 550 lakes dotting Polk County, locals and visitors alike all have their favorite lakeside dining spot. In Winter Haven, with full-length windows and a lakeside patio, Harborside Restaurant is a modern American steakhouse, seafood and oyster bar that features only the finest cuts of dry aged meat and daily delivered fresh fish. Also in Winter Haven, with its neighborhood restaurant feel and its location on the shores of Lake Ned, no place epitomizes casual lakefront dining more than Harry’s Old Place. Situated on the shores of scenic Lake Pierce in Lake Wales, Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak provides a perfect blend of entertainment, scenery and fresh seafood.

Fine Dining

If you’re headed to Winter Haven or Lakeland for a romantic weekend, or if your kids have a sophisticated palate, book a reservation at our most popular fine dining restaurants including Arabellas Ristorante and Nutwood in Winter Haven, or Nineteen61, Bay Street Bistro and Scarpa’s Italian in Lakeland. In 2017, Arabellas Ristorante was named in OpenTable’s Most Romantic Florida Restaurants list.

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, Fire Restaurant and Bistro Pizza in Winter Haven, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, Red Door Lakeland and Café Zuppina in Lakeland, and Peebles Bar-B-Q in Auburndale.

Sweets & Baked Good

Cookies, cakes, pies, and CRUFFINS are just a few of the goodies you can find at the various artisanal bakeries located in Polk County. But don’t fear – if you’d rather gelato or perhaps a Turkish coffee, we’ve got you covered too. Our local favorites include Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) and The Market at Café Zuppina in Lakeland. If you’re on the east side of Polk County, go to Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop in Winter Haven or Lavender n’ Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred.

Coffee Shops

You can visit chain coffee shops anywhere, so be sure to experience one of Polk County’s locally owned shops during your Central Florida vacation. Concord Coffee in Lakeland is a roaster and coffee shop, Hillcrest Coffee features a variety of locally roasted beans including Ethos Roasters, while Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro in Lakeland brews locally roasted Patriot Coffee. Ethos Roasters is also served at N+1 Coffee in Winter Haven.

Read 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

info@blackandbrew.com

Hillcrest Coffee

Staff bringing coffee to customers sitting at table inside Hillcrest Coffee in Lakeland, FL

Hillcrest Coffee is a warm and inviting coffee shop in Lakeland. Inside the 1925 bungalow…

Address: 119 Hillcrest St
Lakeland, FL 33815

Phone: 863-398-9155

hillcrestcoffee@gmail.com

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

info@swanbrewing.com

Scarpa’s Italian

3 people eating Italian dishes, water and wine glasses at Scarpa's Italian in Lakeland, FL

This fine dining experience in Lakeland has been recognized by Emeril Lagasse. Scarpa's Italian features…

Address: 1833 E Edgewood Dr
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-937-8940

scarpasitalian@gmail.com

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

goodthyme863@gmail.com

Crazy Fish Bar & Grill

Exterior of building and steps up to front door at Crazy Fish Bar & Grill in Lake Wales, FL

Crazy Fish Bar & Grill in Lake Wales, featured on Emeril Lagasse's 'Emerald's Florida' show…

Address: 802 Henry St
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-676-6361

matthew.brock32@yahoo.com

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

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

orders@concordcoffee.com

Lavender N Lace Tearoom

Young girl having lunch with grandma and siblings at Lavender N Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred, FL

Enjoy a savory lunch and dessert or afternoon tea at Lavender n' Lace Tearoom. Daily…

Address: 430 N Lake Shore Way
Lake Alfred, FL 33850

Phone: 863-956-3998

lavenderandlace@gmail.com

LEARN & DISCOVER

Group sitting at table inside Cafe Roti. Drinks on table. Nate, host of Lakeland Food Tours standing.

Lakeland Food Tours

To fill your mind, your belly and your heart in one walking food tour with Lakeland Food Tours.

See Details
Family taking selfie in front of LEGO Movie World

6 Great Reasons to Spend a Weekend in Winter Haven

Ready to book a family-friendly weekend getaway? Here’s a list of 6 exceptionally fun things to during weekend in Winter...

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 Florida’s Sweetest Spot.