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.
Gary’s Oyster Bar & Seafood House

Gary's Oyster Bar & Seafood House has been serving quality oysters and seafood for more…
Address: 660 E Alfred St
Lake Alfred, FL 33850
Phone: 863-956-5055
garysoysterbarandseafoodhouse@gmail.comRevival Bar

Revival is a homey, welcoming craft cocktail bar in downtown Lakeland. Visitors will enjoy inventive…
Address: 119 S Kentucky Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-606-6090
revivallakeland@gmail.comAndy’s Igloo & Drive-In Restaurant

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
Ford’s Garage

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
The 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
Lakeland Food Tours

To fill your mind, your belly and your heart in one walking food tour with…
Address:
Lakeland, FL
Phone: 863-279-0076
nate@lkldfoodtours.comRooftop 360 at Streamsong

Rooftop 360 atop The Lodge at Streamsong Resort offers small bite plates and handcrafted cocktails…
Address: 1000 Streamsong Dr.
Bowling Green, FL 33834
Phone: 888-294-6322
Blackburn’s BBQ

Blackburn's BBQ in Eagle Lake serves oak smoked pork ribs, chicken, pulled pork and beef…
Address: 169 5th St
Eagle Lake, FL 33839
Phone: (863) 287-9975
blackburnbbq@gmail.comHarborside

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
info@harborsidefl.com