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.
Ave Bar by Arabellas
Ave Bar by Arabellas is adjacent to the fine dining restaurant in downtown Winter Haven.…
Address: 340 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Winter Haven Food Tours
Visit historic locations and fun venue spaces during a 2.5-hour culinary adventure with Winter Haven…
Address:
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: 863-288-0038
info@winterhavenfoodtours.comLakeland 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.comBlue Palmetto Café
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
cafe@boktower.orgGrove Roots Brewing Co.
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
info@groveroots.comUnfiltered Coffee
Unfiltered Coffee in downtown Bartow is a coffee shop, bookstore, retail store and venue for…
Address: 160 Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: 813-481-1234
unfilteredbartow@gmail.comThe Proper Pie Company
The Proper Pie Company in Haines City is a small restaurant serving fresh, handmade double…
Address: 511 US Hwy 17-92
Haines City, FL 33844
Phone: 863-438-2705
info@properpiecompany.comCookie Jar Bakeshop & Eatery
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
cookiejarbakeshopandeatery@gmail.comManny’s Original Chophouse
Manny's Original Chophouse is a locally owned, small chain of restaurants serving steaks, pork chops,…
Address: 210 FL-60
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Phone: 863-678-0370