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.
Andy’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
The Poor Porker

Beignets and tacos and beer, oh my! A mix of food trucks, shabby chic and…
Address: 801 E Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-712-3740
Unfiltered Bartow

Unfiltered in downtown Bartow is a coffee shop, bookstore, retail store and venue for workshops…
Address: 160 Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: 813-481-1234
unfilteredbartow@gmail.comBlack & Brew Coffee House & Bistro

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.comWinter Haven Food Tours

Visit historic locations and fun venue spaces during a 3.5-hour culinary adventure with Winter Haven…
Address:
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: 863-288-0038
info@winterhavenfoodtours.comGrove 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.comSwan Brewing

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.comFragmentary Blue at Streamsong Resort

Fragmentary Blue™ 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
Cornerstone Grill

Cornerstone Grill is a small restaurant created with the local farmers and growers in mind.…
Address: 175 E Haines Blvd
Lake Alfred, FL 33850
Phone: 863-875-8913
cornerstonegrill14@gmail.com