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, 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.
Concord Coffee
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.comPressed 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
Unfiltered 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.comHillcrest Coffee
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.comAX-Caliber Axe Venue & Coffee House
AX-Caliber Axe Venue & Coffee House, located right in the heart of Downtown Lakeland, is…
Address: 204 E. Orange St., Suite 102
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-592-3500
info@axcaliber.comDivicious Deli and Coffee Shop
Divicious Deli and Coffee Shop in downtown Lakeland specializes in a combination of hot or…
Address: 128 E Main St
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-940-9779
diviciousdeli@hotmail.comHaven Coffee Roasters
A craft coffee roaster and full-service specialty coffee bar in Downtown Winter Haven crafting unique…
Address: 140 3rd St SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone: 863-251-9619
jon@havencoffeeroaster.comPour Bear Coffee
An eclectic coffee shop that serves locally sourced coffee and baked goods as well as…
Address: 4608 Cleveland Heights Blvd.
Lakeland, FL 33813
Phone: (863) 450-4180
pourbearcoffee@gmail.comMitchell’s Coffee House
Mitchell's Coffee House serves breakfast, lunch, gourmet coffees and pastries in downtown Lakeland. The coffee…
Address: 235 N Kentucky Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-680-2944
mitchellscoffeehouse@gmail.com