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.
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
Frostbite Ice Cream & More
Frostbite Ice Cream & More in Frostproof is a 1950's style hamburger joint with ice…
Address: 801 N Scenic Hwy
Frostproof, FL 33843
Phone: 863-635-4222
nickperos@thefrostbite.comStone Cabin Coffee & Cheesecake
Stone Cabin Coffee & Cheesecake is located in Winter Haven, FL. They offer homemade cheesecake…
Address: 7000 Cypress Gardens Blvd
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Phone: (863) 875-7542
Pelican’s Snoballs
Pelican's Snoballs serves more than 100 flavors of shaved ice. Gluten Free and Sugar Free…
Address: 3064 Cypress Gardens Rd
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Phone: 863-875-7408
Got Desserts
Got Desserts is a dessert shop, food truck, and catering company located in Bartow, Florida…
Address: 190 S Wilson Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: (863) 853-9999
The Shake Shoppe
Satisfy that sweet tooth with a stop at The Shake Shoppe in downtown Auburndale. This…
Address: 101 N Main St.
Auburndale, FL 33823
Phone: 863-967-3528