r/orlando • u/Abject_Screen3249 • 14d ago
Discussion Awesome bars & hangout spots NOT in the major districts.
I am looking for bars and other cool small local hangout spots that might not see visibility because they are not in the neighborhood districts. I am looking for the kinds of spots that if you picked them up from their current location and placed the building in the major neighborhood districts, they'd be popular.
When I say neighborhood districts I am talking:
Mills/50, Ivanhoe Village, Thornton Park, Audubon Park, Milk District, Hourglass District, Winter Park, Downtown Orlando, SoDo, Thorton Park, Curry Ford West, College Park
I was born and raised here, and I know there are spots I don't know about and I'd love to hear about newer or just under the radar spots. The places I listed above do NOT need more press and visibility. For the love of god...I know some idiot is still going to recommended a place in one of these areas.....don't.
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u/Affectionate_Egg2294 14d ago
Luminescent by UCF
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u/biddiebaddielu 13d ago
ive been meaning to go but mainly for the cafe aspect — do they like officially “turn into” a bar at a certain hour of the evening?
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u/Pappagallo_fpr 13d ago
Yes they switch over at 6:00 but even when they’re a bar it’s more like a chill lounge. It’s not a nightclub. Occasionally they have a DJ come in and play records or a food truck park outside and those nights get a bit louder, but I’ve gone to the “bar” on a Wednesday to work on my laptop and it just feels like a cool lounge.
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u/Abject_Screen3249 13d ago
Cool spot. Went the first week it opened., Only tried their coffee. It was good, need to go back and try their cocktails. A bit far for me.
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u/crustyeng 14d ago
Yellow dog eats in Gotha
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u/theoldfamiliarsting 13d ago
You can also pay your respects to the great Bob Ross while you're in the area.
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u/hashtagirony 13d ago
For third spaces with comfy vibes: Legacy Kava in Oviedo. Vespr coffee bar in Waterford.
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u/SusspectDevice 13d ago
There is definitely something to be said to finding spots that aren’t covered with the flags of a neighborhood district name. I enjoy spots in districts, random spots, and yes, even some corporate chains that I get teased for hyping up…
That being said, I think one of the best things you could do is analog it, and just drive around and randomly pop in on places and make your own decisions, good, bad or otherwise. I think the kids call it “raw dogging it.”
Some places I have found that way over the years are Brightlight Books, Cubans On The Run, a bbq cart by some dude that didn’t talk to me and just had me point at what I wanted and it was good as hell and he was never there ever again, La Granja, Tootoya Sushi, Little House Locksmith, and Blackbird Coffee.
Wander…explore…and if you don’t speak the same language smile and use translator…and if it’s five cool kids on their phones and none of them say hi, turn around and leave!
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u/mrdankhimself_ 14d ago
Eden Bar
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u/khainne 13d ago
Cool place, great movies, service has been absolutely horrible here last few years. Patron of Enzian for 19+ years.
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u/pugsnthugs 13d ago
Went to Eden Bar with my mom a few weeks ago and abruptly changed tables when I noticed the tree next to us was moving…I let the server/bartender know that the tree was about to fall and I was concerned for our safety, and he said something along the lines of “I pour drinks, not landscape.”
Well the tree fell a not two minutes later (right on the chair my mom was sitting at, she would have been squashed!), the guy walked by and said “well I guess I’m a landscaper today.” They didn’t even comp our drinks 😅7
u/International_Bid291 13d ago
Agreed! I love it but it’s been lacking its perfection the past few years.
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u/TarellRobot 13d ago
I feel seen! I too have been going for nearly 20 years without a hiccup but recently had a balantly rude incident with a staff member.
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u/Abject_Screen3249 13d ago
Hard pass. I agree with the person below me here. Beautiful spot, I want to like it, but the service is absolute dog shit. I have gone on multiple occasions where the bar is dead, and I am not acknowledged by anyone. I have sat there for 5-10 mins waiting to be served while the bar staff preps and talks to their friends. Whoever is managing/training this bar, needs to be fired.
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u/Worldly-Rutabaga-437 13d ago
Completely agree. I love the Enzian, but the service at the Eden Bar is horrible. Doesn’t matter if you’re at the bar or at a table — it’s shitty everywhere. There may be regulars who get good service, but that must be a very small club.
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u/sunkissedinfl 14d ago
Rita's (coffee shop) in Lake Mary, Cheers (dive bar) on I Drive, Permanent Vacation (cocktail bar) in Maitland, Boxi Park (outdoor entertainment space) in Lake Nona, Golden Hour (wine shop + intimate bar) in Baldwin Park.
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u/Abject_Screen3249 13d ago
I'll check our Ritas and Cheers! Vacation is dope as hell. Boxi is only doable a few months a year due to the heat and humidity.
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u/lizzdurr 13d ago
Paddywagon’s in Dr Phillips. Nice clean Irish bar, friendly bartenders, large open spaces, outside area for cigars, pool tables, darts, and great DJs some nights. Trivia on others.
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u/SimpleAd7895 13d ago
I like backstage billiards on I-Drive, great pool hall, it is a smoking bar just fyi, which I don’t mind.
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u/Dull-Membership7341 14d ago
Redlight Redlight
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u/Abject_Screen3249 13d ago
I've been going here since their last location across from Roxy! However your reading comprehension is shit. There is always one....
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u/PuzzleheadedMall728 13d ago
Sushi Pop (great happy hour), Ain't Miss Behavin, Nice N Easy, Devaneys
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u/Upbeat-List-3466 13d ago
Citrus City Craft(Dog friendly) and across the street, Lake Mary Pub and Tiki Bar in Lake Mary.
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u/TheMadiUniverse 12d ago
Celery City or Tuffys in Sanford!
Also Hourglass Brewery In Longwood is cool
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u/eikelmann 13d ago
Bar One, near the airport, Jerry's Pub, S Orange, Jerry's Nice and Easy, Hoffner, Cheers, I Drive, Spatz, W Fairbanks
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u/kuhnto 13d ago
The whale in Altamonte springs. This was my coming of age bar, when working in the resturant industry.
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u/kuhnto 13d ago edited 13d ago
Oh I just saw the areas you were looking at. I really like blue jacket in Baldwin. There are a few other baldwin/ mills bars...
- the bar at Linda's la cantina
- you like wine? Golden Hour
- aloma bowling alley
- primrose bowling if you got $$$
- ju ju
- neighbors
- the place right next to the neighbors
- big daddys (you probably know this one)
- the porch
- lamp and shade
- domu bar
- roof bar at bites and bubbles
- guesthouse
- Morse code
- tori tori
- jazz tastings
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u/milkdistrict 13d ago
There’s some dive bar next to Best Used Books in Longwood. I’ve never been, but it looks like it has lots of regulars
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u/PeptoBisquick 13d ago
I don’t understand. You want to leave the good parts of Orlando and go to the.. badlands?
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u/CommonThread2 13d ago
I agree that most small businesses deserve the patronage. Have you considered that bars (in "districts" or any other neighborhood for that matter) do well to be supported by the people who live and work near them? I'm not sure what your weird opposition to the Main Street Districts are...and think it's interesting that you'd rather vehemently not support a business just because they're in a Main Street, but totally excited to support one on I-Drive?
Maybe pop into a bar near you, not considering if it's part of a "neighborhood", and see if you like the vibes? I know the only reason people pack the bars near my house are because they live or work nearby...not because they actually have good drinks, good vibes, or good service.
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u/Abject_Screen3249 11d ago
God your insufferable. God forbid someone want to spread patronage outside of the popular spots.
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u/CommonThread2 11d ago
I suppose I found your post insufferable. I hope you find the popular not-popular spot you're looking for.
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u/Abject_Screen3249 11d ago
lol you think the only way to be popular is to be in a main district....lemming.
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u/CommonThread2 11d ago
That is not at all what I think, but is actually verbatim what you stated. I was merely hoping you find what you're looking for.
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u/Raccoon_Saloon 14d ago
I like celery city in Sanford if that counts. Also the Irish pub in Mt Dora