A nightlife guide for orlando

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Orlando, Florida is more than just amusement parks and sunshine. Not only is it close to the beaches, but once the sun goes down, the streets come alive.

The nightlife in Orlando is pretty abundant year-round, due to the unchanging weather. In the different parts of Orlando, there are different scenes. Whether you are looking for a sports bar, a little Irish pub, a dance club or even a Country-Western bar, they are all easy to find in Orlando due to the transient population and tourists that infiltrate the area.

In the heart of downtown Orlando is the area known as Church Street Station. Complete with popular favorites like Kitty OSheas and Pat OBriens, it is also home to Howl at the Moon, a dualing piano bar featuring songs from the fifties through the nineties. On a pleasant evening, begin your night at Chillers C a two-floor dance club featuring all your favorite hits from the eighties and nineties. Its called Chillers because of the row of frozen drinks of various flavors that they serve. After grabbing a drink or two, move up to the third-floor open-air bar complete with Tiki lamps called Latitudes. Also at Church Street Station is a line of outdoor/indoor bars and clubs playing a variety of music, including Wall Street Cantina and Slingapours.

Not far from downtown is Winter Park. Dont let its sleepy-town appearance fool you. Home to a college campus, it is also full of outdoor cafes and restaurants for a quieter nightlife.

Traveling to Universal Studios, youll find CityWalk. Home to a variety of restaurants, shops and clubs, youll find everything from hip-hop clubs to Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville. CityWalk isnt located inside any of the parks, but it is nearby. Its meant to be a separate venue, for nightlife.

Just a few miles from the heart of downtown is Lake Buena Vista. Here, youll find several different restaurants that cater to different themes and various themed nights throughout the week. Bahama Breeze has Caribbean food, outdoor seating, an open hearth and live music outside to put you in an island mood. TGI Fridays and Jungle Jims are both restaurants in Lake Buena Vista. Some nights during the summer, Jungle Jims features local musicians in the outdoor seating area. If you are looking to catch a game, hit the Orlando Ale House, a sports bar with a full menu and nightly drink specials.

Also located in Lake Buena Vista and part of the Walt Disney World Resort is Disneys West Side and Pleasure Island. West Side features eateries such as Gloria Estefans restaurant, Bongos Cuban Caf, and Wolfgang Pucks Restaurant. La Nouba is the Cirque du Soleil show located there. If youre looking to see a concert or do a little dancing, visit the House of Blues at Disneys West Side. The Virgin Megastore is open until 2 a.m. and features two floors of movies and music. Just around the corner, youll find Disneys equivalent of Universals CityWalk, Pleasure Island. An outdoor stage, a comedy club, and several themed clubs scatter the area. You can find an 80s dance club, 8 Trax, the Rock n Roll Beach Club, and Mannequins, a two-floor dance club with a rotating dance floor. If youre looking for an evening that is a little more laid-back, head over to Disneys BoardWalk. There youll find several restaurants, the ESPN Zone, Jellyrolls, and Atlantic Dance. Jellyrolls is a dualing piano bar, and at Atlantic Dance, you can find differently-themed dance nights, including Swing and Latin.

Orlando definitely has a busy and diverse nightlife. No matter what your style, theres something for everyone.