Here's a look at the best new and renovated venues in Orlando such as corporate event venues, party rooms, restaurants with private rooms, unique venues, and more. These event and meeting spaces can accommodate groups large or small for winter entertaining including holiday parties, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, and private and corporate events.
Take in breathtaking views of downtown Orlando from the Plaza Penthouse. By day, the venue high above Orange Avenue is home to a sustainable development company, but since October 1 it is available select evenings and weekends for private events. The property has a large indoor bar and gallery space, plus a 10,000-square-foot private terrace. Events are managed by Posh Able Events, which can assist in securing catering, entertainment, and decor.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is the newest establishment on Restaurant Row, just off the I-Drive corridor. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant has three private dining rooms with full audiovisual capabilities. Two rooms seat 40 people each and the third room seats 18. There’s also a large lakefront patio that has seating for 60. The menu includes fresh seafood and aged steaks, along with a wine list of more than 300 selections. Live jazz and blues acts play nightly in the bar, known as V Lounge. Eddie V’s opened October 24.
The old train station on Church Street will soon be home to Ferg’s Depot, a venue from the owners of Ferg’s Sports Bar in St. Petersburg. The Orlando location is expected to open in late November. The 15,000-square-foot restaurant and bar will have seating for 500 people. The interior will include an upscale restaurant and a tap room with accommodations for private groups; there will also be patio seating and a raw bar.
The City of Orlando opened the Eola House at Lake Eola Park on September 20. The two-story, Mediterranean Revival-style house was built in 1924. It has several areas available for private events: the Thornton Park room seats 25 people and the Royal Swan room seats 10. The 1.36-acre East Lawn is also available for outdoor events. The Eola House serves as the park’s office and has a welcome center for the city.
Vanity, downtown Orlando's newest upscale night spot is, opened October 23 in a second-floor space on Orange Avenue. The 5,000-square-foot main area has three full-service bars, tiered seating, crystal chandeliers, three V.I.P. areas, a dance floor, and LED lighting. There’s also a 400-square-foot balcony overlooking Orange Avenue. The interior is designed to evoke the “glamour of Las Vegas and Hollywood nightlife,” with contemporary furniture and mirror accents. Private groups can use the venue’s video wall and stage for events.
Schumann’s Jager Haus opened September 19 on Church Street in downtown Orlando. Staff don traditional German garb and serve Bavarian fare such as knockwurst, bratwurst, braised beef, and meat patties known as frikadellen. There’s also an extensive selection of German beer. The 9,000-square-foot restaurant accommodates 330 people for a buyout. For smaller events, a mezzanine overlooking the dining area holds 30.
Church Street Tavern now occupies the former Dessert Lady space in downtown Orlando. The restaurant seats 150 inside and a small patio includes eight four-top tables. There are two semiprivate areas, one with seating for 35 and another with seating for 50. The owners describe the restaurant as an “American tavern with a Pittsburgh theme,” so expect Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins games on the televisions. The menu includes perogies, kielbasa sliders, deli sandwiches, and entrées such as meatloaf. The interior is filled with dark wood, ornate tin ceilings and turn-of-the-century light fixtures. It opened in August.
Grande Lakes Orlando, which includes the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, is in the midst of a renovation of its meeting space. The 30,000-square-foot Mediterranean Ballroom was completed last year with new carpet, wall treatments, paint, lighting, decor, and foyer furniture. Work continues in the 20,000-square-foot Palazzo Ballroom, the 15,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, and several meeting rooms. It’s expected to be completed by the end of the year. The meeting space renovation is the beginning of a series of planned enhancements over the course of the next year, including a new restaurant concept and renovation for the Ritz-Carlton Orlando casual dining restaurant and a new look for the 40,000-square-foot spa.
Crumb & Cork opened in August in downtown Tampa with a focus on wine, cheese, and jazz. The venue seats about 90 inside and 30 on a patio. It accommodates 150 for a reception. More than 100 wines by the glass as well as a number of bottle selections are on offer. The menu is cheese- and charcuterie-oriented but also includes a variety of sandwiches, flatbreads, and salads. Private events can bring in catering.
As the name indicates, Hangar Bar & Grille is decorated with memorabilia from aviation history. The casual 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar opened August 30 in College Park. It seats 190 inside and 50 on a patio, and a small private area seats 10. The menu offers burgers, flatbreads, and homemade soups, along with heartier fare such as braised short ribs and Swedish meatballs.
