Here's a look at the best new Orlando restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this spring. These new and renovated Orlando venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Universal Orlando’s newest resort, Cabana Bay, opened its first building with 600 family suites in March. The resort’s retro-inspired architecture, neon lighting, and vintage decor are reminiscent of iconic beach resorts from the 1950s and '60s. The resort has a 10-lane bowling alley that can be booked for private events during the day. There’s also a 10,000-square-foot zero-entry pool with cabanas that can be used for small gatherings. In June, the remaining 1,200 guest rooms will open, along with a second pool and lazy river.
Minus5 Ice Bar opened its first Orlando location April 26 at Pointe Orlando. Like the existing locations in Las Vegas and New York, everything is made of ice—the bar, tables, benches, walls, and even the drink glasses. Hand-carved sculptures depict iconic Florida images such as palm trees, penguins, space shuttles, and sea creatures. The venue provides parkas and gloves so guests can stay warm in the minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit) environment. The 2,500-square-foot space holds 100 people for a private event.
Yard House, a national chain of casual restaurants, opened its first Orlando location April 24 at I-Drive 360. The 14,000-square-foot restaurant seats nearly 400 people inside and an additional 80 on a patio. The menu includes shareable snacks and appetizers, burgers, steaks, and seafood, and the chain’s signature feature: 140 beers on tap, including several from Florida breweries.
In January, Disney opened a new Chef’s Table Dining Room at the Contemporary Resort. The venue is adjacent to the catering kitchen at the resort’s convention center. It seats 20 or holds 44 for receptions. The catering team works with the client to develop a multi-course menu, which can include interactive experiences for guests.
Snap Space is a new photography gallery that is available for private events. The 5,000-square-foot space opened in January on the bottom floor of the renovated Cameo Theater. It seats 150 people or holds 200 for receptions. A private brick courtyard can be used for a bar, food stations, or entertainment. The venue has exposed steel rafters and white walls with three movable walls that can modify the rectangular space.
DTA, or Don’t Tell Anyone, is a private social club that opened in early January in the Thornton Park area of downtown Orlando. The venue is available for buyouts and holds as many as 200 people using both the interior space and the patio. The venue has a long bar illuminated by tall pillar chandeliers, lounge seating, and a stage. A menu of tapas-style fare accompanies an selection of wine, champagne, and cocktails.
Streamsong Resort, located on 16,000 acres between Orlando and Tampa, opened its guest rooms and meeting space in January. The resort’s conference center offers 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a ballroom for as many as 500 people, nine breakout rooms, a boardroom, and an air-conditioned rooftop pavilion. The Clubhouse at Streamsong adds another 4,500 square feet of function space, including a banquet room and a private dining room with sweeping views of the water, sand dunes, and golf courses. The resort also has bass fishing lakes, sporting clays, a nature trail, a spa, a fitness center, and casual and fine dining options.
Guy Harvey’s RumFish Grill & Bar will open in late May inside the Guy Harvey Outpost resort in St. Pete Beach. The restaurant will have a 33,500-gallon aquarium, and resort guests will be able to snorkel in the tank among fish such as snook, tarpon, grouper, sharks, and eels. A number of other tanks will be placed around the 20,000-square-foot restaurant, which will have seating for 310 people and will be available for buyout.
Stefano’s Grill, which opened in January off Sand Lake Road, is owned and operated by chef Stefano Tedeschi. The restaurant is only open for dinner and seats 75. Private groups can book it for events during the day or for a buyout during dinner. The menu includes steaks, seafood, chops, house-made sausage, and Italian classics such as penne alla vodka and chicken Parmesan. The restaurant also offers gluten-free, organic, and vegetarian options.
The Coop is the newest dining concept from John Rivers, chef and owner of 4 Rivers Smokehouse. The Southern-inspired, fast-casual restaurant opened April 17 in Winter Park. The featured item on the menu is fried chicken, along with other Southern favorites such as pork chops, shrimp and grits, chicken potpie, and sides like collards, fried okra, and creamed corn. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant seats 170 people and offers catering services.
