8 New Venues in Orlando/Central Florida for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events

In November 2022, New York Beer Project opened in the rapidly growing Orlando suburb known as Horizon West. In addition to suds and snacks, the gastropub and brewery—behind a traditional red-brick facade—includes three upstairs event spaces. On the second floor, groups can gather in a total of 5,200 square feet, which is broken into three venues and are all a tribute to sister properties located north of New York City. A long, narrow room dubbed The Barn on the Hudson holds 110 visitors seated at up to 18 at round tables, or 155 standing reception-style, in 1,650 square feet. Here, frilly rose gold chandeliers along parallel counter seating areas with reclaimed wood walls and barn doors set the scene. And with a more elegant look, the New Yorker Ballroom recalls the famous Rainbow Room of yore, with light bright walls and flooring, and a 16-foot domed ceiling light above a circular dance floor. Art deco mirrors and Swarovski crystal curtains add dramatic effect to the space, which fits up to 120 seated at banquet rounds within 2,025 square feet, or 175 cocktail-style. Choose an outdoor setting at the 1,500-square-foot New York Botanical Garden, a courtyard with antique fountains, bistro lighting, and a 40-foot candle wall. Up to 90 celebrants at tables, or 120 standing, can meet here for an event. Full buyouts are also available. All event rentals include a day-of coordinator; a signature cocktail plus four beer options; utensils, linens, and dinnerware; a free event website; parking; and charcuterie with food packages—plated or at grazing stations—all catered by in-house chefs.

Rich gold tones with sharp black contrast give a luxe feel to the newly revamped event spaces at the art-filled Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, which is undergoing a top-to-toe $18 million “transformation”—including the banquet kitchen. The 247-room boutique hotel is located in the heart of downtown and is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and the Kessler Collection. The Grand Bohemian has 10,000 square feet of function space, including a ballroom with a prefunction foyer, an intimate wine room, a boardroom, and six meeting galleries. At 2,500 square feet, the Johann Strauss Ballroom can accommodate parties of up to 200 guests reception-style, 220 in a theater setup, and 180 seated at banquet rounds. The room divides into two halves. In addition, a rooftop pool and lounge area are available for semi-private parties of up to 80 guests. Groups can also gather in the hotel’s three art galleries (30 at cocktail tables apiece), and Bösendorfer Lounge, which accommodates 60 people. The ballroom renovations are complete; the others are scheduled to be finished throughout 2023. All catering is done in-house. AV equipment, a sound system, and other amenities are all available.

When it opened its doors on the outer ring of Walt Disney World in December 2022, the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area, with a polished midcentury-modern look, introduced more than 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor events for small- and medium-sized corporate and social groups. When not enjoying the theme parks, the saltwater pool and splashpad, free breakfast, and the complimentary happy hour, guests in up to 350 of the 602 guest rooms can meet up in a variety of event spaces. High-tech audiovisual equipment can be provided as necessary, and the catering team offers seated meals, buffets, and carving stations—yet the mid-sized venues prices are approachable for the market. Choose from two ballrooms and 10 meeting rooms, as well as prefunction space. The ambiance is polished and geometric, with elements such as recessed lighting in squared ceiling patterns, with round mirrors and other accessories for contrast. The largest space, the Coral Ballroom (pictured), fits up to 517 guests standing or theater style, 387 seated at banquet rounds, in 4,656 square feet, while the Scarlett Ballroom’s equivalent capacities are 474 and 255. Each can be divided into four parts. The pool deck and grassy areas around the resort’s exterior are ideal for open-air gatherings.

The Tampa EDITION is a luxe new foliage-filled, dog-friendly hotel with 172 guest rooms, a spa, a pool, and more than 8,030 square feet of flexible event space. From lobby to penthouse, the look is clean and bright with light oak woods and travertine, with neutral faux furs placed strategically. A striking non-symmetrical spiral staircase adds drama near the reception desk. The nine event venues are all on the mezzanine level and second floors. They include a 3,257-square-foot ballroom, a boardroom, meeting rooms, and studios. The ballroom welcomes up to 325 guests for a reception-style gathering and 150 for a seated event. The Lobby Bar, signature restaurant LILAC, rooftop restaurant Azure at EDITION, and two lushly hued, dimly lit nightlife venues—Punch Room and Arts Club—offer groups less conventional alternatives. The hotel debuted in the Water Street neighborhood in September 2022 with state-of-the-art tools including electronic blackout blinds and light-filtering window treatments. Tele- and video-conferencing equipment, podium lecterns, portable stages, and even easels are all available to groups. Three of the restaurants are led by Michelin-rated chef John Fraser.

After pioneering New World Cuisine in South Florida, celebrity chef Norman Van Aken brought his Latin American-laced flavors to Orlando for a decade via a fine dining hotel restaurant. As of February 2023, he’s back in town, serving his inventive takes on the world’s flavors at Norman's, a fashionable white tablecloth establishment on Restaurant Row, convenient to locals and the tourist corridor. The new Norman’s has a main dining room, two private spaces, and a patio with its own small-plates menu. Signature offerings include yuca-stuffed crispy shrimp with sour orange mojo and a chocolate mousse with guajillo salted butter caramel. The total indoor-outdoor space is 7,300 square feet total and is available for buyouts; a total of 120 guests seated or 300 standing can attend an event together. The look is “sultry speakeasy,” incorporating a bartop of green glazed porcelain; golden yellows and rich greens define the main dining room, which is dotted with bubbly chandeliers and illuminated arches. Artisanal furnishings and a variety of marble surfaces add dimension. At 297 square feet and 252 square feet, respectively, the smaller dining rooms are right-sized for seated dining, topping out at 26 and 16 guests apiece. Outdoors, a wraparound terrace—with jeweled greens, leather, and dark tones—contrasts with dark aluminum and slate fabric lounge seating. As many as 85 can be served for a private dinner here, or 150 for a standing reception. Food stations, live music, and mixology or chef-led culinary experiences are also available.

Doshi is an intimate restaurant featuring a chef-driven Korean-American fine dining menu, and groups are invited to buyout the 30-seat space for private events. A bold mural resembling a Minhwa folk painting dominates the wall above banquettes. It features a tiger and magpie—both national emblems. It was painted by Orlando artist Boy Kong and is illuminated by recessed lights. The kitchen is open and fronted by a concrete chef’s counter, allowing diners to watch the culinary team prepare multi-course meals. Groups generally choose a six- or seven-course prix fixe menu that is served family style, although the restaurant will accommodate food stations upon request. In addition to Korean classics with a modern twist, Doshi offers sake and wine pairings. Modern Korean music plays in the background, but groups can request different sounds. The restaurant opened in July 2022. Managing partner Gene Kim owns the restaurant with investors Jimmy and Johnny Tung, local restaurateurs who were recently nominated for a James Beard Award.

In July 2022, In Good Company Hospitality opened a light bright restaurant called The Wilson inside the Meliá Orlando Celebration, a 289-room hotel just south of Disney World. In addition to indoor and outdoor dining rooms and a relaxed poolside bar with a bright and sleek coast-inspired decor, The Wilson Orlando features The Pearl Room and The Pearl Terrace, designed specifically for private events. Light wood floors, white coloring, bubble chandeliers, and plenty of windows bring a beachy look to The Pearl Room, which can host 100 guests seated at banquet rounds or 200 standing. The adjacent Pearl Terrace, with playful market lighting, adds capacity for another 30 at tables and 50 reception style. They total 2,650 square feet together. Larger groups of up to 350 guests are invited to buyout the entire 9,1500-square-foot complex, which includes the 70-seat dining room, 70-seat patio, and bars at each. The open-air bar area is covered with colorful umbrellas that add both whimsy and shade. The menu veers toward seafood, yet events can choose from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert catering options served as a buffet, family style, or at three-course seated dinners. A vetted AV company can provide modern equipment. In addition to the pool, the hotel has mini golf, beach volleyball, and soccer nets.

In March, the light and bright eight-story Cambria Orlando Universal Boulevard opened with 118 guest rooms and artwork inspired by local scenes. The crisp, contemporary vibe extends to the event spaces, which are multifunction venues located both indoors and out. Meetings and small social gatherings will veer to the Lake Eola Room, named for the city’s iconic body of water. It has 750 square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows and a white backdrop, serving the needs of up to 50 people classroom style, 40 in a U-shaped configuration, and 20 conference style. Groups can also gather around the 17,000-square-foot rooftop Ka Lā Rooftop Lounge, which has views of the Universal Orlando theme parks, SeaWorld, Icon Park, and downtown Orlando. The space can accommodate up to 50 seated or 85 standing. The lively Veer Kitchen & Bar offers 12,000 square feet of indoor and alfresco options for groups of up to 65 seated or 100 cocktail style. Full buyouts are also available. The hotel’s culinary team offers buffet and table service menus for all the venues, which specialize in eclectic and locally sourced takes on American favorites, and craft beers. In all three venues, AV equipment and sound systems are available.