The Orlando Real - Life in Orlando

Sunroom in Mills50

by Yasmene Warren

After a long, grueling day at work, sometimes, all you want to do is unwind in a calm environment with a delicious, hand-crafted drink. Luckily, at this bar called Sunroom, that’s exactly what you can do.

Where Is It?

Sunroom is located on North Mills Avenue just moments from the beautiful Downtown Orlando. You can find it right next to its sister bar, the Guesthouse, and near a taqueria called Black Rooster as they all share a building!

This bar is for evening drinkers only as its opening hours are from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. every Tuesday through Saturday.

Feelin’ Thirsty?

This holiday season, Sunroom debuted its holiday-themed menu, Santa’s Shred Sled, with sections named “Boozy,” “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out,” “Winter…

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The Dolly Llama in Winter Garden

by Holley Long

Is your sweet tooth calling? Indulge it with the winning combo of ice cream and waffles at the Dolly Llama, now open in Winter Garden Village.

What is it?

Founded by real estate leader Eric Shomof and European restaurateur and entrepreneur Samuel Baroux, the Dolly Llama takes its name from a real llama that lives on a farm in France and brings joy to everyone she meets, according to the company website. The waffle and ice cream shop endeavors to bring that same joy into the lives of all who come through its doors. 

Waffles take up a good portion of the menu, but the shop also has an abundance of different flavors of ice cream to check out. Get a scoop on a waffle—liege or bubble—or have it in a cup with toppings galore.…

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Propag8 in Windermere

by Yasmene Warren

In search of a calm, cool place to grab hand-crafted drinks and a bite to eat on the low? Then look no further! Located in Windermere hidden within the restaurant Feather and Quill is where you’ll find the discreetly located bar Propag8, which is just the kind of place you’re looking for.

What is It?

Propag8 is a speakeasy, which is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, something that came about during the Prohibition era. Now, speakeasies are a fun way to experience the thrill in the chase as most speakeasies, like Propag8, lack signage and require a password for entry.

Propag8 is one that does require a password, and it changes every night. The only way to get this password is by following the bar’s…

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Writer's Block Bookstore

by Holley Long

Growing up, I always wanted to live in a town with a local bookstore, and when I moved to Winter Garden, I was thrilled to find one with a name I could relate to: Writer’s Block Bookstore.

About

Writer’s Block Bookstore opened its Winter Garden location in 2020, six years after opening its first store in Winter Park. The store began with the hope of providing a literary community in areas where one was lacking, and it delivers on that everyday. 

Books and More! 

Writer’s Block fills its shelves with all of the popular and newly released titles, but it also shines a light on the work of independent authors not always found in mainstream bookstores. In addition to books, the store sells gifts like games and puzzles, so you…

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Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo

by Kismet Kohn

The Central Florida Zoo offers gorgeous scenery and fun for the whole family! Whether you want to see exotic animals, spend the day ziplining, or visit the botanical gardens, there’s something for everybody. To make it even better, every year starting in November and ending in January the zoo hosts the Asian Lantern Festival to celebrate the new year! 

It ends on January 15th, which is this upcoming weekend so be sure to grab your tickets here.

Where is it?

The Central Florida Zoo is located in the heart of downtown Sanford, which features a beautiful RiverWalk, delicious restaurants, and craft breweries. Sanford is just twenty minutes from downtown Orlando and showcases nineteenth-century Victorian homes.

The…

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3 Unique Asian Restaurant Experiences in Orlando

by Yasmene Warren

If a taste of Asia is what you’re looking for, then look no further! The City of Orlando has plenty of restaurants to go around! Here are three Asian restaurants in Orlando that’ll bring you a unique Asian dining experience and save you hundreds on an international plane ticket!

Nine Spices Hotpot

Located just mere minutes away from Universal Studios on South Kirkman Road, Nine Spices Hotpot is a restaurant that makes you put your cooking skills to the test!

At Nine Spices, their dining style is centered on a cooking method that originated in China where your table has a heat source to keep your own personal soup bowl simmering while you get to choose from a wide assortment of meats, noodles, and veggies to cook right in…

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Wafu at East End Market

by Kismet Kohn

Looking for a unique and delicious savory and sweet place in Central Florida? Look no further! Wafu offers the best of both worlds with warm stuffed waffles and chilly soft serve in a fish-shaped cone.

Where is it?

Wafu is located on the second floor of the East End Market, which is just on the edge of Winter Park. Within East End Market, you can also find places that sell local handmade goods, plants, unique gifts, and more! Some weekends, the market will hold events that have live music and more vendors that show up. Across the street from East End Market are also stores that sell vintage clothing, vinyl records, and antiques.

Taiyaki

One of the primary selling points of Wafu is the delicious taiyaki, a traditional…

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Sixty Vines

by Holley Long

If you’ve visited Winter Park, you know there’s no shortage of places to enjoy good food and drinks. Next time you’re in the city, I encourage you to check out a restaurant that has that plus the chance to pretend you’re a sommelier for a day. 

The Restaurant 

A trip to Sixty Vines in Winter Park is like a trip to wine country, without the airfare. With seven locations—from Florida to Texas—the restaurant pours wine on tap, so guests sip Napa Valley’s finest as it’s meant to be enjoyed: straight from the barrel.

Image by @sixtyvineswinterpark

And the “straight from the barrel” taste isn’t just about giving the authentic vineyard experience. By serving wine on tap, Sixty Vines helps keep bottles, corks, and foil out of…

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The Keg Social

by Yasmene Warren

It’s time to get social — Keg Social, that is! The Keg Social is Orlando’s ultimate place to party. From eating and drinking to bowling and axe throwing, the Keg Social is every party goer’s dream.

Where is it?

This spot is open every day, and its hours run from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, the Keg Social keeps it exclusive to those aged 21 and older after 9 p.m. — perfect for those college freshmen who want to let loose after their afternoon class but have an early morning the next day!

What to Do

The Keg Social keeps it interesting by giving guests a boat load of things to do! Here’s what activities lie in store for you…

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Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery

by Yasmene Warren

This restaurant’s namesake is exactly what you’ll do once you step through its doors! Thrive Cocktail Lounge & Eatery is a restaurant located in Downtown Orlando dedicated to serving people a variety of “unique flavors” and connecting people through food.

Where’s It At?

Located south on Orange Avenue, Thrive lies in the heart of Downtown Orlando and opened its doors to the people of Orlando in 2021 to provide a brand new eating experience to the community.

Thrive opens at 11 a.m. every day and stays open until midnight on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays, 1 a.m. on Wednesdays, and 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. So whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, this place can provide you with the perfect…

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