There's always something new to enjoy in The City Beautiful. Several new creative date night concepts are here and there are even more exciting new things in store. From new Orlando restaurants to exciting new attractions and experiences, these are the new Orlando date night ideas to try in 2025.
Updated regularly throughout the year, let's see what's new!
New Additions to Pointe Orlando
Pointe Orlando continues to be a must-try on International Drive. Multiple new venues arrived at the end of last year forming the ALL NEW – Live! At The Pointe.
NOW OPEN on the second level of Pointe Orlando!
- Sports & Social
- PBR Cowboy Bar
- Houndsmen Lounge
- Shark Bar
Celebrate the finer things in life at Houndsmen English Lounge. Orlando's first PBR Cowboy Bar is the hottest new spot for great music and dancing, and bull riding!
Retro dance music and patio vibes make Shark Bar a place to gather, unwind, and hit the beach. Sports & Social brings together top-rated and industry-leading sports gaming platforms with an awesome sports entertainment experience and great eats!
VALIDATED PARKING: Simply present your Pointe Orlando parking ticket to one of the team members to receive a free parking voucher. Valid at Sports & Social, PBR Orlando, Houndsmen Lounge, Shark Bar, Palm Tree Club, and Sal's Pizza.
JUST OPENED: Palm Tree Club is a chic venue bringing together elevated dining and pleasure with an exciting, captivating, and vibrant ambiance seamlessly merging into one unique experience.
There are still more venues arriving in Pointe Orlando this year! Keep an eye out for announcements and details about Dick’s Last Resort, Barton G. (a dining experience like no other), Rocket Fizz, Taffer’s Tavern and more.
New Date-Worthy Restaurants
Bark Haven Dog Bar
724 Brookhaven Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
It’s pretty simple – You love your dog. Like, a lot. You’d bring them everywhere if you could! Believe us when we say “We get it!” That’s why the owners of BarkHaven dreamed of creating an urban oasis for dogs and their people. It’s a safe place to enrich the special bond you share, surrounded by a tail-wagging community of like-minded pack members.
Located conveniently on the Urban Trail between the Mills 50 District and Ivanhoe Village, BarkHaven is Orlando’s premiere membership dog park bar! Day passes and memberships are for dogs only, as humans always get in free.
Parea Greek Taverna
111 S. Orlando Ave. at Maitland City Centre.
Parea Greek Taverna opened in the space previously occupied by Outpost Kitchen in Maitland. Parea offers everything from lamb shank and lobster tail to flaming saganaki and tiropita. They also offer Happy Hour starting at 5pm daily.
Crush Yard
7840 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34747
(321) 888-2913
Whether your date is into pickleball or not Crush Yard Orlando is an excellent choice for a fun date night. The food is delicious. It’s not an afterthought here, every dish we tried during the Grand Opening event impressed us!
New Food Halls & Markets
The Eola Food Hall
150 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL
The Eola Food Hall will occupy the first two floors of the four-story building at 150 E. Central Blvd. that formerly housed the University Club of Orlando. Construction is underway with a projected opening in late 2025. The food hall will offer a diverse mix of cuisines in the heart of downtown, catty-corner to Lake Eola Park. The food hall will feature about 16 vendors, including three full-size restaurants of about 1,300 square feet. Two of the restaurants will be on the second floor and one on the first floor.
Thrive (Coming Soon)
Hall's on 5th (Food Hall)
15 E 5th St, Apopka, FL
Thrive will be one of the vendors at a new food hall that is coming soon to Apopka. The food hall will be named “Hall's on 5th“. Locals will recognize the building as the former Hall's Feed Store. Once completed, the food hall will host six to eight food vendors.
Related: A Beer Lover's Guide to Breweries in Orlando
The Great Southern Box Food Hall
2105 N Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32804
The Great Southern Box Food Hall, in the new Packing District, brings a variety of vendors focused on immigrant cuisine. The Great Southern Box Company Food Hall features eleven vendor stalls, two outdoor patios, a micro-brewery led by Orange County Brewers, and a 5,254 SF event space.
Enjoy happy hour Monday – Friday from 4-7pm and weekend brunch from 11am – 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. They also have monthly programming that includes events like yoga on the lawn and live music.
More food halls…
Now fully open is Maitland Social. This upscale food hall is near the Maitland City Center, which has become a popular gathering spot in recent years. Maitland Social includes Foxtail Coffee, Wave Asian Bistro, Urban Body Works, and the recently opened Pizza Bruno.
Brew Theory opened a Brew Theory Marketplace at 2650 Jewett Lane Sanford, FL 32771.
A New Take on Local Favorites
Throughout Orlando, beloved food concepts and restaurants continue to evolve in interesting ways.
Red Panda Noodle
Red Panda Noodle, a popular Orlando-based food trailer specializing in handmade noodles, is set to expand its operations in 2025. This popular food truck team is now the latest winner of the annual Ramen Rumble competition. Led by culinary duo Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker, announced plans to establish a permanent brick-and-mortar location in the Winter Park/Casselberry area. We can't wait!
Brix & Mortar Urban Winery in Lake Mary
242 Wheelhouse Lane #1230, Lake Mary, FL
Brix & Mortar Urban Winery is opening a second location in Lake Mary on November 13th at 5pm. Located at Griffin Farm at Midtown, this Lake Mary wine bar brings the same wines, wine flights, and inviting ambiance that you’ve come to love. Join them for a glass (or two!) and enjoy their unique wine offerings in a relaxed, modern setting.
Quantum Leap Winery (New Location)
The Cottage on Lake Fairview, 4410 Edgewater Drive
Quantum Leap Facebook
Quantum Leap Winery is “Florida’s only sustainable winery.” Quantum Leap Winery's production model, which blends grapes from around the world on site, reduces the carbon footprint associated with traditional wine production by utilizing low-carbon footprint vessels such as kegs, pouches or boxes.
Quantum Leap had to leave its previous Mills 50 location and instead found a charming property, The Cottage on Lake Fairview. Currently open Friday – Sunday for wine, food, and Quantum Leap hosted events.
Rion’s Ocean Room
3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 (East End Market)
Rion’s Ocean Room is making waves at East End Marke! Specializing in Hawaiian-style poke, this walk-up counter serves fresh seafood by the pound, including premium ahi, fatty salmon, ono, and more. Date night can be casual without missing out on quality, thanks to the high-quality poke without the fuss.
Small Food Group is responsible for this instant classic spot, as well as DOMU, EDOBOY, and more!
Gyukatsu Rose
3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 (East End Market)
Next on the development list from Small Food Group is a must-try for Wagyu beef fans. This spot, right around the corner from DOMU and right next to Rion's Ocean Room, focuses on Wagyu only. Serving up wagyu cutlet sets alongside sizzling stone grills for a tasty Japanese-inspired experience.
The Glass Knife (Second Location)
The Glass Knife recently announced that a second location is coming to Park Avenue in late Spring 2025. Their signature way to enjoy breakfast, lunch, brunch, coffee, donuts, and desserts – now in a new way. More details to come!
Fine Dining
The Chapman
500 S. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL
If you love Florida and the sophistication of Park Avenue, The Chapman is for you. Artistry Restaurants brings a stategic partnership between Artistry and award- winning Chef Clifford Pleau, who helped bring culinary innovation at The Chapman to life alongside a professional hospitality team led by General Manager Alex Farley and Executive Chef Ibis Lopez.
The Chapman is inspired by local history and lore from the late 1800s surrounding Loring Chase and Oliver Chapman, the founders of Winter Park. From its menu to its interiors, past meets present at The Chapman, which harkens back to Florida’s beginnings as a winter playground.
Our contributor Kelly Lamano Diaz attended a VIP opening and enjoyed some marvelous drinks and bites. The “Timeless Tipples” lineup brought a mix of flair and flavor. The Florida Seventy-Five was a sunny, floral twist on a mimosa, pairing St. Augustine gin with tangerine juice and prosecco. The Mintnight Café perked us up with its espresso-rich charm and a hint of amaretto sweetness.
The food was as indulgent as the drinks. Starting with a velvety butternut squash soup, poured tableside, and paired with perfectly crisp focaccia slathered in sea-salted citrus butter that practically melted in our mouths. For mains, the bronzed Florida grouper dazzled with its light, flaky texture and the tangy punch of roasted tomato vinaigrette. Meanwhile, the Demkota Ranch Filet delivered juicy perfection, complemented by creamy horseradish potatoes and sweet cipollini onions.
Desserts were the cherry (and raspberry) on top—a luscious Valrhona Chocolate Decadence and a cozy Warm Pear & Red Tart Cherry Mai Chai Crisp, both sweet finales to a night worth savoring.
Moso Nori
1100 S. Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL
Moso Nori, a concept by James Beard Award finalist Henry Moso, just opened City Place in Winter Park. The restaurant features an island bar with 30+ seats, where Moso and his chefs will serve cylindrical rolls fashioned from premium roasted Japanese nori and filled with everything from dry-aged fish to foie gras to vegetables.
Ômo by Jônt
115 E Lyman Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
ÔMO by Jônt is an immersive chef's counter concept by Chef Ryan Ratino and the team behind TWO-MICHELIN STARRED Jônt in Washington, D.C. The restaurant will showcase Ratino's skills with Japanese seafood and play up meats and produce procured from local purveyors like Pasture Prime and Frog Song Organics.
They are currently open Wednesday – Sunday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm. Reservations available on OpenTable.
Cast & Crew
640 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Breakfast: Daily 6-10am
Dinner: Nightly 5pm
Weekend Brunch: 11am – 3pm
Whether staying a few nights in Daytona Beach or just up for a quick day trip, Cast & Crew is a phenomenal addition to the beachside scene. Locals and visitors are welcome to stop in for a delicious dinner, brunch, or even just a round of handcrafted drinks – the NA / mocktails are divine too!
I was invited to stop in during their opening weeks, and the Seared Scallops entree blew me away! Scallops are often a tried-and-true test of a kitchen's skill and talent. There is a small window of perfection for scallops to be cooked without becoming chewy. The Seared Scallops are served atop potatoes confit and parsnip puree, with pickled cauliflower nestled alongside – and I ate every last morsel.
Thanks to Executive Chef Oliver Koster of Cast & Crew, many of the dishes have a Dutch and European influence. His Dutch influence makes for some of the most creative seafood dishes found anywhere along A1A. When I spoke to Chef Koster I told him that this scallop entree must remain on the menu for years to come!
Cocktails + Sweet Treats
Lorelei – COMING SOON!
737 N. Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL
Lorelei, a new wine bar from the pair behind Death in the Afternoon and Suffering Bastard, is coming to Mills 50. Lorelei, named after the German siren of lore, will open this February across the street from Edoboy. As far as wine selections are concerned, bottles will focus on “fun and delicious” wines, while by-the-glass options will be “cool and exciting.”
Arden
1420 Alden Rd, Orlando, Florida 32803
Arden, which recently opened across from the soon-to-open City Food Hall, offers biodynamic wines, low-ABV cocktails and a food menu from Red Panda Noodle's Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker. The offer happy hour from 5-7pm Wednesday through Friday, with $8 White Port & Tonics, $9 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, & Prosecco, and $10 Duck Season.
Rivals Activity Bar
25 Wall Street, Orlando, Florida 32801
Rivals is downtown Orlando's latest hotspot, blending entertainment and nightlife into one dynamic venue. Whether you're in the mood to play games, enjoy a cocktail, or join the late-night party, Rivals offers the perfect atmosphere to challenge friends and have a great time.
This bar is packed with a variety of games, from classic bar favorites like darts and basketball to arcade machines and board games. Challenge your friends to a round or meet new opponents—it’s all about the fun of competing at Rivals! Plus, with their massive LED wall, you'll never miss a moment of the action, whether it’s live sports or the latest gaming tournament.
Bar Kada
957 Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
Chef and owner Michael Collantes’ modern take on a traditional sushi omakase earned him a Michelin star at Soseki, and he’s now back with a new effort: Bar Kada. Open adjacent to Soseki in Winter Park, Collantes is working with Soseki vets, 2023 Michelin “Sommelier of the Year” Benjamin Coutts, and chef de cuisine Mike Vang, on this 30-seat sake and wine-led concept. Vang oversees seasonal small plates that pay tribute to not only Central Florida produce but also local seafood. Drinks highlight low-touch wine and ancestral sakes, plus sake-based cocktails.
Lamp and Shade
1336 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL
Lamp & Shade is Mills area’s newest dining and nightlife concept. Playfully yet eloquently named, Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails got its inspiration from the idea to ‘hangout and throw some shade in conversation’ while paying homage to the history of its building, previously The Lamp Shade Fair, well-known by locals for over 50 years.
Packwoods Bar at Maitland Social – COMING SOON
360 E Horatio Avenue Ste 500, Maitland, Florida 32751
From the same talented folks as Lamp and Shade comes Packwoods Bar. Located inside the new Maitland Social food hall, Packwoods Bar brings sophistication in its decor. Surely the vides will be equal parts date night and upscale local hang.
The Winery & Tasting Room by Brewlando at ICON Park
8395 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Step inside for an impressive selection of 50 wines from around the globe, featuring exquisite choices like the the Graham Beck Sparkling Rose from South Africa and the aromatic Domaine Gonon Pouilly-Fuisse from France.
For beer aficionados, Brewlando presents 8 exceptional draft beers, including the clean and crisp Belle Isle Blonde and the effervescent Golden Knight Belgian Golden Strong Ale. These selections showcase Brewlando’s dedication to brewing excellence and innovation.
One downside is that no food is offered other than pre-made charcauterie boxes and nibbles, but thankfully there are lots of restaurants at ICON Park.
What's New at Orlando's Theme Parks
Although ICON Park is not a theme park, something big will open there in 2025. Blue Man Group will open a brand-new theater at ICON Park in Orlando on April 3, 2025, with tickets now available for purchase. This custom-built 578-seat venue, located beneath the Orlando Eye, will feature their signature blend of art, live music, comedy, and non-verbal performance. Blue Man Group shows will run Tuesday through Sunday, with options for VIP experiences, meet-and-greets, and dinner packages to be announced soon.
New Experiences at Walt Disney World
Now open, Tiana's Bayou Adventure takes over Splash Mountain in a new joyful celebration of New Orleans. We love it! And there is a new Disney-fied version of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. And in the coming years an entire villain's land at Magic Kingdom will arise.
A new, revamped musical show based on The Little Mermaid will arrive at Disney's Hollywood Studios next summer. New restaurants at Walt Disney World have opened, and more are still on the way, including a pirates-themed tavern in Adventureland.
Best of all perhaps is the new Spaceship Earth Lounge coming to EPCOT sometime this year!
One of our sibling sites, Tampa Bay Parenting has a full rundown of all the New Rides and Shows Coming to Walt Disney World.
What's New at Universal Orlando
A new DreamWorks Land debuted last year! And we are in love with the new CineSational nighttime spectacular that just debuted at Universal Studios. Finally, work continues on the resort's upcoming Epic Universe park, officially opening on May 22, 2025.
Once opening day arrives there will be lots of things for adults to do at Epic Universe, including plenty of specialty dining. We especially cannot wait for the superb romance of Helios Grand Hotel and its rooftop dining!
New Coaster(s) at SeaWorld Orlando
Penguin Trek, a new family friendly coaster debuted at SeaWorld in summer 2024. This unforgettable family launch coastertakes you on an adventure through the breathtaking vastness of Antarctica. Board your snowmobile and race along with your expedition team at up to 43 miles per hour, navigating twists and turns and narrowly escaping the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern. Reach the end and you’ll make the ultimate discovery: a real penguin habitat!
And continuing with the cool theme, SeaWorld will totally revamp the Wild Arctic experience into something truly amazing in 2025.
Here's to an exciting year in Orlando, with great things in 2025 on the way!
(Featured image of The Chapman, by Kelly Lamano Diaz)
