Orlando has an eclectic restaurant scene with many places representing international cuisine near and far. But it seems The City Beautiful has a particular love for tapas, as evidenced by the variety of tapas restaurants in Orlando.
Tapas and small plates are the perfect styles of food for date night because the small, snack-able portions leave lots of room for conversation and the sharable element of this style of cuisine makes the entire dining experience more intimate. And they don't necessarily need to be Spanish; we have loads of different variations of small plates in Orlando.
Looking for a romantic tapas evening out? This list of tapas restaurants in Orlando is sure to help you on your quest.
Updated July 2022 by Dani Meyering
Traditional Spanish Tapas Restaurants
Santiago’s Bodega
802 Virginia Drive
Orlando, FL 32803
AND
1185 Spring Centre South Boulevard, #1080
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
A local favorite, Santiago’s Bodega is a place to go to for good times to share with friends along with good food. The menu pulls from Spanish, French, Greek, Mediterranean and Italian roots. Some of the tapas to choose from include: tomato and basil bruschetta, shrimp and chorizo, spanakopita, patatas bravas and charcuterie with weekly rotating items featured. They also offer a stellar weekend brunch.
Tapa Toro
8441 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
Beautiful tapestries, flamenco dancers and porróns to drink out of (a traditional Spanish drinking vessel) make this unique stop on International Drive a go-to place for locals and tourists alike. It is a tapas bar and paella pit that combines contemporary cooking with traditional Spanish dishes but it's also a really fun place to hang out and has a bustling party vibe on the weekends. Another perk: the restaurant offers prix-fixe menus, which make it really easy to dive in when you just can't seem to make a choice between the dozens of offerings.
Café Tu Tu Tango
8625 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
El Bodegon
400 S. Orlando Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32789
Jaleo
1482 E Buena Vista Dr.
Orlando, FL 32830
Related: Most Underrated Restaurants at Walt Disney World
Small Plates and Tapas Restaurants
The Tasting Room
99 W. Plant St.
Winter Garden, Florida 34777
Bites and Bubbles
1618 N Mills Ave.
Orlando, FL 32803
Maguro Latin Fusion
1311 Florida Mall Ave.
Orlando, FL 32809
Head to the Florida Mall area for some of the most interesting tapas and small plates in Orlando. Located in a small shopping plaza near the Florida Mall, Maguro Latin Asian Cuisine is an interesting mash-up of Asian and Latin flavors. The interior has a modern lounge vibe and the menu focuses on small plates for tasting and sharing.
Wine Bar George
1610 E Buena Vista Dr,
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
One of our favorite spots at Disney Springs for date night is Wine Bar George. The menu mostly consists of small plates that pair perfectly with wine at Walt Disney World. The Mac and Cheese Bites are sinfully scrumptious and the Barata is dreamy on a warm day in Orlando. Of course, nothing goes better with wine than a plentiful cheese board.
Tokyo Tapas
1813 East Broadway Street
Oviedo, Florida 32765
Tokyo Tapas is a restaurant with Asian-influenced cuisine that's made for sharing. The menu includes tapas items like different edamames, spring rolls, seaweed salad, sashimi ceviche tuna and a variety of sushi rolls to choose from. Some favorites from locals include the 7 Spices Edamame, Blue Crab Monfongo, and the Tokyo Titan sushi roll.
Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi
7972 Via Dellagio Way
Orlando, FL 32819
RELATED: Chef's Tables and Omakase Dining in Orlando
Jazz Tastings (also a stellar place for live jazz)
164 Lake Avenue
Maitland, FL, 32751
oh please.