Disney is a place kids dream of but as an adult, my version of Disney is one in which I can sip on fine wine and beer and eat the most delicious food which is exactly what my visit to Orlando excelled at.
The trip to Orlando started off at Hopdoddy Burgers. Brian and I got straight off the plane to head over to this spot and we were bringing an appetite. While the space is large, it has a homey feel to it and the staff makes you feel that way as well. We ordered a mix of burgers, fries, and shakes. Not only did these all look amazing but more importantly they tasted great too! Hate it when sometimes you get this awesome display but the taste doesn’t match the look. Check out the fries that actually come in that huge bowl 🙂 We ordered:Burgers – Classic burger & Prime Time BurgerFries – buffalo chicken, hot honey and sage, chili cheese Shakes – birthday cake shake and the pride special Did I mention we had quite the appetite getting off the plane? 🙂
The next morning we stopped at Buttermilk Bakery to pick up some pasties before heading onto a Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. The pastries were all delicious and the perfect treat to compliment that beautiful boat ride where we learned about the surrounding area. After the boar tour, we visited The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art which has the world’s most comprehensive collection from Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Next up we drove a short distance to Uncle Julio’s Mexican From Scratch located at ICON Park. Since we had just eaten we opted to just order desserts and this was an easy choice for me after looking at the menu. They have a chocolate Pinata filled with churros, strawberries and chocolate empanadas. This dessert is unlike anything I have seen before and definitely fit my wish list for my adult version of Disney and what I want to #VisitOrlando for! It is truly a great experience as you crack it open with what looked like a mini baseball bat and get to watch the churros and fruit pouring out!
Now that we were super full, we decided to ride the StarFlyer which spins you around at high speeds 🙂 (catch this at the top of the page in the beginning of the Youtube Video to really get a sense of what it was like 😉 ) I’m pretty sure this is the world’s tallest swing ride @ 450 feet high and it reaches 45mph! I am all about these types of experiences and a real adrenaline junkie!
After a nice tour of the museum we were ready to eat again. We enjoyed a tapas style lunch at Bulla Gastrobar
Next up we feasted at Jaleo. Chef Jose Andres spot Jaleo is vibrant and the staff is great too. The tapas style menu is fun to share and brings everyone together.
We ended the night at Reyes Mezcaleria. This spot was stunning and I was immediately transported to Mexico. I enjoyed everything from their guac to the churros for dessert.
Next up we had a spread of eats and drinks at Disney Springs. We started with a blind tasting at Wine Bar George with George himself. George is a master at what he does and I really enjoyed learning from him.
Our Accommodations:
After all the fun, we were finally ready to head to our hotel. We checked into the JW Marriott Orlando. Whats interesting about this hotel is it connected to the Ritz-Carlton Orlando and they share different itinerary and experiences. The hotel is connected so you don’t have to go outside to go from one hotel to the other. They also share the spa and gym (which we loved as well). This was easily one of the top hotel gyms we’ve ever been to. I was thinking of even doing some video footage of the gym while there so let me know if that’s something you guys would be interested in seeing more of on my channels in the comments below… The properties also have 11 dining options with beautiful pools and a golf course. We were lucky to experience one of their dining options for dinner that night at Highball and Harvest.
This dining experience was one of my favorites of the trip. I had the most elegant chicken and waffles I ever had and to top it off the sommelier there was exceptional and served us an array of wines and cocktails that paired so well with each course. Last but NEVER least was dessert and what an experience that was!A toothpaste lookin’ tube of Nutella to pour on amazing puffy donut holes. Whether you’re staying overnight on the property or not, I highly recommend this spot!
While our trip was short, it was clear that Orlando has a lot to offer outside of Disney. I would love to hear your experiences and feel free to reach out to share your favorite spots in the area. Use the comments below or feel free to leave a comment on the YouTube video that is embedded both at the top of page and also below.
Other notable highlights found in the Youtube video at top and bottom of post:
The Wine Room –wine and cheese paring with Maitre Fromager, Max McCalman. The Wine Room offers 150 varieties of wine which is served via a wine dispensary so you get wine with just a touch of a button. However the real special experience was learning about the wine and cheese pairings with Max. The Ravenous Pig
Plant Street Market
Crooked Can Brewery–Crooked Can Brewing Company is a local craft brewery and they gave us a sample of different brews and we really enjoyed them all. Plus its the perfect compliment to all the great eateries at Plant Street Market. We continued our happy hour at
Enzo’s Hideaway with Italian cocktails and antipasti but that was just the beginning.
The Edison with desserts and more cocktails. They have performers and I love the industrial gothic feel of the space. Our last day started off on a sweet start at
East End Market and Gideon’s cookies –Having a crazy sweet tooth, I heard a lot of hype about these cookies. They lived up to the hype and more. I think I found my favorite cookie! Yes I said it!
Mills50 – met with local food blogger Ricky at . We checked out Tien Hung Market, Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery and Sticky Rice. I loved learning about the different ethnicities and their impact in the area.
Quantum Leap Winery which is a unique urban winery. They focus on sustainability and their carbon footprint which was great to hear and delicious to taste.O
Orlando Brewing has the same values being an all organic brewery. I love their unique beer flavors too.