One Great Night in Orlando

When thinking of chic, perhaps even sophisticated, nightlife, Orlando is
not exactly the first city that comes to mind. O-Town has no shortage of bass-thumping and techno-spewing nightclubs geared toward the college crowd, but a more refined experience awaits those willing to look a little deeper. I grew up in this town and have seen much of the city grow up with me. There are plenty of hidden jewels where style means elegance with a hearty helping of frivolity, and jazz plays sofly while the wine flows freely. Finding these is simply just a matter of connecting the dots. Here’s a play-by-play of a great night on the town:

Saké Style - 6:45 p.m.
Kick off your shoes (and night) by sitting on the floor at Tatáme Saké Lounge, just off stroll-worthy Park Avenue in Winter Park, a swanky neighborhood just three miles from downtown. Tatáme is the place for saké lovers, offering more than a dozen fruit-infused varieties (think guava and kiwi) and anything from open-mic acoustic guitarists to a light jazz band spicing up the atmosphere. Nibble on Asian-inspired small plates of beef skewers or edamame, but be sure to save room for the next stop.

Insider Tip: Start the evening here; a young, rowdy crowd piles in after 11 p.m.

A Night in the Park - 8:15 p.m.
Walk north a few blocks from Tatáme past Park Avenue’s boutiques and some of the best-looking pedestrians in Central Florida, and veer into Luma on Park, home to sharp-dressed diners sipping specialty martinis (the super-smooth White Linen with elderflower and cranberry to soften the gin flavor is a personal fave). Start in the bar, where lounge chairs are prime spots for watching the foot traffic through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Chef Brandon McGlamery’s European-inspired menu shifts constantly depending on the best free-range meats and organic, Florida produce available, but if you catch sight of the Wagyu beef carpaccio, succulent duck breast or delta asparagus, dig in. The dining room here always seems full, but the soft lighting emanating from the wave-shaped ceiling and plenty of ambient conversation keep the mood intimate.

Insider Tip: When ordering drinks, ask for the Parmesan popcorn drizzled with truffle oil—it’s brought out only on request, and it’s insanely delicious.

Fine & Funky - 10:20 p.m.
Head downtown to burn of those dinner calories dancing at the Bösendorfer Lounge inside the posh Grand Bohemian Hotel. The room radiates elegance with black, Romanesque columns and alcoves populated by sculpted busts of emperor-like figures. Comfy suede chairs and sofas ofer spots to rest your dancing feet with a fine scotch, port or sherry. Half the fun at the Bösendorfer is spotting the bizarre elements that grant the lounge a touch of whimsy. Not to be missed are the burlesque clown sculptures—one atop the rotating cabinet behind the circular bar—and the large-canvas paintings that range from Gothic to the surreal. Step away from the crowd into the adjacent Klimt Rotunda, where you’ll find the lounge’s namesake: featuring an Imperial Grand Bösendorfer piano designed by the Austrian architect Hans Hollein. It’s one of only two in the world (the other is reputed to be some- where in Shanghai).

Insider Tip: It’s not always on the menu, but the lime-infused vodka gimlet is delicious.

Wine Down - 12:10 a.m.
Downtown’s oldest wine bar, Eola Wine Company, remains its best. Its secret? It could quite be the management’s discerning tastes when selecting wines for round-table tastings from the obvious spots in North America and Europe. But they also have a penchant for selecting varietals from emerging wine countries like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Maybe it’s the laid-back atmosphere that allows connoisseurs and wine rubes alike to find quality varietals suited to their palates. Finally, it could be the outdoor tables that provide views of Orlando’s famed Lake Eola Park and a glimpse of the city skyline. The fiercely loyal (and even attractive) crowd is warm to wine lovers of all levels of sophistication, and if you lounge on one of the sofas, you just may forget that you’re not in your own living room. The 10-year-old Tawny Port by vintner Quinta do Noval from northern Portugal makes for a sweet and earthy nightcap.

Insider Tip: If you find yourself out on the town again tomorrow night, Eola Wine Company is open for happy hour, making it a great place to kick of another night of downtown fun.