Park Avenue. The glitzy strip of bustling cafes with sidewalk seating, unique boutiques, see-and-be-seen restaurants, museums, art galleries, and so much more. Winter Park, Florida—Orlando’s northern neighbor has a vibe of its own. Nestled among a sprawling chain of lakes and dreamy, southern oaks, its main street—Park Avenue—brings big southern charm to all eight blocks of its shopping and dining district. Of course, that also means that on any given day, it may not be so easy to slip into one of its many hot spots to grab a bite to eat. Tourists and residents alike flock to this part of town not only for the Avenue’s mainstay businesses but also special weekend attractions and annual events, such as the Winter Park Art Festival or movie night in Central Park—the grand lawn that sits right in the center of it all. Though Park Avenue is a solid choice for a memorable meal, you’ll find some other fantastic, local options surrounding it.
KrungThep Tea Time
A casual spot for an unforgettable sandwich with a Thai twist. Also known for their extensive tea menu, this little place is perfect for lunch. Order the Gra-Pow Chicken sandwich—juicy chicken breast with fresh basil, mozzarella and spicy basil mayo all pressed on fresh, hot sourdough bread. Be bold and go for the Thai chili upgrade.
KrungThep Tea Time 761 North Orange Avenue krungthepteatime.com
Winter Park Fish Company
For the seafood lover, this is the place to enjoy the catch of the day. Focused on sustainable fishing practices, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Start out with a cup of the unusual ahi tuna chili—the meat lover at your table will never notice the missing beef! Move on to the crispy fried rock shrimp tacos or go for the market fresh fish where you pick your fish, preparation, topping, and sides.
Winter Park Fish Company 761 North Orange Avenue thewinterparkfishcompany.com
Swine & Sons
Sometimes nothing will satisfy a craving only a good deli can provide. Swine & Sons adds a southern spin to classic deli fare. House-made with only the best ingredients, the Pimento Cheese & Ham Jam with crackers comforts the soul like a thick, cozy blanket on a cold winter day. Move on to the thick cut pastrami sandwich with swiss and horseradish on a toasted rye sub.
Located inside of the The Local Butcher and Marketplace
Swine and Sons 669 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 swineandsons.com
The Ravenous Pig
The Ravenous Pig has been serving up consistent, gastro-pub fare to its loyal customers since 2007. Florida roots run deep on the menu and that’s apparent from the ever-changing seasonal items you might find, like the Duck Ham with cream peas, grilled swiss chard, fermented turnips, and Florida blueberries or Grilled Cobia with sherry eggplant, corn cake, maitake mushrooms, peach glaze, and Luna Farms cherry tomatoes. No matter what you end up choosing, you must begin with an order of their flakey, buttery gruyere biscuits with soft, smoked salt butter.
The Ravenous Pig 565 W Fairbanks Avenue theravenouspig.com
Buttermilk Bakery
Start the morning the way it was intended, with a mouthwatering pastry that’s almost too perfect to eat and so heavenly you might even shed a tear. This small-batch bakery has quickly become the go-to spot to act on your fiercest carb cravings. Menu varies seasonally but you can count on a croissant that’ll rival the best Parisian cafes. Or you can skip breakfast and pop in for lunch, dive into one of their open-faced toasts like the Mushroom Tartin, piled high with roasted mushrooms, topped with mornay, whole grain mustard, horseradish, and a fried egg on house-baked sourdough.
Buttermilk Bakery 1198 Orange Avenue buttermilk-bakery.com
Armando’s
For a pizza and pasta fix, dine al fresco on this scenic corner a few streets off the main drag of Park Avenue. The menu features Neapolitan cuisine and is complete with the traditional favorites like, Pollo Alla Parmigiana or Pappardelle Bolognese. Try one of the many wood-fired pizzas, you won’t be disappointed.
Armando’s 463 West New England Avenue armandosorlando.com
Mynt Fine Indian Cuisine
A few doors down from Armando’s, you’ll find fine Indian cuisine in a sophisticated setting. Classic flavors of rich, layered spices sing in everything from the Lamb Rogenjosh to the vegetarian Hyderabadi baby eggplant with creamy, peanut sauce. Complete the experience with a sweet trio of homemade kulfi.
Mynt Fine Indian Cuisine 535 W New England Avenue myntorlando.com
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