Cover Story
Welcome to the Best of Orlando® 2024: Orlando Olympics
Hello, Orlando, and welcome to Best of Orlando® 2024: Orlando Olympics! At this point we would usually engage in some hyperbole regarding this issue’s size and scope but, no foolin’, this is truly our biggest and most-voted on issue ever. Orlandoans came out in force to vote for their favorite people, places and things. So…
Canceled: Kevin Gates and GloRilla headline Summer Fest bash in Orlando this weekend
WRRY, Boston Richey and Rob 49 feature too
‘Brightlies’: Passenger railway Brightline Florida hires union avoidance lawyers to discourage organizing workers
‘I believe the best way to approach these matters is by working together, without a third party involved,’ Brightline’s president told employees over email
You betta not miss Maurice ‘Mobetta’ Brown’s Orlando show at Judson’s Live
An electric collision of bebop and hip-hop
Legal Public Notices 8/28/24
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: September 13, 2024 at the times and locations listed below. The personal goods stored therein by the following: 12:00 PM Extra Space Storage 831 N. Park Avenue…
Orlando Out Fest unveils full lineup of shows ahead of September debut
Save a seat for DeSantis!
Orange County Library System unveils limited orange blossom design for Library Card Sign-Up Month
The design was created by one of the library system’s in-house designers and will be available starting Sept. 1
Former Pulse nightclub owners won’t face manslaughter charges, Orlando police say
The report acknowledges some of the allegations made against the Pomas but ultimately did not support criminal charges
New rock doc ‘Boom! A Film About the Sonics’ to screen at Enzian, with bonus concert after
Get your drinks off the tables before the Tremolords start
Creative City Project to haunt Leu Gardens with two Halloween experiences this fall
Halloween in the Garden runs Sept. 27 through Oct. 31
Louisville hardcore heathens Knocked Loose spin-kick into Orlando this autumn
Eclectic support comes from The Garden, DRAIN and Militarie Gun
Death Eaters return to Universal’s Wizarding World this Halloween season
Lord Voldemort’s supporters will stalk the streets of Diagon Alley and London through Nov. 3
Florida environmentalists call for DeSantis to ditch state park development plans
The plans, which include a pair of resort-sized lodges, pickleball courts and disc-golf courses, have drawn fierce opposition
Federal appeals court approves Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care
The order reverses a July ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, in which he reaffirmed his block on the ban
Florida’s definition of ‘religion’ is too narrow, says Satanic Temple
The DeSantis administration has published a definition of ‘religion’ that appears to exclude world faiths with millions of followers
Mormon church wants to annex over 50,000 acres of land into Orlando
The company said it has completed what are known as ‘sector plans’ for property it owns in Osceola County
Orlando’s Lake Eola Park welcomes six new swan residents
Feathers will be ruffled
Group withdraws plans to build golf courses at Florida State Parks, but questions remain
The state still hasn’t updated its plan to hear public comments
Miami airport car rental agency hired Orlando union busting firm to obstruct organizing effort
Sixt reportedly agreed to pay the firm upwards of $400 per hour for their services
Florida faculty union pushes back at state directive to review courses for ‘antisemitic material’ and ‘anti-Israeli’ bias
“We reject the premise that this directive is a good faith effort to uncover ‘bias,’” the statement said
Florida kicks off another sales-tax holiday ahead of peak hurricane season
Another set of tax breaks is on the horizon for people buying tools and other work gear
Here’s where you can turn in your campaign signs in the Orlando area for recycling
There are seven drop-off points around the city
KFC to pilot new restaurant concept in Orlando
The fried chicken chain will pilot new ‘KFC Original’ spots at 16 Orlando locations
Pet Alliance of Orlando teams up with Raising Canes for adoption fundraiser
Grab a Caniac Combo for a good cause
‘Unnecessary development’: Florida Republicans take aim at DeSantis plan to develop state parks
Environmental groups quickly criticized the initiative and were joined Thursday by Republican lawmakers
Proposal could add ‘clarity’ to Florida’s constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights
‘It is crucial that individuals seeking to vote, especially during election season, receive clear guidance on their eligibility’
Orlando performer-producer Jaimz Dillman on 10 years of burlesque
A decade presenting Corsets and Cuties is ‘a long time to herd cats’
Here’s when and how you can push back on plans to develop Florida State Parks
The proposed development across Florida’s protected natural public spaces is drastic
‘Daily Show’ alumni Roy Wood Jr. and Jordan Klepper are coming to Orlando in December
The duo are out on their co-headlining ‘America, For The Last Time’ tour
‘People don’t go to Florida state parks to play golf’: DeSantis’ development plan includes hotels, pickleball, glamping
DeSantis administration proposes development to nine of Florida’s award-winning state parks
Florida Supreme Court OKs ‘impact statement’ on costs of abortion amendment
Backers of Amendment 4 said the revised statement is deceptive and designed to ‘deliberately confuse voters’
Best of Orlando 2024: Health, Beauty and Wellness
Orlando synchronized swimming: Trying to keep your perfect hair and makeup from sliding off your head in 100% humidity
Best Waxing Salon
European Wax Center
Best Cheap Beer Deal
The Hideaway Bar
Best Pub
Fiddlers Green Irish Pub and Eatery
Best Trivia Host
James Stinson
Best Zero-Proof Cocktail
Garden Spritz, Sixty Vines
Best Local Concert Promoter
Montgomery Drive
Best Capitalism Gets it Right: Explosion of Lego stores in Orlando
From Sanford to Longwood to Kissimmee to the Florida Mall area, one cute retail trend is an explosion of Lego specialty stores. No longer the sole province of Disney Springs, these brick hubs draw in crowds of enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you’re looking for a project to engage your child, the missing piece to…
Best Recording Studio
Red Lion Recording Studio
Best Soul Act
Deejay Young
Best Family Law Attorney or Firm
DeWitt Law Firm
Best Local Women’s Clothing Store
Orlando Vintage Clothing and Costume
Best Indian Restaurant
Tabla Indian Cuisine
Best Vegan Sweet Treats: Sampaguita
While their whole menu isn’t solely vegan, Sampaguita has a variety of delectably creative offerings to satisfy even the least lactose-tolerant sweet tooth. Using ice cream as a means to explore Filipino culture and tradition, Sampaguita offers fun flavors you’re unlikely to find elsewhere in the area, with vegan options including buko pandan, mango royale,…
Best Local Comedian
Rauce Padgett
Best Recurring Arts Nights
Monthly LGBT Center Art Show
Best Choose Your Own Adventure: Veranda at Thornton Park
Thornton Park’s Veranda event space has seen a lot of shuffling and change in the last few years of operation, but in the last 1 2 months the venue found its groove as the spot of choice for a diverse slate of only-in-Orlando events. If we’re leaving out any, apologies — they’ve got a whole…
Best Body-ody-ody Horror: La Petite Mort drag shows
Filling Will’s Pub to capacity on a Monday night is a tall order, eschewing bands and presenting a night of adventurous alt-drag performers is an even harder sell, but La Petite Mort does it with terrifying flair. The bimonthly events gather the spiritual children of the Black Haus drag family for a heady 10-car pileup…
Best Theme Park Restaurant
Raglan Road
Best Peruvian Restaurant
Pio Pio
Best Bar Restroom
Tori Tori
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
Best Place to Buy Produce
Publix
Best Place to Bike
West Orange Trail
Best Nose Knows Best: The Salt Room
Orlando is rich in the things that can irritate your nose and skin: pollen, mold, humidity and the rest. Sensitive sufferers in the know take advantage of the Salt Room’s speleotherapy, or “cave therapy” to treat allergies, sinus infections, even asthma and emphysema. We aren’t doctors(!), but we’ve experienced relief from various respiratory symptoms after…
Best Neighborhood Bar
Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub
Best Day Spa
The Ritz-Carlton Spa
Best Nomads: Blue Bamboo Center
Things looked bad for jazz haven the Blue Bamboo Center last year. Forced out of their longtime address because of rising rents, it would have been easy to give in to despair and cease operations. It only gave Bamboo headman Chris Cortez a greater sense of mission. BB became a roving entity, with shows spread…
Best Waterfront Bar
The Tooting Otter Craft Beer & Wine Bar
Best Medical Spa
Bijoux Med Spa
Best No Future, Just Glamour: Chainkiller Jewelry
If you’re looking for a special accoutrement for your sweetie — or yourself — that will withstand adverse conditions, be it mosh pit or a Mad Max-style dystopia, look no further than Chainkiller. Solely the province of Amanda Little, also the frontperson of Orlando punks Vicious Dreams, Chainkiller offers up bespoke chokers, necklaces, earrings, bolos…
Best Open Mic
The Alley
Best Framing Shop
Sam Flax
Best Wedding Venue
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Best Local Radio Voice
Johnny Magic
Best Public Health Crisis Comeback Icons: Lake Eola swans
It’s no secret Lake Eola’s avian residents endure quite a bit: littered living quarters, sticky-fingered raccoons, popcorn overdoses and more. And this year, our celebrity swans were tested yet again. City officials announced in February several swans had died from bird flu. The lake’s walking loop went into a quasi-quarantine (guests were asked to avoid…
Best Mall or Shopping Center
The Mall at Millenia
Best Spot to Obtain Both Hangover-Inducing and Hangover-Curing Fare: Stardust Video & Coffee
Of all the hangouts around town, this one takes the cake for functionality at all hours. Open from 7 a.m. to midnight — and with both a coffee bar and a cocktail bar, not to mention a never-dry tap of lethal St. Bernardus Abt 12 — Stardust has long stood as a go-to for daytime…
Best Dance Company
Orlando Ballet
Best Place to Work
From home
Best Burger
Mooyah Burgers
Best Date Restaurant
Prato
Best Food Truck
Red Panda Noodle
Best Neighborhood Bar Regularly Hosting Local Burlesque: The Falcon
In addition to art and music, one of our staff’s favorite beer-and-wine bars in Thornton Park, The Falcon, offers monthly burlesque shows for adults (Naughty Nightcap, every second Friday) that we love because 1) they always feature stellar talent, 2) they show consistent support for local performers and 3) there’s a low barrier to entry.…
Best Place to Unleash Your Inner Brat: Off the Record Wednesdays
When you go out for the night do you want to hear those club classics? Do you want to immerse yourself in a local drag show? Or are you looking to have a messily fun night out with your friends? Three things can be true at once, and the answer to all questions is Off…
Best Locally Made Hot Sauce
Tijuana Flats Smack My Sweet Ass and Call Me Sally Hot Sauce
Best Upgrade for Aging Animatronic Ursines: Walt Disney World’s “Country Bear Musical Jamboree”
Disney ruffled some fans’ fur by overhauling “Country Bear Jamboree,” the iconic Magic Kingdom animatronics show that spiritually spawned Chuck E. Cheese and Freddy Fazbear. Swapping beloved but borderline-inappropriate ditties like “Blood on the Saddle” for Nashville-ized Disney tunes could have made “Country Bear Musical Jamboree” the worst makeover since “Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management.” Instead, Imagineering satisfied…
Best Golf Course
Dubsdread Golf Course
Best Seafood Restaurant
High Tide Harry’s
Best Tattoo Artist
Gabe Feliciano
Best New Bar
Death in the Afternoon
Best Dentist or Dental Practice
Park Smiles Dentistry
Best Import: Zoya Zafar’s Slovakian cassette
International shipping charges during the seemingly eternal reign of Louis DeJoy are a bad joke; however, we would gladly fork over many dollars to get a cassette copy of Zoya Zafar’s debut album, Some Songs, from Eastern European imprint Start-Track. Zafar’s collection of lush electro-pop hymns and romps are captured on spools of magnetic tape…
Best Gay Bar
Southern Nights
Best Local Brewery
Sideward Brewing Co.
Best Insurance Agency
J Meyers Insurance Agency
Best Personal Injury Attorney or Firm
Todd Miner Law
Best Real Estate Agent
Ryan Rapolti
Best Local Elected Official
Rep. Anna Eskamani
Best Dog Trainer
Take the Lead K9 Training
Best Farmers Market
Winter Park Farmer’s Market
Best Musical Instrument Store
Sam Ash
Best Italian Restaurant
Prato
Best Windowless Restaurant: Bar Kada
It may be glued to Soseki’s coutured hips, but Michael Collantes’ unfenestrated den of drinks and delectables is so unaffectedly chill, it’s hard to resist lingering. The healthy dose of rice wine education courtesy of sommelier Benjamin Coutts and sake geek Daniel Lugo is a determining factor, as are the addictive bites of Viet-inflected Japanese…
Best Local Graphic Artist/Designer
Chill Artistry
Best Cuban Sandwich
Black Bean Deli
Best New Reason to Pick Up a Damn Book and Read: Silent Book Club Downtown Orlando
Are you a bookworm who wants to be able to go read a book out in the wild, like a bar or brewery, without getting strange looks or an eye-roll? Then Orlando’s new Silent Book Club chapter is for you. It’s no-cost, volunteer-run, and a no-strings-attached meetup that sets up monthly/bimonthly group reading events for…
Best Resort Hotel
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Best Thing to Eat at a Theme Park
Dole Whip
Best Lake Nona Restaurant
Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
Best Bar Staff Overall
Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub
Best Milk District Restaurant
Stasio’s Italian Deli and Market
Best Place to Eat Gluten-free
Reyes Mezcaleria
Best Place to Take Your Dog to Play
Lake Baldwin Dog Park
Best Casselberry Bar
The Green Parrot
Best Sweet Smell of Success: La Jetée Perfumery
Online shopping has its merits, but there are some things you just have to try before you buy, and perfume is at the top of that list. (Not to mention that trusting delicate liquids to the mail in Orlando’s climate is just a very bad idea.) La Jetée in Ivanhoe Village serves the needs of…
Best Club Night
Girl the Party
Best Group Fitness
All Fit Orlando
Best Hair Stylist
Raul Araujo, Prive Salon
Best Nail Salon or Nail Artist
Flexi Nails and Spa
Best Local Music Festival
Sanford Porchfest
Best Antique Store
Orange Tree Antiques Mall
Best Local Big Shot Who’s Not an Elected Official
Lulu the Cat
Best Local Instagram Influencer
Jessie Dabrowski
Best Chamber Music Group
FSYO Symphonic Chamber Orchestra
Best Experimental Act
The Unlistenables
Best Place to Buy a Luxury Car
Fields Motorcars Orlando
Best Local Festival Overall
Orlando Fringe Festival
Best Film Festival
Florida Film Festival
Best Bar Food
Tori Tori
Best Recurring Comedy Night
SAK Comedy Lab, King of the Hill
Best Desserts
Sampaguita Ice Cream
Best Big Birds: DTOLive installation “Big City Birds”
In a very late entry to this year’s Picks, we can’t let this flock go without mention. From the delightfully sideways brain of Brendan O’Connor and the sounds-weird-let’s-do-it mentality of the Creative City Project comes “Big City Birds,” an installation of 16 neon-hued inflatable pigeons perched on various downtown rooftops, presented as part of the…
Best Little Sibling: d.b.a.
The sister bar to popular Mills 50 resto The Strand was recently brought into the world by Olivia, Leo and Zack Rees (the offspring of The Strand’s Alda and Joe). d.b.a. delivers cozy corners, delicious small plates and apps, a refreshing and creative cocktail menu, jazz and rock records and our new favorite bathroom selfie…
Best Kava and Kratom Bar Offering Chill Vibes Only: Kava Cove Lounge
Kava bars can offer a chill alternative to an alcohol-serving bar for adults who are sober, or just enjoy or prefer kava (a natural root and central nervous system depressant with some alcohol-like effects). Our local favorite is Kava Cove Lounge, which also offers kratom drinks and kombucha on tap, in addition to various kava…
Best Beer Selection on Tap
Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub
Best It’s Still Real To Me, Dammit: Glory Days Grapplecon
The Sunshine State is rich in pro-wrestling history and this new convention, put on by the folks behind the Championship Wrestling from Florida fanfests, paid homage to many of the leading lights of classic Florida wrestling. Holding court over the April weekend were big names from the past like One Man Gang, Stan “The Lariat”…
Best I-Drive Attraction
Icon Park
Best SoDo or Curry Ford Restaurant
Pizza Bruno
Best Tattoo Studio
Deliris Tattoo Studio
Best Yoga Studio
Orlando Power Yoga
Best Dermatologist or Medical Dermatology Practice
Sand Lake Dermatology Center
Best Craft Beer Bar
Sideward Brewing Co.
Best Happy Hour
The Guesthouse
Best Milk District Bar
Otto’s High Dive
Best Banding Together of Local Small Businesses: Milk District v. Robinson Street construction
When a city construction project took over Robinson Street, the Milk District’s small businesses wasted no time in banding together to get people through their doors. Etoile Boutique, Bull and Bush, Hair Godz, Minuteman Press, Rugged Perspective, Gringos Locos, Sportstown Billiards, Stay Still Studio and The Nook on Robinson were all impacted, and most of…
Best Local Animal Rescue
Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando
Best Real Estate Attorney or Law Firm
Roberto Santoni
Best Local Government Resource for Opioid Addiction Help: Orange County Office for a Drug-Free Community
While some state and local governments across the U.S. are getting flack for using funds received through legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and sellers on things like police gear or budget shortfalls, Orange County has led by example. The county’s Office for a Drug-Free Community is spending funds on addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services,…
Best Press: Andrea Montanez in The Cut
The subheadline was pure poetry: “Andrea Montanez went head-to-head with Pablo Escobar. Now, she’s taking on Ron DeSantis.” Orlando-area trans activist Montanez, now a field organizer with the National LGBTQ Task Force, among a myriad of other undertakings, was profiled in New York magazine online offshoot The Cut back in June. It’s a great piece…
Best Financial Institution
Fairwinds Credit Union
Best Place to Buy a New Car
Toyota of Orlando
Best Restaurant Experience: Sorekara
There is simply no other restaurant space in the city quite like Sorekara’s. The multimillion-dollar sanctuary steeped in Japanese serenity and the temporal philosophy of sorekara (the appreciation of how every moment in time is unique) is more like a museum than a restaurant, with a chef’s table fashioned from a 700-year-old keyaki tree as the…
Best Neighborhood to Shop In
Winter Park
Best Local Drag Event
Marys and Mimosas Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s
Best Caribbean Restaurant
Otto’s High Dive
Best Liminal Space: Fashion Square Mall
We’re not sure what’s keeping this capitalistic relic alive, but we’re here for the fever dream fuel. Of all the abandoned retail space in Orlando, Fashion Square is the most aesthetically pleasing: eerie parking lots, a fenced demolition site, a handful of stores barely hanging on and a certain overall post-apocalyptic charm. If you’re looking…
Best French Restaurant
Chez Vincent
Best Ivanhoe Village Restaurant
Santiago’s Bodega
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Viet-Nomz
Best Winter Garden Restaurant
The Hangry Bison
Best Mills 50 or Colonialtown Restaurant
Pig Floyd’s Urban BBQ
Best Poke
Poke Hana
Best South OBT Restaurant
Bombay Street Kitchen
Best College Park Bar
Ollie’s Public House
Best Old-Fashioned
Mathers Social Gathering
Best of Orlando 2024: Local Notables
Orlando table tennis: When candidates for office bat away every tough question they get from reporters in an election year
Best Concert That’ll Never Happen Again: Rolling Stones at Camping World Stadium
It was “only rock & roll” at the Rolling Stones’ Camping World Stadium show in June, as the group that has been rocking since 1962 greeted fans old and very new. The sold-out “Hackney Diamonds Tour” set saw a rowdy audience spanning generations and an ever-energetic band that put many younger acts to shame. A…
Best Wine Bar
The Wine Room on Park Avenue
Best OB/GYN
Women’s Care
Best Glow Up: Winter Park Village
Take an inactive mall that has definitely seen better days, give it two years of construction, renovation and reimagining … and voilà, you have the new-model Winter Park Village. The shopping center now looks sleek and sharp after shedding its dated mid-Med style. It boasts plenty of dining and entertainment options, including an outdoor stage…
Best Local TV Weather Forecaster
Zach Covey
Best of Orlando 2024: Services
Orlando 1500m freestyle: Handling plumbing issues in a city barely above sea level, plagued by sinkholes, hurricanes and hard water, is a job for a creative and intrepid service provider
Best Local Music-Focused Radio Station
WXXL 106.7-FM
Best Doggy Daycare
Beyond the Leash Dog Training
Best Hip-Hop Act
E-Turn
Best Place to Buy a Used Car
Carmax
Best Local Mural
Pulse Mural at LGBT Center
Best Place to Tap Into Your Inner Hemingway: Death in the Afternoon
Ernest Hemingway and bullfighting go hand in hand like Ernest Hemingway and drinking, so the fact that there’s a bar named after Papa’s book on the subject — bullfighting, not drinking — is hardly a surprise. But Death in the Afternoon, the book, certainly has its fair share of dipsomaniacal characters, as does Death in…
Best Pop-up Market
Milk Mart
Best Casselberry Restaurant
Bagel King
Best Diner
Metro Diner
Best Feel-Good Moment: Njeri Kinuthia wins People’s Choice award in OMA’s Florida Prize
Since local artist Njeri Kinuthia came onto the scene in recent years, it’s been love at first sight for Orlando art appreciators. Her bold style melds with her classical compositional training in large, wildly shaped, three-dimensional installations that often include long flowing textiles. Like a favorite draft pick who goes the distance, Kinuthia has gone…
Best Bar Overall
Will’s Pub
Best Late-Night Restaurant
Tori Tori
Best Longwood Restaurant
Enzo’s on the Lake
Best Arcade
Arcade Monsters
Best Local Pro Athlete
Paolo Banchero
Best Springs
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Best Downtown Bar
Mathers Social Gathering
Best I Just Need to Take a Breath: THC oral spray, MÜV Medical Cannabis Dispensary
This spray is utterly discreet, with no giveaway labeling or aroma, just minty-fresh (and faintly citrusy) breath. It’s perfect for those moments when the social overwhelm sets in and all you need is a little tension relief, not a major high. multiple locations, muvfl.com
Best Debut Album: Watts, Retribution
It’s been awhile since a band has ignited the underground like young hardcore group Watts has. While they quickly became the stuff of live lore with the way they stoke instant riots on the floor, Watts released a debut collection this summer that bottles their sheer muscle and fury. Like a deadly serious Amyl &…
Best Retail Beer Selection
GB’s Bottle Shop and Tasting Bar
Best IV Spa
Vitalounge
Best Personal Trainer
Julie Rooth, Center for Health and Wellbeing
Best Law Firm Overall
Todd Miner Law
Best Pop Act
Billy Mick
Best Reggae Act
Oklahoma Stackhouse
Best Free Stuff: OCLS extras
Three ways you can tell the difference between Chipotle and the Orange County Library System: 1) the lines are shorter; 2) we have 100% confidence they know how to roll a burrito — if they didn’t, they’d look it up — and 3) guac might be extra at Chipotle, but the extras are gloriously free…
Best Club DJ
Demi Korrin
Best Financial Planner or Firm
Security Financial Management
Best Record Store
Park Ave CDs
Best Icy Treat: Kakigori at Koko Kakigori
Lines are a given at this little shop of frozen treats situated behind Kaya, and justifiably so. They come for the frozen, airy confection known as kakigori — a Japanese summertime treat of shaved ice that takes on the texture of freshly fallen snow. “It’s sooo fluffy!” is a common refrain heard at the standing…
Best Local Actor or Actress
Benjamin Ptashinsky-Skinner
Best Local Visual Artist
Boy Kong
Best Theater Company
Orlando Shakes
Best Apartment Building or Community
The Ivy Residences at Health Village
Best Category to Eliminate From Best of Orlando 2025
Best Politician
Best Thornton Park or South Eola Restaurant
Jinya Ramen Bar
Best Wait Staff
The Nauti Lobstah
Best Winter Park Restaurant
The Ravenous Pig
Best Nachos
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
Best Ramen
Domu East End Market
Best Splurge Restaurant
Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster
Best I-Drive Bar
Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub
Best Acupuncturist or Acupuncture Practice
Be Well Holistic Care
Best Esthetician
Erica Icovitti
Best Ommmmmmmmm: ODrone Festival
It’s a tough sell, a full weekend of music based on the most minimal of sonic and conceptual trappings. But the organizers of the inaugural ODrone Festival pulled it off. Taking place outdoors at Milk District destination the Nook on Robinson, the Circuit Church-offshoot event gathered a multigenerational crew of ambient and electronic practitioners who…
Best Wine Selection
The Wine Room on Park Avenue
Best Mills 50 Bar
Will’s Pub
Best Local Record Label
Smartpunk
Best Pest Control
Massey Services
Best Nary a Dropped Stitch: The Black Sheep
Needlepointing is a godsend for anyone looking for something to do with their hands that doesn’t involve a screen — more regimented than embroidery, less three-dimensionally unwieldy than knitting, it’s almost an analog version of Tetris. But the soothing stitch-fest can turn into a bitchfest when you can’t master that damned French knot, or when…
Best Alternative to I-95 When Catching a Cruise: Brightline High-Speed Rail
For many Central Floridians, the most stressful part of taking a cruise vacation out of South Florida is simply getting to the ship alive and on time on I-95. Thanks to Brightline’s train service from Orlando International Airport to stations near Port Miami, Port Everglades and West Palm Beach, there’s now another option: Leave your…
Best Local Talk News Radio Station
WTKS 104.1-FM
Best Orlando Celeb: Noodle
Keep your Carrot Top, your *NSYNCers and Magic players, even your Wesley Snipes. The celeb we’re hungriest to meet has long silky beige hair and the roundest, bluest eyes; he’s about 12 inches tall, and he’s never been fed in his entire life. He’s Noodle, Orlando’s most photogenic webcat (he’s got competition, but we said…
Best Smoke Shop
Climax Smoke Shop
Best Art Gallery
CityArts
Best New Thing in Orlando
Brightline
Best Reason to Live in Orlando
Community and people
Best Cheap Eats
Beefy King
Best Doughnut
The Salty Donut
Best Fried Chicken
Publix
Best Place to Smoke Inside: Tanqueray’s
There’s a point when a tipsy night on the town starts tasting like “I need a cigarette.” And sometimes that’s followed up with the thought, “I need to hear live music, immediately.” Venerable downtown bar Tanqueray’s scratches both itches — with a Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboy thrown in! Who doesn’t want to spin around to…
Best Latin Restaurant
Black Bean Deli
Best Lunch
Beefy King
Best Attraction That’s Not a Theme Park
Gatorland
Best Local Sports Team
Orlando Magic
Best Theme Park
EPCOT
Best Ivanhoe Village Bar
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co.
Best Winter Garden Bar
Crooked Can Brewing Co.
Best Cocktail Bar
Otto’s High Dive
Best Rooftop Bar
AC Sky Bar
Best Local Barbershop
Cut Locker Barbershop
Best Physician or Doctor’s Practice
Dr. George Elias
Best They Did It Their Way: East West Records
Orlando music emporium East West Records, founded by Hannah and Roman Skrobko, was a haven for vinyl (and more) lovers in the local area since 1971, the oldest continually operating record store in our area. They sold up in 2018, and in early August of this year, the store’s new owner announced the unthinkable: They…
Best Bridal Store
Lily’s Bridal
Best Real Estate Company
Fannie Hillman and Associates
Best Auto Body Shop
Orlando Auto Body
Best Dry Cleaner
Orchid Cleaners
Best Garden Store
Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter
Best Store for New Furniture
City Furniture
Best Concentrated Pizza Offerings: Corner of Horatio Avenue and U.S. 17-92
Looking for a naturally leavened Neapolitan? Or a comically large slice that hangs off your plate? A pie delivered lickety-split to your door? Or a little taste of the Eternal City? Luckily for the flip-flopping foodie or noncommittal nosher, the corner of Horatio Avenue and U.S. 17-92 has everything you need. There are a whopping…
Best Cronenbergian Dish: Omurice at Kyuramen
It’s known as omurice, but “Eggs Videodrome” may be a more fitting moniker for this dish served at Kyuramen. The scene plays out like so: Enter a fluffy omelet sitting atop a mound of chicken fried rice. A server slits the omelet lengthwise and it unfurls over the rice, revealing its custardy innards. After a…
Best Barbecue Restaurant
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Best Theater Space
Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Best Boutique Hotel
The Alfond Inn
Best New Category to Add to Best of Orlando 2025
Best Place for People Watching in Orlando
Best Juice or Smoothies
Grounding Roots
Best Waterfront Dining
Hillstone
Best Bloody Mary
The Hammered Lamb
Best Outdoor Dining
Hillstone
Best Restaurant Overall
Prato
Best Steakhouse
Linda’s La Cantina
Best Piercing Studio
Piercings by Billy
Best Chomp: Camino Soft Chews, AYR Cannabis Dispensary
THC gummies, or, as Florida’s Department of Health prefers to call them, “soft chews,” are a tasty way to get a buzz for those who can’t smoke (or prefer not to), but all chews are not made equal when it comes to either flavor or effects. Camino gummies, available at AYR, are sweet but not…
Best Lake Nona Bar
Boxi Park
Best Next Wave Haven: Castle Smoke
The Casselberry smoke shop that doubles as a crucial DIY venue is a gathering point for the next generation of Orlando underground stars — ravers, hardcore kids, goths, drag performers, pop singers or experimental musicians. Overseen and curated majestically by Haize and Bunnii, Castle Smoke may be a little “out of the way” if your…
Best Dance Club
Southern Nights
Best Local Beer
Joyland American IPA
Best Local Activist Group
Stand With Abortion Now (SWAN)
Best Punk Act
Petty Thefts
Best Place to Accidentally Find Your Soulmate: The Kitty Beautiful
Downtown’s Kitty Beautiful is more than just a stop for coffee and cuddles. The family-owned cat café and its fearless team of matchmakers show no lack of passion for the furry friends that (hopefully temporarily) call the café home. And they’ve been known to pounce at the chance to help patrons learn more about the…
Best Local Podcast
“A Mediocre Time With Tom and Dan”
Best Country Act
The Bloody Jug Band
Best Vintage or Used Clothing Store
The Owl’s Attic
Best Arts Event or Art Festival
Orlando Fringe Festival
Best Altamonte Springs Restaurant
Santiago’s Bodega
Best Movie Theater
Enzian Theater
Best Cheesesteak
LaSpada’s Original Cheesesteaks and Hoagies
Best Downtown Restaurant
Maxine’s on Shine
Best Gourmet Pizza
Pizza Bruno
Best Traditional Pizza
Lazy Moon
Best Local Chef
Mike Rumplik, The Nauti Lobstah
Best Maitland Restaurant
Luke’s Kitchen and Bar
Best Axe-Throwing Place
The Axe Trap (The Trap Winter Park)
Best Restroom
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Best Subs
Publix
Best Pilates Studio
Carve
Best Local Brewery Tap Room
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co.
Best of Orlando 2024: Local Music
Orlando karate: Breaking bricks or boards? Pfft. The City Beautiful is the birthplace of Orlando Breaks, a heavy, syncopated subgenre of breakbeat all our own
Best Eye Doctor or Ophthalmology Practice
Oxford Eyes
Best Sports Bar
The Hideaway Bar
Best Maitland Bar
Eden Bar
Best Jazz Act
Jeremy Birdsall
Best Local TV News Anchor
Amy Kaufeldt
Best Pet Groomer
Woof! Orlando
Best Rock Act
Cat Ridgeway & The Tourists
Best Local Radio Show
“Monsters in the Morning”
Best Local TikTok
@jessiedeexx
Best Gift Store
Good Crowd
Best Vintage or Used Furniture Store
Adjectives Market
Best Neighborhood to Drink In
Mills 50
Best Local Author
Owl Goingback
Best Use of Public Money
Homelessness initiatives/housing assistance
Best Chinese Restaurant
Hawkers Asian Street Food,
Best of Orlando 2024: Arts and Entertainment
Orlando boxing: That knockout punch Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered to Florida’s arts organizations by canceling all state funding. Ouch!
Best Greek Restaurant
Mykonos Authentic Greek Cuisine
Best Improbable Trend: Explosion of gothic nights in Orlando
Sharp-eyed readers might remember DJ Hexorcist, in our year-end music roundtable, boldly predicting that the City Beautiful might soon surpass Tampa in number of regular gothic nights out. Guess what? She was right! The greater Orlando area now hosts regular gothic dance soirees from Sanford down to the “Packing District” on OBT: Memento Mori, Venue…
Best West Orlando Restaurant
Lee and Rick’s Oyster Bar
Best MetroWest Restaurant
Teak Neighborhood Grill
Best Beach
New Smyrna Beach
Best Mini Golf
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
Best Theme Park Ride
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Best Sand Lake/Dr. Phillips Bar
Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar
Best Lake Mary Bar
Citrus City Craft
Best Bottled Beer Selection
GB’s Bottle Shop and Tasting Bar
Best New Venue: Judson’s Live
The Dr. Phillips Center’s swank new supper club has been the talk of the town for obvious reasons. The national names featured there have been exceptional, but the real revelation has been how much of a local spotlight Judson’s has turned out to be, giving stage to a diverse parade of native talent like Harber…
Best Longwood Bar
Wekiva Island
Best Makeup Artist
Luis Rivera
Best Home Builder
Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando and Osceola County
Best Strip Mall: Dover Shores Shopping Center
Strip malls have long been perceived as a blight on Central Florida roadways, and for the most part, it’s true. But this strip at the intersection of Curry Ford and Crystal Lake gets it so right that we’ve daydreamed up a staycation where we start at Daybreak Diner and end up by mailing some postcards…
Best Comic Book Shop
Gods and Monsters
Best Roofer
Central Homes Roofing and Solar
Best Auto Repair Shop
C&D Tires and Auto Repair
Best Cover Band
Relic
Best Home Decor Store
Adjectives Market
Best Wine Shop
Tim’s Wine Market
Best I-Drive Restaurant
Café Tu Tu Tango
Best Knight-Time Sushi: Sus Hi Eatstation on Alafaya Trail
Located across the road from University of Central Florida’s main campus, Sus Hi Eatstation on Alafaya Trail is the best place for a Knight to grab a quick bite and some school spirit. The menu ranges from sushi bowls, burritos, rolls, desserts and more — all beckoning to students from just a crosswalk away. Covered…
Best Orlando Weekly Event
Bite30
Best Birria
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
Best Coffee Bar
Foxtail Coffee Co.
Best Return to Church Street Roots: SAK Comedy Lab
Nearly a quarter-century after they first set up shop inside an abandoned storefront on Church Street, SAK Comedy Lab returned to the block this spring. This homecoming isn’t a step backwards but a big glow-up, as their new home at 55West boasts a theme park-quality lobby and fully equipped 175-seat theater — a far cry…
Best Hot Dogs
Hot Dog Heaven
Best Korean Restaurant
King Bao
Best Windermere Restaurant
Yellow Dog Eats
Best of Orlando 2024: Attractions and Recreation
Orlando marathon: That long, long, long, longgggggggg wait in the theme park queue. It’s all about endurance, champ!
Best Bowling Alley
Splitsville Luxury Lanes Disney Springs
Best Sushi
Kabooki Sushi
Best Psychologist or Therapist
Jessica Romano, HumanKind Counseling
Best Martini
The Moderne
Best Original Cocktail
Aku Aku Tiki Bar
Best Eyelash and/or Brow Salon
SoDo Nail and Lash Bar
Best Dive Bar
Will’s Pub
Best Marijuana Dispensary
Trulieve
Best Buried Hatchet: DeSantis v. Disney
After several grueling months of power moves, pettiness and not-so-magical language, Gov. DeSantis and Disney finally put their feud to bed. Stemming from disagreements over DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill back in 2022, the battle for control of Disney’s oversight district settled, solidifying a “long-term partnership” between the two. Will it stick? Who knows. Will…
Best Moving Company
Two Men and a Truck
Best Place to Adopt a Pet
Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Florida
Best Singer-Songwriter
Cat Ridgeway
Best Local Radio Sportscaster
Angel Rivera
Best DUI Attorney or Firm
Leppard Law
Best Independent Bookstore
Writer’s Block Bookstore
Best Kept Secret in Orlando
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours
Best Burlesque Troupe
Les Vixens Burlesque
Best Boba Tea
Royal Tea
Best College Park Restaurant
The Tap Room at Dubsdread
Best East Orlando Restaurant
Don Julio Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar
Best Event Venue
The Plaza Live
Best Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurant
Winter Park Biscuit Co.
Best Bartender
Melissa Fowler, Sunroom/Guesthouse
Best LGBTQ+-Friendly Sports League: OUT Sports League
OUT Sports offers an inclusive league for Orlando locals across the LGBTQ+ spectrum (including straight allies) who want to get involved in recreational soccer, dodgeball, kickball, volleybal, or even cornhole (100% NOT a sport, but FINE). Let’s face it, if you’re LGBTQ+, it’s hard not to have a sort of lingering concern about judgment from…
Best Canoeing or Kayaking
Wekiva Island
Best Paddleboard Company
Epic Paddle Adventures
Best Water Park
Volcano Bay
Best Altamonte Springs Bar
Santiago’s Bodega
Best Windermere Bar
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
Best Barre Studio
The Bar Method Winter Park
Best After Hours: Shows at Framework Craft Coffee House
The coffeehouse show is a shiver-inducing trope for good reason. The ones happening at Framework Craft Coffee House, however, are the exception. That has a lot to do with the fact that owner Danny Forester is a DIY champion. And his Mills 50 café has taken on a second life after hours as a space…
Best Gym
All Fit Orlando
Best Massage Therapist
Terrie Makin
Best Live Music Venue
Will’s Pub
Best Local TV News Reporter
David Martin
Best Costume Shop or Party Store
Orlando Vintage Clothing and Costume
Best of Orlando 2024: Shopping and Retail
Orlando weightlifting: Getting the maximum amount of bottled water into your cart right before a hurricane
Best Car Wash
Octopus Car Wash
Best Community Organization Fighting Wage Theft When the State Isn’t: Farmworker Association of Florida
Florida used to have a state department that would go after employers accused of violating minimum wage requirements, but thanks to former Gov. Jeb Bush, the department was abolished in 2002 with no replacement. Florida’s State Attorney General is allowed to pursue those law-breakers, but in business-friendly Florida, generally doesn’t go after these cases today.…
Best Jewelry Store
Be On Park
Best Ice Cream
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream
Best Neighborhood to Eat In
Mills 50
Best Local Beer Label Design
Ivanhoe Park Brewing “Solar Bears” by Chill Artistry
Best Museum
Orlando Science Center
Best of Orlando 2024: City Life
Orlando canoe sprint: When you see a For Rent sign on a cute house, you better do whatever you have to do to get there first: run, fly, paddle …
Best Response to Ron DeSantis’ Sexualization of Statewide Arts and Culture: Orlando Fringe
Gov. DeSantis this summer unapologetically gutted $32 million in arts and culture funding across the state. He also took the opportunity to slam what he calls the “sexual” Fringe Festival. Luckily, Orlando (and Tampa) Fringe bit back with a response — “Our festivals are uncensored, not unlawful” — and a level of decorum Ron could…
Best Teahouse
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria
Best Cigar Lounge for Chill Punks: Nora’s Sugar Shack
Offering a low-key option for cigar smokers in the Ivanhoe Village area, Nora’s Sugar Shack is a funky but charming cigar “lounge” (a generous way to describe a tiny house off Virginia Drive) that every cigar smoker in the area should visit at least once. The cigar selection is limited but still impressively sized, considering…
Best Local Coffee Roaster
Foxtail Coffee Co.
Best Mexican Restaurant
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
Best Phở
Pho 88
Best Sandwiches
Stasio’s Italian Deli and Market
Best Tacos
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
Best Sanford Bar
Tuffy’s Music Box and Lounge
Best Moscow Mule
Stubborn Mule
Best Winter Park Bar
Ravenous Pig Beer Garden
Best College Bar
Fiddlers Green Irish Pub and Eatery
Best Theme Park Bar
Raglan Road Irish Pub
Best MetroWest Bar
Sloppy Taco Palace
Best HVAC Company
Frank Gay Services
Best Metal Act
Meka Nism
Best Eyewear Boutique
Oxford Eyes
Best Local Charitable Group
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Best Local Radio Station
WTKS 104.1-FM
Best Local TV Evening News
WESH 2
Best Lingerie Store
Fairvilla Boutique
Best of Orlando 2024: Food and Dining
Orlando fencing: More and more restaurants compete to dish out better and better food, ambience and experience. Winner: the dining public
Best Restaurant for Jaded Gastronomes: Coro
It’s easy to become numbed to all the high-dollar indulgences that restaurants in this city espouse, particularly the barrage of tasting menu concepts that have opened in every corner of the city. But a meal at Coro in Audubon Park can unjade the jaded and bring smiles to the faces of burned-out bon vivants in…
Best Place to Show People the Real Orlando
Mills 50 District
Best Breakfast
Se7en Bites
Best Corporate Social Media Account That’s Basically an Influencer: Orlando International Airport
From relatable content about Florida’s scorching heat to memes and updates on major weather events, whoever runs MCO’s social media at this point is effectively an influencer of their own merit. Interspersed with posts relaying basic updates and information about the operations of MCO, the airport’s social media person inserts a refreshing jolt of personality…
Best Food Hall
East End Market
Best Thai Restaurant
SEA Thai Restaurant
Best Lake Mary Restaurant
Viet-Nomz
Best Bar Patio
The Wellborn
Best Non-lethal Use of Aerial Drone Technology: Universal Studios Florida’s “CineSational: A Symphonic Celebration”
Universal Orlando introduced a flood of summer entertainment this year — including the nostalgic Mega Movie Parade and superb “DreamWorks Imagination Celebration” — but none flew higher than their new nighttime spectacular, “CineSational: A Symphonic Celebration,” which features 600-plus choreographed drones amid the fireworks and fountains. After all the wartime news reports of drones causing devastation,…
Best City Park
Lake Eola Park
Best Place for Family Fun
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Best Tapas
Santiago’s Bodega
Best Thornton Park or South Eola Bar
Burton’s Thornton Park
Best Pod People: Float8 Wellness Lounge
OK, we have to admit one downside to living in Orlando: the drive to a beach is too far. When you just absolutely need to be surrounded by saltwater — and nothing else — but you don’t have an hour to spare to get to the ocean, it’s Float8 to the rescue. With locations in…
Best Chiropractor or Chiropractic Practice
Dishman Chiropractic and Wellness Center
Best Display of Hope for the Future of Local Music: Orlando Girls Rock Camp
Orlando Girls Rock Camp continues to shine a light on the future of local music, and in these young stars’ hands, that future is bright. Reserved for female, nonbinary and trans campers aged 8 to 17, OGRC provides young’uns with an environment conducive to empowerment and patriarchal ass-kicking. It’s more than a legitimately cool music…
Best Hair Salon
Prive Salon
Best Local TV Morning Show
Good Day Orlando
Best Place to Claw Your Way to Glory: Gatcha Orlando
Gatcha is a “clawcade” full of gashapon game machines granting prizes big to small, plush to plastic. Don’t be embarrassed if you shout out “gotcha!” as you maneuver your way to the win — victoriously claiming that squishy Gudetama would make anyone yell. Florida Mall, 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail, gatcha.us/project/orlando
Best Plumber or Plumbing Company
Frank Gay Services
Best Veterinarian or Veterinary Clinic
McAbee Veterinary Hospital
Best It’s Funny Because It Hurts: Rauce Padgett
It was a head-scratcher when Real Radio 104.1 FM personality Rauce Padgett was fired from his post on the drive-time “Jim Colbert Show.” In other times, Padgett’s off-kilter humor and surrealist non sequiturs (had his corporate bosses never seen his video, “If Orlando Was a Movie”??) would be highly sought-after by FM brass. Padgett has…
Best Electronic Act
DJ Magic Mike
Best Local Men’s Clothing Store
Siegel Clothing
Best Tasting Menu: Ômo by Jônt
In Orlando’s crowded field of small-capacity, budget-busting chef’s tasting counters jockeying for multicourse supremacy, Ômo by Jônt, Ryan Ratino’s 16-seat offshoot of his two-Michelin-star Jônt in Washington, D.C., may very well reign supreme. Elite ingredients, innovative cooking techniques, meticulous plating and an eye-popping check are, of course, givens. But Ratino is careful to toe the…
Best Neighborhood to Live In
Winter Park
Best Bakery
Charlie’s Bakery and Creamery
Best Brunch
Briarpatch Restaurant
Best Backdrop for Calls to Action: Lake Eola Park
There are plenty of places in Orlando perfect for sticking it to oppressive politicians and parties, but there’s only one that so flawlessly doubles as a picturesque community hangout. Lake Eola Park offers activists of all degrees the Lake Eola loop for marching, the Walt Disney Amphitheater for rallying and the fountain-adorned and swan-populated lake…
Best Weirdo Film Preservation: Freaky Fridays at Enzian
Since its debut a couple of years back, the Enzian’s midnight-movie series has become a reliable haven for those who prefer their cinema on the wilder side. The first-Friday events are also a reliable spot to check out outré Florida cinema going back decades. From the Technicolor killer-jellyfish-man romp Sting of Death to the VHS…
Best of Orlando 2024: Drinking and Nightlife
Orlando gymnastics: Getting from the bar back to your spot with multiple drinks. Points deducted if you or anyone else end up wearing said drinks.
Best Vegetarian Dish at a Non-vegetarian Restaurant
Chile Relleno, Reyes Mezcaleria
Best Wings
Domu
Best Sanford Spot for Some Peace, Quiet and Contemplation: Lake Monroe
A hidden gem of the Orlando lakes! Downtown Sanford is a constant buzz of activity these days, full of delightful spots and special events that lend themselves to a perfect treat-yourself day. But sometimes, we need a break from the hustle and bustle. We’ve ended up here on multiple occasions — sometimes taking a quick…
Best Place to Buy Meat
Petty’s Meat Market
Best Sanford Restaurant
Hollerbach’s German Restaurant
Best Zip Line or Ropes Course
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens Seminole Aerial Adventures
Best Bicycle Shop
Orange Cycle
