Next time you visit Downtown Orlando, you’d be well advised to snap a couple of quick photos. Because soon enough these streets are going to be very different. Maybe even unrecognizable. Change is the name of the game in this neighborhood, from the perpetual overhauls of the I-4 Ultimate Project, the revamped and relocated CityArts, the eventual opening of UCF’s Creative Campus just down the road in Parramore, all the way down to the ongoing additions to the Dr. Phillips Center. Hell, even the Taco Bell Cantina that’s slated to open in the old ONO space is emblematic of the state of flux here. There’s something for all tastes freshly open for business downtown. (We’re patiently waiting for the second La Femme du Fromage location, for instance.) Forget about the parking; just make the trip, you’ll be glad you did.
Artisan's Table
255 W. Church St., 407-730-7499, artisanstableorlando.com
Not gonna lie, we were a little sad when Artisan's Table picked up and moved to Church Street this year, but the new space and new look suits them, and their menu is as on-point as ever. And what's this, four new signature cocktails just added? Save us a Neon Cucumber!
Celine
22 S. Magnolia Ave., 407-801-7005, celineorlando.com
Celine boasts vintage furnishings, a rooftop lounge and a speakeasy with an enviable cocktail menu. But wait, there's more! Celine now hosts a red-hot schedule of touring hip-hop, EDM, drum & bass and techno heavy-hitters.
CFS Coffee
54 W. Church St., 407-637-2335, cfscoffee.com
New downtown hotspot for those who seek caffeinated frontiers beyond Starbucks. This Colombian coffee chain specializes in Colombian beans and roasts with a serious side of baked goods and arepas. The interior is spacious and uncluttered if you need to plop down for some good ol' telecommuting. CFS opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays because they know what you need.
Epic Axe Throwing
47 E. Robinson St., 385-429-3386, epicaxethrowing.com
Take the most popular part of a Renaissance Faire and relocate it to downtown Orlando. Voila! You have Epic Axe Throwing! And you don't even have to wear a dorky costume. Choose from a variety of three axes and hurl away at your target. Sessions are hourly and you are encouraged to book ahead; lessons are available.
Pizza Bruno
131 N. Orange Ave., pizzabrunofl.com
Though the restaurant outpost within Orange County Brewers has been a bit of a revolving door (Red Claw, we hardly knew ye), we've got a funny feeling that the current occupant – Pizza Bruno – will be around for awhile. This satellite location offers up counter service of what makes their Curry Ford location a hot spot: Neapolitan pizza, wings, salads and their signature garlic knots.
The Ramen
486 N. Orange Ave., 407-233-4801, facebook.com/theramenorlando
Though central downtown offers a bounty of food from around the world, ramen was, worryingly, not an option. Until now. Enter this new resto helmed by former Disney chef Suichi Tanida. The Ramen impresses with luxuriant bowls of delicious noodles, meats, and veggies that will appeal to carnivores and vegetarians alike.
The Robinson Cocktail Room
61 E. Pine St., 407-536-8075, therobinsonroom.com
This stylish cocktail lounge opened at the beginning of 2019 above the old Red Mug Diner space. Brought to you by the team behind Celine and Mathers Social Gathering, they serve a small selection of beer and wine and – the main event – a quirkily-named and adventurous roster of cocktails. ("Death by Elocution," anyone?) Keep an eye out for Coffee at the Robinson to open downstairs.
